Aircraft Production

[GPounda]

So here is the question that I am finding very frustrating. . .

So there are three stages of aircraft production. . .

Used for Reinforcements
Used for Upgrades
Transferred to Reserve

In theory I understand this, but here is the confusion. . .

I clear the Reserve units and then build the Bf-109's to the point of Transfer to Reserve, but when I go back there are hundreds of He-51 Biplanes that were not there before.

This happens numerous times. . . am I doing something wrong, is it a glitch?

 

[denisKhan]

So here is the question that I am finding very frustrating. . .

So there are three stages of aircraft production. . .

Used for Reinforcements
Used for Upgrades
Transferred to Reserve

In theory I understand this, but here is the confusion. . .

I clear the Reserve units and then build the Bf-109's to the point of Transfer to Reserve, but when I go back there are hundreds of He-51 Biplanes that were not there before.

This happens numerous times. . . am I doing something wrong, is it a glitch?

Before transferring to reserves, the production aims to upgrade your air wings, therefore replacing all outdated Heinkels by modern Messerschmitts. Consequently, all the Heinkels rather than be destroyed are transferred to reserves.

It is the same with tanks; artillery, AT and AA pieces; infantry equipment and mechanized.

 

[GPounda]

so it's basically a never-ending cycle. . .

 

[denisKhan]

so it's basically a never-ending cycle. . .

Why?

 

[browd]

Why?

Because you will deploy new wings with the old equipment, which is then gradually replaced by new equipment as it is produced, which sends the old equipment back to the stockpile, whereupon you deploy new wings with the old equipment, which is then gradually replaced by new equipment as it is produced, which sends the old equipment back to the stockpile, whereupon you deploy new wings .... well, you get the idea.

Just think of the one-time children's show host Sheri Lewis and "The Song That Doesn't End."

 

[Stolen Rutters]

You don't actually have to clear the reserves if you have more than enough wing units. Just build the new planes, and when they equal a new unit, you can deploy it then.

My guess is you don't need the old units to be deployed, do you? It's not like they are that necessary far from the front lines. Are you doing it just to remove that tool tip at the top of the screen?

Also, the next version Oak will revamp the air war. I wonder what they have planned for the reserve pile.

 

[Dalwin]

This bit about not being able to burn off the old models so that they get used up instead of sitting in reserve used to bother me. I eventually came to realize that my mistake was in even wanting a reserve. Deploy all your planes (at least to the nearest 100) without concern about holding back a reserve. The older models will die and you will eventually have only newer ones left.

If your losses are too heavy, you disband a few wings to reinforce others.

Planes are not like tanks or infantry equipment such that understrength units in the field are severely penalized. A group that is 50/50 will perform exactly as well as one that is 50/200 (i.e. understrength). We become conditioned to avoid seeing negative numbers in our stockpiles, but this means something entirely different for planes than for other items.

The exception is for carrier aircraft. There you do want a reserve and seeing negatives is very bad.

 

[THX2031]

I would like to see old planes (and captured) scrapped for parts, Some of the materials could go back to resource pile. Applies to other equpipnet too.

 

[AOW]

There is always Lend Lease ... give the older models to an ally.

 

[martin4444]

The older models will die and you will eventually have only newer ones left.

Seems silly willing to lose manpower (and send old airplanes + pilots) to their deaths against better (newer) enemy air planes just to keep the "reserve" pile free from older versions.

 

[Dalwin]

Seems silly willing to lose manpower (and send old airplanes + pilots) to their deaths against better (newer) enemy air planes just to keep the "reserve" pile free from older versions.

Here is a tip for you that should be common knowledge by now but is still somehow not. You don't lose the 20 men per fighter when the plane dies. You in fact lose no manpower at all when planes and ships die.

At first this may seem wrong, but if you look at how many aircrew died historically compared to all ground forces and did the same with ships, you'd see it as not being that bad of an approximation. By far the predominant share of military casualties were among ground forces.

The manpower assigned to planes and ships in HOI4 represents that it did take a fair amount of personnel to operate such units even if most of it was in the support echelons.