A Cautionary Tale on Loading Ships

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Local Yokel
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A Cautionary Tale on Loading Ships

Post by Local Yokel »

I'm not sure how this is going to pan out, but offer it as something of which players may need to be aware. The attached image shows the load state of a 'mixed cargo' TF on two consecutive days, with sensitive information edited out. It has been formed by amalgamation of three TF's, respectively loading oil, resources and supplies, and I'm pretty sure that it was the TF loading resources that received the ships from the other two TF's - that would explain why it's still loading resources on 31 May 1943. Note that the ships laden with supplies are 95% full.

On the following day the TF has departed its port of loading. Shock, horror! The ships nearly fully laden with supplies now appear to be carrying no more than 114 resource units apiece! What's become of the supply they were carrying? I can tell you that it has not been re-landed at the port at which the ships were loading on 31 May. If I examine the cargo of an individual ship carrying 114 resource points, I get no information beyond that. Nothing to indicate whether the supplies are all gone. However, hovering the mousepointer over the TF reveals the summary that indicates that it's still carrying the original 13430 supply load as well.

Has that load of 13430 supplies gone for ever, or will it be unloaded along with the oil and resource cargo? If anyone knows I'd be glad to hear. If there's any risk of losing part of the load when forming mixed cargo convoys like this, it seems that the safe course is to make sure that any current loading operation is cancelled before you end the turn.

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herwin
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RE: A Cautionary Tale on Loading Ships

Post by herwin »

They dumped the supply--perhaps over the side--and started loading resources...
Harry Erwin
"For a number to make sense in the game, someone has to calibrate it and program code. There are too many significant numbers that behave non-linearly to expect that. It's just a game. Enjoy it." herwin@btinternet.com
Alfred
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RE: A Cautionary Tale on Loading Ships

Post by Alfred »

Why do you expect there to be no problems when you are using an "Escort" mission for the task force?  From a port, "Cargo" or "Transport" missions are used to pick up and then move supplies/resources about - not "Escort" missions.  Particularly when your ships have no more than 1 sys damage and zero flotation damage.
 
Alfred
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Local Yokel
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RE: A Cautionary Tale on Loading Ships

Post by Local Yokel »

Harry: You may well be right.  If so, they managed an rate of unloading significantly in excess of the port's loading rate - wasn't that big a port.
 
Alfred: When invading Mindanao I set an endpoint for the invasion TF at Catanduanes.  Although the TF had 'do not unload' instructions it nonetheless unloaded, due to this still being an enemy-controlled beach.  I started converting loaded transport TF's to escort TF's in a bid to prevent unwanted discharge of cargo - it makes no difference if the base is enemy-controlled; even escort TF's will treat themselves as conducting an invasion and unload.  I think I also saw instances of cargo being dumped on a coastal hex when this was set as an intermediate 'destination' for a TF having 'retirement allowed' instructions, so I do anything I can to inhibit unloading until I really want it to take place.  In the case of this TF I don't want it unloading on arrival as the 3 fully-laden AK's that top the list are for onward transit to Japan; I'll set up unloading arrangements for those ships I want to unload once they arrive it their immediate destination.
 
So it's habit, really.  May make no real difference to whether unloading take place or not.  I just feel more comfortable with having done it, for the reasons given.
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Uamaga
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RE: A Cautionary Tale on Loading Ships

Post by Uamaga »


I'm pretty sure your transports have now BOTH supply nad resource load. It is more or less interface only issue - there is no way to display info about both loads on TF panel and resource just happen to have higher priority. Same situation will happen with tankers (partly) loaded with fuel and then oil. Never used that "feature" intentionally (and I'm not sure if it was intended to be used or is rather just "side effect" of defensive programming) but it happened accidentally to me too.
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hermanhum
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WiTP

Post by hermanhum »

I find that it is a wonderful side-effect.  Whether intentional or not, I hope that this helpful function/feature stays with WiTP.
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Local Yokel
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RE: WiTP

Post by Local Yokel »

Certainly it's difficult to see how details of a mixed cargo could be laid out within the existing interface, so I'm encouraged by the likelihood that the supply did indeed stay aboard.  If so, I too shall be impressed by the code design's ability to track multiple types of cargo aboard individual ships.  Anyone want to chance their arm with a mixed load of supply, resources and fuel? [;)]
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hermanhum
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WiTP

Post by hermanhum »

I don't know about all of them, but I have certainly been able to mix supplies and fuel aboard AKs.  I don't know about the other combinations simply because I have not tried as of yet.
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n01487477
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RE: WiTP

Post by n01487477 »

There are different datapoints for each raw material on-board, so I'd assume the same as Uamaga, interface problem ...
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Local Yokel
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RE: WiTP

Post by Local Yokel »

Postscript: I can now confirm that after the resources were unloaded the supplies previously loaded again became visible. [:)]
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