I ran two hands off test games to july 1940. On historic the only collaboration government released was Italian Greece. Germany seemed to get to Danzig a little late though, it fired late december 39.
On unhistorical game, Japan released the Marineras and italy released greece. UK kept its colonies even though it went non aligned. India(non aligned) released Pakistan and Bangladesh as collaborative governments. Portugal released its colonies too (also non aligned).
Also checked in on the AI post:
- fixed some issues that resulted in ai preferring producing earlier ships
UK is now refitting ships, has HMS Eagle in to convert into a Couragous class (Quite a good use of IC), also has a new Courageous class in production (should be Arc Royal ofc, which was cancelled earlier since its not in the sea).
GER has cancelled both Scharnhorst class and Admiral Graf Spee but kept and deployed Admiral Hipper(also one more in production). Only 5 NIC on SS. built two outdated Bremse Class light cruisers (minelaying CL) and one more in que (outdated and the worst design CL GER has, but she wants at least 5 of them). Also building a Königsberg class 1928 CL. 1936 DD and SS in que.
ITA is also embarking on a building spree of outdated cruisers, but has 1936 DD and SS in que.
JAP is refitting Akagi to Kaga Class and producing a lot of Ryujo class CV (has 4 and is building 1 more), would be better off to build Soryu class CV. Building 1936 DD but outdated cruisers and submarines (Has the tech and naval XP to make modern variants of these).
USA - I was really impressed at USA construction que. Its building up to date capital ships and subs, 1 BB 2 CV and 2 CA. Still building outdated screens even though its got the tech and xp and IC to build 1936 variants. Refitting Farragut class to a new variant with AA2 instead of AA1 which is a questionable choice, I don't think its worth the 143IC/ship.
Gave USA 500 naval XP to see what happened and they spent 300XP on designing the following:
- A 1936 BB with Floatplanes replacing 1 HG battery, adding radar and upgrading AA/Secondaries. (Probably better to replace one of the AA with floatplanes)
- First a 1936 CV variant with radar, upgraded AA and Secondaries (Great!) then after that they upgraded it again into A CV with no secondaries and downgraded engine to teir 1 and removed radar.
- A 1936 CL with 3x Dual Purpose Light guns and 2 AA modules. (Light batteries would be more appropriate)
- A 1936 CL with 1x Light Gun, 1xAA and 3 Minelaying rails. (better to use dedicated DD for minelaying)
- A 1936 DD with all the expected modules for a all around DD.
- A 1928 DD with ASW equipment, a good escort design.
- A 1936 SS with 1xTorp1, 1xTorp2 and engines 2. (why not 2xtorp2?)
Overall I still see:
- AI still cancels ships that are almost done in construction que at game start when it would be wise to keep them(like Admiral Graf Spee that is almost done).
- AI seems to love teir 1 light cruisers.
- AI Designed ships seem a little out of wack, like they either love minelaying or dont really have a intended role for the ships.
- AI will design new ships with up to date tech and build them, given enough XP.