Load cost differences

[Dereck]

When trying to pre-allocate shipping to units I noticed that, using the 2nd Marines as an example, that in the unit screen the troop load cost is 7,683 and cargo load cost is 8,154. But in the load screen when creating the task force that while the troop load cost was the same, the cargo load cost was 10,545. What's causing the difference and how do I plan for enough shipping to load units if the numbers don't match?

Just for grins I checked another unit and the cargo costs were also different between the two screens.

I know that the amphibious cargo capacity is just 80% of normal but HOW do I calculate that for a unit? It should be 1.25% of the non-amphib but when I did the calculation for one instead of getting 960 the screen said I needed 1647. Each unit I try seems to be different.

Load costs.jpg (68.04 KiB) Viewed 483 times

[RangerJoe]

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[RangerJoe]

You are also better off building the marine division instead of using the separate regiments.

[Dereck]

You are also better off building the marine division instead of using the separate regiments.

The question was why is there a difference between the two screens - and how, if it at all, it can be calculated from the unit screen. Not about the composition of the units. The screen was an example.

[RangerJoe]

You are also better off building the marine division instead of using the separate regiments.

The question was why is there a difference between the two screens - and how, if it at all, it can be calculated from the unit screen. Not about the composition of the units. The screen was an example.

Since you didn't like my answer to your question in which I gave you the answer that you were looking for, I will quit answering your questions. I will also delete my answer that you had wanted.

[homer82]

You are also better off building the marine division instead of using the separate regiments.

The question was why is there a difference between the two screens - and how, if it at all, it can be calculated from the unit screen. Not about the composition of the units. The screen was an example.

Since you didn't like my answer to your question in which I gave you the answer that you were looking for, I will quit answering your questions. I will also delete my answer that you had wanted.

Vaginal discomfort, RJ?

[Chris21wen]

The figures used are estimates and the routines are complicated but simple maths is all you need.

In this example the rgt a requires 2599 troop and 5632 cargo space to load fully without the use of cross space loading. These figures are based on the number of devices the unit currently has and will not change unless the number of devices in the unit changes. This by the way is entirely possible between giving an order to load and the next turn as there are replacement functions in between, but lets ignore that. This figures are the same for either a transport or amphib load.

Transport loading
To load into a transport TF just add all the troop load estimates together, in this case just one unit, so 2599, then the cargo load estimates 5632 and pick ships that match these figures. (Note I round to nearest 100). The two ships I've used can carry 2700 troop and 6400 cargo which is more than enough space so why the troop warning circled?

Screenshot 2026-01-18 070852.jpg (35.56 KiB) Viewed 402 times

It's warning you that there could be a problem. For one, only whole devices have to be able to load into a ship then there' the type of ground unit, then there's cross space offset, ship type capabilities, hold capabilities etc, etc. This why it's complicated and only estimates are used but simple maths do work.

It is high likely that this unit will load into these two ships as the warning is brown (or is it dull red?). In fact it did, nothing left behind and with an extra 800 supply on top. (load troops only was off). If I wanted to ensure it loaded I should have added a ship at the verify load stage.

If the unit cannot be loaded into the TF the warning will be bright red.

Amphibious loading
Amphib loading is more complicated as all but a few ship types load equipment at a reduced capacity of 80% or a fifth less. Further there is a requirement for more supply, three days worth so not only do you need more space for their equipment but you need extra space for the supply. You can estimate this as well as 3x the unit daily supply requirements however you don't need to do the maths as such, I simply increase cargo by a fifth (as cap has been reduce by a fifth). The load routines will increase the needed cargo capacity by these figures.

In the case above the amphib load requirements for the unit are now 2599/6784. Approx. a fifth more cargo space. The troop load won't change as troops are always size 1 and only whole units can be loaded onto a ship.

Other than the reduce capacity and the increased supply requirement everything else is the same.

Notes
For both loads these sets of figures are the bare minimum and can vary during the loading process.

It's always better to have more space than the bare minimum especially for amphib operations for faster unloading. Some say a third.

The toggle 'Load troops only' has no effect on these figure. All this does is tell the TF to load extra supply if after loading it has space.

I might have missed something?

[BBfanboy]

Chris21wen: " In fact it did, nothing left behind and with an extra 800 supply on top."

In fact that 800 'extra' supply is the 807 supply that the unit held before being loaded.

Some of the confusion comes from the fact that equipment has associated 'support troops' that are not in squads. E.g., artillery pieces have support troops. So do vehicles including AFVs. Non-combat engineers are counted as support troops but they are in squads so they should be in the load count.

Chris21wen is correct about the bulk of an item being a space waster in cargo holds. You cannot stack artillery pieces to make use of space when loading amphibiously. Same for tanks, trucks, and other vehicles.

As a final twist, it appears to me that if the unit is not at full TOE the number of troops in the Troop/Support Troop count at the top of the loading screen will be less than the troop load cost at the bottom left of the loading screen.
I use the actual number of troops from the top-middle of the load screen plus the equipment load cost at the bottom left plus the supply the unit holds. Instead of multiplying troop load by 1.25 for amphib loading I reduce the ship capacity by 20% - it works best.

As for additional supply for amphib landings, I think that could be the reason for the dull orange warning on the screen. It can load the minimal normal supply (807) but not the additional amount that should be available. For amphib landings ALWAYS load a ship or two separately with ONLY SUPPLY and then merge it with the amphib TF. The reason? - Supply is the last thing a ship will unload during landings. The priority is: Combat squads, Support squads, Light Equipment, Heavy Equipment, Supply.

[Chris21wen]

In fact that 800 'extra' supply is the 807 supply that the unit held before being loaded.

I disagree about this. Before the unit loaded it only had 226 supply. When loaded with 'load only troop' set they is no supply in the TF.

Screenshot 2026-01-19 072426.jpg (63.06 KiB) Viewed 355 times

When set to load with supply it looked like this

Screenshot 2026-01-19 073146.jpg (67.25 KiB) Viewed 355 times

As a final twist, it appears to me that if the unit is not at full TOE the number of troops...
Replacements do screw up the calculations and the longer a unit takes to load, when it does not have a full TOE, only makes the situation worse.

Never thought of 'orange' as the colour, looks brown on my screen but it makes more sense than brown. Whatever it isn't bright red.

[btd64]

@Dereck, If I have 3 units loading on a amphibious TF, and say 2 of the units had 1320 in troop load and 2893 in equipment load, and the third was 300 troop and 4500 equipment, I would round up each unit to the nearest 1000 for each load type. So the first 2 would be 2000 and 3000 and the last unit would be 1000 and 5000. Then because it an amphibioues TF I add 1000 to each number. So you would have for troops 3000+3000+2000=8000. Equipment would be 4000+4000+6000=14k. So 8k and 14k. So I pick my ships looking at the 8k number first and I always go a little high for the troop load. So I might end up with 10k for troops and around 30k for equipment. The extra space is to take into account the amphibious loading of 80% and some room for supplies.

I also pack an amphibious TF with supplies.

I hope this makes sence....GP

[RangerJoe]

@Dereck, If I have 3 units loading on a amphibious TF, and say 2 of the units had 1320 in troop load and 2893 in equipment load, and the third was 300 troop and 4500 equipment, I would round up each unit to the nearest 1000 for each load type. So the first 2 would be 2000 and 3000 and the last unit would be 1000 and 5000. Then because it an amphibioues TF I add 1000 to each number. So you would have for troops 3000+3000+2000=8000. Equipment would be 4000+4000+6000=14k. So 8k and 14k. So I pick my ships looking at the 8k number first and I always go a little high for the troop load. So I might end up with 10k for troops and around 30k for equipment. The extra space is to take into account the amphibious loading of 80% and some room for supplies.

I also pack an amphibious TF with supplies.

I hope this makes sence....GP

You are also forgetting something else . . .

[PipFromSlitherine]

The question was why is there a difference between the two screens - and how, if it at all, it can be calculated from the unit screen. Not about the composition of the units. The screen was an example.

Since you didn't like my answer to your question in which I gave you the answer that you were looking for, I will quit answering your questions. I will also delete my answer that you had wanted.

Vaginal discomfort, RJ?

Play nice. Insults are unhelpful.

Cheers

Pip

[btd64]

@Dereck, If I have 3 units loading on a amphibious TF, and say 2 of the units had 1320 in troop load and 2893 in equipment load, and the third was 300 troop and 4500 equipment, I would round up each unit to the nearest 1000 for each load type. So the first 2 would be 2000 and 3000 and the last unit would be 1000 and 5000. Then because it an amphibioues TF I add 1000 to each number. So you would have for troops 3000+3000+2000=8000. Equipment would be 4000+4000+6000=14k. So 8k and 14k. So I pick my ships looking at the 8k number first and I always go a little high for the troop load. So I might end up with 10k for troops and around 30k for equipment. The extra space is to take into account the amphibious loading of 80% and some room for supplies.

I also pack an amphibious TF with supplies.

I hope this makes sence....GP

You are also forgetting something else . . .

Nope, as I explained to you over you know where....GP

[BBfanboy]

In fact that 800 'extra' supply is the 807 supply that the unit held before being loaded.

I disagree about this. Before the unit loaded it only had 226 supply. When loaded with 'load only troop' set they is no supply in the TF.
Screenshot 2026-01-19 072426.jpg

When set to load with supply it looked like this
Screenshot 2026-01-19 073146.jpg

As a final twist, it appears to me that if the unit is not at full TOE the number of troops...
Replacements do screw up the calculations and the longer a unit takes to load, when it does not have a full TOE, only makes the situation worse.

Never thought of 'orange' as the colour, looks brown on my screen but it makes more sense than brown. Whatever it isn't bright red.

Not sure where you got that screenshot of two TFs. The first post in this thread clearly shows the Marine Unit has 807 supplies. That is what I was referring to.

My comment on the TOE is that the calculations of numbers of troops for the unit in the bottom left corner of the load screen is usually higher than the actual troop numbers in the upper center area. I am guessing the calculation routine in the program uses the TOE numbers in case more arrive during the loading? For my part, I don't use the bottom left figure when doing my estimate. It's usually moot - the extra bulky stuff usually throws off the ship requirement anyway so validating the load before accepting is the best practice.

[Chris21wen]

I see the confusion. First pic is not mine, that unit is in Suva. The remainin pics are mine form a unit in San Fran.

[BBfanboy]

I see the confusion. First pic is not mine, that unit is in Suva. The remainin pics are mine form a unit in San Fran.

Ah, that clears it up- thanks.