How to configure Continuous Supply Convoys

[porpoisehead]

Hi folks,

I'm playing my first GC as Japan and want to make sure I'm configuring Continuous Supply Convoys correctly. My goal is to ship Resources from surplus zones (Hokkaido, Manchukuo, etc.) to the home islands.

Unfortunately, I'm not able to watch Damian's video tutorial as all my systems balk at opening Shockwave files, and I haven't been able to find a thread, walkthrough, or manual reference that answers all my questions unambiguously. I'm pretty confident I have this right, but I'd like to avoid wasting a turn and a whole lot of mouse clicks if I'm mistaken in some way.

Based on section 6.2.11 of the manual, I understand that I need to:
-Make a TF
-Set its mission to Transport
-Set its home port as my intended "loading dock" - e.g., Kushiro
-Have it located in that loading dock
-Order it to load Resources
-Set its destination hex as my "unloading dock" - e.g., Ominato
-Set the TF to Computer Control

Although my screenshot does not show it, I have tested switching to computer control and do indeed see "CS: Ominato" as the result.

I want to ensure that this configuration orders my TF to fully load at Kushiro, travel to and fully unload at Ominato, then travel back to Kushiro and fully load Resources again on a permanent loop.

Also, am I correct in thinking that I can't complete this order flow without the TF being located in the "loading dock" during my Orders phase? In other words, if I have a TF in Ominato and want to set it on the Kushiro-to-Ominato convoy route, I can't configure it fully until it is in Kushiro (or perhaps at sea?) because ordering it to "load resources" now would have it load resources at Ominato and take them the wrong direction.

Thanks in advance!

[RangerJoe]

No. Do not set it to "computer" control. Set it with one more click to CS.

You want to set up the convoy with the same class of vessels so a convoy does not wait for one ship to load/unload.

Mike Solli's AAR deals with setting up the convoys plus the number and the types of ships needed.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2959613

[porpoisehead]

Thanks RangerJoe!

I've seen the advice to use the same class of vessels, but figured I could duck it and focus on matching hex-speed and making the TF cargo total equal to the daily goal. Basically, I thought the game would load TFs/vessels on a first-in, first-out basis. Are you saying instead that it loads all vessels in parallel? If a second TF arrives on the same day, does this mean the port will split its load between the two TFs?

That's going to screw with my math...

[RangerJoe]

The game also loads more to docked TFs than undocked TFs. That is another important part to consider when you are using the same ship classes. But a port can only load so much in total and so much per ship so you may need to break some TFs into smaller ones to maximize the ships usage with the available dock space.

So it is not FIFO so much as the docking of the ships. You will also see some ships fully loaded in a TF while others maybe partially loaded or even empty. That immediately tells you that the TF is too large for that port size.

[BBfanboy]

The game usually deals with TF things in order of TF number. If you have a TF loading and another TF with a lower number arrives and docks, and has orders to start loading, the game will start each ship in that TF loading before going on to the original TF to continue loading that one.

Unless there is an imminent enemy threat at your loading location, don't worry about it and let the AI handle the loading and dispatch of your CS TFs - that is what they were designed for - to take off some of your workload. Unless you overload the port with CS TFs that can't dock, the AI will handle the loading as efficiently as you could - each ship loads the max it can each phase considering port size and availability of the cargo and port ops limits for amount of loading it can do.

If you are using Kushiro to haul resources from Hokkaido, you can use the other ports on that island as well. Then send some ships to the two ports on Sakhalin.

Keep an eye on fuel - CS convoys will always refuel when they get back to home port - the one where they load the goods. You can mitigate that somewhat by setting the TF to "Full Refuel" so it will fuel up at destination port as well. But if you want them to refuel at home port you will have to send fuel occasionally. For Hokkaido, just send it to Hakodate and the rail line will send it where fuel is needed.

[Mike Solli]

Something I do (not always, and dependent on ship type/size and port size) is to create CS convoys to that port that are no more than half the capacity of the port. That way, convoys move in and out faster. If the port can't load all the cargo ships in one turn, the whole convoy would sit in port for two days. But, if it can load a smaller convoy in one turn, it'll be in and out quicker. You'll need to do the calculations (port size, naval support, ship capacity, etc.).

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
Something I do (not always, and dependent on ship type/size and port size) is to create CS convoys to that port that are no more than half the capacity of the port. That way, convoys move in and out faster. If the port can't load all the cargo ships in one turn, the whole convoy would sit in port for two days. But, if it can load a smaller convoy in one turn, it'll be in and out quicker. You'll need to do the calculations (port size, naval support, ship capacity, etc.).

I think it is not that important if the convoy sits in the port for a couple additional days. It does not burn fuel when it is docked while loading/unloading. Also CS should be used in a backwater areas with no surface or aerial threats, so being docked does not make it more vulnerable. The amount of escort ships and the chances of meeting an enemy sub are both preferrable when you use larger convoys.
Ultimately, you will spend the same amount of fuel to move a given load of resources on a given ship class no matter what size of convoys you use.

[koneeb88]

Based on section 6.2.11 of the manual, I understand that I need to:
-Make a TF
-Set its mission to Transport
-Set its home port as my intended "loading dock" - e.g., Kushiro

Are you sure it's Transport? The manual says that Transport is used to send to the front line, and for resources you need to use Cargo TF isn't it? I honestly didn’t grasp the difference, but I recently tried to send supplies to a hex with an enemy base where the troops had landed, and Cargo TF did not unload.
By the way, if you use CS mission for such resource operations, why do you need an auto-convoy system?

[RangerJoe]

It can be either cargo or transport for the CS convoys.

The only TFs that will unload at an enemy base is the Amphibious TF or the Fast Transport TFs.

[koneeb88]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

It can be either cargo or transport for the CS convoys.

The only TFs that will unload at an enemy base is the Amphibious TF or the Fast Transport TFs.

Then what is the Cargo for? I understand that it does not carries people, unlike Transport, but then what Transport cannot? I found in the appendix table only one designation included in the Cargo but not in the Transport, and this is the District Oiler. Although another table says that people can still be transported in his hold...

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: koneeb88

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

It can be either cargo or transport for the CS convoys.

The only TFs that will unload at an enemy base is the Amphibious TF or the Fast Transport TFs.

Then what is the Cargo for? I understand that it does not carries people, unlike Transport, but then what Transport cannot? I found in the appendix table only one designation included in the Cargo but not in the Transport, and this is the District Oiler. Although another table says that people can still be transported in his hold...

AE added a few new Task Force mission types to those found in classical WITP. The old classical mission types were left largely untouched in AE.

The Cargo TF mission is essentially a left over from classical WITP where the AE enhancements of player set waypoints, threat tolerance level, and routing preferences were not available.

Alfred

[rustysi]

Then what is the Cargo for? I understand that it does not carries people, unlike Transport, but then what Transport cannot?

IIRC cargo and transport TF's will offer up different ships. IOW some ships in a transport mission are not offered up in a cargo mission.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Then what is the Cargo for? I understand that it does not carries people, unlike Transport, but then what Transport cannot?

IIRC cargo and transport TF's will offer up different ships. IOW some ships in a transport mission are not offered up in a cargo mission.

If you are Allies and you want to ship supply out of San Francisco in 1944, you could have nearly a thousand ships there. Setting a Transport mission will list all the AP/xAP types as well as the AK/xAK types. Setting a cargo mission sets just the latter. The TF icons differ too, so it is easier to tell what type of TF it is.

[buzzsaw90]

I am getting a message "Not all troops and Equipment can unload at this location". But it does not tell me why not. So my question is...

why not?

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: buzzsaw90

I am getting a message "Not all troops and Equipment can unload at this location". But it does not tell me why not. So my question is...

why not?

Because you have some large items like a radar. You need naval support at the location....GP

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: btd64

ORIGINAL: buzzsaw90

I am getting a message "Not all troops and Equipment can unload at this location". But it does not tell me why not. So my question is...

why not?

Because you have some large items like a radar. You need naval support at the location....GP

or enlarge the port. either way. NS is quicker (usually) ....

[RangerJoe]

You might also need to dock the ship if it is not docked.