How to build a successful army?

[unmerged(141563)]

Hi guys thanks all for your valuable advice for building my wonderful German Army - I have learnt so much from this game about European History

I decided to build infantry divisions (about 90 with no attachments - I will build those for Op Barbarossa) in 1938, 6 divisions of Panzers, and used my default air force for invasion of Poland. With 4 headquarters - 3 for Poland and 1 to defend Maginot Line with 4 x 3 divisions of infantry along the Western Front to defend possible attack by Belgium & France -

Well I invaded much of Poland in 3 days (German parts of the Molotov/Ribbentrop? Agreement) and let the Soviets join in and finish it off in another two days - as soon as the Soviets declared war on Poland - I used 3 divisions of infantry and 3 divisions of marines to invade Denmark.

I then sent all my troops to to the Western Front - by this time Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece(Go The Greeks), Italy, N.Spain,Portugal, Hungary and Bulgaria joined my alliance (all my early targeted trading with these nation paid off) and I took control of their army/air forces and sent them to defend the Maginot Line - while Italy/Greece invaded Africa - I invaded France through Liege (Hard Battle) and was in Paris by Feb1940 - I then invaded Yugoslavia after they had a coupe and broke my alliance during the middle of invasion of France and gave most of the territories to my allies.

Well its April 1940 and the bulk of my troops are along the Soviet border - do I attack (1 year ahead of time - am I ready are my forces ready?) or do i go for Op Sea Lion so I dont have to face D-Day later on.

At the moment Im building Ural? Bombers 2X5, Fortresses and AA for N.France, 6 x Airborne Troops and 6x Transport Planes, Air Fields for Barbarossa and Rocket sites (don't know how to use these yet)

I only have 530 manpower/reserves left - How can I build this up any ideas?

Once again thanks for advice for such a kick ass game

It only took about 30 attempts but I'm finally successful - and my army is in good nick took to continue on

Jim

 

[unmerged(127534)]

I found some of the suggestions interesting but I find that I have a slightly different view than many on the airforce. I always have my airforce set up in the following manner:

2x 4-fighters
1x 4-Interceptors
3x 3 TAC -1 Escort
3x 3 CAS - 1 Escort
1x 3 Tra - 1 Escort
2x 3 Nav - 1 Escort

I find this arrangement works best for me, It gives me the ground attack with the CAS, interdiction with the TAC, the Naval strikes with the NAV and the ability ease the initial invasion of Norway and the UK with Paratroops. It also allows me to take Malta and Gibralter (if I don't go to war with Spain). The escorts I find are critical as it really cuts down on losses for the bombers when you have an escort as a part of the group. It also allows you to take advantage of one of Germany's greatest assets and that is its excellent corps of airforce officers. It doesn't take long to get really powerful officers in those units.

At the start of the war the TAC and CAS strike into Poland while I use the Fighters and Interceptors on air superiority on the Western Front. (I have also if I have the time and IC's available built up a 2nd group of 4 interceptors). I use the Nav for attacks in the North Sea. I usually don't get the transports all built until early 40 as I also have to build the Paratroop units and they are not really available until that time. The Paratroops first mission in always Norway, then I use them for the attack on the UK, Then I will look to use them on Malta and after once I can get close enough in Africa an attack on Gibralter. I generally don't use them against the Russians as it is simply no strategic value to doing so (also by the time the Transports are ready to go, I have advanced out of their range).

As for the army, I tend to have around 30 armoured units, in groups of 6 as I find that gives me the greatest punch. There are plenty of panzer officers of high enough rank to run them.

 

[unmerged(141551)]

I presume you meant that, "A lack of speed will kill you..." o

Very true, especially as Germany!

Solon

No I just meant speed kills, aka the saying in sports

 

[CynicalRyan]

Well its April 1940 and the bulk of my troops are along the Soviet border - do I attack (1 year ahead of time - am I ready are my forces ready?) or do i go for Op Sea Lion so I dont have to face D-Day later on.

Well, that depends on what is in your production queue, and how soon it is finished. You can never have enough troops, of course, but remember that the SU has enormous ressources, and they *will* build loads of INF. And Blitzkrieg is about quick and decisive strikes against the enemy, destroying superior forces with minimal resources.

Also make sure your oil reserves are high. Invading Russia will suck those up real fast, making the Caucasian oil fields an important strategic target.

On the HoI2 wiki you'll also find the conditions of a Russian surrender event, if you are interested in knowing these things beforehand. And it might give a clue on where to use your Fallschirmjaeger divisions.

Then you'll need a few divisions in 1940 for Fall Weseruebung: The invasion of Denmark (they collapse real fast. A recommended tactic is using your single CAV division you got from Austria's Anschluss to invade Denmark) and Norway (those will take a bit longer, mostly due to terrain). Your CAV and a handful of MNT divisions should solve the Scandinavian problem. You will get a transport fleet, so don't bother with building some of your own.

And on a final note: Postpone Operation Seeloewe for a bit, until you got a navy large enough to defend your landings. The British Home Fleet is not to be trifled with, and your landings provide them with plenty of time to take out your transport fleet. Bet case is, that your divisions are merely cut off from retreat, worst case is that the transports and divisions are both destroyed.

Of course, Port Strikes with TACs could take care of this.

At the moment Im building Ural? Bombers 2X5, Fortresses and AA for N.France, 6 x Airborne Troops and 6x Transport Planes, Air Fields for Barbarossa and Rocket sites (don't know how to use these yet)

Rocket sites work much like air fields: You deploy them in a province (choose one far away from Allied air forces: You can only deploy the test sites to *one* province). After the test site becomes operational, it makes rocket research go much faster, eventually netting you V1 or V2 rockets. In the future maybe even ICBMs. However, after you built 5 test sites, you reach the limit of diminished returns: The cost in IC doesn't justify the only marginal gains you get from more than 5 test sites, IMHO.

I only have 530 manpower/reserves left - How can I build this up any ideas?

Industrial Research has an Agricultural tree. That boosts your manpower growth over time. And conquered provinces net you a little manpower, too, but not a lot. You won't even notice, to be honest.

 

[unmerged(141364)]

Hawk lobby also increases Manpower.

It also decreaes Production time and Cost of things.

 

[blue emu]

... However, after you built 5 test sites, you reach the limit of diminished returns: The cost in IC doesn't justify the only marginal gains you get from more than 5 test sites, IMHO...

IMO, three Rocket sites is the limit of diminishing returns.

Hawk lobby also increases Manpower.

It also decreases Production time and Cost of things.

... for units, yes.

For structures (IC, Infra, AA, Forts, etc), only the production time is affected, not the daily production cost.

 

[unmerged(141364)]

That's what I meant by saying "Things" boy!