Weird/Buggy: Soviet 107mm Mortar Production behaviour [ID:729]

[Wiedrock]

Production is off - at times - for several of the Elements, not sure what that is based on, few turns it falls behind some and then it catches up. I am used to this. But with the 107mm I have found an issue I can't explain.

It is produced 15/turn (should be) and ends production 01/1945 - that's ~189turns.
This would/should give it ~15x189=2835 produced.
But in GC41 in April 1945 there are only 1331 being "Built" (Built Column).
So I looked what's going on and it suddenly stops production already earlier. Some turn numbers:
T77 = 1166 (should: 15x77=1155) "+11 ahead"
T87 = 1318 (should: 15x87=1305) "+13 ahead"
T107 = 1326 (should: 15x107=1605) "-279 behind"
T117 = 1327 (should: 15x117=1755) "-428 behind"
T118 = 1331 ...and there it stays. (19.Sep.1943) -439 "behind"
T127 = 1331 (should: 15x127=1905) ...
T147 = 1331 (should: 15x147=2205) ...

So I have no idea what's going on. It's not even that it suddenly ends, but it seems to slow down production in some weird way.

The last time in "whatsnew" I see

v01.01.00 – 28th June 2021

[...]

Data and Scenario Changes
• Scenario changes in Campaign 41, Road to Leningrad, Destruction of Southwest Front, and
Operation Typhoon:
o adjusted for changes to 76.2mm Infantry Gun, 107mm Mortar, & 120mm Mortar pools

[...]

• Changes to ground.dat
[...]
o Changed production rate and period of 107mm mortar.

[Wiedrock]

Here's an example from another autoplay, This was run at game version 1.03.07

some example turns:
...no idea when it ends
T112 = 1233
T118 = 1233
T119 = 1233
T120 = 1233
...no idea when the other 5 are being produced.

The 120mm Mortar somehow always matches 100% [turn x production] - numbers.

[Denniss]

very strange indeed. My last full AI testrun AI testrun was with 1.04.00 and there it topped at 1366 mortars produced by last turn of 1/45. Already had 1348 in 1/44.

[Joel Billings]

There seems to be something in the code that stops production when there is a big excess, but Gary has no memory of ever having put that in the code. I'll see if Pavel can have a look and figure it out. Given the number of units using the equipment, it's clearly not an issue for this weapon.

[Wiedrock]

Yes that may explain it.

The 107mm is in general a Mountain Mortar so to speak.

The production stop may be able to get fixed in AI games/PvP games (as long as players do not disband the units) by creating some of the Mountain Mortar Regiments at historic dates ~12SUs (190th is already created in GC41 and StB starts with 195,196,197).

[FortTell]

Here's an example from another autoplay, This was run at game version 1.03.07

some example turns:
...no idea when it ends
T112 = 1233
T118 = 1233
T119 = 1233
T120 = 1233
...no idea when the other 5 are being produced.

The 120mm Mortar somehow always matches 100% [turn x production] - numbers.

I recall some patch note that changed the limit of element overproduction. Before patch X, if there were 10 weeks worth of production of some element in the pool, the element would stop producing. This created issues with production of some guns like the 203mm howitzer or 122mm gun, which have low build limits per week, but a surplus of guns in the pool at game start.

The fix was to raise that limit to 100 weeks worth of production instead of 10, which is what we are seeing here (15/week*100weeks=1500 in the pool). If you use some of the mortars (they can be used in mortar regiments instead of 120mm mortars), the production will resume.

[Joel Billings]

Sounds like you solved the mystery, thanks.

[Denniss]

This cap should be disabled for elements with a (positive) turn build limit as this indicates Jim had planned to reach a specific production target.

[Joel Billings]

Pavel confirmed that there is a limit to production. The game doesn't allow to build when the pool is above the build limit * 100.