Fixing railtracks and supply

[nukkxx5058]

I understand from the manual that my troops will be correctly supplied [ammno, fuel, food] as long as they stay in hexes within a rail network which is not broken [green dots]. Unfortunately it is not the case. So I need to fix the tracks. How can I do this ?

Is my understanding of supply correct ?

[Captain]

I was wondering about this myself. Your Panzer units quickly get to the edge of the supply line in 41.

from what I can see, you have a bunch of construction units that will fix tracks automatically. You also have a few construction units with a "FBD" designation which you can use to fix tracks manually and which can usually fix 4-5 hexes per turn (see 14.2.2.2 of manual). Although, there only seems to be 3-4 for the whole army.

You can also use air transport to fly fuel to your Panzer/motorized divisions. You can squeeze more flights if you manage it manually rather than letting the AI pick the flights.

There is also HQ buildup which allows you to fully fuel your Panzer/motorized divisions, but since you have to be within 20 MPs of a functioning rail hex, the Germans can't use it for most of 41.

Are there other tricks to keep the the German advance going?

[gargoil]

ORIGINAL: nukkxx

I understand from the manual that my troops will be correctly supplied [ammno, fuel, food] as long as they stay in hexes within a rail network which is not broken [green dots]. Unfortunately it is not the case. So I need to fix the tracks. How can I do this ?

Is my understanding of supply correct ?

ORIGINAL: Captain

I was wondering about this myself. Your Panzer units quickly get to the edge of the supply line in 41.

from what I can see, you have a bunch of construction units that will fix tracks automatically. You also have a few construction units with a "FBD" designation which you can use to fix tracks manually and which can usually fix 4-5 hexes per turn (see 14.2.2.2 of manual). Although, there only seems to be 3-4 for the whole army.

You can also use air transport to fly fuel to your Panzer/motorized divisions. You can squeeze more flights if you manage it manually rather than letting the AI pick the flights.

There is also HQ buildup which allows you to fully fuel your Panzer/motorized divisions, but since you have to be within 20 MPs of a functioning rail hex, the Germans can't use it for most of 41.

Are there other tricks to keep the the German advance going?

Supply goes out from rail heads to HQs to their subordinates - the greater the distance of this off rail movement and hexes, the less supply gets to the units.

As for RR - there are 5 FBD units that you control that are used to repair rail. In their unit box there is a rail repair "3" hotlink you press to active the repair the hex the unit is in. Costs 3 MPs.

[heliodorus04]

You're generally sound in your understanding, but it's very useful to continually re-read the supply rules.
A couple things you don't want to miss out on (including what Gargoil wrote about how HQs are the first-destination for any division trying to trace supply).

A) Any HQ within 10 hexes/25 movement points (MPs) of a railhead hex gains a bonus in the supply delivery
B) Having more trucks than you need increases supply delivery
C) Any HQ that does not move in a turn gains a bonus to supply delivery

Ideally, you always want an HQ within 10 of a rail head hex at the start of its turn.  That's not possible for the German in 1941, so see below for my advice on keeping German panzers supplied

Your FBD rail repair units (for the German) are manually controlled.
There are several "best path" rail repair routes for the German (one of your Army Group Center FBDs should go north of Vitebsk across the route that is in the Baltic Rail Zone and head toward Vitebsk as fast as possible).  Knowing those (either player's side) is really helpful.

Do not simply move your HQs as far forward as they can go.  As a German in 1941, much of the time you simply have to move far forward, but when you are able, pay attention to that 10 hexes issue.  It helps a lot in getting Infantry to 14-16 MPs.  Learn to think ahead with your HQ placement in terms of supply.

For 1941, Germany must fly bomber fuel supply and transport fuel supply.  Bombers fly fuel at the beginning of the turn (because bombers can only fly a resupply mission as the first mission in a turn).  That dropped fuel will help NEXT turn's MP allowance, so again, think ahead.  Transport fuel supply can be done anytime, but i often do it at the beginning of the turn because ranges are shorter, and then if necessary, end of turn.

[Captain]

For the German Army, I can see the advantage of Corps HQs in extending the supply line, as well as C&C/support units.

But what about Army/Army Gruppe HQs? I see they help again with C&C/support units, but do they have a role in the supply chain? I did not see anything about this in the manual.

[gargoil]

ORIGINAL: Captain

For the German Army, I can see the advantage of Corps HQs in extending the supply line, as well as C&C/support units.

But what about Army/Army Gruppe HQs? I see they help again with C&C/support units, but do they have a role in the supply chain? I did not see anything about this in the manual.

They do if they have directly attached combat units.

[heliodorus04]

ORIGINAL: Captain

For the German Army, I can see the advantage of Corps HQs in extending the supply line, as well as C&C/support units.

But what about Army/Army Gruppe HQs? I see they help again with C&C/support units, but do they have a role in the supply chain? I did not see anything about this in the manual.

In terms of providing supply to divisions, the only way they will matter in that picture is if they have divisions directly attached (AND the division is within 5 hexes of the HQ as normal; without that, you must trace supply from division to railhead regardless).

What is unclear to me in the delivery of supply to Corps HQs.
I know that a corps HQ only needs to be in command range of its parent in order to allow the parent HQ to roll in place of a corps that failed a Corps HQ Leadership/Admin/Initiative (all of which play some part in supply delivery, however minor).

I am completely unclear on how much distance between Corps HQs and Army HQs may or may not help those rolls pass. Would love to know if anyone has a grasp of it.

[BletchleyGeek]

ORIGINAL: heliodorus04

ORIGINAL: Captain
For the German Army, I can see the advantage of Corps HQs in extending the supply line, as well as C&C/support units.

But what about Army/Army Gruppe HQs? I see they help again with C&C/support units, but do they have a role in the supply chain? I did not see anything about this in the manual.

In terms of providing supply to divisions, the only way they will matter in that picture is if they have divisions directly attached (AND the division is within 5 hexes of the HQ as normal; without that, you must trace supply from division to railhead regardless).

What is unclear to me in the delivery of supply to Corps HQs.

I'm speaking from memory - can't check the manual atm - but I think the rules are the same for Corps/Army/AG HQ's. Either they draw from the railhead or from their HHQ, depending on what is nearer in terms of MP cost.

[heliodorus04]

ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek

ORIGINAL: heliodorus04

ORIGINAL: Captain
For the German Army, I can see the advantage of Corps HQs in extending the supply line, as well as C&C/support units.

But what about Army/Army Gruppe HQs? I see they help again with C&C/support units, but do they have a role in the supply chain? I did not see anything about this in the manual.

In terms of providing supply to divisions, the only way they will matter in that picture is if they have divisions directly attached (AND the division is within 5 hexes of the HQ as normal; without that, you must trace supply from division to railhead regardless).

What is unclear to me in the delivery of supply to Corps HQs.

I'm speaking from memory - can't check the manual atm - but I think the rules are the same for Corps/Army/AG HQ's. Either they draw from the railhead or from their HHQ, depending on what is nearer in terms of MP cost.

I don't think that's entirely accurate, I am possibly misreading what you said, though. I believe ANY HQ unit draws supply ONLY from the nearest railhead. That's the impression I get from the manual and from the supply details of corps HQs.

[BletchleyGeek]

ORIGINAL: heliodorus04
I don't think that's entirely accurate, I am possibly misreading what you said, though. I believe ANY HQ unit draws supply ONLY from the nearest railhead. That's the impression I get from the manual and from the supply details of corps HQs.

If you have the manual and the game in front of you, then I stand corrected [:)] I was speaking from memory alone.