Auto-convoy problem

[FastPhil]

Gentlemen:

Is Auto-convoy on in the scenarios-especially during the 'First Year' scenario. I have not seen an auto-convoy in karachi or SF. Playing against a human.

[niceguy2005]

You have to turn on auto-convoy and then you must put ships into the auto convoy system as well as the bases you want supplied. Go to the auto-convoy sceen to figure it out.

Note, use auto-convoy at your own risk. They will as likely sail right by an enemy base as they will your own.

[Nikademus]

To elaborate on what Stuey said as he poured his cocktail, you have to ensure that the bases you want servivced by the autoconvoy routine have the "autoconvoy on/off" toggle turned on so that the AI routine knows to send supplies there. (you access this from the specific base's display screen. so it's a two step process:

1) go to autoconvoy screen (showing all the eligable ships - US/Allied are ships in Karachi and Sanfrancisco...Japan - Osaka and select ships or all to be used by the routine.

2) go to indiv bases and turn on "auto convoy" so that they can be serviced. Its important to note that this INCLUDES bases you want the routine to bring back resource/oil from. (though in this case, the routine will never bring enough back...you'll have to form manual convoys for resource/oil back to the Home Islands)

[dtravel]

Both ships and bases can be added or removed from the Auto-Convoy system by two methods.  The first is the Auto-Convoy screen.  Clicking on the yellow "Yes" or "No" in the far left column will switch them.  You can also select them to be in or out of it via the ship or bases details window.  Its in the lower left corner for bases and the bottom right for ships.

[FastPhil]

Thanks gents:[:)]

Unfortunately I have done all that and still not a single auto convoy eventhough PH is down to 19K. I have started generating my own convoys. I have noticed the Auto convoy gets a little 'daring' Like after the Japanese have taken Malaya trying to pass a convoy by singapore [:@]. Got to keep a good I on them.

[wwengr]

What happens to ships not in Karachi or SF if you switch them to Auto-Convoy?  Do the head to the closest of those two or do they work from their current port?

[6971grunt]

ORIGINAL: FastPhil

Thanks gents:[:)]

Unfortunately I have done all that and still not a single auto convoy eventhough PH is down to 19K. I have started generating my own convoys. I have noticed the Auto convoy gets a little 'daring' Like after the Japanese have taken Malaya trying to pass a convoy by singapore [:@]. Got to keep a good I on them.

Although it is alot easier and less micro-management, I won't use auto-convoy (even as the Jap). You'll find your auto-convoys going to places that you don't want and they are often times partially loaded - a huge waste of time - IHMO

[Yamato hugger]

Dont put any of your forces under computer control. This really get stupid when it controls even 1 base.

[Mynok]

Do not recommend auto-convoy. I do recommend using the Continuous Supply functionality though. Create a supply task force of AKs and escorts, set their destination base, load supplies, then click on the Retirement Allowed button (I think...going from memory) until it changes to CS: <Destination port>. This TF will then load supplies, move to the destination, unload supplies, return to the original base and repeat ad infinitum.

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Do not recommend auto-convoy. I do recommend using the Continuous Supply functionality though. Create a supply task force of AKs and escorts, set their destination base, load supplies, then click on the Retirement Allowed button (I think...going from memory) until it changes to CS: <Destination port>. This TF will then load supplies, move to the destination, unload supplies, return to the original base and repeat ad infinitum.

I agree with Mynok. Auto-convoy is not an appropriate tool for PH. The system will often wait until supply is critically low to generate the convoy. It is really only appropriate for backwater bases, like keeping Juneau supplied. If supplies are a week late getting there who really cares.

[FAdmiral]

I use the auto-supply system and it works great in my opinion. Sure, some of the time
the moves are not very smart but then I just change them over to my control and
redirect. It save me from having to think about every little detail in organizing the
supply runs. The computer starts it and if I don't like the outcome, I change it.
Playing the Allies vs. the Japanese AI, the only place I turn over to the computer
is China. They have NO naval assets and so I don't get any ships doing stupid things.

JIM

[niceguy2005]

putting any area under computer control is known to cause a bug. That is, putting any area under computer control will cause the AI to issue orders to units, apparently at random, all over the map. It is stongly advised against.

[hawker]

ORIGINAL: FastPhil

Gentlemen:

Is Auto-convoy on in the scenarios-especially during the 'First Year' scenario. I have not seen an auto-convoy in karachi or SF. Playing against a human.

Here is nice tip:Dont use auto-convoy,its rather idiotic. Dont let AI to do anything for you

[PetrOs]

Well, I have the following rule for me about autoconvoy:

If the auto convoy from Frisco can get close to any enemy base on the way, dont use it. As you can not determine which base to supply from Karachi, which from USA, i dont use Karachi as an auto convoy hub. So if im playing Allied side - I use autoconvoy to supply backyard islands, and then use multistage CS system for real supply runs. In indian ocean - only CSs. In some cases also manual runs, especially to very forward bases.

Multistage system usually -
one very large convoy running US coast to Pearl. Escorts - very small - no ship lost against AI in last 2 years
One very large convoy is running Pearl-Fiji (same size as first, but longer range..) - Escorts - small, one ship torpedoed by sub in 2 years, sub sunk
One large convoy from Fiji to Noumea - escorts medium to heavy, mainly SCs, PCs and PGs
One large - from Fiji to Brisbane, same escorts

I generally try to use small craft as convoy escorts, as I prefer DDs, DEs and larger MSWs for the troop convoys and landings.

Each stage transporting slightly less then the previous per unit of time.
A few smaller CSs are running from those 4 hubs towards forward bases.

Same system at india - a few CSs running from Karachi and Bombay to Ceylon and Indian coast. One large convoy, escorted by CV Hermes (with fighters only for CAP, original seafires and extra added 1/3rd wild/hellcats) and now joined by a CVE Long Island (also cap only, remaining 2/3rds of hellcats) and strong escort (1 CA, 3 CL, 5 british CLAAs, 6 destroyers, 8 PGs, 12 MSWs, 50 large AKs, 15 TK) is running supplies to australian west coast. Those supplies are then distributed by small CS and manual groups to the DEI and phillippines. That large convoy was attacked a number of times even by surface units, but beaten them off, by costs of one CL sunk, 1 CA, 1 CL, 3 DD badly damaged but repaired, and sinking 1 BC (Kongo), 3 small CLs (Tenryu, Tatsuta, Sendai), and 4 small destoyers in return. I had luck with a very good first torpedo salvo and surprise/crossing the T advantage there....

[Floyd]

ORIGINAL: hawker
Here is nice tip:Dont use auto-convoy,its rather idiotic. Dont let AI to do anything for you

And how manages the AI opponent it's supply system? Does it do it
by the same routines the autoconvoy system uses?

[temagic]

Well for my japanese game, I use CSs between the various bases in the DEI to Singapore, bringing all oil and resources to that port, then two major convoys (CSs) with heavy escorts (even CVEs) from Singapore to the home islands. Smaller convoys from HI to Formosa and from Formosa to Hainan and China. Convoys to the mandated islands and south east theater are sent from Truk (from where I ship a lot of supplies and fuel) the allied opponent places much of his submarines between tokyo and the marshals and wake, but fail to catch my shipping. It's been like this for nearly a year. One question though: Once I have a continuous road/railway line from Singapore to Fusan(Korea) which I'm hoping I'll have soon (early operation Ichi-Go), wil the resources and oil from Sing be transported to Fusan so I just have to ship it over the Tsushima straits?

[bradfordkay]

And how manages the AI opponent it's supply system? Does it do it
by the same routines the autoconvoy system uses?

It wouldn't surprise me. It always seems to me like the AI bogs down after awhile, so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see it making the same mistakes as autoconvoy.

[steverodgers801]

you can also shut off the base for auto convoy.
I like to let auto convoy do the safe places and manually do the unsafe so I can control.
I definatly dont use karachi since the ships always seem to want to go by singapore

[FAdmiral]

All auto-convoy ships from SF want to fuel at Pearl which is OK.
BUT all the auto-convoy ships out of Karachi also want to go to
Pearl for the first refuel. Either the Auto-Convoy AI:
1. Is Really Stupid
2. Doesn't know the game rules
3 Has a bug in its code (my pick)
4. All of the Above


JIM

[KPAX]

ORIGINAL: temagic

Well for my japanese game, I use CSs between the various bases in the DEI to Singapore, bringing all oil and resources to that port, then two major convoys (CSs) with heavy escorts (even CVEs) from Singapore to the home islands. Smaller convoys from HI to Formosa and from Formosa to Hainan and China. Convoys to the mandated islands and south east theater are sent from Truk (from where I ship a lot of supplies and fuel) the allied opponent places much of his submarines between tokyo and the marshals and wake, but fail to catch my shipping. It's been like this for nearly a year. One question though: Once I have a continuous road/railway line from Singapore to Fusan(Korea) which I'm hoping I'll have soon (early operation Ichi-Go), wil the resources and oil from Sing be transported to Fusan so I just have to ship it over the Tsushima straits?

How do you get resources and oil for a CS ? When you it the CS it goes to supplies and fuel .....

[&o]