Logisitics help!!!!

[jackyo123]

hi folks

I've read over the manual about auto-convoy, but I cannot find the button (am playing guadalcanl) on the main screen to enable.

I also read the Uncommon Valor tutorial, which talked about 'barges' and computer controlled convoys.

What are the explicit steps required to setup a automated convoys from my australian bases to my forward area bases?

thanks!!

[Mynok]

Don't use autoconvoy. Use CS convoys to your hubs, and manually create supply TFs to your forward bases.

[Cad908]

Short scenarios, like Guadalcanal, have the production system turned off. You only get supply and fuel on a daily basis. Having played through Guadalcanal 4 times to get used to the system, which is a very good idea for neweebs like me, I did the following.
At Noumea, New Caledonia, you get 1500 supply and 2000 fuel each day.
At Sydney, Australia, you get 1000 supply and 500 fuel each day.

Now, Noumea is going to be my fleet base for the operations against Guadalcanal, so there is no need to move supply other that small amounts to the nearby bases, Efate & Luganville, to supply the air forces there and support base construction. I sent 1 ak and 1 dd (escort) fleets only as needed in amphibious or transport TF (depending on port size). You need to maximize supply for Guadalcanal (Munda & Tassafaronga) and Tulagi. It can be a challenge reiforcing, and that is the fun. I only moved supply and troops in under heavy escort by my surface combat and carrier group taskforces. None of this was automated.

At Australia, you need to decide where you are going to base support from. I always took Townsville. You can build it up to a size 8 port and a size 7 airfield. Charter Towers and Cairns are both close and make excellent air bases to hit New Guinea hard. I created on large task force in Brisbane and sailed all the transports, tankers destroyers to Sydney. When in Sydney, I organized two transport task forces. One had a 2 - 3 medium sized xAK's a tanker and some escort. Load this one up and send to Townsville. You can change this force to computer controlled in the task force screen to create a continuous supply to Cooktown. This task force will load travel to Townsville, unload, return to Sydney repeat. This automates this task and moves supply and fuel to your operating base in Townsville. I create a second task force with a couple of escorts and a couple of xAK's and wait until the first one is unloading at Townsville. The load it up a repeat the process and you will have a supply bridge running to Townsville. I move everything else to Townsville and get ready to begin the reimforcement of Milne Bay and Port Moresby. You have automated supply flows in Australia using the rail and road net. It keeps all the other bases supplied. I have not have to move any supply in Australia except to Townsville, though this is easy enough to do if needed. Of special note, if you follow this approach, you must rail MacArthur's Southwest Pacific HQ to Townsville. In order to replace or upgrade aircraft, you must have a HQ within transfer range with 20,000 supply, or 20,000 supply at the base (Drove me nuts for awhile). You will be building up Townsville, and running everything else to just what it needs, thus you must keep a HQ and 20,000 supply in Townsville. The SW Pacific HQ has a range of 9, so you will get the added benefit of administering more air groups in Port Moresby and Milne Bay, see overstacking.

The dev once posted that supply, and fuel initially for your thirsty carriers, is meant to be a limiting factor in this scenario, so you must plan accordingly.

Hope this helps, and have fun.

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Cad908

Of special note, if you follow this approach, you must rail MacArthur's Southwest Pacific HQ to Townsville. In order to replace or upgrade aircraft, you must have a HQ within transfer range with 20,000 supply, or 20,000 supply at the base (Drove me nuts for awhile). You will be building up Townsville, and running everything else to just what it needs, thus you must keep a HQ and 20,000 supply in Townsville. The SW Pacific HQ has a range of 9, so you will get the added benefit of administering more air groups in Port Moresby and Milne Bay, see overstacking.

Cad, I got all excited when I read this, thinking I was missing out on the added benefit of administering more air groups at PM and Miline Bay, but then I checked the map. It's way more than 9 hexes from Townsville to PM. [:(]

The rest of your post has great information in it! [:)]

[Cad908]

This was covered in the whole air base over stacking discussion some weeks ago. I do not believe this is in the manual, but because Southwest Pacific is a "command" HQ you get the 9 within range, all the airbases around Townsville, and 1/2 of the 9 range out to double (18). So, you get an additional 4 air groups in Port Moresby, where they are essential. With the air base built up to the scenario limit of 5, you can administer 9 air groups without over stacking, I have done it all the time. You can run into "engine" overstacking, however, if you move in bomber groups or a bunch of P-38's. When I get home, I will see if I can find the thread where the devs covered this.

Of some interest on this theme, the Fifth Air Force is given a range of 0 in this scenario. When it arrives, I use it to command the B-17, B-24's which I base in Charter Towers. Makes for a pretty heavy punch for any base in range.

[jackyo123]

thanks all! Very big help!!!

[USSAmerica]

Oh crap!  You're absolutely right, Cad!  I have also read the 1/2 command effect out to double the range, but completely forgot it.  [:D]

Now, to get Mac's arrogant arse onto a train!  [;)]

[Mynok]

Time to spool up some Betties for a train raid.......[:D]

[aoffen]

Can you load both fuel and supplies on the same convoy if you mix tankers in with AK's?
Rgds
Andrew

[DaveP]

If a TF has cargo and liquid capacity, then it will automatically load fuel if you order it to load supplies, and will load oil if you order it to load resources. And vice versa.

ORIGINAL: aoffen

Can you load both fuel and supplies on the same convoy if you mix tankers in with AK's?
Rgds
Andrew

[Disco Duck]

I have to agree with Mynok. I can't get auto-convoy to work. It seems to want to keep the west coast well supplied and ignore everywhere else. I even tried running everything in San Francisco as auto supply through the end of December and most of the AK's just sit there with bases like Midway running out of supplies.

[Mike Solli]

Yup, don't rely on the AI to do what you can do better.  Also, when it gets trashed by your opponent, you can't blame the AI! [:D]