Marching vs Rail

[Tanaka]

If you are one hex from a base by rail which is faster? March or Rail? As it takes 2 days to pack and unpack I am assuming marching is faster? How do you measure distance to determine which is better in these type situations?

[btd64]

If the unit trucks, etc, road movement is faster....GP

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: btd64

If the unit trucks, etc, road movement is faster....GP

Trucks? You mean armored and recon units?

[btd64]

Any kind of vehicles that can carry troops. But now that I think about it, for road movement you have to be in Strategic mode....GP

[Nomad]

It depends on the terrain. Is there a road? I assume there is rail.

[Maallon]

see 8.3 in the Manual.

Short version: Depends on the terrain type.
If a major road is connecting the two hexes, then normal movement will be faster.
If there are no roads and both hexes are jungle hexes, then strategic movement will be faster.

The above mentioned section in the manual covers every possible situation you can encounter.

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: btd64

Any kind of vehicles that can carry troops. But now that I think about it, for road movement you have to be in Strategic mode....GP

Really?? I had no idea I thought Strat move was ONLY Railroad between bases? Wow how have I missed this. I assume this also applies to units with motorized support? Is there a good thread on all of this anywhere? I've searched and all I can find is how to move supply not units...

[Kull]

Strategic Road Movement

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: Kull

Strategic Road Movement

Kazaa thanks! So only allied units are strat road capable from this thread?

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: Tanaka

ORIGINAL: Kull

Strategic Road Movement

Kazaa thanks! So only allied units are strat road capable from this thread?

And not all of them

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: Maallon

see 8.3 in the Manual.

Short version: Depends on the terrain type.
If a major road is connecting the two hexes, then normal movement will be faster.
If there are no roads and both hexes are jungle hexes, then strategic movement will be faster.

The above mentioned section in the manual covers every possible situation you can encounter.

Thanks yeah found it and you are correct! I still don't see anything about Strategic moves on roads only rail?

Past one hex at what point is rail better than road? 2 hexes?

[Maallon]

ORIGINAL: Tanaka

ORIGINAL: Maallon

see 8.3 in the Manual.

Short version: Depends on the terrain type.
If a major road is connecting the two hexes, then normal movement will be faster.
If there are no roads and both hexes are jungle hexes, then strategic movement will be faster.

The above mentioned section in the manual covers every possible situation you can encounter.

Thanks yeah found it and you are correct! I still don't see anything about Strategic moves on roads only rail?

Past one hex at what point is rail better than road? 2 hexes?

I don't see anything regarding strategic movement on roads in the manual either, so I think this feature was added after the manual was released and thus the manual doesn't cover it.

For major roads,three hexes, with normal movement mode, after that strategic movement via rail will be faster.
You can calculate stuff like this yourself though:
2 days packing + 1 day traveling + 2 days unpacking = 5 days to travel via rail
(keep in mind that packing times can vary between 1-3 days, mostly depending on unit size)
A infantry division will move at a rate of 30 miles per day on a major road and one hex is 46 miles big.
30 miles x 5 days = 150 miles
150 miles / 46 miles = 3,26 hexes -> The infantry division will be in the third hex on its route with a progress of 12 miles to the fourth.

If you look at the movement table in the manual while keeping the 5 days and the size of a hex with 46 miles in mind you will see that only major and minor roads have large enough movement rates to take you to an adjacent hex faster than 5 days and a clear hex would take you exactly 5 days.

[Alfred]

Strategic road movement is dealt with in s.8.2.1.1 of the manual.

Alfred

[Maallon]

Oh yeah, somehow I managed to skip that part while searching through the manual. Thanks Alfred.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Tanaka

If you are one hex from a base by rail which is faster? March or Rail? As it takes 2 days to pack and unpack I am assuming marching is faster? How do you measure distance to determine which is better in these type situations?

The 2 day packing time you reference is for a regiment/brigade sized unit.

Not all units take 2 days to pack.

Battalion/company sized units pack in 1 day.

Divisions require 3 days.

As mentioned, the equation is terrain specific, but the packing time of the various sized units can be a factor in the equation.

However, strategic movement is a non-factor if the unit is 'starting one hex from a base' as the unit would have to be at a base to enter strategic movement. The question you posit is only valid if moving from one base to another.

[Mercenary]

The question you posit is only valid if moving from one base to another.

...And if there is no enemy on the road.

[Fokko]

Not to mention fact that the unit need another 1 or 2 days to get back to combat readiness status when it has arrived

[geofflambert]

8.2.1.1 Operations Mode

>> Strategic - ... "The Japanese are limited to using Strategic OpMode on rail lines."

Me - and on ship TFs in Transport mode, which packs them in more tightly and gives them the opportunity to travel by rail immediately upon disembarking. The Allies of course can also do this.

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

8.2.1.1 Operations Mode

>> Strategic - ... "The Japanese are limited to using Strategic OpMode on rail lines."

Me - and on ship TFs in Transport mode, which packs them in more tightly and gives them the opportunity to travel by rail immediately upon disembarking. The Allies of course can also do this.

Since I have only ever played as the Japanese this explains why I did not realize you could do this haha. Allies only!

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: Maallon

ORIGINAL: Tanaka

ORIGINAL: Maallon

see 8.3 in the Manual.

Short version: Depends on the terrain type.
If a major road is connecting the two hexes, then normal movement will be faster.
If there are no roads and both hexes are jungle hexes, then strategic movement will be faster.

The above mentioned section in the manual covers every possible situation you can encounter.

Thanks yeah found it and you are correct! I still don't see anything about Strategic moves on roads only rail?

Past one hex at what point is rail better than road? 2 hexes?

I don't see anything regarding strategic movement on roads in the manual either, so I think this feature was added after the manual was released and thus the manual doesn't cover it.

For major roads,three hexes, with normal movement mode, after that strategic movement via rail will be faster.
You can calculate stuff like this yourself though:
2 days packing + 1 day traveling + 2 days unpacking = 5 days to travel via rail
(keep in mind that packing times can vary between 1-3 days, mostly depending on unit size)
A infantry division will move at a rate of 30 miles per day on a major road and one hex is 46 miles big.
30 miles x 5 days = 150 miles
150 miles / 46 miles = 3,26 hexes -> The infantry division will be in the third hex on its route with a progress of 12 miles to the fourth.

If you look at the movement table in the manual while keeping the 5 days and the size of a hex with 46 miles in mind you will see that only major and minor roads have large enough movement rates to take you to an adjacent hex faster than 5 days and a clear hex would take you exactly 5 days.

Great info! Thanks!