RHS Thread: Planned Update 8.20

[el cid again]

The Ganges-Bhramaputra river system was then the primary logistical LOC of India. It
is vital even if no enemy tries for India. It also is a path for enemy invasion forces,
and can result in very interesting riverine campaigns. But its PRIMARY utility is
for Allied logistics: you can move troops, supplies, resources and oil faster by river.
This is particularly true before the RR is upgraded and the first bridge is built across
the Bhramaputra. The large oilfield in the Ledo hex cannot export much down the long,
secondary RR and secondary road system - and benefits in particular the player who uses
small river tankers - again before the Bengal and Assam RR is upgraded mid-war.

ORIGINAL: m10bob

I checked the rivers in India and China and they ARE funcional!(Hooray)..Not all rivers are on the "roadmap" so the player will need to determine which rivers are navigable, (to date).

Very good inclusion to the game (IMHO) and lends more realism for those who like to manage their supply pools.
Sid, is there a list of your supply sinks?

[el cid again]

Unfortunately, there is nothing I can get at to affect things of this sort. It seems 'shallow draft'
has a very peculiar meaning to code - and 'shallow' it isn't. In my view, restriction should be based
on tonnage. Alternatively, perhaps, restrict by type - and NOT allow AKs (or TKs) at all - only AKLs
and other smaller vessels - on river systems. But PLAYERS may exercise restraint - nothing prevents
you from realistic choices - and it can be a house rule. In fact, the primary RHS House Rule is
'never do anything a historical commander would not do' - IMHO that means never send a ship where in fact
it could not go. In particular, do not conduct carrier flight operations in a river! But RHS only presents
players with options - we don't control player choices.

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Sorry, but I still can sail the biggest xAKs from Calcutta to Ledo in RHS Level I. Have tonnage or class limits been implemented in RHS Level II?

[Yaab]

Thanks for the tip. So house rules it is.

[el cid again]

Note that OCEAN GOING ships are BUILT at Wuhan - and even in WITP days stock allowed ships to
navigate the lower Yangtze. Some rivers in Russia are huge - this matters in Level II -
the Yenisi (feeding Krasnyoarsk) and the Lena (feeding Yakutsk) are in particular very wide
and deep. And you cannot see across the Amur at Khabarovsk - it feels like an ocean - and
driving the bridge built since the war at that city is spooky - like a drive to nowhere. So
there are exceptions.

ORIGINAL: el cid again

Unfortunately, there is nothing I can get at to affect things of this sort. It seems 'shallow draft'
has a very peculiar meaning to code - and 'shallow' it isn't. In my view, restriction should be based
on tonnage. Alternatively, perhaps, restrict by type - and NOT allow AKs (or TKs) at all - only AKLs
and other smaller vessels - on river systems. But PLAYERS may exercise restraint - nothing prevents
you from realistic choices - and it can be a house rule. In fact, the primary RHS House Rule is
'never do anything a historical commander would not do' - IMHO that means never send a ship where in fact
it could not go. In particular, do not conduct carrier flight operations in a river! But RHS only presents
players with options - we don't control player choices.

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Sorry, but I still can sail the biggest xAKs from Calcutta to Ledo in RHS Level I. Have tonnage or class limits been implemented in RHS Level II?

[el cid again]

The SC-453 class was worth reviewing - it had several problems: it had its standard vice full load
displacement, it is 3 knots faster at the top end, and its cruising speed was 3 knots lower. But its
fuel and range were reasonable: officially it had a range of 1500 nm at 12 knots (which was less than
the 15 listed). I did not find fuel, but the larger, later PC class had only 49 tons, and pro rating
for size would make 14 the value for the -453 class. And on that 49 tons you got no less than 4800 nm!
But a smaller hull is less efficient and I won't change the 18 tons rating until I get a clearer indication
of what it should be. I reviewed my naval architecture book and found it too difficult to calculate the
actual value with precision - too many unknowns to estimate.

Oddity: The SC-453 110' and the Admirable (both USN ships) stand out quite a bit due to their very low fuel consumption. The SC-453 gets ~83,3 nm/fuel while the Admirable gets ~60,7 nm/fuel. That's very high, especially considering their size. Even small (20 ton) ships tops out at around 50 nm/fuel of the ships I've looked at in DBB-C. RHS is a bit different in that a few more ships join them, such as SN BO-2 SC with ~66,6 nm/fuel and RTN Bangrachan with 90 nm/fuel. I'm not saying it's wrong, but the general line seems to be that you cap out at around 40 nm/fuel (and at that level you mostly have small boats; Fairmile B, Elco 80ft, LCS, Higgins 78 ft etc.) in the database.

[el cid again]

Be SURE to put the pwhexe.dat file in the top level AE folder - it is NEW a
and IMPORTANT.

RHS Level II Update 2.221 Link
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=3 ... file%2cmsi

First of all, this update includes two new map panels by Mifune - both the hex
and non-hex versions of the Panama area art (which have not been updated
even for extended map systems). Here Mifune puts Recife and its approach
hexes into art for players to see. It is very nice.

Second, this is the final update for USN (and other) LSTs - every LST slot
- and all adjacent slots near the US and RN sections - is full. This is both
more LSTs than ever offered before and vastly more correct date and location
of appearance, with captains that appear on or before that date (when
there is a captain assigned), and in the right form: we have LSTs in early
and late US armament, in Air Traffic Control form, in small craft depot ship
form, in the special late war Type 3 RN form, in the early war RN form, and
in the cruise missile launching form (equipped with the Loon - a near copy of
the V-1).

Third, there is a lot of attention to detail of small matters. Adequate garrisons so
there is no penalty for not enough, a port hex on Sumatra fixed, and ALL the Arctic
ports fixed!!! [Seems you need more than just a sub map code - you must say it
is a coastal hex or a ship can't stay there! Go figure.] The US 110 foot PC got
new data for speeds and displacement - 21 knots full (up by 3) but 12 knots
cruising (down by 3). Updated scenario files include class, device, leader, location and ship files.

Fourth, I added devices for Twin and Quad 2 pounders and began working them
onto RN battleships. Over time, Twin and Quad guns will creep into the entire Allied
fleet, as Twins, Triples and Quads have been doing for some time for the IJN. The
effect is a REDUCTION in light AA power: multiple tubes on one mounting result
in the square root of two more rounds on target - not a strait multiple like code uses.

[el cid again]

ALL off map ports verified working. We may be adding Valparaiso Chile, Durban South Africa,
and Diego Suarez, Madagascar in due course. In testing now.

ORIGINAL: m10bob

Sid...I know it is a priority for you already, however I hope to see your release for the file which will make the off-map ports work.
Aden/Abedan in particular.

You have made Port Stanley useful in the game for the first time!

BTW, for folks researching the DEI and its' military...there is actually quite a bit to be seen on Youtube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FScJKiU1jk4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQDWcLudRSE

Third, I have continued to work on the "invisible" map support files, with a view to making vessels in the Arctic region behave better. We picked up two more

[el cid again]

RHS Level II Update 2.221 Link
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=3 ... file%2cmsi


This compiled version had a pwhexe.dat file which did not work
for three hexes. Fixed.

In a message dated 5/27/2016 3:36:49 P.M. Alaskan Daylight Time, Trevethans@aol.com writes:

First of all, this update includes two new map panels by Mifune - both the hex
and non-hex versions of the Panama area art (which have not been updated
even for extended map systems). Here Mifune puts Recife and its approach
hexes into art for players to see. It is very nice.

Second, this is the final update for USN (and other) LSTs - every LST slot
- and all adjacent slots near the US and RN sections - is full. This is both
more LSTs than ever offered before and vastly more correct date and location
of appearance, with captains that appear on or before that date (when
there is a captain assigned), and in the right form: we have LSTs in early
and late US armament, in Air Traffic Control form, in small craft depot ship
form, in the special late war Type 3 RN form, in the early war RN form, and
in the cruise missile launching form (equipped with the Loon - a near copy of
the V-1).

Third, there is a lot of attention to detail of small matters. Adequate garrisons so
there is no penalty for not enough, a port hex on Sumatra fixed, and ALL the Arctic
ports fixed!!! [Seems you need more than just a sub map code - you must say it
is a coastal hex or a ship can't stay there! Go figure.] The US 110 foot PC got
new data for speeds and displacement - 21 knots full (up by 3) but 12 knots
cruising (down by 3). Updated scenario files include class, device, leader, location and ship files.

Fourth, I added devices for Twin and Quad 2 pounders and began working them
onto RN battleships. Over time, Twin and Quad guns will creep into the entire Allied
fleet, as Twins, Triples and Quads have been doing for some time for the IJN. The
effect is a REDUCTION in light AA power: multiple tubes on one mounting result
in the square root of two more rounds on target - not a strait multiple like code uses.

[m10bob]

All is working fine..Really appreciate General Patton for telling me where those map files had to be placed!
Will Midwest USA get a port?

[el cid again]

Originally, I intended I would. Note it HAS got new RR access routes -
from Ontario Canada and from the map edge in the upper Western Midwest.
My intent was to have submarines and LSTs built there show up there.
But it turns out most - possibly all - were formally commissioned in
New Orleans! [Other ships - a few AK and a few LCM at least - were built
in Texas.] So Gulf Coast works better anyway. [The system was a ship or sub
was either put on a barge and moved, or put in 'limited commission' and with
a temporary crew (maybe not military) - and only put in 'full commission'
after reaching New Orleans - with often a few days spent in some kinds of
upgrades (weapons were not very available for example). So probably not.
I am from there - and it is confusing in map terms: most vessels went
down the Ohio and/or Mississippi - but others may have moved via the Erie
Canal to the Canadian Maritimes! I tentatively think "where it reached the
ocean" is the standard to adopt, instead of "where it was built" - my original
concept. Both concepts deliver the ship to the player at the earliest possible
date at a point they get to choose what path it will take to PTO - rendering
enemy intelligence (they can look up the available date in a fresh game start)
much less useful. The Allies get to move the vessel by whatever route they want,
in the context of what is most useful to their strategy, for the maximum amount
of time. Also, reviewing records indicates large numbers of errors were made
in ship entry dates: both early and late. Also, I found an LST involved in a
famous rescue in the ATLANTIC well AFTER it appeared at Panama! Others went to
Normandy, and did not reach the PTO for a year or two - but gamers got em anyway.
Some USN were transferred to RN in ETO - and one RN type transferred to USN
in ETO before going to the PTO! Review always yields more accurate data.

ORIGINAL: m10bob

All is working fine..Really appreciate General Patton for telling me where those map files had to be placed!
Will Midwest USA get a port?

[ny59giants]

RHS 129 - Most of the carrier based air groups need better leaders that are readily available, but cost PP to do so. I'm going through and replacing them as I work on turn 1.

ID 493 Wotje - AF as 4(0). May need to be 4(1).

ID 248 Sendai - starts with 3 Army training air groups, but no Aviation Support. Either add a BF here or move the air groups.

More to follow....

[m10bob]

The town on the furthest north hex of New Caledonia should not have a port whatsoever, in spite of being on the ocean.
It was completely surrounded by coral reefs.
There WAS however a small gauge railroad running there from Noumea.

Your reasoning ref the "Midwest USA" not having a port is logical.
You commented we should look at where ships were launched/commissioned rather than where they were made sums it up well IMHO.[8D]

[el cid again]

Level II Update Link 2.72
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ap7XOIkiBuUwhYgdhnbHRnhTAFX2OQ



Airfield ratings may be wrong - but I have carefully evaluated every hex -
in particular base hexes. I don't do so from the point of view of what plane may operate
well. Rather from the physical limits of the base.

Sendai sounds like a problem. Will investigate.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

RHS 129 - Most of the carrier based air groups need better leaders that are readily available, but cost PP to do so. I'm going through and replacing them as I work on turn 1.

ID 493 Wotje - AF as 4(0). May need to be 4(1).

ID 248 Sendai - starts with 3 Army training air groups, but no Aviation Support. Either add a BF here or move the air groups.

More to follow....

[el cid again]

Tell me about the narrow gage RR. There is one at Noumea (fixed and operated after restoration
by the US Army RR Service). But it does not go up the island. Possibly it is a mine RR.

As for the port, there is a port there now. Where can I read about it in WW2 terms? As I recall,
it WAS an allied base eventually. But I am not sure I am remembering the right location - and I
researched thousands of them.

ORIGINAL: m10bob

The town on the furthest north hex of New Caledonia should not have a port whatsoever, in spite of being on the ocean.
It was completely surrounded by coral reefs.
There WAS however a small gauge railroad running there from Noumea.

Your reasoning ref the "Midwest USA" not having a port is logical.
You commented we should look at where ships were launched/commissioned rather than where they were made sums it up well IMHO.[8D]

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: el cid again


Tell me about the narrow gage RR. There is one at Noumea (fixed and operated after restoration
by the US Army RR Service). But it does not go up the island. Possibly it is a mine RR.

As for the port, there is a port there now. Where can I read about it in WW2 terms? As I recall,
it WAS an allied base eventually. But I am not sure I am remembering the right location - and I
researched thousands of them.

ORIGINAL: m10bob

The town on the furthest north hex of New Caledonia should not have a port whatsoever, in spite of being on the ocean.
It was completely surrounded by coral reefs.
There WAS however a small gauge railroad running there from Noumea.

Your reasoning ref the "Midwest USA" not having a port is logical.
You commented we should look at where ships were launched/commissioned rather than where they were made sums it up well IMHO.[8D]

Please scroll down to page 221 where details on New Caledonia really begin.
This site gives a LOT of detailed info the construction history for most of the South Pacific docks and runways..

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Bui ... es-24.html

[m10bob]

From that same site, here is some info ref local dry docks.
"Harbor Facilities. -- One of the main reasons for the choice of Auckland as a naval base was its excellent harbor facilities. However, the drydock facilities for major and intermediate types of ships were so meager that the Calliope Graving Dock at Davenport, owned and operated by the Auckland Harbor Board, was enlarged to take heavy cruisers of the Indianapolis class. The only two other graving docks in the area capable of docking heavy cruisers, were the Woolwich and the Cockatoo Island docks at Sydney, Australia. There were also two large floating docks, one at Wellington, N.Z., and one at Newcastle, Australia. Unfortunately, the overhang of the bow and the stern of heavy ships in these docks would have been undesirable for a cruiser in a damaged condition, and the depth over the blocks would have been insufficient"

Here is the table of contents for all the other areas of the world in WW2.
There is a section for Alaska as well.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Bui ... #contents2


Here is a site ref the New Caledonia Barrier Reef which allowed but one harbor in Noumea for the entire main island.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Caled ... rrier_reef

[el cid again]

Level II Update Link 2.441
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ap7XOIkiBuUwg74A7TujZK_wdrKG1A

This is an unexpectedly comprehensive update.

Eratta from all over the world is addressed in many places.

I did a comprehensive device review and improved or fixed over a thousand records
which will improve all sorts of things. I will backfit this to Level I tomorrow.


Scenario 129 Only: Total War Option deveopment:
Mifune found archives of Altwars from which I took some new ship art -
for which I developed new specs for the Ise and Fuso class battleships.
These shed 4 heavy guns in favor of Kongo like engines - and speed.
I then developed Nagato along the same lines (no art change) - and in spite
of being almost sure it would not work - it did! In fact, Nagato is longer,
has a higher limiting speed, and is easier to propel than the older battleships
are. The real problem was where to put the engines? But that turned out
not to be the problem I expected it would be. So although Japan gets NO new
BB, all ten old ones are in effect Kongo like - and two of them have 16 inch guns!
To which add its additional carriers and standardized cruisers and destroyers.

Some pwhexe.dat issues were fixed. I converted Level II from Andrew Brown's
and forgot things like Palembang needed a deep water approach. So I failed to
make the change. It is good to work this out before I build 25 more files on top
of the foundation, Fall 1941 one!

So change art, install the pwhexe.dat, pwzone.dat and pwzlink.dat files from the RHS PWHEXE & PWLINK SOURCE folder into the top level AE folder, AND update the
scenario files from the installer SCEN folder.

Sorry for the delay. Lots of reports to look at. But thank you for them. Fixing them now will help make old games better and new games closer to perfect.

[el cid again]

Today, not counting Noumea, there are 8 marinas for small vessels in New Caledonia,
according to the government. Several of these are at towns we have on our map -
Lifou, Koumac. One is listed in the "Northeast" and another in the "Southeast."
I will attempt to obtain nautical charts (I collect these, to facilitate navigation
and other things - like port potential analysis).

I still need information about a railroad in the North you mentioned. My US Army RR
Service history says there was NO operating RR on the island until they repaired a minor
one after arrival - in the South. And why would there be a RR to the Northernmost town
if it was NOT a port? [If it went all the way to Noumea, that would make sense. But
apparently no RR did that - so the Army wanted to fix the little one in the far South
of the island].

And I need information on an Aussie garrison. I have the French 'force' - such as it was.
[The combat troops went to North Africa, where they fought with distinction at el Alamain,
among other places - it was the Battalion du Pacifique] But apparently there was an
Aussie force there before the Pacific War began. That information was in one of the links
you sent me - without details.

ORIGINAL: m10bob

The town on the furthest north hex of New Caledonia should not have a port whatsoever, in spite of being on the ocean.
It was completely surrounded by coral reefs.
There WAS however a small gauge railroad running there from Noumea.

Your reasoning ref the "Midwest USA" not having a port is logical.
You commented we should look at where ships were launched/commissioned rather than where they were made sums it up well IMHO.[8D]

[m10bob]

This was one site I used in past.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/

Ref the railroad, I am looking now, I know I saved it in my internet favorites, I am also a railroad nut..


The "railroad"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noum%C3%A ... ta_railway

This indicates it only ran the distance of a single hex!..Oh well.

More info on "Robin Force" in New Caledonia.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P03308.002

Note:The designation "2/3rd Independent Company" did not mean they were the so-called "chocolate soldiers" of the militia, but were in fact well trained commandos.


This link addresses my search for "Robin Force New Caledonia"

https://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?quer ... ollections

[el cid again]

Level II Update Link 2.441
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ap7XOIkiBuUwg74A7TujZK_wdrKG1A

This update is only scenario files and the pwhexe.dat file (in two forms,
pwhexe.dat and II41WINTERpwhexe.dat - both found in the RHS PWHEXE & PWLINK SOURCE folder.] The pwhexe.dat file MUST go in the top level
AE folder. It fixes mainly the Sunda Strait (in terms of the 'low capacity
ferry") and two minor RR issues.

It is mainly an eratta fix, in particular for Scenario 129, but also for all scenarios.
In 129 USS Houston is now in her intended port (Balipapan) - she is not there
in any other scenario.

129 development included disposing of 16 x 14 inch ex battleship guns from
Ise, Hyuga, Fuso and Yamashiro. Although altwars put them on new battleships,
there was neither shipyard capacity nor engine plant capacity to make them -
so we gave them to the army for four CD batteries - each named for the ship
it came from (similar to a US CD battery on Hawaii named for USS Arizona,
because it was a salvaged turret from her).

This set of files should be fairly well cleaned up and ready to play. I am
going to start Level II Test 1 to detect problems with the newly released Scenario
129. Mifune will be trying to play for the first time in two years. Note he has made
new art as recently as yesterday for this scenario - the 8 gun versions of the
battleships named above. They traded two turrets and magazines for more
engine spaces.