Newbie - A few questions on mines, replenishment, and damage

[mashkis]

I have done some research on these two topics but can't figure them out.

1. I know that I can only lay mines with DMs or Subs but how do I load them mines into the DMs and Subs?

2. If ships don't have enough fuel to cover a distance, do I create a replenishment TF first and load it with fuel and then have it follow my other TF that will need the fuel?

3. When the combat page shows airfield or port damage equal to 1 or any other number, what does that number really mean? Does it mean that my airfield just came down from a 3 to a 2?

Thanks

[barnacle bob]

1) For the Allies at Brisbane or Nou...I forgot how to spell it (it's my bed time). For the other guy at Truk.

2) That'll work. That's what I do.

3) ? (it's past my bed time)

[CMDRMCTOAST]

ORIGINAL: mashkis

I have done some research on these two topics but can't figure them out.

1. I know that I can only lay mines with DMs or Subs but how do I load them mines into the DMs and Subs?

You need to replenish in size 9 ports so barnicle is correct

2. If ships don't have enough fuel to cover a distance, do I create a replenishment TF first and load it with fuel and then have it follow my other TF that will need the fuel?

Also barnicle is correct but you can also have some larger capital ships like CV'S, CA'S, and BB'S and do a replenishment at sea if it is your destroyers and shorter range ships and you can replenish at sea from transports
in the same hex that are not on replenishment but these will only replenish some fuel.


3. When the combat page shows airfield or port damage equal to 1 or any other number, what does that number really mean? Does it mean that my airfield just came down from a 3 to a 2?

it means damage from 1% - 100% and at 50% you cannot fly air missions.
so the more Engineers and supply at the base the qiucker you can repair the facilities.
Port damage is more intense as you lose supply and fuel quicker.
It also takes a lot of supply to repair the base facilities so bombing ports and such will
1: destroy facilities, supply and fuel.
2:cause all other building of forts, airfield and port levels to stop until the damage is 100% again.
3.cost more supply to repair, hence bringing the base to its knees.


Thanks

[mashkis]

Sorry but I still don't get it.

I can't seem to create a minelayering TF. From Noumea main base page it lists that I have 6 DMs. So, I click on create a new TF. From the TF creation window, I select mine warfare option. If I let the computer select the TF for me, I get a list of DMS and MSW ships. But if I try to create my own TF from the list of ships DM ships don't appear on the list. What am I doing wrong here?

Are DD the same as DMs? Is there a bug that does not allow me to select DMs? Also, when you create them, how do you load the mines into the ship?

The port size in Noumea is 9 (9).

Thanks,

[Zebedee]

Are you sure that you are not confusing DMS (destroyer minesweepers) with DM (destroyer minelayers) ? DD (destroyers) have no minelaying capability although they have a (very) limited minesweeping capability, as in once in a while they'll destroy a mine rather than hitting it.

Destroyer minesweepers (DMS) are useful in a surface warfare TF or a bombardment TF as they have high speed and can keep up with your faster ships going through straits which are likely to be mined.

[Fred98]

As an experiment, try to make a minesweeper task force using “DMs”

I think a DM = Destroyer / Minesweeper - not a minelayer

[barnacle bob]

Sounds like you are doing it right.

DMS and MWS are sweepers.

DM and ML are layers.

The only thing I can think of is what Zebedee asked. Could you be confusing DM and DMS?

[mashkis]

I just realized in my previous post I was using DMs. The lower case “s” in DMs was meant for plural NOT as DMS. I can create DMS or MSW TF with no issues. But this is mine sweeper TF and not a minelayer.

My question is what are the steps in creating a mine laying TF and how do you load the mines on the ships?

[Zebedee]

Hmm. I don't understand then. Because you seem to be doing it correctly.

Create minewarfare TF, choose DM.

Check DM has mines onboard by clicking on ship, if not fuel from port (when at Noumea) and this should reload the mines. Check again just to make sure. If the game is being stupid, disband TF and create from scratch.

Set TF to 'retirement allowed', click on hex you want to lay mines in. And away you go. To create a minesweeper TF, change 'retirement allowed' to 'patrol/do not reture'.

*scratches head* can you lay mines with the IJN's ML? Or are you having the same problems there too?

[Fred98]

Usually mines can only be loaded at a size 9 port. You don’t order the mines to be loaded – they are loaded automatically.

Create a mine warfare TF and set to “retirement allowed”.

This can be escorted by other ships that cannot lay mines – as a result there are quite a few ships available for a mine laying TF – but not all of them can lay mines.

Refer to p24 of the manual and the following pages for details.

[mashkis]

thanks. My problem is the base shows that it has DM, but when I go to create a mine layering TF the DM does not show-up on the list of ships to select from.

I am using the 2.3 version

[Zebedee]

I've had occasions when ships did not show up when already in TFs (almost always AKs or APs though) but saving and reloading seems to clear it up.

Does this happen in every game/scenario you start? And with both sides?

[mashkis]

I have noticed this in a few scenarios and even with the games that I have saved and loaded.

[ltfightr]

Never seen this problem try to sort the ships by type and then scrolling along down the screen using the bar on the right maybe you can find them that way because DM is what you need to lay mines.

They will only rearm at Noumea or Brisbane.

For subs You need a sub at one of the 2 ports above and create a sub Mine warfare tf it is the Icon with a sub and a dot then when you add the subs to that tf it will load mines then give it a destination you want to mine and off they go.

[mashkis]

I have looked and sorted the list of ships. The ships show-up in the main spreadsheet of ships. But when I go to the base that has the DM ships, they don't appear in the TF selection list.

I will give the subs a try tonight.

maybe, I need to reinstall everything for the 3rd time.

[Fred98]

No need to re-install.

Instead I suspect you are missing something.

Try a different scenario and see if you can do the same and try for both sides.

[DEB]

I think the problem in tracing DM's at Noumea is due to the "loose" catogory heading of "DM" re the ships at anchor list ( on the Base info. ). In my current game I have 2 "DM" shown, but clicking on "ships at anchor" to get the full list / view shows 1 DMS & 1 MSW as present ( i.e. no DM's ). This is because the "loose" heading of DM covers DM,DMS,ML & MSW. Could this be confusing you as to what is available ??

[ltfightr]

I think you are right IIRC when on the base info screen it counts msw and Dms as mine ships on that screen. Check your reinforcement page I do not think you get any ML or Dm until about 60 days into the long campaign.

[mashkis]

DEB I think you got it and this general category of DM was causing me all of this confusion.

Thanks