I don't understand how fuel tankers work

[LoBlo]

So I added fuel tankers to my fleets, but my ships are still running dry and my tanker is sitting without orders not trying to fill them.

What am I doing wrong?

LB

[Jorgen_CAB]

You need to wait and they will refuel them. Send the fleet to a system where there are no enemy ships and the tanker will come and fill them up.

If you keep moving the fleet they will never be assigned to refuel them, more or less.

[btd64]

I think that we need a "Replenishment Fleet" option....GP

[LoBlo]

You need to wait and they will refuel them. Send the fleet to a system where there are no enemy ships and the tanker will come and fill them up.

If you keep moving the fleet they will never be assigned to refuel them, more or less.

I keep my fleets on automated so they move on their own orders. So without my micromanagement, I'm not getting any activity from them.

[Jorgen_CAB]

On Automation the AI usually will fuel the ship once the fleet is down to a certain limit. My Automatic fleet do seem to be able to use tankers when they have them.

[Ax]

On automated the ships will stop moving and enter a "waiting for fuel tanker" state eventually. On manual control the tankers move in when the fleet has no orders. Due to their always automated nature tankers may be off refueling, upgrading or avoiding enemies, it's better to have one or two extra.