Matrix Games Forums

Lowpe wrote: Wed Jul 19, 2023 12:09 pm AFBs: How large a convoy of liberty ships do you guys run....say from West Coast to Pearl?

I am tending to run larger and larger convoys, especially to the front lines, and simply disband the cargo ship in port and activate it when I need the supply....perhaps that is a function of my exposed Sorong to Soc Trang line?

JanSako: The eastern side since you cannot run CS from off-map locations...

BBfanboy wrote: Thu Jul 20, 2023 1:28 pm

JanSako: The eastern side since you cannot run CS from off-map locations...

I don't think this is correct. I just set a CS convoy from Aden to Karachi and another from Aden to Abadan. But I did not run them so whether they would complete the CS orders is not tested yet. IIRC I did have a CS convoy running from Cape Town to Colombo and it worked just fine.

JanSako wrote: Thu Jul 20, 2023 2:20 pm Probably a user error then.
I seem to remember that if a ship loaded with RES arrives from say Cape Town to UK, it will not start unloading, says 'loading complete' on the status. If I leave it be and it is set to 'retirement allowed', next turn it just sails back to CT. (yes, Unload allowed is set ) I have seen the same with Supply ships on the E end of Panama Canal. The ships always unload in their 'home port' though so maybe that is the key.
That said, if it works for one person, then in my case it must be a user error.

Encircled wrote: Thu Jul 20, 2023 4:35 pm I have found that convoys that have waypoints on the map tend to turn around at the map edge and head back to whichever off map port they have come from - its not that annoying when its Abadan but its a right pain the backside when its Cape Town

Lowpe wrote: Wed Jul 19, 2023 12:04 pm

traskott wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 3:00 pm So many supply… so few xaks. Are u keeping tabs with a couple of excels?

I set them to not unload, destination Pearl, home port Tabby. From Tabby they get set to coastal -- destination Shortlands, home port Sorong. From Sorong, they get destination Morotai, Home Port Soc Trang. Then to Singora area for refueling. Hopefully the return trip for supplies might be only to Shortlands or better Sorong. Some might go up the Straits of Malacca...

CaptBeefheart wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2023 2:12 am

Lowpe wrote: Wed Jul 19, 2023 12:04 pm

traskott wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 3:00 pm So many supply… so few xaks. Are u keeping tabs with a couple of excels?

I set them to not unload, destination Pearl, home port Tabby. From Tabby they get set to coastal -- destination Shortlands, home port Sorong. From Sorong, they get destination Morotai, Home Port Soc Trang. Then to Singora area for refueling. Hopefully the return trip for supplies might be only to Shortlands or better Sorong. Some might go up the Straits of Malacca...

Wow, that's going to do you in. I'm not sure what the no-go zones are on your map, but definitely CS convoys are the way to go to save on clicks. Ideally, you can send SF or LA convoys to close to the front line with two fuel stops as your waypoints. For me, say if I've cleared CenPac, I'll have Pearl and Guam as waypoint fuel stops with destination Legaspi or maybe Okinawa. If it's not possible to stay out of harm's way going that far, then an intermediate dump is required with a lot of naval support (or shore parties).

Have your big convoys (for me, up to 150,000 tons of supplies--bigger as time goes by) go to the intermediate dumps and have smaller convoys go from there. The smaller convoys can also refuel at bases like Tarakan or Brunei. One thing about CS convoys is if you set them to refuel at waypoints, they'll refuel on the way back as well. That's the price you have to pay to save clicks (i.e. returning to LA with a lot of fuel). Send CS convoys of 4 TKs, an xAK of the same speed or better, and a DE or PF to keep your refueling waypoints in fuel. Why the xAK? The xAK will refuel your escort on the way. The TKs ironically won't and your escort may go dry, stall the convoy and build SYS damage. The idea is to automate logistics as much as possible to save time and clicks. I personally don't want to be checking all of my convoys every turn or every other turn. I'll check them after 3 or 4 complete runs.

Cheers,
CB

RangerJoe wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2023 2:35 am That xAK can carry supplies to the way point but if it is an AG, then that could not just carry supplies but could also rearm and help repair any escorts. Those support ships can also be loaded without docking as well.

Another thing for your way points, take a quick check for damaged ships and detach them there for some repairs. Unload them and send them to a major base for repairs.

Lowpe: ...rejiggering...