Battle of the Atlantic analysis

[generalfdog]

Now I did hot seat BOA analysis
1939 2-3 subs 10-15 escorts, 4 battles with 4 to 5 escorts 3 with 9 or 10, 2%-5% escort bonus German losses were 12 pp UK 260pp
1940 Germany builds 2 more subs allies build another 10 escorts and keep their mm about even losses are 238pp to UK 870
The most interesting part was the end of 40 going in to early 41 when Germany is 2 tech points ahead of UK on sub research vs convoy escort tech.
1941 with German building 3 more subs went 619pp lost by Germany to 1060 for UK
1942 was a blood bath initially but the tide begins to turn in June when UK gets 43 escort tech.
Ger. 833 pp UK 2340pp!
1943 was interesting and felt pretty historical in may 44 escort tech hits and subs are pretty well driven out of the Atlantic unless there is somewhere with less then 10 escorts. Ger. 918pp UK 1340pp
All in all I concluded that the sub war is well worth pursuing for Germany, the only thing I think could use improving is the detection planes don't seem worth it they almost never spot subs. I am buying more subs in my next game!

[stjeand]

Strangely what I see is a HUGE variation in the games.

Some games you sink tons of MM early with no hits...others complete opposite.

I was playing a mirror game and we were doing the same BOA...
I had sunk 35 MM 2 Escorts by the start of France...

He had sunk 75 MM and 8 Escorts.

I think you surely build subs when you can but if you can't sink enough MM to matter better to create a panzer rather than 3 subs.

Overall subs are cheap and normally pay you back for what they do. You just have to find the balance that fits your land plans.

[Nirosi]

Some games you sink tons of MM early with no hits...others complete opposite.

Same here. Big difference in MM, escorts and U-boat loses from one game to another in the first year. Subs also force the Allies to invest in escorts and MMs, which in a way is another type of " damage "

[generalfdog]

In the games where I basically ignore the Atlantic or put very little effort in it seems like the UK land forces are quit large and they are invading France in 43. And I sit there wondering why I have all but crushed the Russians but I am losing Germany to the western allies! It's a good balance makes you think about your builds, the best games you balance your builds and it's touch and go on all fronts. The other real interesting thing in the boa can be if the UK doesn't have enough convoy escorts so they are deploying them trying to guess where you will hit. Big score if you get unescorted convoys, would be more interesting if it was like wpp and navy was hidden

[sveint]

It's not just about PP.

It's also about how much PP the Allies can send to the Soviets.

[generalfdog]

Indeed, the UK needs 150 mm minimum or they start losing production and oil, once Russia joins they need another 50 if they want to send the max, and i think USA can send 75 or so at least 275mm which is alot considering you start with less then that and when the u boats are in a "happy time" you can lose 10 or more a turn

[generalfdog]

does anyone research US escort ability? I don't see a reason, I just have the UK buy all the escorts, I buy mm with the US but just have UK escort them

[stjeand]

I used to research US escorts and they changed to what you are saying.

It does seem to be a waste though I am not sure WHOSE tech is used in the case of...

UK transporting PP to USSR
US transporting PP to USSR

I believe that shows up as two convoys...so perhaps the US one uses the US convoy escort advancement even though UK escorts are being used?

[redrum68]

My assumption is since you see 2 separate convoy battles that each country uses their own escort tech.