Convoy Disruption: 1941, 1942.2 & G40 Submarine economic warfare

National Convoy Disruption House rule for AA50 1941 set up.
Here is all AA50 Convoy SZs, 1941 set-up I would implement (some such as SZs 2, 46, 53, 57 can be considered as Allied lend-lease shipping SZs coming from either UK or US toward Russia or Australia) :

Soviet Union 24 IPCs
2 SZs x 4 IPCs = 8 IPCs max.
SZ 4 (Karelia and Archangel)
SZ 63 (Soviet Far East)

United Kingdom 43 IPCs
10 SZs x 4 IPCs = 40 IPCs max.
SZs 2 (Iceland / North of UK), 8 (Southern UK), 9 (Eastern Canada), 12 (Gibraltar), 17 (French West Africa),
SZs 34 (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Persia), 35 (India), 38 (East Indies), 46 (Solomon Islands), 47 (Eastern Australia)

United States 40 IPCs
9 SZs x 4 IPCs = 36 IPCs max.
SZs 2 (Greenland / North of UK), 10 (US East Coast), 18 (Brazil), 19 (Caribbean),
SZs 53 (Hawaii), 55 (Mexico West Coast), 56 (US West Coast),
SZs 57 (Midway), 65 (Alaska/Western Canada)

Germany 31 IPCs
1 SZ x 4 IPCs = 4 IPCs max.
SZ 5 (Baltic)

Italy 10 IPCs
1 SZ x 4 IPCs = 4 IPCs max.
SZ 14 (Italy)

Japan 17 IPCs
6 SZs x 4 IPCs = 24 IPCs max.
SZ 36 (South Malaya), SZ 37 (French Indo-China),
SZ 49* (Borneo), SZ 50* (Philippines),
SZ 61 (Coastal China), SZ 62 (Japan)
*Deactivated on set-up.

Below, you get the picture of a modified AA50 map marked with these SZs.

@baron-Münchhausen

After a few test, I would say 3 IPCs token per SZs is fairly balanced for both AA50 and 1942.2.
Probably G40 economy is better with 4 IPCs Convoy SZ.
The issue is how you roll damage with Subs.
For instance, 1, 2 means 1 IPC, 3 & 4 means 2 IPCs, 5 & 6 means 3 IPCs.
OR 1, 2 , 3 worth 1, 2 or 3 while 4, 5, 6 means 3 IPCs also. The SZ has been maxed out.
OR, 1, 2, 3 worth 1, 2 or 3 IPCs, 4, 5, 6 means zero IPC.
Or, damage is 1 IPC + d6 roll: 3, 4, 5, 6 meaning plus zero for 1 IPC damage, 1 roll meaning 2 and 2 roll for 3 IPCs damage.

To what extent do you want auto damage from Sub convoy raiding?

I don’t have definite answer on that matter.

@Imperious-Leader
On Baltic convoys in 1942.2 or AA50, instead of Norway Sz, it is about giving a real opportunity for Germany to defend it against USSR Sub or other Allies built in Atlantic.

The scale and pace of this game cannot give room for a working weak spot so far from Germany’s influence in Norway SZ, even if this only 1 SZ away from Baltic. Trying to protect this SZ outside is a waste of money or units. So, it remains almost a deprivation of Germany’s IPCs with no way to win the upper hand.

In Baltic, when Germany abandon ship building, then it still becomes an Allied Sub raiding zone.
Just a bit later.

So, it is the compromising between play balance and historical accuracy.

@baron-Münchhausen said in Convoy Disruption for 1942.2 & G40 Submarine economic warfare:

It is a punitive mechanics, as OOB G40 instead of a bonus mechanics develop previously on this actual thread.
It is yet to be play-test to see if this can be balanced somehow.

This new sequence with modified SZs is inspired by the quoted post.

Now, I can provide a revised for Redesigned National Convoy Disruption House rule for 1942.2.
First thing, the Convoy SZ is to be identify with Power’s Convoy Marker on map.
All Convoy SZs worth 3 IPCs and are bordering at least 1 TT or have an island group in it. These TTs can worth 0 IPC to many IPCs, this doesn’t change the 3 IPCs Convoy SZ basis.

Here is 1942.2 modified map (for more action into Pacific Theatre) Convoy SZs I would implement (some such as SZs 2, 3, 34, 45, 53, 57 can be considered as Allied lend-lease shipping SZs coming from either UK or US toward Russia or Australia) :

Soviet Union 25 IPCs
3 SZs x 3 IPCs = 9 IPCs max.
SZ 4 (Karelia and Archangel)
SZ 34 (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Persia),
SZ 63 (Soviet Far East)

United Kingdom 40 IPCs
10-12 SZs x 3 IPCs = 30-36 IPCs max.
SZ 2 (Greenland)
SZs 3 (Iceland), 7 (Northern UK), 8 (Southern UK),
SZs 10 (Eastern Canada), 13 (Gibraltar), 23 (West Africa),
35 (India), 40 (New Zealand), 45 (North Eastern Australia)
If captured by Allies: 37 (East Indies), 44 (Solomon Islands).

United States 50 IPCs
9 SZs x 3 IPCs = 27 IPCs max.
SZs 2 (Greenland), 11 (US East Coast), 18 (Caribbean), 22 (Brazil),
SZs 53 (Hawaii), 55 (Mexico West Coast), 56 (US West Coast),
SZs 57 (Midway), 65 (Alaska/Western Canada)

Germany 45 IPCs
2 SZs x 3 IPCs = 6 IPCs max.
SZ 5 (Baltic)
SZ 15 (Italy)

Japan 35 IPCs
6 SZs x 3 IPCs = 18 IPCs max.
SZs 36 (Malaya), 47 (Borneo),
SZs 48 (Philippines), 60 (Japan), 61 (Costal China), 62 (Korea)

An important thing to note :
lf at least 1 territory bordering (or the Island group within) the Convoy SZ is taken from his original owner and the Convoy SZ belong to the same owner, then this Convoy SZ is deactivated and can no longer be raided by enemy’s of the original Convoy SZ owner’s which have his control marker in this Convoy SZ.

When such Convoy SZ is deactivated, simply place a Nation Control Marker from enemy power onto it.

Only Submarine can raid Convoy SZ.

During Phase 1 of a Power’s turn, renamed : Convoy disruption and damage repair on IC and 2 hits units.

Each enemy’s Submarine present in a Convoy SZ of the Power’s turn makes a Convoy raid (Convoy Disruption).
Even if there is warships (including Destroyers) in Convoy SZ, Submarine can still make such raid. Once the raid is done, Submarines stay in raided SZ.

Each Submarine can make up to 3 IPCs damage, by rolling 1D6 divided by 2: 1-2 = 1, 3-4 = 2, 5-6 IPCs = 3 IPC damage.
So a single Sub always does at least 2 IPCs damage on average.

There is no defense roll and Destroyer cannot do anything about it.
It is up to the Convoy SZ owner’s to send Destroyers (and more) during his turn to retaliate and sink Subs in combat phase.

Damage are immediately remove from Convoy owner’s hands, never more than 3 IPCs per SZ.
*Exception: when there is two Convoy markers (Greenland SZ 2).
Such a raid is still up to 3 IPCs per Power’s turn, but can reach up to 6 IPCs, when UK’s and US’s damage are summed up. *

Below, you get the picture of a modified 1942.2 map marked with these SZs.

I have playtested my National Convoy House rule and Convoy SZs for 1941, so only Submarine can do convoy damage.

It works in a way that it increase possible losses for Allies vs Axis but the counter will be 0.5 IPC bonus per undamaged NCM for Allies while giving 1 IPC bonus for Axis, which I believe favors two Allied powers (UK and USA) over 1 Axis power (Japan).

I use Convoy rules to reduce UK and US economy, so purchasing become tough on pocket due to IPCs shortage. I have hope this can balance things out to play an interesting 1941 game.

Russia have 2 Convoy SZ**, so its economy can suffer from raid and get a little bonus.

National Convoy Disruption for 1941 Submarine economic warfare
First thing, each Convoy SZ is to be identify with owner’s Control Marker.

All Convoy SZs worth 2 IPCs and are bordering at least 1 TT or have one island group or more islands in it.

These TTs can worth 0 IPC to many IPCs, this doesn’t change the 2 IPCs Convoy SZ basis for 1941.

Here is all 1941 Convoy SZs I would implement (some such as SZs 2, 3, 28, 37, 40, 43 can be considered as Allied lend-lease shipping SZs coming from either UK or US toward Russia or Australia) :

Soviet Union 7 IPCs starting income.
2 C-SZs x 2 IPCs = 4 IPCs max.
SZ 4 (Karelia & Archangel), deactivated if both captured,
SZ 28 (Middle East), deactivated if captured.
Bonus: 2x 0.5 = up to 1 IPC

United Kingdom 12 IPCs
6 C-SZs x 2 IPCs = 12 IPCs max.
SZs 3 (Iceland), 10 (Eastern Canada),
14 (Gibraltar UK), 27 (Union of South Africa / French Madagascar),
30 (East Indies), 37 (Solomons).
Bonus: 6x 0.5 = up to 3 IPCs

United States 17 IPCs
7 C-SZs x 2 IPCs = 14 IPCs max.
SZs 2 (Greenland), 11 (US East Coast),
12 (Caribbean), 22 (Brazil),
SZs 40 (Hawaii), 43 (Midway), 48 (Alaska).
Bonus: 7x 0.5 = up to 3 IPCs

Germany 12 IPCs
2 C-SZ x 2 IPCs = 4 IPCs max.
SZ 5 (Norway-Finland: Baltic Sea)
SZ 17* (Anglo-Egypt Sudan)
Bonus: 2x 1.0 = up to 2 IPCs

Japan 9 IPCs
5 C-SZs x 2 IPCs = 10 IPCs max.
SZ 31 (Southeast Asia),
SZs 32* (Borneo),  38* (Philippines),
SZs 45 (Manchuria), 46 (Coastal China).
*Deactivated on set-up.
Bonus: 5x 1.0 = up to 5 IPCs

The most important thing to note :
lf at least 1 territory bordering (or Island or an Island group within) the Convoy SZ is taken from his original owner and the Convoy SZ belong to the same owner, then this Convoy SZ is deactivated and can no longer be raided by enemy’s of the original Convoy SZ owner’s which have his control marker in this Convoy SZ. But can no more gives bonus either.

When such Convoy SZ is deactivated, simply flip this Nation Control Marker face downward.

Only Submarine can raid Convoy SZ.

During Phase 3: Conduct Combat
Combat Sequence
1. Strategic and tactical bombing raids AND/OR Convoy Disruption

Each Submarine can either make a regular attack (Step 3. General combat) or a Convoy raid (Step 1. S&TBR AND/OR Convoy Disruption).
Even if there is warships (excluding DD) in Convoy SZ, Submarine can still make such raid.

Once the raid is done, Submarine cannot retreat and must stay in last raided C-SZ.

Each 6 IPCs Submarine can do 0 to 2 IPC damage, by rolling 1D6: 1-2 = 1 IPC / 3-4= 2 IPCs / 5-6 = 0 damage.
So a single Submarine may do from 0 IPC damage to 6 IPCs in a single raid, depending on how many SZ raided, up to 3 Convoy SZ.

There is no defense roll.
Destroyer presence protect a SZ from raiding.

Damage are immediately remove from Convoy owner’s hands, never more than 2 IPCs per SZ for the whole game round.

And attacker must put chips under SZ owner’s Control Marker (1 chip per IPC damage) as a reminder for the game round of how many IPCs were raided if multiple raids occur from more than one alliance powers.

These chips under owner’s National Control Marker will be removed at no cost from the Convoy SZ during raided SZ’s owner
6. Collect income phase while counting damaged C-SZ to give Convoy bonus IPC.

1941 Cost structure:
Sub 6, DD 8, Carrier 12, BB 16.

Unit type
Cost    Combat values
Special abilities

SUBMARINE
6 IPCs A2 D1 M2
Cannot hit Submarine or Aircraft
Submerge and Stealth Move
Combat OR Convoy raiding

Convoy raiding: up to 3 rolls, max.
On Station: 3 rolls in same Convoy SZ
Active raiding:
1 roll in starting C-SZ,
1 roll in other C-SZ moving through, if any.
Can roll once or twice in ending Convoy SZ.
Max 3 rolls total.
Results per D6 roll:
1-2 : 1 IPC lost
3-4 : 2 IPCs lost
5-6: 0 IPC lost.
Once movement is done, roll according to C-SZ along the Submarine path.

DESTROYER
8 IPCs A2 D2 M2
Cannot block Sub’s Submerge
Block Stealth move and Convoy raid in actual SZ
Depth charge @2 once on submerging Subs.