Air bombardment and military equipment

[Tormodius]

So, how will it work in HOI4?
I read that they are introducing a concept which includes equipment produced from factories and used by units. Im just guessing its such as guns, tanks, ship hulls, airplanes, or whatever they choose. It sounds neat. Things that can be destroyed yay!
But in the case of strategic bombing campaign, have they released any information on that yet? I suppose bombs falling would destroy or damage such equipment in and around factories, depots, railcars etc. If thats the case, its kinda interesting, because it could mean more realistic and perhaps serious hindering of war effort than previous games, that did some temporary damage IC in one place and it was repaired quickly. Anyone who know anything about it? The devs perhaps?

 

[Thracian]

are cosumables included in that production concept?

 

[PlacidDragon]

Dont think they've spoken much about specifics yet. But i imagine that it'll work something like this :

In the Münich sector/area, Germany has a factory that manufactures 12 Panthers each week. The British/US decides to pay that factory a visit, and do a bombing raid against it. They damage the factory quite severely, to the point that it can only manage to deliver 4 Panthers every week, until repaired.

Thats how i imagine it'll work anyway

I dont imagine you'll be able to target stockpiles though, especially of new equipment, as that should be somewhere on the route towards their destination unit as soon as they left the factory floor. Well.. i think anyway

 

[Centurion1973]

Dont think they've spoken much about specifics yet. But i imagine that it'll work something like this :

In the Münich sector/area, Germany has a factory that manufactures 12 Panthers each week. The British/US decides to pay that factory a visit, and do a bombing raid against it. They damage the factory quite severely, to the point that it can only manage to deliver 4 Panthers every week, until repaired.

Thats how i imagine it'll work anyway

I dont imagine you'll be able to target stockpiles though, especially of new equipment, as that should be somewhere on the route towards their destination unit as soon as they left the factory floor. Well.. i think anyway

I agree. Considering WW2 strategic bombing targetting error of 5km (on average) it would not be reallistic if strategic bombing was able to attack small moving targets.

If someone want to destroy tanks and artilery, they should send CAS and TAC to attack enemy units.

 

[DoomBunny]

I agree. Considering WW2 strategic bombing targetting error of 5km (on average) it would not be reallistic if strategic bombing was able to attack small moving targets.

If someone want to destroy tanks and artilery, they should send CAS and TAC to attack enemy units.

Strategic bombers worked fine at destroying battlefield targets. The downside was that they tended to destroy a whole lot else besides.

 

[Centurion1973]

Strategic bombers worked fine at destroying battlefield targets. The downside was that they tended to destroy a whole lot else besides.

They often had problem identifying their target and dropping bombs on something else.

good example:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cobra#Preliminary_attacks

So if game simulate effect of strat bombers on battlefield targets, lack of accuracy need to be taken into account - either by lowering effectivity or intruducing chance of friendly fire incidents.

 

[franc001sher]

Another point: Small arms and crews should have more possibilities in hiding themselves during bombing.

 

[SFSLovenought]

Another point: Small arms and crews should have more possibilities in hiding themselves during bombing.

Now that you mention it, a lot of things should influence resistance to bombing.

For example, a veteran, late-war Soviet Tank Division that has dug into a forest and is not moving around should take very little little damage from bombing due to being almost invisible from the air.
On the other hand, an inexperienced Rifle Division in the same situation would do stupid things that make it easy to bomb.

I'm reminded of stories about early-war Soviet troops walking around in the snow and leaving highly visible trails leading to all of their positions, which the Luftwaffe pilots took advantage of.

 

[Alex_brunius]

I agree. Considering WW2 strategic bombing targetting error of 5km (on average) it would not be reallistic if strategic bombing was able to attack small moving targets.

If someone want to destroy tanks and artilery, they should send CAS and TAC to attack enemy units.

Agreed. It would be cool if Strategic attacks can destroy equipment in transit though.

What I mean is divisions under strategic redeployment that would have tanks packed on rail cars sitting on rail yards or that would be stocked on dockyards preparing to be loaded/unloaded from ships. These were frequently targeted by strategic attacks.

Edit:
Depending on how the supply system works supplies in transit could also be used to model reinforces or upgrades going towards the front. With a flag you could also have logistical strikes against these "supply" deliveries knocking out reinforcement equipment. Or Equipment could be a separate type of "supply" just like fuel is.

These mechanics should be in the game anyways to take full advantage of the new equipment model. It is for example crucial that sinking convoys actually will destroy and sink the tanks loaded on the ships that allies send as reinforcements towards Europe as well, or we are back on square one in terms of strategic warfare!

 

[Centurion1973]

Agreed. It would be cool if Strategic attacks can destroy equipment in transit though.

What I mean is divisions under strategic redeployment that would be packed on rail cars sitting on rail yards or that would be stocked on dockyards preparing to be loaded/unloaded from ships. These were frequently targeted by strategic attacks.

Yeah, that would be nice.