Question on how tech affects ship building and capabilities

[DiFool6]

In the Atlantic German campaign I attempted to create a Type XXI electroboat, just for kicks more than anything else. I got a pretty reasonable facsimile, but the underwater speed only maxed out at 14 knots, which for 1941 isn't too bad, but the design underwater speed of the XXI was 17 knots. As tech progresses can I bring existing ships in for refits, in this case say equip my XXI's with more powerful and efficient motors? Swap older guns out for newer ones? Would the drastic rebuilds of things like the Conte di Cavour and Kongo classes be possible in this game system? Are certain things upgraded automatically as tech increases (such as radar)?

And on a related note would my faux-XXI's get any specific tangible benefits from their higher underwater speed and deep diving depths when attacking convoys and trying to escape escorts?

[tony_glazebrook]

In the Atlantic German campaign I attempted to create a Type XXI electroboat, just for kicks more than anything else. I got a pretty reasonable facsimile, but the underwater speed only maxed out at 14 knots, which for 1941 isn't too bad, but the design underwater speed of the XXI was 17 knots. As tech progresses can I bring existing ships in for refits, in this case say equip my XXI's with more powerful and efficient motors? Swap older guns out for newer ones? Would the drastic rebuilds of things like the Conte di Cavour and Kongo classes be possible in this game system? Are certain things upgraded automatically as tech increases (such as radar)?

And on a related note would my faux-XXI's get any specific tangible benefits from their higher underwater speed and deep diving depths when attacking convoys and trying to escape escorts?

John - tech advances, such as in sub propulsion, are applied automatically, and to all relevant ships. Sub propulsion does improve underwater speed; I can't recall though whether this improvement is actually displayed - it should be and I'll look at that. Higher u/w speeeds improve both your attacking chances (getting into position) and of course your survival chances (getting out of there!)

[DiFool6]

Thanks. The electroboot concept was the way to go, but it took some very hard lessons for the Germans to be the first to recognize it. Oddly the Americans had an early electroboat in the S-class boats, with their 11 knot underwater speed, but they were otherwise obsolete.

[goodwood]

John - tech advances, such as in sub propulsion, are applied automatically, and to all relevant ships. Sub propulsion does improve underwater speed; I can't recall though whether this improvement is actually displayed - it should be and I'll look at that. Higher u/w speeeds improve both your attacking chances (getting into position) and of course your survival chances (getting out of there!)

With technology upgrades, when u say it applies to all relevant ships, does this mean ships out on patrol get up graded in the middle of the ocean?

[tony_glazebrook]

With technology upgrades, when u say it applies to all relevant ships, does this mean ships out on patrol get up graded in the middle of the ocean?

Ron - yes, the roll-out is simplified. Stratgeic turns are at least monthly. It is assumed for the purposes of game-play that advances get applied to ships asap when in port; if they are at sea when something is announced, it is just assumed that they were early candidates and got upgraded a little earlier the official announcement and before they put to sea.

This is a simplified thing. Like the ac deployment. I didn't think most players would want the hassle of anything more complicated.

[goodwood]

Ron - yes, the roll-out is simplified. Stratgeic turns are at least monthly. It is assumed for the purposes of game-play that advances get applied to ships asap when in port; if they are at sea when something is announced, it is just assumed that they were early candidates and got upgraded a little earlier the official announcement and before they put to sea.

This is a simplified thing. Like the ac deployment. I didn't think most players would want the hassle of anything more complicated.

Yep I can appreciate that from a strategic point of view, i guess in general there a few other things in the game u have look at with same point of view, or game would bog with too much detail, a matter of balance, I guess