U-boat effectiveness

[JohnDoe]

In the AAR the u-boat threat seems to be easily dealt with. In the early years up to 1942 the u-boats war was very costly to the allies in both lost shipping and resources to fight the war, yet the AAR seems to indicate that little is required and lots is achieved.

Cheers,

John Doe

[MButtazoni]

our AARs have not focused on the sub war but it is there, a lot of the GE and JA strategies revolve around the sub campaigns.

if you think of them as one shot weapons and focus on sending waves of them they most certainly have an effect.

what you have not noticed in the 2 AARs (2 & 3) is the attrition effect the subs have on Transports, they may not shutdown the atlantic, but they certainly make it operate at a bare minimum, and it takes a lot of production to keep the transports at a level you can invade with.

it is there and it is very well implemented, IMO.

[color]

In one game against the AI, I managed to completely isolate the british isles by investing heavily in uboat evasiveness (and to some extent torpedo tech). If the difference between friendly evasiveness and enemy ASW values is high enough, the subs will survive most any attack without any effect. If the Allied player does not follow up he will loose out on the u-boat war, which will have grave consequences for the British Isles. Little by little the British Fleet was worn down and eliminated, the US did not enter the war (beginning 1943) until it was too late to reverse the effect (I kept maintaining my technological advantage).
It should be noted I was playing at the easiest level.

Jorgen

[EdwinP]

Thanks for the feedback, in my mind this really demonstates the importance that FOW will have in the area of research investments.

[YohanTM2]

ORIGINAL: EdwinP

Thanks for the feedback, in my mind this really demonstates the importance that FOW will have in the area of research investments.

But contact with a superior enemy should give a % of revealing their current tech level. It did not take the Germans too long to understand the superiority of Russian tanks for example.

[paullus99]

Oh, you'll have a good idea on tech levels very quickly - since you know where everyone starts - and steady research in infantry & armor is going to be mandatory (except for the Japanese) for all sides, since you will win or lose this war on the ground.

Only the Western Allies really have the resources to spread out their research into other areas.

[JohnDoe]

ORIGINAL: Yohan

ORIGINAL: EdwinP

Thanks for the feedback, in my mind this really demonstates the importance that FOW will have in the area of research investments.

But contact with a superior enemy should give a % of revealing their current tech level. It did not take the Germans too long to understand the superiority of Russian tanks for example.

That is because they would have retrieved a dead tank from the battle field. Not so easy for a u-boat or a any warship for that matter.

Cheers.

[JohnDoe]

Do the u-boats start with the advantage as was the case at the start of WWII.

In 1939 9 u-boats were lost
In 1940 24 u-boats were lost
In 1941 33 u-boats were lost
In 1942 83 u-boats were lost

A big NOTE here, that of the 83 lost in 1942, only 31 were lost to escorts, that is less than 40%.

So by the end of 1942, the escorts had accounted for only 70 u-boats.

Cheers.

[paullus99]

Right now, without FOW - you need a bunch of U-Boats to be truly effective (more than just one shot weapons). With FOW, I'm sure U-Boats will be more of an immediate menace.

[IDrinkBeer]

ORIGINAL: paullus99

Right now, without FOW - you need a bunch of U-Boats to be truly effective (more than just one shot weapons). With FOW, I'm sure U-Boats will be more of an immediate menace.

Actually, they can be quite the menace even with FOW off. The u-boats have enough MP ( movement points ) to go out and attack shipping and return to port all in one turn. The best place to stage your subs is Western France and then raid/return hitting lightly or unguarded transports within return trip range. Station a couple of German fighters and Anti-Air guns in Western France and the WA can't touch you for quite some time.