Hinge of Fate - World War 2, 1941-1945

[eric_A]

Originally Posted by Slyk

The KV2 was obsolete by 1942/43. A better move would be to the 'Stalin' series tanks... JS1 or JS2.

On the point of Divisions/Corps. Are you assuming Corps contain their own Arty support? You do a good job of penalty to movement for the bigger organiztions but at the same time, the corps would benefit from their own arty support organizations, especially the Russians.

Slyk: Thanks for the information on the KV2.

I was considering whether or not to give corps some built-in artilley
support, but had not made up my mind yet. Maybe I will just do it
for the Russians as the Russians were big on artillery support. It would
give them another "unique unit" in addition to the guerillas/partisans.

[eric_A]

I started a thread for the PBEM test game over in the PBEM forum:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showth...73#post2823073

[P-51D]

Originally Posted by eric_A

The political situation:

Locked alliance #1 (USA, Commonwealth and Minor Allies) at war with alliance 2 and 4.
Locked alliance #2 (Germany and Minor Axis) at war with alliance 1 and 3.
Locked alliance #3 (Russia) at war with alliance 2.
Locked alliance #4 (Japan) at war with alliance 1.

You could put Japan at war with Russia too. The Soviets said they would help, but actually helping..... I'm not so sure about that.

[Misfit_travel]

I'd suggest leaving the Russian side free to go to war or not, rather than a locked alliance. It adds more diplomacy to the game, especially if you tweak the settings so that Russia prefers Allied powers. A locked alliance is too rigid and would promote early combat (against Japan), that isn't historically realistic.

My two cents.

Misfit

[eric_A]

Originally Posted by P-51D

You could put Japan at war with Russia too. The Soviets said they would help, but actually helping..... I'm not so sure about that.

I agree with Misfit, better to leave it up to the players as to when and if
the Russians and Japanese go at it.

[Slyk]

Locking the Russians into a war with Japan at the start would do two things, imo:
1. Doom the Russians
2. Doom the Japenese

Neither can afford another front. The best they could hope for would be to have a stand-off with eachother...any threat that had to be met would divert major resources from the other more vital theatre. Stick to your choice.

[aksully]

I agree about not making a locked alliance. I think Slyk is also right on in his post above. Corps were very heavy with mobile arty support.
Sully

[eric_A]

Originally Posted by Slyk

The KV2 was obsolete by 1942/43. A better move would be to the 'Stalin' series tanks... JS1 or JS2.

Slyk:
I checked but could not find any unit graphics for a JS1 or 2, looks
like I'm stuck with the KVs.

Sully:
I was looking at Axis SP guns and I am thinking of going with the Wespe,
what do you think?

[aksully]

Eric,
That would be a good choice based upon numbers produced. Here's some historical comments on production.

"In a desperate effort to cope with the mobility of the Red Army's advance the Germans turned to self-propelled guns starting in 1943".

The complete German designations of these panzers are:

"Grizzly Bear" - Sturmpanzer IV, other designations: SdKfz 166, Brummbär, StuG IV mit 15cm StuH43. Approximately 306 Sturmpanzer IV were produced from April 1943 to March 1945.

128-mm on modified PzKw VI - 12.8cm Selbstfahrlafette L/61, other designations: Panzerselbstfahrlafette V, VK3001(H), PzSfl V, Sturer Emil. Only 2 PzSfl V were produced from VK3001(H) components.

"Wasp" - Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf), other designations: SdKfz 124, Wespe. Approximately 676[I][U] Wespe were produced from February 1943 to July 1944.

"Bumble Bee" - 15cm Schwere Panzerhaubitze auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf), other designations: SdKfz 165, Hummel.

"Hornet" - 8.8cm PaK 43/1 (L/71) auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf), other designations: Hornisse, Nashorn. Approximately 494 Hornisse were produced from February 1943 to March 1945

Sully

[Slyk]

Be careful what you ask for! here are several great links:

http://www.battlefield.ru/is2_2.html
http://www.battlefield.ru/is2_3.html
http://www.tarrif.net/ click on the Russian/Soviet Flag, JS tanks lower part of page.

The KV1 was the prime heavy Russian tank in 1941/42. The KV2 was at best, a beastly incarnation that was terribly slow, difficult if not nearly impossible to maneuver, and of course very very hard to knock out. It was used primarily as a moving pillbox. Positioned to harden defences, trench lines, etc. It is not a good choice as an upgraded combat tank. It had virtually NO offensive capability. The KV1 itself was little better in some regards and is better off thought of as an infantry support tank or long-range engagement tank to support the lighter Russian tanks of the time.

[aksully]

Excellent site Slyk! Enjoyed it alot. The IS-3 Hvy Tank produced late in the war was a beautifully designed tank! I wish I hadn't thrown away my AH PanzerBlitz board game!
Was a fantastic source of tank info!
Sully

[eric_A]

Here is an update on what we have so far:


City Improvements

7.0 Factories, temples and libraries are now buildable when mobilized for war.

7.1 Manufacturing plants have been modified as follows:
a. They can only be built by democracies.
b. They are now very expensive (200) but increases production by 3 instead of 2.
c. The United States ("the arsenal of democracy") has these plants at start in
all the major continental cities (NY, Washington, LA, Chicago, etc.).

7.2 Added the Dominion Parliment building to 1 city in Australia, NZ, Canada and S. Africa,
they reduce corruption and increase revenue but are very expensive (300) to build.

7.3 Military Academy - Removed the limitations on building the
academy. All civ start with a military academy except China.


Small Wonders
8.0 The Manhattan project was changed:
a. Now a small wonder so more than 1 civ can finish it.
b. Produces an atom bomb every 6 turns
C. Cost is now 300

Great Wonders Added:

8.1 The U-boat works in Kiel - Builds a U-boat every 2 turns.

8.2 Chennault's Flying Tigers in Chunking - Produces a veteran P-40 unit every 4 turns.

8.3 Stillwell's Training camp in Kunming - Produces 1 veteran US infantry division
every 3 turns.

8.4 Harris's Bomber Plant in Belfast - Produces 1 Lancaster bomber every 2 turns.

[eric_A]

9.3 The following units do not require support:
a. Guerillas
b. Millitas
c. Chinese Infantry
d. French Foreign Legions

[eric_A]

Originally Posted by Slyk

Be careful what you ask for! here are several great links:

http://www.battlefield.ru/is2_2.html
http://www.battlefield.ru/is2_3.html
http://www.tarrif.net/ click on the Russian/Soviet Flag, JS tanks lower part of page.

The KV1 was the prime heavy Russian tank in 1941/42. The KV2 was at best, a beastly incarnation that was terribly slow, difficult if not nearly impossible to maneuver, and of course very very hard to knock out. It was used primarily as a moving pillbox. Positioned to harden defences, trench lines, etc. It is not a good choice as an upgraded combat tank. It had virtually NO offensive capability. The KV1 itself was little better in some regards and is better off thought of as an infantry support tank or long-range engagement tank to support the lighter Russian tanks of the time.

Slyk:
What did the Russians have for halftracks? I need a mech infantry unit
for the Russians.

[Slyk]

Clinch tightly when you open this:
http://easyget.narod.ru/tanks.html

Halftracks? USA-GMC made M3s. As far as I know, they didn't produce any of their own and we sent them thousands. There are pictures of them in action....(looking up my links...)

Found another color JS pic: http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/Russian/Sborka_003_21

Watercolors at: http://www.tarrif.net/ under US/vehicles at the bottom.

As far as anything else, the Russians were more 'Motorized Infantry' than Mech. Outside of the M3A1, they rode their tanks right up to and sometimes through the front lines. They made due with what they had and this was a very formidable fighting tactic...providing your T34s could get themselves that far in one piece. I would say that you would be safe using a Zis3 or Gaz AA troop transport truck...just add a few helmets in the back. This would be the most likely configuration for Russian 'Mech Inf.'...not very sturdy compared to German Grenadiers and the SdKfz 251s but...

I know for a fact that some 2,800+ of the M3A1's were shipped to Russia. Having a problem finding the photos though...too many links to sort through! If I find them, I'll post it. But you should have no trouble finding images. They will rarely admit it, but without our supplies, they would have been in serious trouble...but all the same, without their devestating manpower sacrifice/loss, we never would have set foot in France in 1944.

[aksully]

Eric, Here's a M3 pic plus I sent you an email with other links and some photos to help you.

Here's the link to one of the better sites I found...
http://ww2armor.jexiste.fr/Takhn/Fil...os/sitemap.htm

Sully

[aksully]

More..Sully

[eric_A]

Looks like the Russians will be using US supplied Halftracks for the
mech infantry graphics.

[eric_A]

The only spot left is China. I plan to start the game on Sunday.

Screen Shot, The Italian fleet comes out to bombard Malta:

[eric_A]

I've started adding the historical leaderheads: