Japanese Use of Barges

[Mattremote]

Still futzing about against the AI, learning the game, I wonder what other Japan players do with their Barges.

Japan starts with about 40 of them. I am using mine in three groups, ferrying supplies around the Philippines, from Rabaul to bases in nearby New Guinea and the Solomans and other nearby islands, and between Hokkaido and Sakhalin. I was going to use them to gather oil in the SRA but they don't carry oil. Too bad.

Has any Japanese player used them for amphib landings? How about other uses? Do any Japanese players create more of them when they can, or is it a waste of supply?

[patrickl]

Hi,

You can load troops. Try it. There are some in Japan port at beginning of Sc 15 game. They have very good amphibious quality check manual 6.1.19.[;)]

[Bradley7735]

If I were you, I'd use them all in area's where air attack will sink transports and cargo ships.

You have tons of AK's, so use them in the home Islands and the Philipines (when secure).

Use the barges anywhere you need to transport supplies or troops and the allies have air supremacy. Personally, I wouldn't use them to invade an allied base, but they are great for bringing in reinforcements once you have taken a base, or for evacuations when you can't risk transports.

[AmiralLaurent]

I use them to invade undefended islands in area where I have no CV support. In one of my PBEM I just invaded Baker island with 3 barges carrying 200 men from Tarawa. Then air transport carry more troops and AC arrive. Once the AF is running, real transports will come with more supplies and troops.

Later in the war, they are useful to supply forward bases in range of Allied LBA.

[Yamato hugger]

ORIGINAL: Mattremote

Has any Japanese player used them for amphib landings? How about other uses? Do any Japanese players create more of them when they can, or is it a waste of supply?

They too fragile really for anphib ops, IMHO. Use them to move troops/supplies in contested air areas. Allied A/C have to be set to 100' altitude to attack them, and if they attacking at 100' then you get bounce advantage vs them.

I usually send a few out here and there to check out enemy ports that I plan to hit soon to see if they are mined. Allies get precious few minelayers, so very few ports are mined after 1/1/42, so I waste a few of these empty cheapies rather than get a TF tangled up in a minefield.

[Mynok]

Barges are critical in the Solomon's area until PM and/or Lunga are reduced. Then once those are retaken, they become critical again. Moving supplies and troops around the Solomon's other ways are asking to get SBD'd. Even fast transport often won't work as effectively as the barges.

[Yamato hugger]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Barges are critical in the Solomon's area until PM and/or Lunga are reduced. Then once those are retaken, they become critical again. Moving supplies and troops around the Solomon's other ways are asking to get SBD'd. Even fast transport often won't work as effectively as the barges.

Barges arent terribly effient for supplies. I believe its 4/1 supplies vs troops if im not terribly mistaken. I use air transports depending on situation of course.

[Bradley7735]

ORIGINAL: Yamato hugger

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Barges are critical in the Solomon's area until PM and/or Lunga are reduced. Then once those are retaken, they become critical again. Moving supplies and troops around the Solomon's other ways are asking to get SBD'd. Even fast transport often won't work as effectively as the barges.

Barges arent terribly effient for supplies. I believe its 4/1 supplies vs troops if im not terribly mistaken. I use air transports depending on situation of course.

Allied LCM's are 1-1. with a 150 load capacity, they are the best allied barges. It only takes like 1 per base on continual supply to keep things alive.

[Yamato hugger]

ORIGINAL: Bradley7735

ORIGINAL: Yamato hugger

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Barges are critical in the Solomon's area until PM and/or Lunga are reduced. Then once those are retaken, they become critical again. Moving supplies and troops around the Solomon's other ways are asking to get SBD'd. Even fast transport often won't work as effectively as the barges.

Barges arent terribly effient for supplies. I believe its 4/1 supplies vs troops if im not terribly mistaken. I use air transports depending on situation of course.

Allied LCM's are 1-1. with a 150 load capacity, they are the best allied barges. It only takes like 1 per base on continual supply to keep things alive.

His question was Jap barges.

ORIGINAL: Mattremote

Still futzing about against the AI, learning the game, I wonder what other Japan players do with their Barges.

[Mynok]

Going by memory but I believe that Jap barges use AP load costs, which would support your statement, as AP's are not as efficient for supplies. Nonetheless, they are still critical for supplying bases under enemy air superiority.

[Mattremote]

Thanks for the info. I guess I will move my Home Islands and Philippine islands barges to contested areas.

Port Moresby looks like it will be a chore to keep in supply and fuel.

Does anyone playing Japanese actually build more of the AG types? Is it worth the supply?

[tsimmonds]

Does anyone playing Japanese actually build more of the AG types?

Always. Very useful, set up a few small TFs set on continuous supply missions and forget about them. Perfect for supplying small bases within a few hexes of a larger base (Solomons, DEI, Marshalls, Marianas, Philippines, etc).

[patrickl]

Hi

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

Does anyone playing Japanese actually build more of the AG types?

Always. Very useful, set up a few small TFs set on continuous supply missions and forget about them. Perfect for supplying small bases within a few hexes of a larger base (Solomons, DEI, Marshalls, Marianas, Philippines, etc).

How does one go about building more AGs? [;)]

[tsimmonds]

You can only do it if they are listed on the ship availability screen. Lower left corner I think, tells you how many barges are available to build. If you have some available, you can build them anywhere you have supplies. On any base information screen there is a button that says build barges, and there is also one on any transport TF that has supplies embarked. Press the button, and a new TF will be created with the barges in it. Don't do it out in the middle of nowhere though. Build them where you are going to use them. They are slow and have a range of 8 hexes.

[patrickl]

Hi irrelevant,

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

You can only do it if they are listed on the ship availability screen. Lower left corner I think, tells you how many barges are available to build. If you have some available, you can build them anywhere you have supplies. On any base information screen there is a button that says build barges, and there is also one on any transport TF that has supplies embarked. Press the button, and a new TF will be created with the barges in it. Don't do it out in the middle of nowhere though. Build them where you are going to use them. They are slow and have a range of 8 hexes.

Thanks chum[;)]