AI for MWiF - Commonwealth

[Froonp]

About the CW Convoy Pipelines, I would not agree completely with what Christopher beautifuly exposed.

As a note, I attach a graphic that shows the sea area of the Game, with white boxes in each of them. I use that (larger) to setup my CW convoy lines, ticking the boxes with a pencil for each resources, and then counting the ticks to know how many convoys I need everywhere (hoping to be under the magic 81 number).

From that graphic, I think that convoy zones should not be cut into the categories that as Christopher has cut them.

I would cut them in categories relative the the range from the usual operational ports of the Germans & Italians hunters, that is western France.

There would be 6 broad zones for me.

- First zone, identified by a red outline around the white box, that is 1 Sea Area from the German hordes.
- Second zone, identified by a brown outline around the white box, that is 2 Sea Area from the German hordes.
- Third zone, identified by a yellow outline around the white box, that is 3 Sea Area from the German hordes (Central Atlantic should be in this zone, but I have the habit of avoiding it, and prefering using another way 1 sea area longer than having to defend this sea area).
- Fourth zone that would be all the rest west of Africa.
- Fifth zone that would be all the rest east of Africa and west of Honolulu.
- Sixth zone, that would be all the rest (basicaly between Honolulu and America).

First and second zone will usually (depending on the CP road chosen) contain lots of CP each, between 8-15 even more if OIL is tried to be saved in England.
Third zone will usually contain less CP, about 5-8.
The other zones will usually contain 1-2 CP except the Gulf of Guinea which will contain 4-6.

So I would base a system of defense on both these zones who are based from how far they are from the dangerous enemy, and how big the shipping is.

More later.

[composer99]

Asia-Pacific Zone
The Asia-Pacific Zone consists of convoys used to ship Australian resources to Canada or England through the Pacific (if they are set up that way); convoys used to ship Australian/Malayan/Indian resources to the UK through the Indian Ocean; convoys used to ship Asia/Pac map resources & build points to China or the USSR; oil convoys from Persia, Burma and the NEI - in other words, every convoy pipeline in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Red Sea.
 
Safe from Ge/It Forces: Provided the Suez Canal does not fall, this entire region is basically immune to attack by the European Axis (except for CXs, see the CLiF section below). On the whole, it is best to keep things this way. So defend Egypt! The real-life CW thought it was worth doing so, and so should the AI (or human players, for that matter).
 
Japanese Activities: The Japanese super-combined or naval that they usually pull when declaring war on the CW can lead to a very large one-time loss of convoys. It is probably better to take the early production hit and send the convoys home the turn or impulse before it happens to save having to build too many replacements for losses (save for some bare-bones supply lines if playing with LOS).
 
Once the Japanese cut the lines in this rear area, you will have a hard time re-establishing them until the Americans have tied up the IJN enough that they can't afford to spare ships for raiding. Your job will be made easier once the European Axis fleets have been blasted into oblivion and you can spare some fleet resources yourself to scare away raiders.
 
Americans in the Pacific: Once the Americans are at war with Japan, insist upon them providing the convoys and defences to shuttle resources out of or around the Pacific map (i.e. between the South China Sea and the US/Canada). This will free up convoys (and, if using them, CLs) for use elsewhere (especially the main pipeline if you need reserves or a jump in convoy numbers for an increase in lend-lease).
 
SiF Only
Given the size of your fleets and the demands of the other convoy shipping regions, the CW basically does not have the fleet resources or the NAVs to provide convoy defences in the Asia-Pacific Zone (this is another reason why not to let the Suez Canal fall into Axis hands). Just let things go along until the war with Japan starts, stay away from the sea while they have free reign, and return the convoys to duty once they the Japanese are out of the picture or you can spare the units to defend them.
 
CLiF
Even with the additional CLs, you will probably not have the ability to adequately defend every sea area in this zone (that is, with a CL in the 4,1,0 box of every sea area that can be threatened by CXs or other forces if Suez falls).
 
However, given the ability of CXs to operate out of neutral ports, you will want to be able to defend against them, so whatever defence you can drum up in threatened areas will be important, with the CLs you have on hand. Probably the 4 and 0 box of the most important sea areas can be protected. Alternatively, if you have enough convoy reserves, you can wait to commit the CLs until the CXs have sailed and searched, and go hunting for them then.
 
Conquest of Portugese Colonies and It. East Africa: CXs can operate out of these areas. Therefore, if you decide to attack Portugal, you should make an effort to take out East Timor and Mozambique. You will probably also want to at least capture the ports in Italian East Africa or liberate any ports in CW or French territory the Italians have seized to deny the CXs bases.
 
Japan: Not even with CLs will you be able to stand against a serious Japanese threat, although you can at least hold your own against Japanese CL raiders. The Japanese will also provide bases for German CXs, with not much you can expect to do about it until the Japanese are firmly on the defensive.
 
A Note on CXs: CXs can consume valuable German naval moves when Germany does a combined; they may not be able to spare many naval moves or naval actions, especially when engaged in a Barb. But as the Germans have to repair the CXs in order to get them on the map, they may not bother to do so if they would rather just invest in sub fleets. So keep an eye on things, and don't worry so much about defending the Asia-Pacific Zone if a threat is unlikely to arise or if the Germans only rarely (once every two or three turns or so) bother making use of their CX units.
 
CoiF
Chances are you will not be able to spare any ASW units for this zone except the Australian, NZ or Indian ones (if there are any). Use them for the main pipeline from India down the African coast shipping resources to the UK. Otherwise, let the Americans provide the ASW units, especially ASW CVs in the Pacific (which can give Japanese surface raiders & subs alike fits).

[Froonp]

About the defense of the convoy lines, I generaly agree with what Christopher wrote, except that sometimes I felt it was written as if the CW had hundreds of BP to use to build NAV & ASW [:D]. I generaly find that I have difficulties having more than 1 Sunderland and 3-4 NAV3 for convoy covering before the end of 1942, and buildng ASW units. In our currect game for example (I am the CW), in late 42 I only managed 1 Sunderland and 3 NAV3 (who all ended up being Australians [:(]) and 1 ASW unit. On the other hand I begun the strategic offensive against Germany, and have landed in Italy (next session we'll see if I'm repelled or not). So I'm stuck with defending my convoy lines with Cruisers and some BB in reaction where the Kriegsmarine could come.

About the defense against raider-like attacks, that is the CX proper, and the Japanese Cruisers in the Pacific, I tend to defend differently, more in reaction. I tend to only have light presence (1-2 cruisers) in the most important sea areas (Arabian Sea for example which is very important for the CW in the Pacific) in the 0 & 4 boxes, and waiting for the Axis to commit. I maintain a reserve of 6-8 cruisers and some CP to jump on them when they sorties.

For raider-like attacks, I find this better than covering each sea area lightly, because a too light cover is often not enough to sink the enemy ships and only manage at aborting them. Aborting them is good in the short run, but on the long run you end up being harrassed forever. I prefer trying to hammer them down definitely, at the risk of letting them sink my CP, that I try to replace later or make them using another route where the enemies are not.

[composer99]

General Notes
Other miscellaneous things related to convoy defences.

CoiF Subhunters
These are best used to aggressively restrict Axis subs near their ports of call. You will probably want two in each of the North Sea, the Bay of Biscay, and either Cape St. Vincent or the W. Med (depending on the availability of supporting fighters) - one to intercept them going out, and the other to intercept them coming back in.

You will probably need some fighter cover for the sub hunters in case the Axis decide to try and chase them away.

Port Strikes
Remember those 3-point NAVs? This (aside from naval air missions in the Med) is what they are for. According to Dave LeLacheur's article in the 2001 Annual about beating Germany, the Allies should aggressively port strike every German surface ship that dares base west of Stettin. I would add the point that they should aggressively port strike every Axis sub that dares base in a minor port; and they definitely should go after the Italian surface fleet at every opportunity.

Tactical Invasions/Paradrops
Also mentioned in LeLacheur's article is the notion of launching invasions of Brest and Bordeaux periodically to deny their use as sub bases to the Axis. If this can be done early in a turn before the subs have sailed, all the better.

Then, if they make the mistake of rebasing the subs anywhere outside of Germany or Italy, launch another tactical invasion with the goal of destroying them.

If a combination of port strikes, ground strikes (to soften up the invasion targets or nullify blitzing counter-attackers) and strat bombing has stripped away the air cover over the invasion targets, consider adding tactical paradrops to the menu to bolster the invasion (or just make the whole operation a paradrop).

In all cases, make sure you have the sealift on hand to quickly extricate the raiding units unless the Germans don't have the capability to instantly retaliate.

This is a great way to destroy Axis war material in 41-42-43 and force the Germans to commit more land and air assets to defence in the West when they would rather be doing something else.

Reorganization Points
As brian pointed out, having some re-org points (air, naval or HQ) available for reorganizing convoys is important, especially when making large-scale transitions such as moving the convoy lines from Bay of Biscay to Faeroes' Gap or from Cape St. Vincent to the Mouths of the Amazon takes place, not to mention reorganizing aborted convoys in the aftermath of an Axis romp in some sea area or another.

Proximity to Axis Threats
As Patrice pointed out, the convoy regions represent a useful shorthand for discussing convoy defences, but they are not the entire picture. The CW player or AI should be aware of where Axis submarines (and/or CXs) are based and where they are capable of reaching. On the whole, I would not be very concerned about subs/CXs that can only make it to the 1 box of a given sea area unless it has 11+ convoys (giving them a chance to find on a 3 or less in fine, rain or snow).

I myself would argue that even if the East Coast is more remote than, say, Cape Verde Basin, from Axis submarines, it is a juicier target because it will have 2-3 (or more!) times as many convoys. Thus, worth being considered a "principal" part of the convoy defence plan. But it can probably be more weakly defended, most of the time, than the North Atlantic or Faeroes' Gap will need to be.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate
As mentioned in the individual posts above, the CW should encourage the other major powers to contribute to keeping the convoy lines open at every opportunity. The USA in particular is a key partner in this effort, especially as the Americans will often have many convoys themselves in the embattled sea areas as part of resource or build point shipping chains. The Free French can usually provide coverage to less-critical regions, and even the USSR can pitch in with NAV support (which requires no air missions on their part aside from (maybe) a rebase or two).

Edit:
The Best Defence is a Good Offence
Things like strategic bombing raids, campaiging against Italy in Africa, Sardinia, a Balkan invasion, a Danish campaign and raiding the Baltic, and the Italian campaign are all great ways to protect your convoys indirectly in 40-41-42-43. By reducing Axis production, forcing them to spend BPs on defensive units and aircraft, or making them use their precious naval movements defensively instead of to sortie subs, you can reduce your own requirements for convoy defences. The added bonus is that these things aren't just great defensive measures - they also contribute actively to winning the war in a more direct way than awesome convoy protection can manage.

(Thanks, Patrice, for reminding me of this in that last post.) [:D][:D]
End of Edit

That about sums up my contribution to this side of the CW's war. I'm sure there's more to be said, and I hope everyone else will come up with it. [:)]

[Froonp]

That about sums up my contribution to this side of the CW's war. I'm sure there's more to be said, and I hope everyone else will come up with it.

I'm sure this is wrong [:D].
I did not see your various convoys routes, listing convoys per sea area yet [:D]

[Froonp]

EDIT : There is an error in there (NEI TK counting) so I reposted the whole lot in a subsequent post, so ignore tis one)

Here is one example of CW Convoy route. The latest I used.
This is one that uses 79 CP (shows Tankers too).
It avoids the Med and have food in flames conditions satisfied (1 Indian / Australian / South African RP to UK).

CP = Convoy Points
TK = Tanker Points

UK (2 RP) = 0 CP
Cyprus (1 RP) Eastern Med --> Western Med --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of biscay = 4 CP
South Africa (2 RP) Rhodesia --> Northern Rhodesia --> Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 8 CP
Northern Rhodesia (1 RP) Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP
Canada (5 RP / 1 OIL) (2 PP produced there, 1 with Australian RP 1 with local RP. 1 Oil can be saved here or used for Reorg). East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 12 CP / 3 TK
Venezuela (3 OIL) to Canada (Oil saved to Canada) Carribean --> USA --> Canada = 3 TK
Port of Spain to UK (1 OIL) Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 4 TK (this one can be avoided, and so 4 more reserve CP gained, so this oil would be stored / used where it is produced and not stored in England)
British Guyana (1 RP) Mouth of the Amazon --> Cape Verde Basin --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP (this one avoids the Central Atlantic purposedly, to avoid having 1 more sea area to guard)
NEI to India / Australia (2 OIL) East Indian Ocean --> Bay of Bengal OR East Indian Ocean --> Cape Naturaliste = 2 TK
India 2 RP to UK around Africa (4 RP) (2 PP produced here with local RP) Arabian Sea --> Azanian Sea --> Mozambique Channel --> Cape Basin --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 16 CP
Persia to Kuwait (1 OIL) Persian Gulf = 1 TK
Australia 1 RP to UK through Panama (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> Capricorn --> Gulf of Panama --> Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 10 CP
Australia 1 RP to Canada (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> East Pacific --> Mexican Coast --> USA --> Canada = 6 CP

Total = 64 CP / 15 TK (79)

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Froonp

Here is one example of CW Convoy route. The latest I used.
This is one that uses 79 CP (shows Tankers too).
It avoids the Med and have food in flames conditions satisfied (1 Indian / Australian / South African RP to UK).

CP = Convoy Points
TK = Tanker Points

UK (2 RP) = 0 CP
Cyprus (1 RP) Eastern Med --> Western Med --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of biscay = 4 CP
South Africa (2 RP) Rhodesia --> Northern Rhodesia --> Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 8 CP
Northern Rhodesia (1 RP) Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP
Canada (5 RP / 1 OIL) (2 PP produced there, 1 with Australian RP 1 with local RP. 1 Oil can be saved here or used for Reorg). East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 12 CP / 3 TK
Venezuela (3 OIL) to Canada (Oil saved to Canada) Carribean --> USA --> Canada = 3 TK
Port of Spain to UK (1 OIL) Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 4 TK (this one can be avoided, and so 4 more reserve CP gained, so this oil would be stored / used where it is produced and not stored in England)
British Guyana (1 RP) Mouth of the Amazon --> Cape Verde Basin --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP (this one avoids the Central Atlantic purposedly, to avoid having 1 more sea area to guard)
NEI to India / Australia (2 OIL) East Indian Ocean --> Bay of Bengal OR East Indian Ocean --> Cape Naturaliste = 2 TK
India 2 RP to UK around Africa (4 RP) (2 PP produced here with local RP) Arabian Sea --> Azanian Sea --> Mozambique Channel --> Cape Basin --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 16 CP
Persia to Kuwait (1 OIL) Persian Gulf = 1 TK
Australia 1 RP to UK through Panama (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> Capricorn --> Gulf of Panama --> Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 10 CP
Australia 1 RP to Canada (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> East Pacific --> Mexican Coast --> USA --> Canada = 6 CP

Total = 64 CP / 15 TK (79)

Terrific. [&o][&o][&o]

I'll use this as the default for novices and as at least one of the choices for the AIO.

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Froonp

Here is one example of CW Convoy route. The latest I used.
This is one that uses 79 CP (shows Tankers too).
It avoids the Med and have food in flames conditions satisfied (1 Indian / Australian / South African RP to UK).

CP = Convoy Points
TK = Tanker Points

UK (2 RP) = 0 CP
Cyprus (1 RP) Eastern Med --> Western Med --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of biscay = 4 CP
South Africa (2 RP) Rhodesia --> Northern Rhodesia --> Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 8 CP
Northern Rhodesia (1 RP) Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP
Canada (5 RP / 1 OIL) (2 PP produced there, 1 with Australian RP 1 with local RP. 1 Oil can be saved here or used for Reorg) East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 12 CP / 3 TK
Venezuela (3 OIL) to Canada (Oil saved to Canada) Carribean --> USA --> Canada = 3 TK
Port of Spain to UK (1 OIL) Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 4 TK (this one can be avoided, and so 4 more reserve CP gained, so this oil would be stored / used where it is produced and not stored in England)
British Guyana (1 RP) Mouth of the Amazon --> Cape Verde Basin --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP (this one avoids the Central Atlantic purposedly, to avoid having 1 more sea area to guard)
NEI to India / Australia (2 OIL) East Indian Ocean --> Bay of Bengal OR East Indian Ocean --> Cape Naturaliste = 2 TK
India 2 RP to UK around Africa (4 RP) (2 PP produced here with local RP) Arabian Sea --> Azanian Sea --> Mozambique Channel --> Cape Basin --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 16 CP
Persia to Kuwait (1 OIL) Persian Gulf = 1 TK
Australia 1 RP to UK through Panama (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> Capricorn --> Gulf of Panama --> Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 10 CP
Australia 1 RP to Canada (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> East Pacific --> Mexican Coast --> USA --> Canada = 6 CP

Total = 64 CP / 15 TK (79)

I did not have the time to finish my post.

This setup brings 14 RP and 2 Oil to UK, where you only need 15 resources to produce at full.

But it only leaves 2 CP as a reserve which is few and dangerous.
You can save some CP by not shipping both Indian RP to UK (shipping only 1), thus saving 8 CP. You will open this route when you'll have enough CP.
You can instead save some CP by not shipping one of the Canadian RP, saving only 3 CP.
This setup also does not cover the Red Sea, which is dangerous at some point in the game.

Anyway, this is only an initial setup, as the CW is supposed to build some (as Christopher advised, and with which I agree), and gain some by Minor Country alignements :
- Belgium : 2 CP
- Denmark : 4 CP 2 TK
- Netherlands : 4 CP 6 TK (not always)
- Poland : 1 CP
- Yugoslavia : 1 CP.

And sometimes :
- Greece : 6 CP 4 TK

There are also some resources that are not shipped :
- Malaya

And some resources that will soon be erratically shipped:
- Cyprus

There are also some new RP sources that will open up as the game evolves :
- Belgian Congo : 1 RP who needs 4 CP to ship
- Dutch Guyana : 1 RP who needs 4 CP to ship (avoiding Central Pacific)
- Portugal (eventualy) : 1 RP who needs 1 CP to ship
- Sardinia : 1 RP who needs 3 CP to ship
- Algeria : 1 RP who needs 2 CP to ship
- Senegal : 1 RP who needs 3 CP to ship

For each (well not each, it depends on the number of Oil that the CW actualy brings to the UK, here it is 2, but it can be more later) of those RP that the CW ships to UK, this is one more Oil that the CW can save.

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: Froonp
Here is one example of CW Convoy route. The latest I used.
This is one that uses 79 CP (shows Tankers too).
It avoids the Med and have food in flames conditions satisfied (1 Indian / Australian / South African RP to UK).

Terrific. [&o][&o][&o]

I'll use this as the default for novices and as at least one of the choices for the AIO.

Well, wait a minute, this one is a special setup that avoids the Med and leaves few reserve CP (though I indicated in my subsequent posting an easy way to have 8 more reserve CP).

A more traditional Route would use the Med, and arrange for the route to switch later.

[Arron69]

Really nice.

I cant belive that i have never taken venzuelan oil to canada, i allways brought it over the atlantic... but this make a lot more sense.

Andi

[Froonp]

There was an error in the counting of the NEI Tankers (the total was good 64 / 15), so I repost it

Here is one example of CW Convoy route. The latest I used.
This is one that uses 79 CP (shows Tankers too).
It avoids the Med and have food in flames conditions satisfied (1 Indian / Australian / South African RP to UK).

CP = Convoy Points
TK = Tanker Points

UK (2 RP) = 0 CP
Cyprus (1 RP) Eastern Med --> Western Med --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of biscay = 4 CP
South Africa (2 RP) Rhodesia --> Northern Rhodesia --> Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 8 CP
Northern Rhodesia (1 RP) Belgian Congo --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP
Canada (5 RP / 1 OIL) (2 PP produced there, 1 with Australian RP 1 with local RP. 1 Oil can be saved here or used for Reorg). East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 12 CP / 3 TK
Venezuela (3 OIL) to Canada (Oil saved to Canada) Carribean --> USA --> Canada = 3 TK
Port of Spain to UK (1 OIL) Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 4 TK (this one can be avoided, and so 4 more reserve CP gained, so this oil would be stored / used where it is produced and not stored in England)
British Guyana (1 RP) Mouth of the Amazon --> Cape Verde Basin --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 4 CP (this one avoids the Central Atlantic purposedly, to avoid having 1 more sea area to guard)
NEI to India / Australia (2 OIL) East Indian Ocean --> Bay of Bengal OR East Indian Ocean --> Cape Naturaliste = 4 TK
India 2 RP to UK around Africa (4 RP) (2 PP produced here with local RP) Arabian Sea --> Azanian Sea --> Mozambique Channel --> Cape Basin --> Gulf of Guinea --> Cape Verde --> Cape St Vincent --> Bay of Biscay = 16 CP
Persia to Kuwait (1 OIL) Persian Gulf = 1 TK
Australia 1 RP to UK through Panama (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> Capricorn --> Gulf of Panama --> Carribean --> East Coast --> North Atlantic --> Bay of Biscay / Faeroes = 10 CP
Australia 1 RP to Canada (3 RP) Tasman Sea --> New Zealand Coast --> South Pacific --> Austral --> East Pacific --> Mexican Coast --> USA --> Canada = 6 CP

Total = 64 CP / 15 TK (79)

This setup brings 14 RP and 2 Oil to UK, where you only need 15 resources to produce at full.

But it only leaves 2 CP as a reserve which is few and dangerous.
You can save some CP by not shipping both Indian RP to UK (shipping only 1), thus saving 8 CP. You will open this route when you'll have enough CP.
You can instead save some CP by not shipping one of the Canadian RP, saving only 3 CP.
This setup also does not cover the Red Sea, which is dangerous at some point in the game.

Anyway, this is only an initial setup, as the CW is supposed to build some (as Christopher advised, and with which I agree), and gain some by Minor Country alignements :
- Belgium : 2 CP
- Denmark : 4 CP 2 TK
- Netherlands : 4 CP 6 TK (not always)
- Poland : 1 CP
- Yugoslavia : 1 CP.

And sometimes :
- Greece : 6 CP 4 TK

There are also some resources that are not shipped :
- Malaya

And some resources that will soon be erratically shipped:
- Cyprus

There are also some new RP sources that will open up as the game evolves :
- Belgian Congo : 1 RP who needs 4 CP to ship
- Dutch Guyana : 1 RP who needs 4 CP to ship (avoiding Central Pacific)
- Portugal (eventualy) : 1 RP who needs 1 CP to ship
- Sardinia : 1 RP who needs 3 CP to ship
- Algeria : 1 RP who needs 2 CP to ship
- Senegal : 1 RP who needs 3 CP to ship

For each (well not each, it depends on the number of Oil that the CW actualy brings to the UK, here it is 2, but it can be more later) of those RP that the CW ships to UK, this is one more Oil that the CW can save.

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Graf Zeppelin

Really nice.

I cant belive that i have never taken venzuelan oil to canada, i allways brought it over the atlantic... but this make a lot more sense.

Andi

This is one of the tricks a CW player must know [;)].

[Mziln]

Have you compaired this to the CWiF CW setup?

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Mziln

Have you compaired this to the CWiF CW setup?

Compared what to the CWiF CW setup ? What do you mean ?

[Arron69]

I think he means the default setup.

But this goes throught the med, and brings as much to UK as possible. The main convoylink goes from the aussies to the uk. Expensive and soon to be impossible to keep without losses.

Andi.

[Mziln]

ORIGINAL: Froonp

ORIGINAL: Mziln

Have you compaired this to the CWiF CW setup?

Compared what to the CWiF CW setup ? What do you mean ?

I know you have CWiF have you checked the CW set up verses your setup?

According to my notes The CWiF setup for the CW:

Transports 15 RP and 7 oil.
Takes 56 CP and 19 Tankers.

That would leave you 5 CP/Tankers (or 7 CP/Tankers using the SiF, CLiF, and CoiF option).

[lomyrin]

I tend to rail the Persian oil to Cairo, saving 1 convoy. Then use that oil for reorgs to avoid being a fat target for the Axis. Often this oil is only available for the CW in the early game
until Russia takes out Persia, as often occurs.
 
Lars
 
 
 

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Mziln
I know you have CWiF have you checked the CW set up verses your setup?

According to my notes The CWiF setup for the CW:

Transports 15 RP and 7 oil.
Takes 56 CP and 19 Tankers.

That would leave you 5 CP/Tankers (or 7 CP/Tankers using the SiF, CLiF, and CoiF option).

I have CWiF, both the latest Beta on which we worked with Chris, and the one ADG is solding, and I did not remember that it had a default CP setup for the CW (or for any other country). I remember me building my pipelines alone. But maybe I ignored the default setup ? Maybe I'll look at it one day, but I did not launch it since months (years ?) ago now.

Where does this setup goes through, and does it complies with Food in Flames optional rule ? I'm sure it goes through the Med, with about 3-4 CP per sea area. A blessing for Italy, and a time bomb for CW who will loose them, and will be forced to go around Africa to avoid loosing more. So I prefer to avoid the Med from the start. MWiF uses SiF, it is mandatory, so the Global War CW CP setup has 81 CP. So this setup leaves 6 reserve CP (it uses 75).

I did not say that my CP setup was the best in town, I even warned Steve that it was a special setup. But it avoids the Med (which is a must for me) and complies with Food in Flames optional rule. And if you do not ship 1 of the 2 Indian RP for a few turns (the time to get more CP), you have about 9 Reserve CP on turn 1 (putting one useless CP -- transport nothing but helps putting Egypt in supply -- in the Red Sea) which is very confortable IMO. This setup needs management in the first couple of years, that is you need to improve it as time goes by, and I gave the list of future resources that you were to get, and the list of those you were to loose. For my tastes, this is the best I achieved.

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: lomyrin

I tend to rail the Persian oil to Cairo, saving 1 convoy. Then use that oil for reorgs to avoid being a fat target for the Axis. Often this oil is only available for the CW in the early game
until Russia takes out Persia, as often occurs.
Lars

That's another option too. I do that too, if I can't spare the Tanker to Kuwait, or if it sinks. I prefer to try to ship it to Kuwait though, because it is less dependent on Syria. Anyway, I have other Tankers later in the game in the Persian Gulf to ship the Persian Oil that USSR lends me [:D].

[Froonp]

ORIGINAL: Graf Zeppelin

I think he means the default setup.

But this goes throught the med, and brings as much to UK as possible. The main convoylink goes from the aussies to the uk. Expensive and soon to be impossible to keep without losses.

Andi.

The Aussie RP also go through the Med ??? That means more than 5 CP per sea area ?

Wow, fiesta in Italy !!!!!

I think that we can call that the "Beginner's setup".