Arctic. Why is it always frozen?

[CapitaineHaddock]

The Arctic theater is permanently frozen, even during summer months. Besides not reflecting the actual weather conditions, this basically means nothing will ever happen up North. In real life, the Arctic theater was heavily contested and pretty large formations were engaged. The Germans and Finns advanced towards Murmansk in 41 (operation Silberfuchs/Silverfox) and the Soviets counterattacked in 44, eventually driving the Germans out of Finnmark (Northernmost region of Norway). Why remove this interesting theater?

[LoneRunner]

Not sure why you state nothing much happens in the Artic Theater. In MP huge battles rage over control of the Russian convoy route. As Axis I regularly place two maritime bombers and fighters on the north coast. That's in addition to subs and a capital ship or two.

Murmansk is a valuable prize in the game. As Axis I might assign two or three corps to taking it. I had an opponent who actually placed a tank on the north coast and took Murmansk pretty quickly.

As an Allied player I've placed a Russian tank in Murmansk and took Petsamo just to teach the Axis a lesson and cut off supplies to the Axis fleet, heh.

So, perhaps you don't see much action in that theater with the AI but in MP it's an exciting front.

[CapitaineHaddock]

Good to hear you've seen some action. I never play the AI, only humans. I am aware of the bombers, but otherwise I've never seen anything. I guess it shows my lack of experience, but my question is still valid: why is it always frozen?

[OldCrowBalthazor]

The icecap always fluctuates depending on the season.
In fact, I use the ice at times to hide my German U-boats and Cruisers to duck and sit out the RN at times.

Not sure what your saying about the fact that the ice never changes unless your talking about the summer season remnant at the top of the map at about 80° N.

Back then...there was a polar icecap in summer

Btw I only play MP, and these ice hiding tactics I use all the time...if I have any Axis boats left that is hah.

[LoneRunner]

Back then...there was a polar icecap in summer

Hah, good point!

[CapitaineHaddock]

The icecap always fluctuates depending on the season.
In fact, I use the ice at times to hide my German U-boats and Cruisers to duck and sit out the RN at times.

Not sure what your saying about the fact that the ice never changes unless your talking about the summer season remnant at the top of the map at about 80° N.

Back then...there was a polar icecap in summer

Btw I only play MP, and these ice hiding tactics I use all the time...if I have any Axis boats left that is hah.

I mean the High North of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, not the Barents Sea

[OldCrowBalthazor]

Murmansk is always icefree, and Petsamo clear in summer and fall. Even the northern fjords of Norway and the White Sea get clear by June.

Is something different happening in your game?

[CapitaineHaddock]

Murmansk is always icefree, and Petsamo clear in summer and fall. Even the northern fjords of Norway and the White Sea get clear by June.

Is something different happening in your game?

I mean the land hexes in the northernmost parts of the map, including Murmansk, the North of Norway etc. Those hexes are either have frozen weather or snow, never any clear weather.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

Oh that. The land. I guess because it's in the Arctic weather zone and the devs wanted attacks to be difficult up there. Frozen> E.G. Permafrost country.

I know the Germans and Finns up in the Pechenga area had a helluva time building redoubts up there on the approaches to Murmansk even in the summer because the ground underneath in the rocky scree was as solid as concrete, because of permafrost.

I personally have had to work in the far north, and while its quite pleasant for a few months with the midnight sun, grass as tall as your chest, and moderate daytime temperatures...it's still difficult to get around. Also, nighttime temperatures sometimes dipped near or below freezing, even in June.
The mosquitos alone can drive reindeer (caribou) mad up in that zone not to mention humans. I mean it was the worst impediment I experienced...a literal hell.

So maybe the devs were wise and this is an abstract way to reflect the difficulty of operations there.
Note, it hasn't stopped me from making a move on Kandalaska or Murmansk. Generally that takes a big effort with a dedicated HQ to pull off.

[CapitaineHaddock]

Oh that. The land. I guess because it's in the Arctic weather zone and the devs wanted attacks to be difficult up there. Frozen> E.G. Permafrost country.

I know the Germans and Finns up in the Pechenga area had a helluva time building redoubts up there on the approaches to Murmansk even in the summer because the ground underneath in the rocky scree was as solid as concrete, because of permafrost.

I personally have had to work in the far north, and while its quite pleasant for a few months with the midnight sun, grass as tall as your chest, and moderate daytime temperatures...it's still difficult to get around. Also, nighttime temperatures sometimes dipped near or below freezing, even in June.
The mosquitos alone can drive reindeer (caribou) mad up in that zone not to mention humans. I mean it was the worst impediment I experienced...a literal hell.

So maybe the devs were wise and this is an abstract way to reflect the difficulty of operations there.
Note, it hasn't stopped me from making a move on Kandalaska or Murmansk. Generally that takes a big effort with a dedicated HQ to pull off.

Pleased to meet a fellow Arctic traveller. I did military service in the North of Norway back in the peaceful 90's. In Norway, we only have permafrost in some high mountain areas. I know, because we had exercises digging trenches:-( In the northernmost part of Norway (Finnmark), there is little grass and limited vegetation. There is probably more permafrost on the Kola peninsula in Russia, but there are extensive reaches of boreal forest as well, which excludes permafrost.
As for the mosquitos they are certainly nasty past midsummer, but there are several months of good weather with limited rain and pleasant daytime temperatures.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

Well met sir.

Yeah the 'No-see-ems' and the mosquitos were by far the worst $h@t the Arctic could throw at you. Summers were worst than Winters.
Regards to Finnmark.
The Saami folks know the land there, and every rock and stream has a Name. A living Name. Same in Alaska and Siberia too with the indigenous folk. The land, sky, and sea was alive and could tell an outsider if they listened closely the way of things as they were, how they are, and who passed through.

Its was at your peril as an outsider to disregard this wisdom given by the locals.
At least....in my experience, it was.

o7