Stopping Lend-Lease

[Commander666]

Hi Pang,

Can you please direct me to your earlier post of the details regarding which and how many sea zones around the British Isles need U-boats in them to stop the Lend-Lease? Can't find it. Thanks!

BTW, there is far too much Lend-Lease occurring (contrary to your statement disagreeing with that view) because in v1.09 U-boats no longer make any sense... other than, of course, the very best naval weapon Germany has to completely sink the RN (and the USN once it comes into the Atlantic).

 

[Pang Bingxun]

Here:

The event itself is rather lengthy:

event = {
   id = 3702
   random = no
   persistent = yes
   country = USA

   trigger = {
       ai = yes
       war = { country = ENG country = GER }
       #random = 100 # 100% chance every 12 days
       NOT = { war = { country = ENG country = USA } }
       event = 3404 # English event for Lend-Lease Act
       AND = {
           control = { province = 9 data = ENG } # Glasgow
           control = { province = 10 data = ENG } # Edinburgh
           control = { province = 13 data = ENG } # Sheffield
           control = { province = 14 data = ENG } # Liverpool
           control = { province = 16 data = ENG } # Birmingham
           control = { province = 19 data = ENG } # London
       }
       NOT = { # The human player needs 8 fleets of size 3+ to block the coast of small Britain
           OR = { # Channel Approach, Western English Channel, Eastern English Channel or Mouth of the Thames: Jam 2
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = ITA province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = JAP province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = ITA province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = JAP province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = ITA province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = JAP province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = ITA province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = JAP province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = ITA province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = JAP province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = ITA province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                          garrison = { country = JAP province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Thames
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # Celtic Sea, St.George's Channel, Solway Firth or North Channel: Jam 2
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # Little Minch, The Minch or Pentland Firth: Jam 2
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # Cromarty Firth, Firth of Fourth, Mouth of the Tyne or The Wash: Jam 2
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Fourth
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
               AND = {
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
                   OR = {
                       garrison = { country = GER province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = ITA province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                           war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                       }
                       AND = {
                           garrison = { country = JAP province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                           war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                       }
                   }
               }
           }
       }
       NOT = { government = fascist }
       supplies = 6000 # 4500 left
       oil = 6000 # 4800 left
       metal = 3000 # 2500 left
   }

   name = "EVT_3702_NAME"
   desc = "EVT_3702_DESC"
   style = 0
   picture = "lend_lease"

   date = { day = 1 month = january year = 1936 }
   offset = 12
   deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1999 }

   action_a = {
       name = "ACTIONNAME3702A" # Send more supplies
       ai_chance = 85
       command = { type = supplies value = -1500 }
       command = { type = oilpool value = -600 }
       command = { type = metalpool value = -300 }
       command = { type = relation which = ENG value = 5 }
       command = { type = trigger which = 3405 } # UK
   }
   action_b = {
       name = "ACTIONNAME3702B" # Not this time
       ai_chance = 15
       command = { type = relation which = ENG value = -5 }
   }
}

The event parts the 15 provinces adjacent to the UK mainland into 4 areas. Those are not identical with areas existing in the game. In each of those areas at least 2 provinces need at have a fleet of size 3+.

Theoretically those can also be fleets of Italy or even Japan, but the size of 3 does only count within one nation. Practically speaking there should only be submarine fleets of germany.

 

[Commander666]

Commander scrutinizes the code, wrinkles his forehead, and says, "Oh yah."

The human player needs 8 fleets of size 3+ to block the coast of small Britain
          OR = { # Channel Approach, Western English Channel, Eastern English Channel or Mouth of the Thames: Jam 2

"Jam 2"? This is not cooking class. Passing the info to Vice Admiral Donitz, he replies, "It means we must organize eight wolfpacks, each with 3 sub flotillas, and place one in each of:

• Channel Approach
  
• Western English Channel
  
• Eastern English Channel
  
• Mouth of the Thames

Commander replies: "But SIR, that is only four wolfpacks. What about the other 4 fleets the Abwehr info mentioned?"

Vice-Admiral Donitz wrinkles his forehead and states, "OK, then just put two wolf packs in each of those four places."

Commander objects: "But SIR, should we not be puting U-boats also in these REGIONS:

• Western Approaches
• Portuguese Coast
• Cape Finisterre
• Irish Sea
• Irish West Coast
• The Hebrides
• Faroes Gap

That's where we have been getting all our convoy sinkings. We have never yet sunk a single merchantman in either Channel Approach, Western English Channel or Eastern English Channel, and only occasionally at Mouth of the Thames."

Frustrated, Donitz screams: "Damn it man! Just see that we have u-boats in every one of those eleven sea zones!"

Hearing the commotion, Hitler storms in and demands, "What is the matter, gentleman?".

Donitz: "We need more U-boats."

Commander: "The Abwehr is giving us stupid information."

Hitler: "How many U-boats we have now?"

Donitz: "As of today May 23, 1941 we have thirty-one SS-4, five SS-3, three SS-2 and one SS-1."

Commander: "And the Abwehr suggested we should have scrapped the SS-2s and SS-1 but they have been really useful as patrol scouts and getting sub leaders to qualify for their 1 week wait period."

Hitler: "Gentleman, gentleman. Don't worry yourself about everything the Abwehr says. After all, they are not the Wehrmacht and definitely not the SS. Just take what is useful and ignore all else if it contradicts your field experience. Now, here's what I want you to do... start making a record of U-boat kills."

Commander: "Already done, SIR! We switched to tally U-boat kills when we stopped keeping ASI record back in late April.

• April 25 - 30 we sank 20 merchantmen. Sinkings of DEs was on top of that but we are not tallying it as it matters only indirectly to our goal of economic strangulation of the UK."
• May 1 - 22 we sank 94 merchantmen"

Hitler smiles radiantly: "Well, happy hunting for the last week of May. Eer, is there anything else?"

Donitz: "We are constructing only 3 lines of SS-4 with all at max gearing. We should build a line of longer range Xb to get over to Canada and hopefully return without running out of oil."

Hitler: "Look man, currently we are putting 177 IC daily into upgrading for the Wehrmacht. Those damned panzers are over 50 IC each to upgrade from ARM-3 to ARM-4. The Abwehr was right that we should have more tech rushed IMP Heavy Tanks 1941 so we could avail of one level of obsolescence for greatly increased upgrade speed to get the panzers to same thing - just ARM-4 but having ARM-5 tech achieved. Frankly, I screwed up but I assure you, gentleman, we have a splendid army should we decide to strike at Stalin."

Commander looking worried, "Are we going to war with the Soviet Union, sir?"

Hitler: "You just help Vice-Admiral Donitz stop the fantasy Lend-Lease for now. As regards other things, you'll be informed on a need-to-know basis. Good day!"

 

[Pang Bingxun]

"Jam 2"? This is not cooking class. Passing the info to Vice Admiral Donitz, he replies, "It means we must organize eight wolfpacks, each with 3 sub flotillas, and place one in each of:

• Channel Approach
  
• Western English Channel
  
• Eastern English Channel
  
• Mouth of the Thames

If 2 are jammed this does suffice. But there are 3 other aggregates of sea zones out of which also at least 2 need to be jammed. There are 4 aggregates out of which 2 sea zones need to be jammed, so that nothing gets through:

2 out of 4: Channel Approach, Western English Channel, Eastern English Channel or Mouth of the Thames
2 out of 4: Celtic Sea, St.George's Channel, Solway Firth or North Channel
2 out of 3: Little Minch, The Minch or Pentland Firth
2 out of 4: Cromarty Firth, Firth of Fourth, Mouth of the Tyne or The Wash

So at least 24 subs are needed on the job, so by Dönitz' doctrine of having one at home base, on at target coordinates and one on the move 72 submarine flottillas would be needed.

Hitler: "Look man, currently we are putting 177 IC daily into upgrading for the Wehrmacht. Those damned panzers are over 50 IC each to upgrade from ARM-3 to ARM-4. The Abwehr was right that we should have more tech rushed IMP Heavy Tanks 1941 so we could avail of one level of obsolescence for greatly increased upgrade speed to get the panzers to same thing - just ARM-4 but having ARM-5 tech achieved. Frankly, I screwed up but I assure you, gentleman, we have a splendid army should we decide to strike at Stalin."

Personally i have concluded that with few but obvious exceptions aiming to utilize multible obsolescence is not reasonable. Achieving the techs for new models has the purpose of utilizing those new models and not save on the upgrading to the models before that.

 

[Commander666]

Personally i have concluded that with few but obvious exceptions aiming to utilize multible obsolescence is not reasonable. Achieving the techs for new models has the purpose of utilizing those new models and not save on the upgrading to the models before that.

Not applicable to me because I stopped all panzer construction in May 1941 when I built the 27th division. I think that is plenty, and three Panzer armies of three corps each and three divisions/corps is beautiful use of the artistic, organizational and strategic application of the "power of three" (nothing to do with math and "to the power of 3" ).

However, a bit extra effort to have achieved IMP Heavy Tanks-1941 (ARM-5 tech) by early 1941 would have resulted in all of the panzer force being upgraded by Barbarossa. The ARM-2 upgraded in a few days to ARM-3 when I had ARM-4 tech. But the ARM-3 need 12 days to get to ARM-4 (in 200-infra Berlin). As I only have enough available IC to upgrade 3 at a time, that is 9 x 12 days per set for total time of over 3 1/2 months. And with slider move to more Central Planning it is a bit slower now... so about 4 months needed. Proper tech rushing would have almost halved the time.

The blunder is so serious that Barbarossa will be delayed by ~2 months. Oh well, Hitler is such a good strategist that he promises we will still be in Moscow by Christmas 1941!

 

[Commander666]

If 2 are jammed this does suffice. But there are 3 other aggregates of sea zones out of which also at least 2 need to be jammed. There are 4 aggregates out of which 2 sea zones need to be jammed, so that nothing gets through:

2 out of 4: Channel Approach, Western English Channel, Eastern English Channel or Mouth of the Thames
2 out of 4: Celtic Sea, St.George's Channel, Solway Firth or North Channel
2 out of 3: Little Minch, The Minch or Pentland Firth
2 out of 4: Cromarty Firth, Firth of Fourth, Mouth of the Tyne or The Wash

THANK YOU for detailing clearly what are the requirements.

So at least 24 subs are needed on the job, so by Dönitz' doctrine of having one at home base, on at target coordinates and one on the move 72 submarine flottillas would be needed.

That's about right.

BUT YOU DESIGNED THIS FAR TOO COMPLICATED AND QUITE UNWORKABLE WITH NORMAL MISSIONING OF SUBS.

Firstly, your "aggregates" are a poor application of mathematics to a map that is already built and shows the ocean as SEA AREAS divided into provinces. And the subs must mission as to AREA, and not to specific province as your requirements would like. Why I will explain later. But first let's look at your "aggregates" one-at a time.

Aggregate A: Channel Approach, Western English Channel, Eastern English Channel or Mouth of the Thames

This is properly called the "English Channel SEA AREA" It has 4 provinces. Understand it needs 2 fleets in two different provinces come Lend-Lease day. So what do you propose... player places the subs statically in 2 provinces because - FOR SURE - if playing normal game and missioning two fleets to English Channel Sea Area (so they rove about) they will likely clump together; and come Lend-Lease there will most likely be 2 fleets in same ONE sea province ...therefore lend-lease gets thru. Your arbitrary rule has just created the need to throw away the beauty of the game which was letting subs patrol. That, IMO, is plain awful, Pang Bingxun.

Aggregate B: Celtic Sea, St.George's Channel, Solway Firth or North Channel

Firstly, you totally missed Mouth of Shannon which is the 5th province in the Irish Sea AREA. You obviously do this because you are stuck on the math to make "equal aggregates". It is a huge game flaw IMO that again demands players stop letting u-boats "patrol" the Irish Sea area on convoy raiding mission because come Lend-Lease one of the fleets might find itself in Mouth of Shannon province; and so Lend-Lease again gets through.

Aggregate C: Little Minch, The Minch or Pentland Firth

Pentland Firth (off Scapa Flow) has absolutely nothing to do with The Hebrides sea AREA which is the 2 provinces of The Minch and Little Minch. I sense that you realize the ridiculousness of putting 2 fleets in the tiny little AREA of The Hebrides so you saw fit to "equal out your math and aggregates" by including Pentland Firth in this aggregate - even though it is part of the West North SEA AREA (runs just off-shore on the east side of British Isles). You may also have noticed that subs missioned normally to patrol this area hardly ever go up to Pentland Firth province, but always patrol at the bottom end of this long strip SEA AREA. There is a very good reason for that. Pentland Firth is where Scapa Flow is and that is were the majority of the Royal Navy is. But you would request that German player places deliberately a fleet that will be 24/7 right near the most dangerous spot on the planet for u-boats (both real life and in AoD)? That is more than nuts! That is downright suicidal!

Aggregate D: Cromarty Firth, Firth of Fourth, Mouth of the Tyne or The Wash

Well, those are the other 4 provinces which form - with Pentland Firth - the West North Sea AREA. Why on earth do you need more subs here when you already got the top end covered with Pentland Firth and the bottom end with Mouth of the Thames? In effect you are now asking for 3 fleets stationed 24/7 in the West North Sea AREA. And "stationed" they must be or they will all end up at the bottom (The Wash) come Lend-Lease. In actual game use you have done a major error to demand that player can not avail of the mission box to do Convoy Raiding to a SEA AREA and will have to instead mission to statically patrol any specific sea province. You - with one poor judgement I think - have removed the fluidity of sub warfare and required that it become static only to full-fill your precise mathematical idea of what should be needed to stop lend lease.

Honestly, best I can judge I feel you could not have erred greater either discussing Real Life or AoD game design. What do you think? The actual sub warfare that occurred in the mid-Atlantic and the actual numerous convoy kills which AoD U-boats get if patrolling the the game map at Cape Finisterre, Western Approaches and North Atlantic SEA AREAS does not matter? Of course they matter! That is were the Battle of the Atlantic mostly occurred and DEFINITELY NOT at Pentland Firth (within gun range of the majority of the Royal Navy massed at Scapa Flow).

I suggest you change this game design:

• Firstly, stick with SEA AREAS (and not aggregates) as that fits everything as to how AoD has been designed.
• Next, look at what happens to convoy routes when they are attacked (and the sea zone will go dark red if it is player who had his convoy sunk).
• Take a tip from history and require proper patrolling of the really important SEA AREAS (all of which you completely missed). If U-boats could have sunk UK shipping in the English Channel and survived don't you think they would have done so regularly?
• Insure that your game design does not encourage "static play" but lets the previous excellent ideas embedded in AoD shine through your changes.
• Do it simply by not requiring 2 fleets per any "aggregate" because the fleets will clump together, it looks messy and is crowded. Instead work with the fluidity and beauty of single wolf packs missioning in the already established sea areas; and cover ALL the needed areas.

The proper requirement to stop lend-lease is "Just one fleet (of 3 units minimum) 24/7 in all of the following sea AREAS: English Channel, Irish West Coast, The Hebrides, Faroes Gap, Irish Sea, Cape Finisterre, Western Approaches, and North Atlantic.

That is 3x8=24 and applying Donitz' principle we get the same 72 sub flotillas needed as in your set-up. But my suggestion means player can properly use missioning of SEA AREAS and so have subs patrol automatically to next province after sinking a convoy (a merchantman) because the convoy will deviate course after it gets hit.

The biggest failure in your design is that once the statically placed subs get a hiit, the convoy deviates and that wolfpack gets no more hits for quite some time. But proper patrolling of SEA AREA insures the subs keep searching next province to hit the deviated convoy again, and again.

I think you forgot to keep in mind the real goal - sink as many convoys as possible. Seems your arbitrary game design doesn't even stipulate that the fleets need do convoy raiding. If I understand correctly, just place them "mathematically oriented as per 2 fleets for each aggregate but must be in different provinces".

Sorry, but this "fix" you did is worse than the fantasy Lend-Lease it was meant to interdict. Lend-Lease always was a horrible "beam me up, Scotty" (or "beam me across the Atlantic, Uncle Sam" ) kind of unrealistic affair. I applaud your effort to have finally done something about it. Unfortunately you didn't consult anybody I know to work out the details so the new game design would have been much better than it now stands. That is really sad.

 

[Pang Bingxun]

We had the same discussion a year ago.

The solution i implemented is that no LL will occur if the player manages to block all sea provinces adjacent to the UK mainland. But it leaves a bit of leeway so not all of them need to be blocked at once. That is the purpose of the 4 aggregates that are not identical to Sea Areas.

Spanning a wider net for convoy hunting may help at sinking them, but that is also because the size of sea provinces does not matter for the risk of detection. IRL the chances of remaining undetected und thus getting through are greater in larger provinces than in the small provinces near the UK mainland. If you want to choke someone you need to have a tight grip, not a loose one.

The solution you have in mind would either not be sufficient or much more complicated or practicially impossible to implement. The easiest way to stop LL does still work: Take the UK.

Pentland Firth is where Scapa Flow is and that is were the majority of the Royal Navy is. But you would request that German player places deliberately a fleet that will be 24/7 right near the most dangerous spot on the planet for u-boats (both real life and in AoD)? That is more than nuts! That is downright suicidal!

No one said it would be easy. Your suicidal refers to the german subs, but if the royal navy tries to hunt down those subs it exposes itself to attacks by a capable german navy or naval bombers. It works both ways.

 

[Commander666]

We had the same discussion a year ago.

We did not have the same discussion a year ago. A year ago we did discuss your Lend-Lease modding but it wasn't the same because I wasn't aware of the details then. It is the details I bring forward in this discussion which makes it a very different discussion. The main "detail" is that your requirement for stopping L-L also stops the very good U-boat strategy which was designed into this game. Your L-L modding should have worked with the existing game design, and not against it.

That is the purpose of the 4 aggregates that are not identical to Sea Areas.

Rubbish! Any Sea Area can be coded as an Aggregate so that the Aggregate will include all provinces in that Sea Area. It is rather strange to even be creating Aggregates that include provinces from different Sea Areas. It is your code work (and your incorrect creation of aggregates) that has resulted in player not being able to mission subs to do Convoy Raiding using the existing game map AND STILL SUCCEED in fulfilling the "stop L-L condition". You simply just had to code the aggregates exactly like you did but with the exception that aggregates matched the existing game design of what are Sea Areas.

If you want to choke someone you need to have a tight grip, not a loose one.

This is a rather bad example - especially for this Forum. But you are wrong. Your style only works if the person you are choking is a weakling. If trying to choke a capable opponent it is highly recommended you not grip them at all.. but use a garrotte.

The solution you have in mind would either not be sufficient or much more complicated or practicially impossible to implement.

This is complete rubbish x3. The solution is extremely simple, would suffice perfectly, and is far less complicated than you arrived at while being exactly same to implement as you already did.

If you did not understand my earlier remarks I'll clarify them:

• Using the exact same code you did, make aggregates that include (match to) all the provinces of any one sea zone. Certainly possible, isn't it?
• Change the requirement from needing 2 fleets to one. This needs only the number "2" changed to the number "1" .... something I'm sure is not impossible.
• Now build upon the 4 "aggregates" you already got and add 4 more aggregates to include the 4 important sea areas you missed. That most definitely is possible to implement.

The easiest way to stop LL does still work: Take the UK.

This is a total "cop-out" response meant only to serve your self justification instead of honestly admitting that your L-L code work is indeed "wanting". Like, "If stopping L-L mod work doesn't work, just stop playing the game as Germany". Awh, come on Pang! You are pushing me against the hard line of what is acceptable to print in this Forum.

Your suicidal refers to the german subs, but if the royal navy tries to hunt down those subs it exposes itself to attacks by a capable german navy or naval bombers. It works both ways.

No, it doesn't work both ways. Germany in 1941 has nearly zero chance of flying NAVs to Pentland Firth because RAF INTs would probably shoot them down. But certainly you also know that, at best (and only if being a strong Luftwaffe supporter such as I) Germany will have only 1-2 NAV-1 in 1941. And certainly you know that so weak a force will do nothing more than cause a few scratches on a RN 18-ship SAG that came out of Scapa Flow to attack your u-boats sitting at Pentland Firth.

Furthermore, the Royal Navy operating at Pentland Firth doesn't at all expose itself to attacks by a "capable" German navy because - firstly - you have no Kriegsmarine in 1941.

But secondly, even if an avid supporter of the Kriegsmarine such as I, I would never be so foolish to send either my Bismark/Tirpitz battle group, or my 12 unit SAG of CA-4, or my 6 unit "Battlecruiser Fleet, or my 4-unit DD-4 ASW hunter-killer group, or any of my older Baltic Fleet or DD-3 hunter kill group... AND NOT EVEN ALL OF THEM PUT TOGETHER... to do battle with the Royal Navy just off Scapa Flow. Instead of saving a U-boat pack, such reckless action would be the wholesome destruction of the entire German navy.

Sadly your reply to my criticism of your L-L modding is nothing but denial of facts I mentioned to help improve game design. Sadly, you seem anchored in "self justification of the work you did" instead of co-operative community spirit to improve AoD. I wish you could have just said, "Yah Commander... your idea is better. Let's do it for next patch."

 

[Pang Bingxun]

If you did not understand my earlier remarks I'll clarify them:

• Using the exact same code you did, make aggregates that include (match to) all the provinces of any one sea zone. Certainly possible, isn't it?
• Change the requirement from needing 2 fleets to one. This needs only the number "2" changed to the number "1" .... something I'm sure is not impossible.
• Now build upon the 4 "aggregates" you already got and add 4 more aggregates to include the 4 important sea areas you missed. That most definitely is possible to implement.

I did understand them, in fact it is even simplier to implement than you imply. I just deem it unreasonable as your proposal would allow for leaving huge gaps for convoys to sneak through, but LL would not occur despite of those huge gaps.

Also it would allows for LL to occur if no gaps are left in the sense that all sea provinces adjacent to the UK are harassed by german submarines.

This is a total "cop-out" response meant only to serve your self justification instead of honestly admitting that your L-L code work is indeed "wanting". Like, "If stopping L-L mod work doesn't work, just stop playing the game as Germany". Awh, come on Pang! You are pushing me against the hard line of what is acceptable to print in this Forum.

Take the UK is meant to be read as invade the UK mainland. Once you controll it no further LL will be sent there or to any other place of what remains of the UK.

Germany in 1941 has nearly zero chance of flying NAVs to Pentland Firth because RAF INTs would probably shoot them down.

The chances for that are slim indeed. Practically speaking i image that any attempt to prevent LL without preparatory work in the sense of sinking large parts of the royal navy first is beyond reason. How aggressive such a strategy would be in practice eludes me right now. But i image that on the base strike doctrine path 6 CV1938-CAG1941 would be powerful enough to do serios damage in 1940. The problem i see with it is that this would create a sitation where not invading the UK mainland seems like a bad idea.

Furthermore, the Royal Navy operating at Pentland Firth doesn't at all expose itself to attacks by a "capable" German navy because - firstly - you have no Kriegsmarine in 1941.

Really? Still i would not waste it on trying to stop american convoys reaching the UK, but rather take the UK and USA.

 

[Commander666]

How you can take one simple topic - stopping Lend Lease - and twist it thru the nonsense you propose for alternate solutions to stop Lend-lease such as invade the UK or the USA is the silliest rationalal for the simple fact that your L-L mod work is seriously lacking in good design. Try keeping a record of convoy hits as I have done and you will further realize the error in your untested view that large sea zones allow convoys to escape.

Anyway, using the 41 sub flotillas which I have mid-1941 and the Bismarck/Tirpitz SAG occasionally I was able to stop Lend Lease ... was able to defeat your 4 aggregates. It does not need Donitz's suggested 72 flotillas if being smart about it. This fact shows up the final flaw in your mod... you made it much too easy. But it is very boring keeping the fleets stationery as per your math/aggregate madness.

 

[Pang Bingxun]

I am perfectly aware that AoD does not take into account the size of seazones, thus i did refer to Real Life.

Anyway i donnot believe that this discussion makes much sense. We had a nearly identical discussion about this some time ago. Also there is a mix up between 3 different topics and that reduces clarity.

1. How to stop LL as it is.
2. How should LL be.
3. How would i personally deal with the options available.

2 and 3 should probably not be discussed in this thread as it reduces clarity. 3 is something i should only detail on my own intiative and wish. 2 is or is not deserving a seperate topic.

Regarding 1 i would like to ask what the likely outcome would be if a human germany tries to keep a stable blockade of the UK mainland by having 15 fleets of 3 SS1938 each completely surrounding the UK. By keeping the fleets small and of lowest total visibility possible keeping fleets near Scapa Flow may incur reasonably low losses, the chances of avoiding and escaping battle without incurring much harm seem reasonably high, but it may weaken the UK in a reasonable manner.

 

[Commander666]

Regarding 1 i would like to ask ...

KRIEGSMARINE REPORT #1

On July 15th, 1941 there was a meeting of all the German high brass. The big hall was swirling with the flash of gold braid on variously colored cloth. Then some one noticed, "Hey, where are all the U-boat commanders?"

The voice of an old man answered, "They are all at sea implementing the Pang Bingxum Stop Lend-Lease problem."

Hitler: "Even Vice-Admiral Donitz?"

Old man coming forward with slip of paper: "Yes, sir. He is at sea commanding three u-boat flotillas currently stationed precisely at these co-ordinates in The Mouth of the Tyne."

Hitler: "You mean the u-boats are not hunting?'

Old man: "Not really sir, They sit there statically 24/7 and wait for enemy merchantmen to run into them. When that seems inevitable, they fire a torpedo to sink the coming ship before there is a collision. It has been an extremely successful tactic which has resulted in the complete, total and absolute stopping of all, every and the entire Lend-Lease shipments from USA to the British Isles."

Hitler: "Where is Commander666?"

Old Man: "He is also at sea sir. He was needed to take the last available U-boat, SS-001, required to fulfill the demanding conditions for exacting a solution to the problem, which we have coded named PANG."

Hitler: "And who would you be, sir?"

Old Man: "I am the father of Commander666 who sent me here to give you the statistics of merchantman sinkings for the last 3 months and also all facts regarding U-boat dispositions and more information with the explicit instruction that I must not fail even if my life depends upon it".

Hitler: "Well sir, you are certainly welcome here and I give you an honorary membership in the Nazi Party. Now, let's see these statistics."

• April 25-30, 1941: Merchantmen sunk = 20, AVERAGE = 3.33/day. ACTIVITY: Wolf-packs in mostly groups of 6 sub flotillas each hunting freely all areas of the North and Central Atlantic including off Canada.
• May 1-22, 1941: Merchantmen sunk = 94, AVERAGE = 4.72/day. ACTIVITY: Wolf-packs in mostly groups of 6 and priortized where the previous month has indicated is best hunting. Patrols to near Canada ceased due to oil problems on return. Many instances of battle with RN destroyers resulted in enemy retreating.
• May 23, 1941: Abwehr provides information to implement OPERATION PANG.
• May-23-30: Merchantmen sunk = 24, AVERAGE = 3.00/day. ACTIVITY: Wolf-packs organized into groups of three and sent to 8 precise coordinates surrounding the British Isles. NOTE: Decrease in convoy kills is expected as some wolf-packs were in port organizing as to their hull numbering system. By end of month the relief of wolf-packs at sea by the few wolf-packs left available in port is a riddle that has been cracked using the Bismarck-Tirpitz Action Group off Brest and a fast 12-unit CA fleet based at Rotterdam to intercede if ever any requirement of OPERATION PANG was missing U-boats on station. Total U-boats 41 (33 SS-4, four SS-3, three SS-2, one SS-1).
• June 1-30, 1941: Merchantmen sunk = 75, AVERAGE = 2.5/day. ACTIVITY: All requirements of Operation Pang maintained 24/7. Easy system has been devised for revolving u-boats so they rotate to next station and reach port before a month is up. This results in any slightly damaged U-boats being "swept up" in the rotation so they effectively are heading to port asap. HOWEVER, enemy ASW activity seems to have completely stopped. Incredibly - the only thing that attacked U-boats in June 1941 was a UK Transport ship (yes, it attacked the U-boats). This nearly total defeatism by the Royal Navy has greatly increased the likelihood of Operation Pang succeeding because we only have slight damage to U-boats caused occasionally by convoy DEs. Still, our spare U-boats are very few on account of us needing to use some wolfpacks to enact the rotation system. Exact Order of Battle (and homeports for every sub group) available once system has been finalized.
• PS: Mein Führer, Vice-Admiral Donitz requests that you urgently provide him with more U-boats. Your faithful servant, Commander666

Hitler: "My gosh, what an excellent report that chap Commander can write. It makes me feel like I am in the con with Donitz."

Air General Göring: "I'll fly you in one of my bombers if you like."

Hitler: "No thanks! Now, von Neurath, give me your report for the corresponding time frame."

Foreign Minister: The Great Compromiser jerks open his attach case and withdraws a splendidly white and crisp piece of paper outstanding in its contrast to the soiled, crumpled and coffee stained bunch of papers the Old Man had handed Hitler.

• April 20, 1941 - USA passed the Lend-Lease Act
• April 20 - First Lend-Lease shipment arrives in UK
  
• May 2 - Second Lend-Lease shipment arrives in UK
• May 14 - Third Lend-Lease shipment arrives in UK
• May 20 - USA declares that a Belligerent Policy is needed in the undeclared war.

Hitler: "Oh yes, I remember, three days later we invited Japan into the Axis Alliance to show those silly Yanks just what belligerence means!"

Foreign Minister continuing:

• June 18, 1941 - USA instigates an oil embargo against Japan.

Hitler: "Those Yankee fools! They have only provoked Japan to now attack the Dutch East Indies. Well, von Neurath, is there anything more to your report? Any further Lend-Lease shipments to the UK?"

Foreign Minister: "No sir, there has not been any such occurrence for the past 2 months."

Hitler: "By jovy, stopping Lend-Lease has been achieved!"

Grand Admiral Raeder commanding the Kriegsmarine: "I hate to rain on your parade my Führer, but may I point out to you that sinkings of enemy merchantmen has plummeted by a shocking 47% since Operation Pang was instigated. Furthermore, destruction of the Royal Navy's destroyers and Light Carriers has completely stopped."

Air General Göring: "Not exactly Raeder, my flier boys sank one DD and a CVL when we attacked Plymouth naval base."

Maj General Rommel: "Yah, and you so screwed up that you got such high a repair bill that the Wehrmacht had to reduce its upgrading of the Armor-2 divisions."

Air General Göring: "You whipper snapper! Talk to me when your silly blitz maneuvers result in you ever destroying or capturing an enemy ship."

Hitler: "Gentlemen, gentlemen! We have gotten upgrading of the Wehrmacht on track by now appropriating 320.24 IC to the job. That is 68% of total industrial capacity."

Field Marshal von Bloomberg: "Your figure actually includes upgrading of six marine divisions - which is not the Wehrmacht - and currently we are upgrading only 6 panzer divisions while a further last 6 panzer divisions wait to even begin their upgrading."

Hitler: "Don't worry... I have a plan... it will all get done."

Field Marshal von Bloomberg: "SIR, with all due respect, may I remind you that today is July, I repeat JULY the 15th, 1941."

Martin Bormann, Head of Government: "And may I remind you Bloomberg, that the massive effort currently going into your beloved Wehrmacht is resulting in a huge strain upon our financial and supply resources. I am very sure the Führer knows what day it is today, you insolent prick!"

Hitler: "OK boys, we have all been under a strain to get ready for Germany's next great adventure."

The Old Man: "Do you mean sending U-boats to the Caribbean?"

Hitler: "Hardly old man... erh, you have to leave now as the rest of the meeting is top secret. Thanks for the wonderful report of your son, and pass the word to Donitz that we have just commissioned 3 new U-boat flotillas. They will be ready for action in a couple days.

Old Man: "But who will command them, sir? There are no more SeaWolf specialists available because we are running so many separate wolf packs instead of making larger wolf packs to use less leaders and which had been sinking enemy naval assets before."

Hitler, seeming stunned: "Eerh, uhm... no more SeaWolf leaders??? What do you suggest, Raeder?"

Raeder: "Well, I'm not a submariner but perhaps use Spotter guys to get free some of the SeaWolf specialists to use for the new subs being commissioned and then let those new subs roam freely again to bring back high monthly sinkings of convoys while we continue the PANG operation."

Göring: "Just use the unused Superior Tacticians to put on the new subs. No need to swap leaders."

Raeder: "How would a fat fly-boy know? I need those last 3 superior tacticians for the new DD hunter-killer groups being formed; and if I ever want to split up our large Heavy Cruiser fleet - or, for that matter, split up the sister battleships and use them as free roving convoy raiders like Bismarck and Tirpitz were designed for. They each - if running separately with their screen - are only 110 visibility per fleet."

Hitler: "So split the Heavy Cruiser fleet (and use one of the free Superior Tacticians) with half of the cruiser fleet staying at Rotterdam and the other half moving to Brest to fill in as needed for the Operation Pang requirements. Then use another Superior Tactician to split up "the sisters". The battleship commanders are all high skill but only Rear Admirals so will rack up enormous exp gain as the Bismarck and Tirpitz decimate the UK convoys currently operating completely unhindered in the North Atlantic and the Western Approaches. Additionally we can run the new wolf pack towards the Caribbean. I love it!"

The Old Man: "Bon voy-age!"

 

[Commander666]

KRIEGSMARINE REPORT #2 for the month of July 1941

Merchantman sunk was only 34 (and 13 escorts). It does not seem possible that this very low figure is due to the exacting demands of stopping Lend-Lease because additional to the 8 U-boat groups on "aggregate stations" there was the Bismarck, the Tirpitz and 3 other U-boat groups all doing "free-hunting" in other regions of the Atlantic. All in all, these 5 roving groups had far less than the hoped for results.

It also does not seem possible that the very low monthly sinkings is on account of the Allies running out of convoys. It has not been long enough yet to seriously dent the over 1000 convoys that UK starts with. However, inspection of the enemy by opening game as them has not been done.

Of similar concern is that the RN seems to have stopped all activity on the seas. Could it be that the successful stopping of Lend-lease coupled with the complete air dominance by the Luftwaffe has resulted in the Brits giving up? I don't think AIs act that way but can not think of any reason why the RN stays in port - totally - best I can tell.

Anyway , to stop Lend Lease and maintain rotation of the units it requires only 11 wolf packs (33 flotilla) and 3 ships. This would not be enough if any heavy damages were taken but is working for now as damages in this game currently are minor. The 12 stacks operate as follows:

Based at Breast: 4 wolf packs are on station at Little Minch, North Channel and Celtic Sea with spare wolf pack (who will enact rotation) sitting in Brest.

Based at Cherbourg: 2 wolf packs on station in English Channel who do rotation with assistance of surface fleet at Brest.

Based at Dunkirk: 3 wolf packs are on station at Mouth of the Tyne and The Wash with spare for rotation sitting in Dunkirk.

Based at Bergen: 2 wolf packs are on station at Pentland Firth with one in Bergen to do the rotation.

All in all the system is fairly easy to maintain, but extremely boring to play.

SUGGESTION: Increasing aggregates to 8 and decreasing requirement to need only one group in each aggregate - but having aggregates match SEA AREAS so wolfpacks can mission to roam the area would be more interesting but considerably harder for player to maintain blocked Lend-Lease conditions. It would also require far more u-boats with each aggregate needing its own rotation group.

Total needed would be 3 x 8 x 2 = 48 (additional if any units damaged).

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

EDIT:

KRIEGSMARINE REPORT #3 for the month of August 1941

48 merchantmen and 19 escorts were sunk.

The Royal Navy was seen only once when a RN submarine damaged Tirpitz. This has resulted in both battleships changing their CL screen for a DD/ASW with fleet visibility reduced to 100.

The 5 groups of convoy raiders doing "free hunting" are getting considerably more damage than the u-boats on "aggregate stations" considering just the action of enemy convoy escorts.

As OPERATION BARBAROSSA is due to begin in a few days, this will be the last monthly Kriegsmarine report as, with the start of that huge land campaign, searching history to tally convoy sinkings will be too difficult. However, there will probably be some final Kriegsmarine report eventually.

 

[stevep]

Guys

Reading through this two questions come to mind.

a) Commander - As you say keeping up the close blockade takes up a lot of units and since the RN does very little you don't get the same kill rate of both MS and naval units you have reported before. If you were playing a game to win rather than to experiment with cutting L-L would you take this approach again or go back to active attacks in the Atlantic, allowing L-L but doing a lot more damage to British and then later US forces?

b) Pang - As I understand it Britain could stop such a cut-off of L-L simply by concentrating a large proportion of their fleet and supporting air into one of those groups of provinces? True the AI might not be intelligent enough to do this but an human player should find it very simple. As such it would be a cheap way of securing L-L and the German either tie up a lot of their fleet trying to maintain the rest of the blockade or give up and it seems to make the option to cut L-L rather pointless against an human player. [Or possibly a reasonably competent AI].

I wonder what you think of those points please?

Steve

 

[Pang Bingxun]

Merchantman sunk was only 34 (and 13 escorts). It does not seem possible that this very low figure is due to the exacting demands of stopping Lend-Lease because additional to the 8 U-boat groups on "aggregate stations" there was the Bismarck, the Tirpitz and 3 other U-boat groups all doing "free-hunting" in other regions of the Atlantic. All in all, these 5 roving groups had far less than the hoped for results.

Maybe one reason is that your blockade is too successful. The UK does not dare to initiate any convoys because there is no route it considers safe enough. If there are more routes that appear "open" than more convoys could be initated and once they are you can get there to sink them.

As I understand it Britain could stop such a cut-off of L-L simply by concentrating a large proportion of their fleet and supporting air into one of those groups of provinces? True the AI might not be intelligent enough to do this but an human player should find it very simple. As such it would be a cheap way of securing L-L and the German either tie up a lot of their fleet trying to maintain the rest of the blockade or give up and it seems to make the option to cut L-L rather pointless against an human player. [Or possibly a reasonably competent AI].

That is possible and actualy meant to be possible. There is a catch though: If the USA are human controlled no LL via event will occur, so convoys would need to be used. Or open negotiations, but maybe that would be forbidden by house rules.

 

[Pang Bingxun]

SUGGESTION: Increasing aggregates to 8 and decreasing requirement to need only one group in each aggregate - but having aggregates match SEA AREAS so wolfpacks can mission to roam the area would be more interesting but considerably harder for player to maintain blocked Lend-Lease conditions. It would also require far more u-boats with each aggregate needing its own rotation group.

Total needed would be 3 x 8 x 2 = 48 (additional if any units damaged).

I created a second condition to block them. If there are either 2+ fleets of 3+ in the 4 aggregrates or 1+ fleet of 3+ in the 10 aggregates, then LL will not occur. So right now both option are in. For readabilty i did reduce the first option here:

#########################################################################
#  Lend-Lease Shipment to the UK
#########################################################################
event = {
   id = 3702
   random = no
   persistent = yes
   country = USA

   trigger = {
       ai = yes
       war = { country = ENG country = GER }
       #random = 100 # 100% chance every 12 days
       NOT = { war = { country = ENG country = USA } }
       event = 3404 # English event for Lend-Lease Act
       AND = {
           control = { province = 9 data = ENG } # Glasgow
           control = { province = 10 data = ENG } # Edinburgh
           control = { province = 13 data = ENG } # Sheffield
           control = { province = 14 data = ENG } # Liverpool
           control = { province = 16 data = ENG } # Birmingham
           control = { province = 19 data = ENG } # London
       }
       NOT = {[...]}
       NOT = { # The human player needs 10 fleets of size 3+ to block the Atlantic trade
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in the English Channel
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tames
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tames
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2395  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tames
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2412  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Eastern English Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2413  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Western English Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2414  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Channel Approach
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in the West North Sea
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2396  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Wash
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2397  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of the Tyne
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Forth
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Forth
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2398  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Firth of Forth
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2471  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Cromarty Firth
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2402  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Pentland Firth
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in Faroes Gap + The Hebrides
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2404  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Little Minch
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2403  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # The Minch
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2599  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Southeast Faroes Gap
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2599  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Southeast Faroes Gap
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2599  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Southeast Faroes Gap
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2598  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Central Faroes Gap
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2598  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Central Faroes Gap
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2598  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Central Faroes Gap
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2377  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Northeast Faroes Gap
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2377  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Northeast Faroes Gap
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2377  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Northeast Faroes Gap
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in Irish Sea
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2405  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2406  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Solway Firth
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2410  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # St.George's Channel
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2411  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Celtic Sea
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2409  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of Shannon
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2409  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of Shannon
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2409  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Mouth of Shannon
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in Irish West Coast
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2408  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Galway Bay
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2408  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Galway Bay
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2408  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Galway Bay
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2407  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Donegal Bay
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2407  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Donegal Bay
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2407  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Donegal Bay
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2401  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Rockall Bank
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2401  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Rockall Bank
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2401  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Rockall Bank
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in North Atlantic
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2421  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Hatton Bank
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2421  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Hatton Bank
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2421  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Hatton Bank
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2373  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # South Denmark Strait
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2373  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # South Denmark Strait
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2373  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # South Denmark Strait
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2372  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Sea of Labrador
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2372  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Sea of Labrador
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2372  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Sea of Labrador
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 3371  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Central Sea of Labrador
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2371  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Central Sea of Labrador
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2371  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Central Sea of Labrador
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in Western Approaches
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2399  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Gibbs Fracture East
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2359  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Gibbs Fracture East
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2359  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Gibbs Fracture East
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2358  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores North
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2358  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores North
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2358  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores North
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2422  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # West Celtic Shelf
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2422  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # West Celtic Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2422  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # West Celtic Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in Cape Finisterre + East Biscaya Basin
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2597  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # East Celtic Shelf
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2597  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # East Celtic Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2597  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # East Celtic Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2596  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # East Biscaya Basin
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2596  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # East Biscaya Basin
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2596  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # East Biscaya Basin
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2420  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # West Biscaya Basin
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2420  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # West Biscaya Basin
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2420  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # West Biscaya Basin
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2419  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Costa Verde
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2419  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Costa Verde
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2419  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Costa Verde
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2425  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Rias Bajas
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2425  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Rias Bajas
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2425  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Rias Bajas
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in Portuguese Coast
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2595  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Iberian Shelf
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2595  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Iberian Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2595  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # North Iberian Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2426  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Coast of Porto
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2426  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Coast of Porto
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2426  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Coast of Porto
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2427  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Coast of Lissabon
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2427  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Coast of Lissabon
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2427  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Coast of Lissabon
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2424  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # South Iberian Shelf
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2424  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # South Iberian Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2424  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # South Iberian Shelf
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
           OR = { # One fleet of 3+ naval divisions in Azores
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2357  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores East
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2357  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores East
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2357  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores East
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2423  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores West
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2423  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores West
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2423  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores West
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
               OR = {
                   garrison = { country = GER province = 2304  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores South
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = ITA province = 2304  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores South
                       war = { country = ENG country = ITA }
                   }
                   AND = {
                       garrison = { country = JAP province = 2304  type = naval size = 3 area = no } # Sea of Azores South
                       war = { country = ENG country = JAP }
                   }
               }
           }
       }
       NOT = { government = fascist }
       supplies = 6000 # 4500 left
       oil = 6000 # 4800 left
       metal = 3000 # 2500 left
   }

   name = "EVT_3702_NAME"
   desc = "EVT_3702_DESC"
   style = 0
   picture = "lend_lease"

   date = { day = 1 month = january year = 1936 }
   offset = 12
   deathdate = { day = 30 month = december year = 1999 }

   action_a = {
       name = "ACTIONNAME3702A" # Send more supplies
       ai_chance = 85
       command = { type = supplies value = -1500 }
       command = { type = oilpool value = -600 }
       command = { type = metalpool value = -300 }
       command = { type = relation which = ENG value = 5 }
       command = { type = trigger which = 3405 } # UK
   }
   action_b = {
       name = "ACTIONNAME3702B" # Not this time
       ai_chance = 15
       command = { type = relation which = ENG value = -5 }
   }
}

 

[Commander666]

Commander - If you were playing a game to win rather than to experiment with cutting L-L would you take this approach again or go back to active attacks in the Atlantic, allowing L-L but doing a lot more damage to British and then later US forces? Steve

I honestly can not answer the question because I really do not know why the UK navy seems to have disappeared and why convoy hits decreased from the highs obtained before. Could it be that RN would have disappeared about the same time and (convoy hits reduced) had I not moved to stopping L-L? I don't know. It is not good for my case that the five free-roaming groups aren't doing very well either.

But probably, to give some answer to your valid question, I would not do "stop L-L" again because I don't find it much fun to play... and it probably was a mistake to even switch from a strategy that was working excellently to get both RN and their convoys sinking at the wonderful rate I had obtained earlier. I should have continued with that strategy (free-roving u-boats of 6 flotilla per wolf pack) until the sinkings had become few only... then switched to "stop L-L".

For sure, in my current set up with small wolf packs the USN will decimate me. So after Pearl Harbour I think I need allow L-L to get thru again just so my U-boats can attack the USN. Seems this experiment was not done in proper order.

 

[Commander666]

I created a second condition to block them. If there are either 2+ fleets of 3+ in the 4 aggregrates or 1+ fleet of 3+ in the 10 aggregates, then LL will not occur.

I don't understand your English... and the code is even worse.

As per what you write above, you literally say that 1 fleet in the 10 aggregates will stop L-L.
[or 1+ fleet of 3+ in the 10 aggregates,]

And now the earlier 4 aggregates has changed to 10 aggregates? Could you (and your code) please be less confusing? Thank you. This would all have been much, much simpler if you had not used aggregates but stayed with existing map and used SEA AREAS.

AS REGARDS stopping L-L to Soviets, is that possible? If so, can you please state clearly (and simply in correct English) what those condtitons are? Thank you.

 

[Commander666]

1st Wehrmacht Report - filed from Moscow

The Kriegsmarine has gone nuts - aimlessly chasing "Pang aggregates" across the seven seas as to where ever the Abwehr gives new or changed information that such things might exist.

The Luftwaffe has gone nuts - just bombing everything they can.

Oh mein Führer, you can only still rely on the steadfastness of the good German soldier in the completely reliable Wehrmacht. Here is the report for Phase 1 of Barbarossa.

Start Date: September 9th, 1941
Moscow: Entered September 24th, 1941
September 29th: 121 Soviet divisions pocketed from Riga to Rostov and cut-off from supply are being annihilated. Extra divisions eliminated earlier ~50-100.

Advance Merry Christmas!

Regards,
Heeresgruppe A, Eastern Front
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


EDIT:

2nd Wehrmacht Report - filed from Stalingrad

Took city October 1st after dislodging inferior Bolsheviks. The deep mud of Rasputitsa is behind us. Clear travel, headed to Caspian Sea north shore.

Mj. General Fischer in command of the 25th, 26th and 27th panzer divisions, Army Group South.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


EDIT:

3rd Wehrmacht Report - filed from Leningrad

With assistance of panzers and marines we took the city Oct 9th. 30 Soviet divisions are trapped in Lapland/Karelia. Weather has been perfect, patches of frozen appearing here and there.

Mj General Student,
1st Fallschirmjäger

 

[Pang Bingxun]

AS REGARDS stopping L-L to Soviets, is that possible? If so, can you please state clearly (and simply in correct English) what those condtitons are? Thank you.

There are 3 routes, all of them would need to be blocked.

1. Murmansk: Take Murmansk and Archangelsk to block it. Or have fleets of size 3+ in 2 of 3 sea zones: Varanger Fjord, South Barents Sea, White Sea.

2. Vladivostok. Take Vladivostok to block it. Or have a fleet off size 3+ in Vladivosktok Bay. Japan certainly can pull that one off.

3. Teheran. Take Teheran to block it. Or take Baku and Babol and Mashad. Or have fleets of size 3+ in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.