Confused about depots

[MarkShot]

It there an optimal distance in rail (double) hexes between depots.

On one hand, I understand that a depot will the NOT move supplies to another depot of same priority. So, to achieve pull there must be a differential. So, depots should go from 0 -> 4 in a directed tree structure with 0 as the NSS and 4 your front line troops. Numbers and depots in between may be placed to supply air bases.

On the other hand, I understand that supply doesn't travel from DEPOT 0 to DEPOT 4 in a single turn. That intermediate depots/railyards along a rail line act as queue buffers to hold freight which is in motion along the line.

It would seem if you have too many to depots, then you are tying up your limited supply of trucks. On the other hand, too few depots, and perhaps the enough queuing or trucks have to cover too much ground.

I am confused.

I seem to have double rail right up to the front and enough trucks, but it looks like I am short supply. I am not exact sure why.

Turn #8, Road to Leningrad

0 - NSS
1 - Vilinius
2 - Dagavpils
3 - Ostrov
4 - Pskov

Most units are around Ostrov & Pskov.

Most air is in the area too. (One thing I considered that I had Luflotte I at Pri-3, and is grabbing supply from the infantry.) 4th PZ is Pri-4 and all other Corp are Pri-3. Here is my turn summary. So, what is going on? Do, I need more depots along the rail line?

Thanks.

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[jasonbroomer]

a) You won't truck freight between depots, trucks will only be employed between the depot and the unit. Only trains run between depots.

b) While the manual indicates that you should have a graduated 0-1-2-3-4 depot set up for your system. I've found that you don't need to do this.

The programme logic run along the lines of starting with a depot 4, search depot 3's for freight, then 2s, etc.

Most 3's don't have freight in in them, never mind 2s and 1s. So the entire process is largely redundant. 3s,2s and 1s are more important when ports enter the equation.

Note that a depot with priority 4 will never take from another depot with priority 4, (likewise a 3 from a 3). When dealing with ports you need to chain a supply network using priorities between the NSS, export port, import port and final destination. (At the risk of loading you with too much detail, ports take supply first incidentally so a graduated supply priority does work here)

c) Train capacity dictates the volume of freight that can be shifted (think of a number of trains rather than the capacity of the rails which is a further matter). While the capacity of the rails is covered quite well in the manual, train capacity (I may not have the correct term here) is not. Train capacity comes from the size of the railyards (press F2 to see the rail network, railyards are the central hubs that show the train capacity. The bigger the number the better). Damaged yards (which are gradually repaired once captured) diminish capacity. I think train capacity diminishes as you move 30 hexes away from the yard (I'm not entirely sure how this works but think of a long distance train that returns to its home station). Large train yards also have the capacity to hold lots of supply.

You have oodles of train capacity around Berlin (the number is too large to fit on the F2 screen). As you get to Pskov, capacity is materially diminished, often just a trickle arrives.

d) what I do is to 'pulse' supply. I keep somewhere like Vilinius on a 4 priority and allow the depot to fill up. Once filled up, this stockpile can be pulsed down the line, by dropping to say a 1, towards Pskov on a 4. Ideally this can be timed for the offensive push.

e) Additional depots near the front can help. Each will probably attract 2-3k supply

[Wiedrock]

On the other hand, I understand that supply doesn't travel from DEPOT 0 to DEPOT 4 in a single turn.That intermediate depots/railyards along a rail line act as queue buffers to hold freight which is in motion along the line.

It does, but with distance this will reduce the flow. Freight is "paying" MPs ...or be it SMPs....

0 - NSS
1 - Vilinius
2 - Dagavpils
3 - Ostrov
4 - Pskov

Most units are around Ostrov & Pskov

"Around" means which distance in Hexes? Since within 3 Hexes from a Depot (all) freight will be delivered by horses. Those consume freight by eating fodder. That's why all freight is being basically doubled and therefore less left to be converted to what your Units need.

Most air is in the area too.

Having planes in an airfield makes this airfield getting AA Assets and Air Support units. Those consume some Supplies. The planes themselves mostly consume freight on missions.
If you have a KG with LBs where each LB has a Fuel Load of 5500lb and 2500lb of Ammo Load (you can compare the loadouts), one sortie of this KG (so 1 plane doing a mission) will cost you 5500lb+2500lb=8000lb. One Freight represents 2000lb, so this single plane uses up 8000lb/2000lb=4freight.
This base consumtion is always being used fully (so no fuel returns) and from my testing fuel further increases if there is a path to the "staging airbase" needed.
So from how I understand this, don't use additional fuel tank loadouts if not needed.

[MarkShot]

Thanks, guys.

I think I will keep more depots around. I did try the AI depot management. I think a horrible expense of 5 AP as it had not impact and was sloppy. I started deleting depots as previously I was running low on trucks.