GAME MANUAL - Steam

HEARTS OF IRON DARKEST HOURconditions, although this ismodified by the local infrastructurefor troops in the field,representing the ability todeliver supplies to thoseunits.. The effective supplyefficiency (ESE) is thereforethe base supply efficiencymodified by the amount ofinfrastructure in the province.This can be further reduced ifan enemy bomber force isconducting certain types ofbombing campaigns againstthe province. These missionsare detailed in the Air Combatsection.Because of its wide-rangingeffects, it would be hard toover-emphasise theSupply Efficiency at a GlanceBase Supply Efficiency(BSE) = Total TC / Used TC (up to 100%)Effective Supply Efficiency(ESE) = BSE x province infrastructure(ESE affects movement, attrition, effectivestrength, and effective organisation values)importance of the effectivesupply efficiency value. Adivision that is located in aprovince with low ESE willsuffer increased attrition rates,reduced movement speeds,and will take much longer toupgrade or to regain itsstrength and organisation.During combat, low ESE willalso tend to result in morerapid loss of morale andorganisation, making it morelikely that your forces willbreak off their attack morequickly and will sustain highercasualty rates. Whencombined with other possiblemodifiers due to terrain,weather, climate and enemylogistic strikes, this couldeasily result in a persistentrate of loss that makes itvirtually suicidal for a divisionto remain there.Only two things can be usedto offset thispotentiallydevastatingeffect. A headquartersdivision has theeffect of noticeablyincreasingthe ESE for alldivisions withina one-provinceradius of itslocation. You can also use theoption of placing a fieldcommand on the offensive,which will increase theirsupply efficiency by 25% forthe next 30 days but willdouble the amount of suppliesthey consume.AttritionThis is the harmful effect that alow-supply efficiency will haveon your forces. Any force thatis not receiving enoughsupplies will begin to sufferattrition, which reduces bothyour troops’ strength and theirorganisation. The degree ofattrition is determined by theeffective supply efficiency in aprovince as modified by theterrain, weather conditionsand climate.Supply ChainsDarkest Hour abstracts thisusing the previously describedtransport capacity and supplyefficiency systems. Whatremains, and what you mustpay close attention to, is theissue of supply chains. For thesake of clarity the term“supplies” will refer to both thesupplies and the fuel (oil) thatyour divisions require tooperate.Transport Capacity at aGlance Shipping 1 fuel uses 1TC, Shipping 1 supplies uses1 TC. Maintaining control of anoccupied province uses 1 TC.Each unit held in the forcepool uses 2 TC. Each divisionbeing strategically redeployeduses 2 TC.A supply chain is the actualpath that your supplies willtake in order to reach yourtroops. It must start at a depotthat has the necessarysupplies and then follow anunbroken chain of adjacentprovinces until it reaches yourdivisions. If that chain isbroken, the supplies will ceaseto reach your troops and theywill begin to suffer rather nastyattrition effects that will reducetheir strength andorganisation. A supply chainmust be traceable throughfriendly provinces - ones thatyou control, that your alliescontrol, or provinces belongingto nations with whom youhave a treaty of militaryaccess. You cannot trace apath through enemyprovinces, or provincesbelonging to neutral nations,unless, as just mentioned, youhave a military access treatywith them. You cannot tracesupply directly across waterbut you can create a newdepot in a coastal provincethat you control and then useconvoys to ship supplies tothat depot from somewhereelse, usually your capital.You can also be supplied byone of your allies, providedthat they have the necessarysupplies in their depot. Ofcourse, this can put unduestrain on their supplycapabilities, eventuallycausing problems if there is alarge concentration of alliedtroops in an area. Keep inmind that the reverse is trueas well, that your allies maydraw supply from you if theyneed to and they won’t askyou before they do, makingthis a good reason to maintainextra supplies in a depot.Supply chains are automaticallycreated for you ifyour divisions can trace anunbroken path of provinces toa friendly depot that has thenecessary supplies. It isassumed that the necessarysupplies can reach the108