Upgrading all my tanks to a new variant

[panda234]

Hi everyone, new to the boards but a few hours on HOI4. Too many lol.

So I've created a tank variant and can use that variant in my production line and can convert older models that are in my stockpile. But how do I convert tanks that are in the field if I can only convert tanks that are in the stockpile? Now I do it by changing the template that the older tanks use so they go back in the stockpile, then convert them, and then put them back in the field. There must be an easier way?

 

[HugsAndSnuggles]

But how do I convert tanks that are in the field if I can only convert tanks that are in the stockpile?

You can't.

Now I do it by changing the template that the older tanks use so they go back in the stockpile, then convert them, and then put them back in the field. There must be an easier way?

Sure: outdated models are gradually replaced with newer ones from stockpile.

 

[Mousetick]

Now I do it by changing the template that the older tanks use so they go back in the stockpile, then convert them, and then put them back in the field. There must be an easier way?

Sure: outdated models are gradually replaced with newer ones from stockpile.

Which happens automatically if the template is set to use any new equipment (the default). If it's not, it needs to be manually updated to use the variant.

 

[panda234]

k, think I've got it. New tanks will build the variant and tanks in the stockpile will convert.

The part I was confused on was the tanks in the field. To confirm, I can convert these but need to get them back into the stockpile, say by temporarily changing the template, convert the tanks to the new variant, and then put them back in the field by changing the template again.

Edit: to be clear I want to convert all my old tanks to the new variant.

 

[Mousetick]

The part I was confused on was the tanks in the field. To confirm, I can convert these but need to get them back into the stockpile, say by temporarily changing the template, convert the tanks to the new variant, and then put them back in the field by changing the template again.

Nope, you don't need to do that. As HugsAndSnuggle mentioned, units in the field will be automatically upgraded over time (it takes some time for the new tanks to be produced, and for them to be sent out to the divisions in the field). The game does that for you. As units in the field are upgraded, the old tanks that were in the field will be sent back to the stockpile, which can then be converted to the new variant.

Does that make sense?

The only case where you need to manually intervene, is when you had specified in your division template that it use only specific models of tanks. In that case the new tank variant would not be sent to the divisions in the field. You'd have to update the template to use the new tank variant. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you don't need to worry about it.

 

[HugsAndSnuggles]

To confirm, I can convert these but need to get them back into the stockpile, say by temporarily changing the template

Not necessarily. Do you get rid of old rifles same way? Artillery? It's the same for all outdated equipment, variants or no. Provided template is allowed to use the new tank variant, it goes like this:
1. You have stockpile of old tank variants.
2. You convert tank in stockpile to a new variant.
3. New tank variant replaces old tank variant in the field.
4. Replaced old tank variant moves back into stockpile (because division can only hold so many).
5. Repeat until out of old tank variants.

 

[panda234]

Got it, thx!

 

[Simon_9732495]

By pressing "o" for the division overview (see also: https://hoi4.paradoxwikis.com/Hotkeys ) you click on equipment details in the top bar and there you see which varaints you have in the field.

 

[Mister Analyst]

@panda234

Here is a visual representation of what @Simon_9732495 stated:

* Click the "Division Overview" button or hotkey "o", then click on the "Equipment details" button to the see "Equipment In the Field". Then click on "Light Tank" to expand the equipment details. In the example, you should see that there are 117 Vickers II light tanks in the field and 3 Vickers II Mark 1 light tanks in the field for a total of 120 light tanks in the field.

* Another method involves selecting the division that you want to review, then hover over that division's strength bar to see a tooltip. In the example below it can be seen that the Canadian 3rd Armoured Division is at 100% strength consisting of 117 Vickers II light tanks, 3 Vickers II Mark 1 light tanks, and 240 SAL No. 4 Mark 1 rifles.

 

[halvorni]

I guess you can speed up the process if you want a select few divisions to have top notch equipment for an offensive, and don't want to wait for the replacement process. Make a copy of the template and create an elite variant with only the newest equipment, and assign it to those divisions (of course only if you have sufficient number of the new tanks).

 

[TheMeInTeam]

By pressing "o" for the division overview (see also: https://hoi4.paradoxwikis.com/Hotkeys ) you click on equipment details in the top bar and there you see which varaints you have in the field.

This can get pretty wild if you use maintenance companies against the AI, you get a wide rainbow of colors/flags on infantry kits, support equipment, artillery, and mot in particular, but also some outdated crappy tanks (good for garrison duty). Rarely you can get good stuff late game, but this is a nice way to get a lot of standard stuff on minimal investment in SP. If you do 10:1 casualties or better you tend to come away net-positive in equipment from fighting after level 2 maintenance is researched.