The Purchase of Foreign Aircraft
In the years leading up to the Second World War, the United States aviation industry produced thousands of aircraft for foreign purchasers. France was the main client, but the UK, Netherlands and Belgium also purchased American aircraft. These foreign buyers helped keep the US aviation industry in business at a time when the United States Army Air Corps was very small. The development of advanced aircraft for foreign use lead to the design and production of many aircraft that would become famous in US service during WWII. It allowed France and the UK to expand their own air forces during the arms buildup from 1938, and provided them with modern aircraft in large numbers.
I believe that this should be represented in Hearts of Iron 4, that it can be represented using existing systems, and that there is incentive for both players and AI to participate as both buyers and sellers.
Production License in HoI 3
Hearts of Iron 3 somewhat represented the foreign purchase of aircraft using the Production Licenses mechanic. This system allowed nations to produce units they would otherwise be unable to in exchange for money.
In Hearts of Iron 4, money is no longer a resource. Additionally, the Production License system used the purchaser's own IC. In the historical example of French aircraft purchases, a major reason for buying American aircraft was the poor state of the French aviation industry. Buying production licenses for American aircraft would just substitute the type of aircraft that is not being built or delivered on time. Additionally, the new production system models efficiency. It would hardly be worth the effort to start a limited run of foreign aircraft considering how disruptive it would be to already limited production. Production lines would have to stop, retool and begin building with low efficiency.
In historical terms, it would be better for France to continue to build M.S.406 rather than purchase a production license for the Curtis Hawk 75.
Building their own aircraft, France had production difficulties but was able to double daily production. This efficiency would be lost if a production license was purchased and the line switched. Historically, France overcame this slow production by purchasing foreign aircraft which were built overseas and shipped to France.
Lend-Lease in HoI 4
In Hearts of Iron 4, something like this is possible. Equipment can be produced in foreign factories and delivered using the convoy system.
From Development Diary 36:
This is an improvement over the Production License system. Now France is able to overcome their own production short comings and receive American aircraft, shipped using the convoy system. This system does a good job of representing US Lend-Lease to the UK and USSR. It also represents the US arming the Free French forces later in the war, which used mostly American equipment. It does not model pre-war aircraft purchases however:
We have seen in DD's that you can donate equipment to a country as Lend-Lease. Why purchase foreign models? Why produce aircraft for sale?
Trade in Hoi 4
From Development Diary 24:
The trade system in Hearts of Iron 4 is almost ideal for representing the sale of military goods.
The Historical Case
France ordered American aircraft in Historically Significant numbers to make up for the poor state of the French aviation industry. In 1940 15% of French aircraft orders were American types. While making up only 12.6% of the French Air Force single-seater fighter force, the H75 (Curtis Hawk) accounted for almost a third of the air-to-air kills during the 1940 Battle of France.
In May 1940, the French had 440 American aircraft, that number reached 550 in June. When France fell, American aircraft orders were sent to the UK instead, later augmented by US Lend-Lease.
French Aircraft Purchases March 1940
While France had their own advanced types such as the Dewoitine D.520, design and production delays meant that these aircraft were often not ready for frontline service in a timely fashion. American aircraft orders expanded the Armée de l'air in the crucial years leading up to WW2. They made up a significant amount of the modern aircraft in the French inventory. Their combat performance far outweighed even that number.
Game Mechanics
Why would the USA 'sell' aircraft to France and the UK in game? Well, there are a couple mechanics that benefit them building aircraft for foreign powers.
In the historical example France benefits from purchasing aircraft to make up for their poor aviation industry. France has not advanced very far down the air tech tree, does not have enough XP for variants to make up for it, and France's military factories cannot produce enough to provide for an expanding Armée de l'air. In exchange for civilian factories, trade influence and possible rare materials, France gets American aircraft, and in large numbers. (Historically bases in colonial possessions like the later 'Destroyers for Bases' program were considered)
The USA benefits from increased production efficiency on their aircraft production lines. The USAAF is still small, and does not require many aircraft. Producing a surplus to sit idle in storage may not be worth the cost in material and IC and also the opportunity cost of producing something more immediately useful instead. By producing for foreign use the USA gets XP which can be used to improve their own aircraft. In the case of Curtis aircraft, foreign purchases of the Hawk Model 75 were far larger than purchases of the P-36 for USAAF use, 900 to 215. When France uses the Hawk 75 in combat in 1939, the US gets XP which is used to produce the improved P-40. Use of the P-36 and P-40 by France and the UK in 1940 in turn leads to better variants of Curtis aircraft so that by the time the USA enters the war in December 1941 they have a much improved aircraft.
Consider the evolution of Curtis Aircraft:
Summary
The sale of military equipment in the pre-war years was historically significant. Using two existing systems in HoI 4, Trade and Lend-Lease it is possible to represent this exchange. There are gameplay incentives for both players and AI to participate in this exchange. Using military equipment as a Trade resource augments Lend-Lease, allows for the production and exchange of goods when World Tension is low, and allows for countries limited in research and production to arm themselves, at a cost. The seller receives Civilian Factories or Resources in exchange for produced equipment, gains XP for the combat use of this equipment, and improves their own Production Efficiency, without needing to stockpile or give equipment away for free as Lend-Lease when World Tension is higher.
In the years leading up to the Second World War, the United States aviation industry produced thousands of aircraft for foreign purchasers. France was the main client, but the UK, Netherlands and Belgium also purchased American aircraft. These foreign buyers helped keep the US aviation industry in business at a time when the United States Army Air Corps was very small. The development of advanced aircraft for foreign use lead to the design and production of many aircraft that would become famous in US service during WWII. It allowed France and the UK to expand their own air forces during the arms buildup from 1938, and provided them with modern aircraft in large numbers.
I believe that this should be represented in Hearts of Iron 4, that it can be represented using existing systems, and that there is incentive for both players and AI to participate as both buyers and sellers.
Production License in HoI 3
Hearts of Iron 3 somewhat represented the foreign purchase of aircraft using the Production Licenses mechanic. This system allowed nations to produce units they would otherwise be unable to in exchange for money.
In Hearts of Iron 4, money is no longer a resource. Additionally, the Production License system used the purchaser's own IC. In the historical example of French aircraft purchases, a major reason for buying American aircraft was the poor state of the French aviation industry. Buying production licenses for American aircraft would just substitute the type of aircraft that is not being built or delivered on time. Additionally, the new production system models efficiency. It would hardly be worth the effort to start a limited run of foreign aircraft considering how disruptive it would be to already limited production. Production lines would have to stop, retool and begin building with low efficiency.
In historical terms, it would be better for France to continue to build M.S.406 rather than purchase a production license for the Curtis Hawk 75.
Building their own aircraft, France had production difficulties but was able to double daily production. This efficiency would be lost if a production license was purchased and the line switched. Historically, France overcame this slow production by purchasing foreign aircraft which were built overseas and shipped to France.
Lend-Lease in HoI 4
In Hearts of Iron 4, something like this is possible. Equipment can be produced in foreign factories and delivered using the convoy system.
From Development Diary 36:
This is an improvement over the Production License system. Now France is able to overcome their own production short comings and receive American aircraft, shipped using the convoy system. This system does a good job of representing US Lend-Lease to the UK and USSR. It also represents the US arming the Free French forces later in the war, which used mostly American equipment. It does not model pre-war aircraft purchases however:
- Lend-Lease is governed by World Tension. In 1938 when aircraft orders began, World Tension may not be high enough to start exporting aircraft using the Lend-Lease system.
- Lend-Lease is a unilateral contract, the producer does not receive anything in exchange. This does not model pre-war purchases which were more commercial in nature.
- The Arsenal of Democracy speech and increased aid to the UK began in December 1940, after the Fall of France. In the 1930's aircraft purchases were not purely ideological. Why would a player or AI USA send aircraft to France for free in 1938?
We have seen in DD's that you can donate equipment to a country as Lend-Lease. Why purchase foreign models? Why produce aircraft for sale?
Trade in Hoi 4
From Development Diary 24:
The trade system in Hearts of Iron 4 is almost ideal for representing the sale of military goods.
- Trade is not governed by world tension.
- Trade is bilateral. Both buyer and seller benefit from trade.
- Trade is related to relations between nations.
- Trade uses the convoy system to transport goods.
- Equipment can be used as a trade resource in exchange for civilian factories (or resources?).
- Equipment 'purchased' through the trade system is transported through convoys.
- Trade improves relations between trading nations. Whereas resources can be sold to whomever, it would make more sense to decide who to export aircraft to.
- Export laws determine how much is traded. The USAAF might prefer for the best new aircraft to fill their squadrons first.
The Historical Case
France ordered American aircraft in Historically Significant numbers to make up for the poor state of the French aviation industry. In 1940 15% of French aircraft orders were American types. While making up only 12.6% of the French Air Force single-seater fighter force, the H75 (Curtis Hawk) accounted for almost a third of the air-to-air kills during the 1940 Battle of France.
In May 1940, the French had 440 American aircraft, that number reached 550 in June. When France fell, American aircraft orders were sent to the UK instead, later augmented by US Lend-Lease.
French Aircraft Purchases March 1940
While France had their own advanced types such as the Dewoitine D.520, design and production delays meant that these aircraft were often not ready for frontline service in a timely fashion. American aircraft orders expanded the Armée de l'air in the crucial years leading up to WW2. They made up a significant amount of the modern aircraft in the French inventory. Their combat performance far outweighed even that number.
Game Mechanics
Why would the USA 'sell' aircraft to France and the UK in game? Well, there are a couple mechanics that benefit them building aircraft for foreign powers.
- The US gets to use foreign civilian factories, which is helpful during the Great Depression.
- The US gains XP which allows them to build better variants for their own use.
- The US gets increased efficiency on production lines building aircraft for foreign clients.
- The US gets trade influence with whoever they are 'selling' to.
In the historical example France benefits from purchasing aircraft to make up for their poor aviation industry. France has not advanced very far down the air tech tree, does not have enough XP for variants to make up for it, and France's military factories cannot produce enough to provide for an expanding Armée de l'air. In exchange for civilian factories, trade influence and possible rare materials, France gets American aircraft, and in large numbers. (Historically bases in colonial possessions like the later 'Destroyers for Bases' program were considered)
The USA benefits from increased production efficiency on their aircraft production lines. The USAAF is still small, and does not require many aircraft. Producing a surplus to sit idle in storage may not be worth the cost in material and IC and also the opportunity cost of producing something more immediately useful instead. By producing for foreign use the USA gets XP which can be used to improve their own aircraft. In the case of Curtis aircraft, foreign purchases of the Hawk Model 75 were far larger than purchases of the P-36 for USAAF use, 900 to 215. When France uses the Hawk 75 in combat in 1939, the US gets XP which is used to produce the improved P-40. Use of the P-36 and P-40 by France and the UK in 1940 in turn leads to better variants of Curtis aircraft so that by the time the USA enters the war in December 1941 they have a much improved aircraft.
Consider the evolution of Curtis Aircraft:
Summary
The sale of military equipment in the pre-war years was historically significant. Using two existing systems in HoI 4, Trade and Lend-Lease it is possible to represent this exchange. There are gameplay incentives for both players and AI to participate in this exchange. Using military equipment as a Trade resource augments Lend-Lease, allows for the production and exchange of goods when World Tension is low, and allows for countries limited in research and production to arm themselves, at a cost. The seller receives Civilian Factories or Resources in exchange for produced equipment, gains XP for the combat use of this equipment, and improves their own Production Efficiency, without needing to stockpile or give equipment away for free as Lend-Lease when World Tension is higher.
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