Suggested Hearts of Iron Game Changes
(Let me preface this Post by stating that this is targeted toward German specific ideas, but can be applied uniformly to any country. I am most familiar with Axis 1933-1948 History, Technology, Research and Practices; so that is what I’m most qualified to speak about.) If any of my suggestions were added to later versions such as HOI 2, please let me know.
I think that some Technology should be added to more accurately reflect possible weapons platforms/systems. Fighters such as Me109 and Fw190s should offer the option of being fitted/retrofitted with Hydrazine burners in their tail sections the way Ground Forces can have Artillery, AT, Engineer, or AA Brigades assigned to them. The retrofit should only lessen Unit Stats for a few days and result in 5-15% lowered Stats across the board. Attack, Defense, and Organization would only affect the small # of Units being worked on at any given Time. All other Units would remain operational during the Retrofit.
Additionally, adding Components or upgrading Units should not result in demobilization or removal from the Field for inclusion into Strategic Redeployment Pool. (Added Weapons and Platforms are ADDED to existing Units and don’t require deactivation, demobilization, or redeployment!!!)
Heavy 4-6 engine Bombers and Transports could be fit with wire-guided bombs for increased precision and liquid fuel rockets for lift during takeoff and climb to altitude (JATO).
Coke dust Thermobaric Devices could create devastating blast effect. Synthetic Diesel based ‘Napalm’ could be dropped around massed troop positions to evacuate the oxygen and cause mass hysteria to soldiers and civilians alike. Use over dry timber forests could cause massive forest fires driving inhabitants away in frenzied terror. Thus area denial use near food and arms production centers. Submarine launched base-bleed shells or cruise missiles could release Incendiary over England causing mass panic, food and fuel shortages, etc. Bombers could do the same over Western Russia confident that Rasputitsa Rains would extinguish the fires during the fall rainy season. Then Armor/Artillery would advance without opposition once the ground froze.
“Birdcage” exoskeletal ribbing around vehicles cause shells to detonate 1 m outside the plate armor or deceleration of the incoming shell to the point that it losses nearly all kinetic energy causing the explosive blast to reflect off of the plate steel rather than into it. Shaped charges would eject their molten jets into the area in front of the plate steel rather than directly into it. Clay brick facing further reduces blast and molten jet effects. Clay bricks crumble causing loss of blast energy like modern Kevlar vests and also insulate steel plate from molten jets. Clay is far cheaper and lighter per volume than Hardened Steel. It is also easily replaced in the Field. A tank under repair can have its exoskeletal ribbing replaced by bolting or welding the new member in place and having locally made bricks reinserted into the face. Since a Tank is rarely struck in the same place by multiple rounds, it could withstand several strikes prior to replacement of damaged shell.
Replacing the Maybach Petrol Engines with similar MAN Diesel designs would increase reliability, fuel economy, maintenance simplicity, horsepower, torque, endurance and longevity. Once struck, Diesel burns slowly as the Paraffins heat rather than explosive petrol fumes making fire fighting far more effective, increasing crew and platform survivability.
Methanol could be produced locally at Frontline Stations by Timber pyrolysis. Mixing with Diesel provides increased Power, Flammability for use in Cold Climate (Russia), and additional Feedstock in extending Diesel supplies.
Finnish Cold Climate Testing would have revealed the benefit of mixing low-octane gasoline with lubricating oils for them to function in frigid climate. Rifle bolts and crankcases require this “winterizing” to function in subfreezing temperatures. Placing an attenuated fin radiator at the bottom of the Fuel storage tank also preheats the diesel and “mellows” it by thinning and separating the Paraffins prior to direct injection. Captured Kerosene and Methanol could also be added in low percentages to help thin, condition and prolong the diesel supplies during the drive into Western Russia.
There are a number of other Field Test and Trials that could be added to the Research Tables to allow further enhancement and refinement of Techniques, Tactics and Equipment.
Mobile Radar Ground Vehicles and Heavy Transports could serve as Early Warning Systems monitoring the English Channel, Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Europe, or any other Land or Sea Border just as the British, American, Japanese, Norwegians and Danes used Coastal watchers equipped with Binoculars and Mobile Radar Transmitters which could be shut down and moved to avoid aerial bombardment.
Additionally the Game doesn’t make Foreign Military Sales a Revenue Generating Stream. By selling Tanks, Artillery, and Aircraft to Spain, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, etc Germany could have subsidized their weapons platforms and systems Research, Development, Testing, Tooling, and Construction. (Cost per Unit falls with additional Production. First 20 Units often cost 3 times more than 6th 20 Units: 100-120. Therefore, if Germany could sell 120 units prior to building 120 units for itself it would have political excuse for building the units for export and lowered price for the “warehoused” units it fails to sell.) This also has the benefit of demanding Raw Materials shipments from Host countries to produce the units for them. Supply countries have a vested interest in assuring Materials arrive in Germany.
I have several other suggestions for Game Enhancements, but not the Technical Expertise to generate a modification patch or decide the proper weightings for such Innovations; though I DO have some thoughts about applicable weightings.
Other Classes of Units such as Artillery Divisions could be added instead of Infantry, Armor, Mountain, Para, Partisan and Marine Divisions. Armor and Artillery feature Infantry Companies for Security, just as Infantry and Armor can have Artillery and Engineer Detachments to enhance their capabilities. Also, Historically Frontline units were sometimes reinforced with Security Detachments, Chemical Warfare Specialists, etc. Perhaps the ability to reinforce Infantry and Armor with Field, AA, and AT Artillery helps resolve this issue. It’s presumed that ALL Armored Formations have Infantry Support and that Engineering Battalions provide enhanced Security. Perhaps Partisans could take the role of SS and Military Police Units in Urban Suppression Operations; though it would be nice to have specialized Units to suppress Uprisings. (France tends to organize harassment units until her colonies are captured. In reality, an SS Unit could suppress or eliminate ‘partisan’ sabotage in France by utilizing ruthless methods. It would be nice to Form SS Security Units for just such purpose and assign a commander like Reinhardt Heidrich.)
Historical Events such as Hitler’s remilitarization of the Rhineland, Violation of Versailles Treaty Provisions, French Social Unrest, Judenfrei (Jewish Deportation) and Krystalnacht Events, etc should be Options that the Player can choose just as Annexation of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russian Officer Purge, etc. Jewish Deportation and Krystalnacht could be offered as Accept (Decrease in Dissent/Increase in Allied War Desire) or Reject (Increase in Dissent/ Decrease in Allied War Desire.)
There is also a lack of Diplomatic Integration/Harmonization. Hitler could have asked Japan not to attack USA or Russia until after conquest of China led to attacks against UK and French Possessions in the South Pacific/Indian Ocean. This, combined with mining and Naval Bombardment of shipping in Suez would have crippled French and British Supply Lines and Material Use. Also, successful Annexation should yield ENORMOUS increase in Diplomatic Influence. Let’s not forget that Hitler was viewed as virtually unstoppable Diplomatically during the mid-1930s. He could easily forced Spain to allow passage of Forces to attach British Gibraltar and Malta. Ju88s and He111s would have shut down the Mediterranean by closing British Gibraltar and the Suez Cannel. This would place North Africa, the Colonies, and the Homeland all in Strategic Isolation. The Homeland wouldn’t receive Raw Materials, and Expeditionary Forces would starve for Ammunition and Supplies. HOI offers no option to close down these Routes via Aerial Bombing of Shipping Routes. Submarines have MANY vulnerabilities that are easily overcome through aerial bombing!!!
(Let me preface this Post by stating that this is targeted toward German specific ideas, but can be applied uniformly to any country. I am most familiar with Axis 1933-1948 History, Technology, Research and Practices; so that is what I’m most qualified to speak about.) If any of my suggestions were added to later versions such as HOI 2, please let me know.
I think that some Technology should be added to more accurately reflect possible weapons platforms/systems. Fighters such as Me109 and Fw190s should offer the option of being fitted/retrofitted with Hydrazine burners in their tail sections the way Ground Forces can have Artillery, AT, Engineer, or AA Brigades assigned to them. The retrofit should only lessen Unit Stats for a few days and result in 5-15% lowered Stats across the board. Attack, Defense, and Organization would only affect the small # of Units being worked on at any given Time. All other Units would remain operational during the Retrofit.
Additionally, adding Components or upgrading Units should not result in demobilization or removal from the Field for inclusion into Strategic Redeployment Pool. (Added Weapons and Platforms are ADDED to existing Units and don’t require deactivation, demobilization, or redeployment!!!)
Heavy 4-6 engine Bombers and Transports could be fit with wire-guided bombs for increased precision and liquid fuel rockets for lift during takeoff and climb to altitude (JATO).
Coke dust Thermobaric Devices could create devastating blast effect. Synthetic Diesel based ‘Napalm’ could be dropped around massed troop positions to evacuate the oxygen and cause mass hysteria to soldiers and civilians alike. Use over dry timber forests could cause massive forest fires driving inhabitants away in frenzied terror. Thus area denial use near food and arms production centers. Submarine launched base-bleed shells or cruise missiles could release Incendiary over England causing mass panic, food and fuel shortages, etc. Bombers could do the same over Western Russia confident that Rasputitsa Rains would extinguish the fires during the fall rainy season. Then Armor/Artillery would advance without opposition once the ground froze.
“Birdcage” exoskeletal ribbing around vehicles cause shells to detonate 1 m outside the plate armor or deceleration of the incoming shell to the point that it losses nearly all kinetic energy causing the explosive blast to reflect off of the plate steel rather than into it. Shaped charges would eject their molten jets into the area in front of the plate steel rather than directly into it. Clay brick facing further reduces blast and molten jet effects. Clay bricks crumble causing loss of blast energy like modern Kevlar vests and also insulate steel plate from molten jets. Clay is far cheaper and lighter per volume than Hardened Steel. It is also easily replaced in the Field. A tank under repair can have its exoskeletal ribbing replaced by bolting or welding the new member in place and having locally made bricks reinserted into the face. Since a Tank is rarely struck in the same place by multiple rounds, it could withstand several strikes prior to replacement of damaged shell.
Replacing the Maybach Petrol Engines with similar MAN Diesel designs would increase reliability, fuel economy, maintenance simplicity, horsepower, torque, endurance and longevity. Once struck, Diesel burns slowly as the Paraffins heat rather than explosive petrol fumes making fire fighting far more effective, increasing crew and platform survivability.
Methanol could be produced locally at Frontline Stations by Timber pyrolysis. Mixing with Diesel provides increased Power, Flammability for use in Cold Climate (Russia), and additional Feedstock in extending Diesel supplies.
Finnish Cold Climate Testing would have revealed the benefit of mixing low-octane gasoline with lubricating oils for them to function in frigid climate. Rifle bolts and crankcases require this “winterizing” to function in subfreezing temperatures. Placing an attenuated fin radiator at the bottom of the Fuel storage tank also preheats the diesel and “mellows” it by thinning and separating the Paraffins prior to direct injection. Captured Kerosene and Methanol could also be added in low percentages to help thin, condition and prolong the diesel supplies during the drive into Western Russia.
There are a number of other Field Test and Trials that could be added to the Research Tables to allow further enhancement and refinement of Techniques, Tactics and Equipment.
Mobile Radar Ground Vehicles and Heavy Transports could serve as Early Warning Systems monitoring the English Channel, Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Europe, or any other Land or Sea Border just as the British, American, Japanese, Norwegians and Danes used Coastal watchers equipped with Binoculars and Mobile Radar Transmitters which could be shut down and moved to avoid aerial bombardment.
Additionally the Game doesn’t make Foreign Military Sales a Revenue Generating Stream. By selling Tanks, Artillery, and Aircraft to Spain, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, etc Germany could have subsidized their weapons platforms and systems Research, Development, Testing, Tooling, and Construction. (Cost per Unit falls with additional Production. First 20 Units often cost 3 times more than 6th 20 Units: 100-120. Therefore, if Germany could sell 120 units prior to building 120 units for itself it would have political excuse for building the units for export and lowered price for the “warehoused” units it fails to sell.) This also has the benefit of demanding Raw Materials shipments from Host countries to produce the units for them. Supply countries have a vested interest in assuring Materials arrive in Germany.
I have several other suggestions for Game Enhancements, but not the Technical Expertise to generate a modification patch or decide the proper weightings for such Innovations; though I DO have some thoughts about applicable weightings.
Other Classes of Units such as Artillery Divisions could be added instead of Infantry, Armor, Mountain, Para, Partisan and Marine Divisions. Armor and Artillery feature Infantry Companies for Security, just as Infantry and Armor can have Artillery and Engineer Detachments to enhance their capabilities. Also, Historically Frontline units were sometimes reinforced with Security Detachments, Chemical Warfare Specialists, etc. Perhaps the ability to reinforce Infantry and Armor with Field, AA, and AT Artillery helps resolve this issue. It’s presumed that ALL Armored Formations have Infantry Support and that Engineering Battalions provide enhanced Security. Perhaps Partisans could take the role of SS and Military Police Units in Urban Suppression Operations; though it would be nice to have specialized Units to suppress Uprisings. (France tends to organize harassment units until her colonies are captured. In reality, an SS Unit could suppress or eliminate ‘partisan’ sabotage in France by utilizing ruthless methods. It would be nice to Form SS Security Units for just such purpose and assign a commander like Reinhardt Heidrich.)
Historical Events such as Hitler’s remilitarization of the Rhineland, Violation of Versailles Treaty Provisions, French Social Unrest, Judenfrei (Jewish Deportation) and Krystalnacht Events, etc should be Options that the Player can choose just as Annexation of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russian Officer Purge, etc. Jewish Deportation and Krystalnacht could be offered as Accept (Decrease in Dissent/Increase in Allied War Desire) or Reject (Increase in Dissent/ Decrease in Allied War Desire.)
There is also a lack of Diplomatic Integration/Harmonization. Hitler could have asked Japan not to attack USA or Russia until after conquest of China led to attacks against UK and French Possessions in the South Pacific/Indian Ocean. This, combined with mining and Naval Bombardment of shipping in Suez would have crippled French and British Supply Lines and Material Use. Also, successful Annexation should yield ENORMOUS increase in Diplomatic Influence. Let’s not forget that Hitler was viewed as virtually unstoppable Diplomatically during the mid-1930s. He could easily forced Spain to allow passage of Forces to attach British Gibraltar and Malta. Ju88s and He111s would have shut down the Mediterranean by closing British Gibraltar and the Suez Cannel. This would place North Africa, the Colonies, and the Homeland all in Strategic Isolation. The Homeland wouldn’t receive Raw Materials, and Expeditionary Forces would starve for Ammunition and Supplies. HOI offers no option to close down these Routes via Aerial Bombing of Shipping Routes. Submarines have MANY vulnerabilities that are easily overcome through aerial bombing!!!
o