Submarines

## **Overview**

* Lvl. 1

Submarines are considered by many experienced players to be the most effective naval unit in the game. Economically, these units are relatively inexpensive to produce and maintain. In the field, they have a stealth ability: only Naval Bombers and Destroyers are able to see them when they are not engaged in battle.

Subs are in their own armour class. In the early levels, they are best when attacking offensively, however as levels progress they become more effective fighting defensively.

They are certain death to unescorted enemy convoys and can do serious damage to large enemy flotillas when fully upgraded and effectively deployed. Heavy casualties are worth the cost because the units they destroy are more expensive to replace, winning the attrition.

Subs fight at full strength in stacks of 7 or 8. Beyond that, additional subs fight at only 25% strength because of State-Based Damage Efficiency. Additional subs provide hitpoints, but two flotillas of 7 will do much more damage than one stack of 14.

Submarines are vulnerable to Destroyers (Especially those with the Allies doctrine, since they do 15% more damage to submarines), submarines are also vulnerable to Naval Bombers, which are capable of detecting them and have a strong attack.

## **Strategies**

### **Wolfpacking**

Wolfpacking strategy is using superior numbers to overwhelm military targets. By putting subs into suitable groups, even the crowned kings of the sea, Battleships, can be sunk. Recommended numbers cap out at 8, where state-based damage efficiency begins to decline. Wolfpacks are ideal for invading and holding choke points.

### **Picket Lining**

Submarines are very useful for setting up defensive "Picket lines" and Blockades. As with Wolfpacking, many subs are deployed, but they are spread out along a coastline or seafront. This can provide effective warning against an invasion that could come via several routes. One of the units engages the invaders, buying time for redeploying forces to repel them.

### **Other Uses**

Their stealth makes them perfect for scouting. You can have complete insight into your opponent's coastline movements, preventing or paving the way for invasions. They can also serve as escorts, minimizing the damage done to a stack with their numbers and less damage absorbing armour class, as well as trap other submarines attacking what they believe to be one lonely ship.

## **Submarine Attributes**

### **Terrain Properties**

 Units class
 Strength Modifiers

## **Requirements for Submarines**

### **Buildings**

To be able to produce submarines in one of your provinces, you need the following buildings:

* Industrial Complex (found in some of your core provinces)
* Naval Base Level 1 (needs to be built)

### **Research**

* To be able to produce submarines, you need to have 'Submarine Level 1' researched.

* Researching level 1 Submarine costs 600 food, 2,200 rare materials and 4,300 cash; and takes 2 hours to research.
* Levels are researched on these respective days: 1 > 2 > 4 > 6 > 10 > 14 > 18.

### **Production**

* Submarines cost 500 Goods, 175 manpower, 1,250 iron, 150 oil, and 2,000 cash to produce, require the buildings mentioned above.
* Takes 1 day to produce (without any modifiers).
* Each unit has an upkeep of 15 food and 50 oil.