Question about slots 251 and 252

[hueglin]

Slot 251 is engineers and slot 252 is support. They seem to allocated to both sides.

First question - how does this work? Are the replacements just set so high that it doesn't matter that both sides are drawing from the same pool.

Second question - I've read that there is a difference between combat engineers and labour/construction engineers. Which one is the slot 251 engineer and what exactly are the differences?

[el cid again]

These two slots (alone) are construction engineers. That is hard code - if you copy the slot you do NOT get a construction engineer. In the case of gigantic supply sinks we learned that if NONE of these squads are present there was NO construction at all. There must be at least one of these or no construction progress occurs.

These two slots (along with others like support and aviation support) are used by both sides. It isn't clear if they are responsive to settings of build rates or pools - or if so if that applies to one side but not the other, or to both?

Combat engineers are sappers and similar units whose power lies in their squads firepower ratings. They - like infantry and (in RHS) some other squads (e.g. labor squads) contribute to construction rates IF AND ONLY IF 251 or 252 type squads are present in the hex. Even one of those squads is enough: then other squads help boost build rate.

I have reduced the 251/252 type squads to limited firepower - and use combat engineers for combat support functions - and also have labor squads which are virtually unarmed "combat engineers" (because - even though copies of 251 they don't build alone). I also have special "electric engineer" units with radio and wire control micro AFVs to deliver demolitions in one Japanese engineer regiment (two in EOS). [Similar to the German Goliath, which may have been an imitation, the Japanese appear to have invented this concept in the early 1930s. The little tracked AFVs with remote control would deliver demolitions on the battlefield.]

[hueglin]

Thanks Sid,

That's exactly the info I was looking for.

A supplemental question now.

Can Combat Engineers reduce fortifications without having construction engineers with them? My guess is yes but I would like to be sure.

Another question - can Combat Engineers build fortifications without construction engineers?

[el cid again]

It appears that construction is construction. I was surprised that even thousands of engineers do not increase build levels - UNLESS a 251 or 252 squad is present.

Any unit classified as engineer will reduce fortifications - which seems right. Specifically, I mean any squad - a unit that contains any squad classified as engineers.

[m10bob]

Do SeaBee units contribute to the repair of ships in port, as IRL?

[el cid again]

Apparently not. However, support seems to. Thus a unit composed of engineer squads plus support squads seems to be helpful. You are free to imagine it is the engineers - or both - instead of just the support squads.

[m10bob]

Thank you..