Hearts Of Iron IV: United States Guide

by Jhon Lennon 39 views

Hey guys! So, you wanna lead the good ol' US of A in Hearts of Iron IV? Awesome! Playing as the United States is a unique experience, different from playing as other major powers like Germany or the Soviet Union. You start with a sleeping giant, a massive industrial base, but also a deeply isolationist population. This guide will walk you through how to wake that giant and lead the Allies to victory!

Understanding the American Challenge

The United States in Hearts of Iron IV begins in a peculiar position. You're rich, you're powerful, but you're politically stuck. The Great Depression is still a recent memory, and the American public is wary of getting involved in another European war. Your primary challenge is overcoming this isolationism and preparing for the inevitable conflict. Before diving deep, here are a few key things to keep in mind when starting your Hearts of Iron IV journey with the United States. Remember, you are on the clock! The longer it takes for you to prepare to enter the war, the better the Axis powers will be. This means you need to get rid of the negative national spirits as soon as possible. Also, you will want to plan out your industry and research, and make sure that you can have a strong economy throughout the game. You will also need to manage world tension. World tension affects everything you do as the United States. Many political actions are locked behind a certain amount of world tension. Be patient and use the time wisely to build up your strength and prepare for war, and you will be in a great position to win!

National Focus: Charting Your Course

Your national focus tree is your roadmap to power. The US tree is divided into several branches, each offering different paths and bonuses. You will want to start by selecting a national focus. Your choice depends on your overall strategy. A lot of players will select the 'Continue the New Deal' option. This is a great first pick as it removes the 'Great Depression' national spirit and unlocks more political focuses for the United States. Here is a breakdown:

  • The New Deal: This branch focuses on economic recovery and internal development. It's crucial for getting rid of the 'Great Depression' national spirit, which cripples your economy at the start. Prioritize this to unlock your industrial potential.
  • Neutrality Act: Bypassing or delaying this branch will allow you to intervene in world affairs sooner, but at the cost of political stability. This can be useful if you want to support the Allies early on.
  • War Bonds: This focus will allow you to gain war support which will eventually allow you to change your economy laws. This is important in order to mobilize your industry to its maximum potential.
  • Arsenal of Democracy: This is the path most players will eventually take as the United States. Focusing on this tree will allow you to send equipment to other nations without joining the war. This will help you gain war support and allow the allies to hold out longer.
  • The WPA: The Works Progress Administration focuses on building civilian factories around the United States, so you can get ahead of the game with your economy. This is a good choice if you want to further boost your economy and prepare to switch over to war production later in the game.

Make sure you carefully read each focus's description and plan your path accordingly. Are you trying to get rid of the Great Depression? Are you trying to increase war support? Do you want to join a faction early? All of these are things to consider when picking a national focus. Don't forget to adapt your choices based on the changing world situation. The key is to be flexible and adjust your focus as the game progresses.

Building Your Industrial Might

The United States possesses an enormous industrial capacity, but it's initially hampered by the 'Great Depression' and isolationist policies. Overcoming these hurdles is essential for turning America into the 'Arsenal of Democracy.' You're gonna want to make sure you have enough factories to supply your army and produce equipment for your allies. Here's how to get your factories booming:

  • Civilian Factories First: In the early game, focus on building civilian factories. These will boost your construction speed, allowing you to build even more factories faster. Prioritize states with high infrastructure and resource availability.
  • Strategic Placement: Concentrate your industry in areas less vulnerable to naval bombing. The American Midwest is a safe bet. Build in areas that are heavily defended so your factories will not be easily destroyed.
  • Resource Management: Secure access to vital resources like oil, rubber, and steel through trade. Use your civilian factories to import these resources from nations around the world. You don't want to be stuck without resources when war breaks out.
  • Military Factories: Once you've addressed the 'Great Depression' and expanded your civilian industry, start building military factories. Focus on producing the equipment you'll need for your army, navy, and air force. You can switch your civilian factories to military factories if you wish.

Think of it like this: civilian factories are the foundation, resources are the fuel, and military factories are the engine of your war machine. Build them up strategically, and you'll be churning out tanks, planes, and ships in no time. Don't neglect infrastructure! Upgrading infrastructure in key industrial zones will further boost your production efficiency. Also, make sure you are getting the proper resources. If you do not have enough resources you will not be able to produce equipment.

Military Matters: Army, Navy, and Air Force

The American military starts strong but needs modernization and expansion. Here's a breakdown of each branch and how to prepare them for war. Each branch is equally important to ensure that you can fight on all fronts of the war.

Army

The US Army begins with a decent number of divisions, but they're outdated. Here's how to bring them up to par:

  • Template Modernization: Update your infantry templates to include support companies like engineers, recon, and artillery. These will significantly increase their combat effectiveness. You will also want to add more infantry battalions and artillery.
  • Special Forces: Invest in Marines and Mountaineers for amphibious assaults and fighting in difficult terrain. These units can be game-changers in key battles. Special forces can help you do naval invasions as they have buffs to naval invasions and can hold out longer.
  • Armor Development: Focus on developing medium tanks. They offer a good balance of speed, armor, and firepower. Light tanks are okay for early game, but will quickly become outdated. Be sure to have enough tanks to go toe to toe with the Germans.
  • Training: Train your troops regularly to improve their experience level. Green troops are cannon fodder; veterans are a force to be reckoned with. This is an easy tip that can make a world of difference. Having more experienced troops will allow you to gain the upper hand in battles.

Navy

The US Navy is the largest in the world at the start of the game, but it needs modernization and a clear strategy. Here's how to make the most of it:

  • Carrier Focus: Prioritize building aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft. Carriers are the capital ships of Hearts of Iron IV and will dominate naval combat. Having air superiority on the sea is very important to winning naval battles.
  • Screening Fleets: Build destroyers and cruisers to screen your capital ships from submarines and enemy surface vessels. A well-balanced fleet is crucial for victory. Make sure you have different types of ships in your fleets.
  • Submarine Warfare: Consider building submarines for raiding enemy convoys and disrupting their supply lines. Submarines can be very effective in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. You can use them to cut off supplies to the Axis powers.
  • Naval Doctrine: Research naval doctrines that complement your strategy. Base Strike is a good choice for carrier-focused fleets.

Air Force

The US Air Force has the potential to be the most powerful in the world. Here's how to achieve air superiority:

  • Fighter Production: Focus on producing modern fighters. They're essential for achieving air superiority over key regions. You will want to prioritize researching new fighter technologies to ensure that your air force can beat out enemy air forces.
  • Strategic Bombers: Build strategic bombers to target enemy infrastructure and industry. This can cripple their war effort. Strategic bombing is effective if you want to destroy enemy factories.
  • Tactical Bombers: Use tactical bombers to support your ground troops and disrupt enemy supply lines. This can give you a decisive advantage in battles. Tactical bombing is more effective if you want to help your ground troops.
  • Air Doctrine: Research air doctrines that enhance your air force's capabilities. Operational Integrity is a solid choice for a balanced air force. You will also want to make sure that you are producing enough planes to replace your losses.

Remember to assign your air wings to air zones and set them to the appropriate missions. Air superiority is crucial for both naval and land combat. Having air superiority will help your troops on the ground and your ships at sea.

Research and Technology

Technology is the key to staying ahead of your enemies. Focus your research efforts on areas that will give you the biggest advantage:

  • Industry: Research industrial technologies to boost your production efficiency and resource output. This is crucial for maximizing your industrial potential. The more research you put into industry the more factories you can get!
  • Electronics: Invest in electronic technologies to improve your radar coverage and decryption capabilities. This will give you a significant intelligence advantage. Getting ahead in electronics can allow you to see what your enemies are doing.
  • Air and Naval Technologies: Keep your air force and navy up-to-date with the latest aircraft and ship designs. This will ensure that you maintain air and naval superiority. Making sure your air force and navy are up to date is important to winning the war.
  • Doctrine Research: Don't neglect doctrine research. Doctrines provide significant bonuses to your units and can be the difference between victory and defeat. Choosing the correct doctrines can help you win the war.

Prioritize research that complements your overall strategy. Are you focusing on naval power? Invest in naval technologies. Building a strong armored force? Focus on tank technologies. You will also want to get ahead in medicine. Medicine will allow you to reduce the amount of casualties your troops take.

Dealing with Political Challenges

The United States starts with significant political constraints. Overcoming isolationism and building war support are crucial for entering the war. You're gonna have to be smart and manipulative to drag the US into the war. Here's how to navigate the political landscape:

  • Neutrality Act: Use national focuses and events to reduce the effects of the 'Neutrality Act.' This will allow you to trade with and support the Allies. This is the first thing you should focus on doing.
  • War Support: Increase war support through national focuses, events, and propaganda campaigns. High war support is necessary for mobilizing your economy and enacting war laws. Increasing war support will allow you to mobilize and get your economy rolling.
  • World Tension: Monitor world tension and take advantage of events that increase it. The higher the world tension, the more options you'll have for intervention. You want world tension to be high so you can declare war on other nations.
  • Joining a Faction: Consider joining the Allies or forming your own faction. This will allow you to coordinate with other nations and fight the Axis powers together. Joining a faction can allow you to plan out strategies to win the war.

Be patient and strategic in your political maneuvering. The United States has the potential to be a major player on the world stage, but it takes time and effort to overcome its initial limitations. You need to wait for the right moment to join the war.

Conclusion: Becoming the Arsenal of Democracy

Playing as the United States in Hearts of Iron IV is a challenging but rewarding experience. By focusing on economic development, military modernization, and strategic diplomacy, you can transform America into the 'Arsenal of Democracy' and lead the Allies to victory. Remember to adapt to the changing circumstances of the war and be prepared to make tough decisions. With careful planning and skillful execution, you can ensure that freedom prevails! Good luck, and have fun leading America to victory!