Can't figure out combat. Sunk almost 80 hours into this and still cannot even execute Fall Gelb

[Beagá]

Focke Wulf dakka dakka dakka wins wars.

 

[ladner]

Like the original poster, have had similar problems, at some point end up just bludgeoning my way to Paris. Have had similar problems with frontline units. I have not been just stuffing 24 divisions in an army, have built historical orders of battle. Basically every time there is a Belgian stone wall, the one province in Wallonia, further the units attacking into Luxembourg get counterattacked which stalls the whole offensive. Most of my infantry is 20W 7/2 infantry artillery with some 40W 14/4. Motorized infantry is standard template, Panzer divisions upgraded to 6/4 the six being a mix of medium and light. The biggest problem I have had is the Allies own the air with 3,000 fighters this has stymied my last couple of campaigns. I have been reading the other posts on building industry, which I think is my issue. Have not been able to match the AI Air Force

 

[Zauberelefant]

Like the original poster, have had similar problems, at some point end up just bludgeoning my way to Paris. Have had similar problems with frontline units. I have not been just stuffing 24 divisions in an army, have built historical orders of battle. Basically every time there is a Belgian stone wall, the one province in Wallonia, further the units attacking into Luxembourg get counterattacked which stalls the whole offensive. Most of my infantry is 20W 7/2 infantry artillery with some 40W 14/4. Motorized infantry is standard template, Panzer divisions upgraded to 6/4 the six being a mix of medium and light. The biggest problem I have had is the Allies own the air with 3,000 fighters this has stymied my last couple of campaigns. I have been reading the other posts on building industry, which I think is my issue. Have not been able to match the AI Air Force

In Vanilla, you're good if you have 2k fighters ready against the west.

 

[Want0n]

I've had a similar issue in my 1st play through as Germany. Poland went fine, took it with less than 10k casualties. Turned to Benelux and stalled big time. Seem to be two main issues. 1) Allies were putting huge stacks in Rotterdam, which means even with light tanks II and air superiority I can't shift them. This is compounded by 2) which is that Belgium has insane AT. I've started using Panzer III exclusive divisions, 20w 5/5. Problem is those are being penetrated. It's early 1941 now and trying to attack through Wallonia, which means I can't encircle Rotterdam. Lux and Holland have capitulated but I'm concerned that Brussels and Rotterdam will turn into my own Western front version of Stalingrad.

The alternative might be to go into Southern France through Italy, but that gets me no territory and the terrain isn't great either. Any suggestions? I have more equipment than I can use but am trying to preseve manpower...

 

[SavvyLad]

"Unit chill" is because of the supply situation. If you look at the units in your army list, you should see these little icons there. Most likely, they are hanging back from moving up so as to not overly burden the given supply zone that the front is currently in. As you take more territory and your supply situation improves, they will move up. Of course, you can just move them in yourself and supplies be damned, but that creates a new issue....

 

[Simon_9732495]

"Unit chill" is because of the supply situation. If you look at the units in your army list, you should see these little icons there. Most likely, they are hanging back from moving up so as to not overly burden the given supply zone that the front is currently in. As you take more territory and your supply situation improves, they will move up. Of course, you can just move them in yourself and supplies be damned, but that creates a new issue....

It's not that, because then the units would have the yellow exclamation mark, wouldn't they?

 

[SavvyLad]

It's not that, because then the units would have the yellow exclamation mark, wouldn't they?

Yes I would think so...If it isn't supplies maybe they're not all assigned to the plan in question? Sometimes the way plan drawing works for me is really weird. Like, I'll have a 24 unit army, and draw a frontline for all 24, cool. But, when I make a offensive plan, depending on how I draw it, sometimes it splits divisions off in multiple prongs of attack. Often, I don't notice that until I actually start fighting. Units might be hanging back because of this.

 

[ecpgieicg]

To learn about combat, you can look up Ramier's tutorial on HOI4 combat mechanics. Also look up how armor of divisions and soft attacks of divisions are formed. Basically, don't waste your resources having too many medium tank battalions and try distribute heavy SPG in some of your infantry divisions.

As for France, don't rely on battleplan. It really doesn't work. Do it manually. Be aggressive. Try to penetrate and try to flank relentlessly. Your division design needs to be seriously off if you can't push through with the French. (Which is an aspect of the game I don't like. France in reality lost due to particular quirks; not overall unrealistic constraints that were nowhere to be found IRL.)

In the long run, your air force is VERY lacking. I haven't played vanilla HOI4 for a long time (and don't know how much the AI still sucks). But there is no way a few hundred fighters (I assume you have the same number of fighters as your CAS and bombers) can stand up to US and USSR air power combined.

EDIT:

I took a look at your screenshot. You have tons of divisions cranked together yet you are not receiving supply warning. That means your divisions are extremely light -- call them regiments at best. Try to have 40 width or 20 width divisions. Ramier's tutorials explain why.

 

[ecpgieicg]

In Vanilla, you're good if you have 2k fighters ready against the west.

By 1939 perhaps. Germany can easily scale up its air force with conquered territories.
I always have as many fighters as I want. Vanilla AI's air forces never pose a challenge.