On the subject of ground troop investments

Introduction

The subject of this analysis is to recommend what type of division should make up the bulk of your Ground Self-Defense forces. For this, different types of infantry were selected for analysis. However, since motorized and mechanized infantry divisions are not available until around 1940, the earlier forms of Infantry divisions were dropped from the analysis. The later division types, mid-1940's, have also been dropped since they make a rather late appearance.

Model	Default ORG	Morale	Air Attack	Air Def.	Soft Attack	Hard Attack	Tough- ness	Defens- iveness	Soft- ness	Cost	Build- time	Man- power	Max Speed	Supply Cons.	Fuel Cons.	Supp.
Infantry '39	30	30	3	4	12	2	18	18	100	7	95	10	5	1	0	2
Infantry '41	30	30	4	5	14	4	24	24	100	7	95	10	5	1	0	2
Infantry '43	30	30	4	6	16	5	30	30	100	7	95	10	5	1.1	0	2
Motorized Infantry '40	30	30	3	4	12	2	15	15	80	14	100	10	8	1.2	3.5	2
Motorized Infantry '42	30	30	4	5	14	4	20	25	80	12	100	10	9	1.3	3.5	2
Mechanized Infantry '42	30	30	4	5	14	5	20	20	60	14	125	10	10	1.3	4.5	2
Mechanized Infantry '43	30	30	4	6	16	6	25	25	60	14	125	10	10	1.4	4.5	2

[Table 1 - Infantry '39, '41, '43, Motorized Infantry '40, '42 and Mechanized Infantry '42, '43]

From the table above, one can note no significant difference in organization, morale, AA, AD, SA, HA and Manpower requirement. However, slight differences can be noted in Toughness and Defensiveness in favor of Infantry. However, the other division types are to a different extent hard targets as well, and will thus require enemy units to use HA in order to inflict damage. In regards to speed, Mechanized Infantry is superior. Mechanized Infantry does however consume roughly 28 % more fuel than Motorized Infantry, whilst Infantry is far more economic in both supply and has no fuel consumption. In regards to equipment, Infantry is yet again the most economic choice, costing only half that of the other two, when taking into account the extra month to field a Mechanized Infantry division it becomes even more costly.

Geography and weather

Moving on to suitability in different terrain types, Infantry shows great versatility both when advancing and holding ground, and does not suffer as much as the Motorized and Mechanized Infantry divisions do in adverse terrain and weather conditions (although more specialized divisions are a superior choice if available).

My conclusion is that although mechanized infantry should be strongly favored when this type of division becomes available, there is no reason not to field a large amount of ordinary infantry divisions since these can also be used for counterinsurgency missions when mechanized infantry shoulders more of the responsibility in offense that in the early era ('36-'40) is given to ordinary infantry divisions. Later in the game mechanized infantry can be fielded in large quantities. However, due to the flexible nature of footborne divisions, they should still be able to remain the backbone of any army with the aid of panzer units, as well as CAS and tactical airwings after air superiority has been established.

Attack efficiency modifiers.
Division	Urban	Forest	Hill	Mountain	Swamp	Jungle	Muddy	Fort	River	Shore
Infantry	-33	-10	-25	-50	-25	-33	-33	-10	-50	-50
Motorized	-33	-20	-33	-70	-50	-66	-70	-20	-66	-66
Mechanized	-40	-20	-33	-70	-50	-66	-50	-20	-66	-66

Defense efficiency modifiers.
Division	Urban	Mountain	Swamp	Jungle	Muddy	Frozen	Snow
Infantry	33	25	20	40	20	20	0
Motorized	20	25	10	40	0	10	-10
Mechanized	20	15	10	15	0	10	-10

Divisional models not included in analysis

Model	Default ORG	Morale	Air Attack	Air Def.	Soft Attack	Hard Attack	Tough- ness	Defens- iveness	Soft- ness	Cost	Build- time	Man- power	Max Speed	Supply Cons.	Fuel Cons.	Supp.
Infantry '36	30	30	2	3	10	1	12	15	100	7	95	10	5	1	0	2
Infantry '45	30	30	6	6	18	6	35	35	100	7	95	10	6	1.1	0.1	2
Motorized Infantry '44	30	30	4	6	16	5	27	35	80	12	100	10	9	1.4	3.5	2
Mechanized Infantry '44	30	30	6	6	18	7	32	32	60	14	125	10	10	1.5	4.5	2
Mechanized Infantry '45	30	30	7	6	20	8	37	37	60	14	125	10	10	1.5	4.5	2

[Table 2 - Infantry '36, '45, Motorized Infantry '44 and Mechanized Infantry '44, '45]

References

HOI2Wiki - "Ground unit statistics"
HOI2Wiki - "Ground unit combat modifiers"

ToDos

The tables are taken from elsewhere in this wiki, and contains data from v1.1. It should be checked if the data is still correct in the latest version.

PS This article was writen with a great power in mind. Some smaller states might not find the conclusions suitable.

Original version by Hansag