Best use of the 100+ AKs in the IO?

[Knavey]

For you allied players out there, how do you utilize all of them effectively? 100 AKs alone in the IO. Is there really that much to transport over there?

[rogueusmc]

I organize my transport TFs in groups of five with one escort assigned. The five transoprts stay together. When the TF enters the port, a loaded TF takes it's escort. You don't have enough escorts for all the transport TFs.

I let the IO transport TFs with 4500 cap. AKs stay in IO running things around there.

The TFs with 7000 cap. AKs make one run each in the IO, then load supplies at Karachi and head to OZ. Those unload in OZ, then make their way to the west coast. They load in the west coast and back to OZ. Unload in OZ, then back to the IO. This rotation continues until I figure out exactly how much shipping I need where.

I leave the TKs in the IO until I find the need for them elsewhere.

[eMonticello]

Most of the transports in the Indian Ocean actually sailed West toward Africa, Middle East, England, and the Eastern Coast of the US. This is where I believe the historical aspects of the game are off significantly. British and US transports (AK and TK) should also be withdrawn based on historical demands. I'm developing house rules to simulate this (park the ships in an out-of-the-way port and model the withdrawal rate based on either military or War Shipping Administration records). I'm collecting information on all the ships so that I can determine their normal trade routes.

ORIGINAL: Knavey

For you allied players out there, how do you utilize all of them effectively? 100 AKs alone in the IO. Is there really that much to transport over there?

[Ron Saueracker]

I personally don't think the RN only withdrawl requirement is good enough. I think there should be a monthy requirement to withdraw merchant shipping as well (and other naval units for navies other than RN...ie. USN Panama and Atlantic deployment necessities). Leaving ships, and other units out of the OOB because there is no withdrawl requirement is approaching this backwards. Include all units and include unit type withdrawl requirements, random or based on historical needs. This would be more like the historical situation and put more pressure on the Allied player and simulate the shipping problem better.

[jwilkerson]

In my experience - nobody has a shipping shortage in this game - at least not in 1941-42 ... so much for history .. we've even had debates about it and lost the debates to the "moderators" who claim everything is copacetic .. so we can't look to the official version of the game to correct the shipping "overages".