Possible minelaying problem

[Local Yokel]

I'm trying to mine a hex containing a friendly base using a Mine Warfare TF that has 4 ML's and 1 DD. The TF has the hex containing the target base set as its destination, and the TF has the toggle value set to 'Lay mines'. But for two consecutive turns it has failed to do so, notwithstanding that it reached the target hex during the first of these turns. On the first turn I had the TF's home port set to the target hex, with 'retirement allowed' set (i.e. the TF should have simply remained at the target base). On the second turn I tried without success to overcome the problem by setting another base as home port but giving the TF 'patrol, do not retire' orders.

This is CHS scenario 157, version 2.08. The game is patched to 1.8.04.

Any suggestions as to why the TF is not laying its minefield? Or suggestions how I can get it to do so?

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Local Yokel

I'm trying to mine a hex containing a friendly base using a Mine Warfare TF that has 4 ML's and 1 DD. The TF has the hex containing the target base set as its destination, and the TF has the toggle value set to 'Lay mines'. But for two consecutive turns it has failed to do so, notwithstanding that it reached the target hex during the first of these turns. On the first turn I had the TF's home port set to the target hex, with 'retirement allowed' set (i.e. the TF should have simply remained at the target base). On the second turn I tried without success to overcome the problem by setting another base as home port but giving the TF 'patrol, do not retire' orders.

This is CHS scenario 157, version 2.08. The game is patched to 1.8.04.

Any suggestions as to why the TF is not laying its minefield? Or suggestions how I can get it to do so?

i had real problems getting MLs to lay mines in CHS (scen 158) overcome in part by basing the MLs at bases with LOTS (and lots) of supplies. i found that even in a size 9 port with "adequate" supplies, it didn't want to work.

Even then, things could get iffy... i had to fiddle around for a bit.

EDIT: It also might help to patch to 1.806.

[DuckofTindalos]

Since that's when it was fixed...[8|]

[Local Yokel]

My opponent and I agreed it was not worth the risk of breaking our game by updating from 1.8.04 to 1.8.06 after we reviewed the minor changes made by the 1.8.06 patch. They did not seem likely to deal with issues that would affect our game, and we thought it better to await a major patch.

In any case I don't remember reading anything to suggest that 1.8.06 dealt with any minelaying problems, but I cannot now find anything that details the changes made by that patch. Can anyone direct me to that information, please?

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

i had real problems getting MLs to lay mines in CHS (scen 158) overcome in part by basing the MLs at bases with LOTS (and lots) of supplies. i found that even in a size 9 port with "adequate" supplies, it didn't want to work.

Even then, things could get iffy... i had to fiddle around for a bit.

EDIT: It also might help to patch to 1.806.

In my case minelaying tenders are providing most of the support for re-loading the minelayers; I'm only relying on the port size for reloads in Japan and a couple of other places. I am successfully conducting minelaying operations in a wide range of locations using MLE support, and have encountered no problems even at bases with modest supply levels, save for this single, rather exposed, base.

In any case, this isn't (yet) a 're-loading' problem because the ML's initially loaded at a size 9 port and arrived at the target base with a full complement of mines. Giving them the 'deep six' is the problem.

[rtrapasso]

Sorry about the delay in answering this - i didn't see the last post until just now...

1.806 made various improvements including item 2: "Correct issues related to TF destination fields not being cleared." This COULD affect minelaying operations, although i do NOT guarantee this is the cause of your problem.

i will state that if there are only a limited number of supplys at a base, minelayers WILL have problems loading up mines, etc. - even if it is a size 9 port.

[Local Yokel]

No apology needed - I'm grateful to you for returning to this.

I take your point about "Correct issues related to TF destination fields not being cleared" being one of the 1.8.06 patch, particularly since it may have a bearing on other oddities in TF behaviour I occasionally encounter.

As it happens, on the next turn after I posted on this problem the ML's succesfully laid the minefield. From memory I think I again set the target base as the minelaying TF's home base and tried giving it 'patrol, do not retire' orders. I'm not sure whether it was that particular combination that did the trick, since in general I have not found such settings to affect the minelaying operation's success. Immmediately after the first successful laying operation enemy submarines started to show up, at which point I withdrew the ML's from the danger area, and was thus unable to test for a solution over a number of turns.

Completely agree about the need for adequate supplies in order to ensure reloads - so far that's never been a problem.

Many thanks for your help.