RHS Lessons Learned in Testing 7.7975 Comprehensive Update Uploaded

[el cid again]

An Allied player noted that Chinese units (there are two "bomber" squadrons of 6 group) with the O2U type - which is an Axis aircraft
of RTAF identical to the ROC one - tended not to attack ships. I was not sure this junk plane would even try vs a hex with enemy fighters in it?

But somehow they lost planes - and 3 of them appeared - as a IJN replacement unit in Tokyo!!! Now there WERE Allied defectors to Japan - we don't usually tell these tales (e.g. the only SB-2 in Japan was flown over by a ROC defector) - but 3 at one time is a bit much.

So I have decided to substitute Lysander for O2U - interpreting it as "junky Allied bomber" - since it will both behave and replace as an Allied aircraft should. The units will - of course - eventually upgrade to a better type - as IRL - and as at present. The Lysander was an underutalized slot anyway - it was the foundation of several Indian Air Force units when formed and pressed into historical service for lack of anything better - and it was used by a couple of RAF units as well in non-observation roles - and only those used for maritime patrol are presently in the game (since we don't do observation planes per se on land - and lack the slots to try). The rationale in ROC case is "these are considered bombers" - and in due couse the units get better bombers to play bomber with. In this form the units will only bomb incidental to naval search missoins - and otherwise will only perform recon. Which is about all they could do until upgraded in terms that matter in WITP.

[el cid again]

New Orleans should have 2200 daily resources instead of 1200. It should start with 66000 resources in its stockpile instead of 36000.
This is because the 100 manpower centers consume 1000 resources per day. It is also because we give you 30 days of production in stock - to give some opportunity for the "pipeline" to fill - before you are required to put more into a location of this sort.

FYI the WITP norm is 10 days of production at most locations. 30 days at major collection centers is an RHS convention.

[el cid again]

Trying to make the ramp up of North American logistics more smooth - and yet not fall into the trap of providing free supplies at locations not near the map edge - I have discovered two things:

1) While too many supplies at Salt Lake City will simply run the pool to 999,999 and dump the excess, there is no similar limit to resources or oil - they will transfer as required in any quantity (once I observed 250,000 or so moving to San Francisco - in a single bound - which I interpreted to mean "this was the end of the delivery"). I have changed the amount of free oil and free resources at SLC by an order of magnitude - to 6000 and 3000 - since that is only adding about 3.6 trainloads per day - for a total of 4.5 trainloads at 2000 tons per).

2) At Canada, there is so much expansion going on, it sucks supplies from other locations. Since this represents mostly off map production, providing free supplies here (at the map edge) means it grows automatically. As things max out - supplies available to ship to other locations grows - but that is right anyway. Free supplies here went from 1100 to 6100 - except in a few cases they were only 600 - still going to 6100.

These changes affect all levels - 5, 6 and 7 - not just 7. [The New Orleans change only matters to Level 7 as it does not exist in 5 and 6]

[el cid again]

The second and third configurations of Fletcher Class DD change the centerline gun to centerline - instead of "A" (ALL).

USS Renshaw changes from second configuration to first configuration, and date, and location of appearence.

USS Philip changes location and date of appearence.

[el cid again]

Just as I had to stop using the RTAF O2U aircraft (in an Axis slot) for ROC,
I have to stop using the RTAF B-10 (in an Allied slot) for RTAF.

We have the B-2 element of North Command appearing on both sides - with the same aircraft.

But there is this: RTAF DID serve on both sides - and this in more than one sense:

a) When Japan invaded Thailand RTAF went to war - and lost several fighters intercepting Japanese air units.

b) Later in the war RTAF became the main way Allied agents went to Thailand from Allied bases -
and one day - Thailand just switched sides - arresting its leader.

Since the unit eventually converted to Ki-21s I guess we can go with them.

But the B-10 in RTAF colors was lovely chrome and when we have more slots we will use it.

[el cid again]

I replaced the RTAF B-10 with the F-13 (a B-39 recon variant). This will permit better technical behavior of recon units using this aircraft.
It is - effectively - a B-29 without bombs - able to be assigned the same missions as other recon aircraft. I also set the F-7 to upgrade to the F-13 - which is not exactly right - but will give players a late war option. This means the F-7 production will change to F-13 production in November 1944 - and thereafter it is possible to upgrade any US recon unit to this aircraft - if there are enough in the pool. There is also one F-13 unit that appears as such in 1945.

[el cid again]

The Uji biological bomb has its load changed from 33 to 55 - more correct for a 25 kg weapon. Its soft effect is changed to 70 -
an order of magnitude greater than the 7 appropriate to a HE weapon - and its soft value and penetration remain zero - because it
does not penetrate anything at all.

The Ki-36s which carried this - only in two units (Unit 731 and 17th Independent Chutai - the latter only in CVO family) - change their load from 6 bombs to only 2 (although the bombs have more effect per each, the load is better defined). In EBO and EEO the Ki-48s which replace the Ki-36 in this role now have 14 weapons.

[el cid again]

USN seaplane observation units upgrading to the wrong types are corrected to OS2U Kingfisher.

Note, however, that some USMC fighter units start on observation planes and upgrade to figher - this is historical.

This involved 5 units in BBO family and 2 units in EBO.

There is one similar case in all scenarios - that is a sixth unit.

[el cid again]

these changes are uploaded for Level 7

five and six will post in due course with a selected subset of these changes

This is a non-critical update for new game starts with the following features:

1) Adjustments to Canada, United States and New Orleans to make North American economic production more smooth and automatic in its growth and management

2) Correction of a number of air group issues including

a) Six USN aviation detachment upgrades
b) Conversion of a small (6 plane) RTAF bomber unit to Ki-48 instead of B-10 (because the RTAF B-10 is
not in an Axis slot and does not behave well)
c) Conversion of one USAAF recon unit to a true F-13 recon plane - permitting other US Army recon units to upgrade to it

3) Creation of a new Allied aircraft - the F-13 - replacing the B-29 in recon units. This aircraft flies faster, higher and farther than a B-29 - but does not carry an offensive bomb load.

4) Changing of the Uji biological bomb device to a correct load - and changing the number carried by the aircraft that use it to reflect this different load. Also changing the soft effect rating of this device. These load changes are implemented in the Unit 731 Aviation Unit in all scenarios and in the 17th Independent Chutai in CVO family scenarios.

5) Minor corrections of land unit or ship data wherever they have been identified.