Any reason to invade Norway?

[Skalman500]

Probably could mod where you have say 9 months after war with the UK to control Narvik or access to Sweden is cut for 4 months. But it would have to be a mod most likely. PDS doesn't like railroading people into having to do stuff in HOI4 and this might be taking realism too far for them.

You could write it up as a suggestion in the sub forum, they will take a look at the idea.

Yes I was thinking of a mod as well, I don't think such a clumsy solution could be in the base game. I've done some of the Scandinavian mods on the workshop, working on Norway right now so if there are any good ideas on the implementation of this I'd be happy for more ideas.

 

[Bundeswag]

I have been often very critical of HOI4, but in this area I am not. You had no real "reason" to do so if playing Germany in HOI3 either, but I still did it because of role-play - if playing another nation on the other hand, I expect Germany to invade Norway.

But I agree that the whole "national focus things" are extremely stupid. Would work a whole lot better with events instead.

Well it had heavy water in hoi 3. It isn't much, but it is something. Also more bases to spread out your subs, as the allies would have to bomb every port invidually.

 

[Dalwin]

In MP, I would say the greatest incentives to invade Norway belong to the Allies. Chief among these is being able to threaten the Baltic. Because of the not entirely logical placement of the Danish Straights, a UK player cannot realistically hope to invade Denmark and supply his troops there unless he has first taken Norway. Possession of Norway at least gives him the option to withdraw to Oslo instead of being trapped if the Germans heavily counterattack a Danish invasion.

Germany's main incentive, IMO, would be to deny the area to the British and to threaten the lend lease route into Russia. He can put subs or surface raiders along the Norwegian coast without first occupying Norway, but they stand a much better chance if they are supported by planes and radar from Norway.

The resources from Norway and Sweden are useful, but in HOI4 they are essentially unnecessary for the Reich. It is easier and safer to get tungsten from Spain and Portugal. The main customer for Scandinavian tungsten is actually Russia in this game.

 

[Comrade110]

It is easier and safer to get tungsten from Spain and Portugal. The main customer for Scandinavian tungsten is actually Russia in this game.

In MP allies 1st buyout tungsten from Portugal so Germany wont have enough .

 

[Emden1]

Wish the heavy water was there.... at least that was a reason to go there, if for nothing else... (Germany has enough steel and basing the navy there shortens your range to the Atlantic)

 

[bERt0r]

Couldn't they add a national focus giving some nuclear research bonus that requires norway to be annexed/axis?

 

[ltccone]

As Germany, I always invade Norway so I can invade Britain from there.

 

[grandad1982]

In MP allies 1st buyout tungsten from Portugal so Germany wont have enough .

And this is an example of why trade needs to change.

 

[davej]

it's for the smoked salmon

 

[Riekopo]

Sadly, most of the historical reasons for invading Norway aren't modeled in the game.

 

[dave1233]

And this is an example of why trade needs to change.

It's entirely historical, the Allies did buy significant amounts of portugese tunsgsten tungsten at inflated prices just to deny it to germany

 

[Mamluke]

surprised no one mention the resources, Norway has a total:
30 Aluminium;
20 Tungsten;
2 Chromium;
12 Steel.

plus all those factories, the extra NIC could always help.

Aluminium will be in short supply once late game planes are unlocked, and you don't need to waste factories for trade AND your enemy can't buy then now .
some for Tungsten, which Germany has short supply for its tank industry.

I mean, you can always trade for such things granted. but I think there are some incentives already.

 

[Skalman500]

surprised no one mention the resources, Norway has a total:
30 Aluminium;
20 Tungsten;
2 Chromium;
12 Steel.

plus all those factories, the extra NIC could always help.

Aluminium will be in short supply once late game planes are unlocked, and you don't need to waste factories for trade AND your enemy can't buy then now .
some for Tungsten, which Germany has short supply for its tank industry.

I mean, you can always trade for such things granted. but I think there are some incentives already.

We did mention this on page one... However you'd be better of invading Sweden as a comparison (more factories and more resources). Given the amount you get in Norway, it will hardly be enough to make any difference to your production.

 

[dave1233]

We did mention this on page one... However you'd be better of invading Sweden as a comparison (more factories and more resources). Given the amount you get in Norway, it will hardly be enough to make any difference to your production.

If you are invading one of Sweden and Norway then the other one will be easy to take out afterwards so I am struggling to see a reason not to take them both out

 

[Skalman500]

If you are invading one of Sweden and Norway then the other one will be easy to take out afterwards so I am struggling to see a reason not to take them both out

No one ever said you should not take both out, but the comparison is there to highlight the fact that one is more lucrative than the other. Just because the game is stupidly easy and you can take everyone out at your leisure at the moment, there is a historical reason this didn't happen in the first place.

 

[dave1233]

No one ever said you should not take both out, but the comparison is there to highlight the fact that one is more lucrative than the other. Just because the game is stupidly easy and you can take everyone out at your leisure at the moment, there is a historical reason this didn't happen in the first place.

If you aren't attacking Sweden to be historical I still cannot see a single reason not to take out Norway. It may not be as important as it was in real life but free factories are still free factories.

 

[Skalman500]

Well what if I am playing MP with my friends, I have enough units to take out one but not the other. Or if I don't want to protect the entire Norwegian coast in a MP campaign? I think you can have plenty of scenarios where you would have to chose.

 

[dave1233]

Well what if I am playing MP with my friends, I have enough units to take out one but not the other. Or if I don't want to protect the entire Norwegian coast in a MP campaign? I think you can have plenty of scenarios where you would have to chose.

You don't need to protect the entire Norwegian coast in mp. There are very few ports and they tend to be in bad terrain so you can just focus your defence around them. Even if the British do invade successfully the ports are normally low level and cannot supply much and you can transport as many reinforcements as you want safely through the baltic and Oslo.

To be honest, I struggle to see a scenario where you have the time/troops to only take out one of them and have to pick. In the process of taking one of them out you will generally have to send troops to the north of the country so you will be well positioned to take the other out quickly and easily.

 

[Skalman500]

To be honest you struggle all the time, I definitely don't agree with the coastline only having to guard the ports and you didn't even address the amount of troops you'd need which is one of the most historical reasons Sweden wasn't invaded. I find your arguments very generic to the SP experience where you will never significantly lack anything and you can just waltz through.

 

[dave1233]

To be honest you struggle all the time, I definitely don't agree with the coastline only having to guard the ports and you didn't even address the amount of troops you'd need which is one of the most historical reasons Sweden wasn't invaded. I find your arguments very generic to the SP experience where you will never significantly lack anything and you can just waltz through.

I basically only play mp tbh. Sp is for mp test builds

With regard to troops, after France falls you should have plenty of spare troops to take both of them out. Sweden will only need cav to garrison it and Norway has 4 or 5 ports to garrison with maybe 4 20 widths in each and then a few hundred cas to provide air superiority. If you just have 24 20 widths under a general that should give you plenty of reserves if needed.