campaign success and equipment availability

[smashtheaxis]

It would be great if the course of the campaign had an effect on availability of certain units.

I think some units should only be available depending on whether you are winning or losing the war.

For example, the Me163 was only developed as a desperate attempt to counter the bombing of Germany. There's no point to develop a close range interceptor with only 10mins of fuel when you have already conquered Britain and preparing for the invasion of the United States.

Projects like the Arado 555 were cancelled because there was no point in building long range jet bombers after Normandy.

I also think that if the Germans had defeated the USSR, any following campaign against the Western Allies would have used lots of captured Soviet equipment. So, after a DV in Moscow, the Axis player should be able to buy T-34(r)s etc., just like some units based on captured French equipment become available after the victory over France. Or like the Germans used Czechoslovakian Pz38(t).
I also don't think the germans had built something like the Maus if they were in a position to invade the US, let alone bring it over the Atlantic.

And in the case of losing the war, in scenarios fought on German soil, units like Volkssturm should become available.

[Kirby]

For example, the Me163 was only developed as a desperate attempt to counter the bombing of Germany. There's no point to develop a close range interceptor with only 10mins of fuel when you have already conquered Britain and preparing for the invasion of the United States.

That's actually not true. Vast majority of weapons used in WW2 were prototyped a few years before they entered service (makes sense, right?) Your example, Me163, had its prototype flight in 1941.

As for the invasion on America, it's highly unlikely that Germany would use russian, british or french equipment, as it would require additional training.

[smashtheaxis]

Your example, Me163, had its prototype flight in 1941.

It's true that prototypes of the Me163 were flying in 1941, but the only reason that the Me163 was ever deployed - in the version that was saw combat and is featured in the game - was the desperate war situation in 1944. It was rushed to deployment even though it had still many flaws. A victorious Germany would have continued development before sending it to the front.

Why would they deploy this aircraft, which has only a 40km range and can only fly only one single attack run on an Allied bomber squadron before it runs out of fuel, if they had already conquered Britain and there was no Allied bombing campaign against Germany?

As for the invasion on America, it's highly unlikely that Germany would use russian, british or french equipment, as it would require additional training.

The Germans used Czech tanks for the Invasion of Poland, only months after these were captured. Sure, there are problems using captured equipment, but lack of training would not be one if there are several years of preparation before they are deployed. Think of the 1000s of tanks the Germans would capture in the case of a Soviet surrender, plus the factories that produce them. Factories, which are already set up to produce these types of tanks (and their spare parts). It would take months to switch production to German tanks. The Czech tank factories captured in 1939 continued to produce Czech Pz38s for the German military until they became obsolete in 1942. And even after that, they continued to produce tank destroyers like Marder which is based on the chasis of the Pz38.

[Kirby]

USSR would never capitulate in that fashion. It was quite bigger than Czechoslovakia. Same with GB or the US.

[KeldorKatarn]

Additional training would indeed be required if the crew number is different. German tanks had sometimes a different crew size than Russian and American tanks, and depending on the room inside the tank you cannot simply add another one in there.

Also training is required for the different guns, the ammunition, maybe even the engine if it is a diesel instead of the german petrol engines. The Czech tanks were used yes, but mostly because they were better and the german production of Pz III and IV was not even close to what was needed at the start of the war. That wasn't the first choice, especially since the Czech steel was not of the same quality.

also Russian tanks didn't have the good optics and radio equipment of German tanks, requiring further upgrades and changes... not to mention the lack of spare parts. It's not that easy.

The czeck tanks could easily be used because they could be changed and upgraded and spare parts could be produced since the Germans owned the factories. Germany didn't run any russian or American factories, let alone any amunition factories for the different ammunition. Yes they could be used for a while when enough stuff was captured but except for the Czech tanks none of the captured tanks were ever used at the front line in great numbers to my knowledge. They were mostly given to police units operating in the captured territories, keeping them under control and fighting partisans. On the front lines driectly the danger of friendly fire would also have been a way too big risk.