Matrix Games Forums

How to get defensive Minefields in a Base Hex ?

Defective ? I think you mean defensive ... but the process is sometimes defective [;)]

1. Have some ML's in a Mine Warfare TF.
2. Set them to Retire to another base, not the destination.
3. Make sure they have mines on board.
4. Set Destination.
5. Set Lay mines.

When they get to the destination they lay and then return to Home . I know there is a way to do this in the same hex, but I find it haphazard.

Ok,  what about the "defensive mines 200" that shows up when clicking on the base,  can it be effected in any way?

Well it can be affected in 2 ways: laying additional mines [;)](need a port level 8 IIRC) to reload mines and having the enemy sweeping mines (will reduce it). Be aware that if you do nothing the number of mines will gradually decrease over time on its own (to simulate mines breaking their lines...)
 
Hope this answers your question

ORIGINAL: Droop

Well it can be affected in 2 ways: laying additional mines [;)](need a port level 8 IIRC) to reload mines and having the enemy sweeping mines (will reduce it). Be aware that if you do nothing the number of mines will gradually decrease over time on its own (to simulate mines breaking their lines...)

Hope this answers your question

You need portlevel 9 to load mines. You can lay mines in any hex though, and if you do it in a friendly port hex it becomes a defensive minefield

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Defective ? I think you mean defensive ... but the process is sometimes defective [;)]

1. Have some ML's in a Mine Warfare TF.
2. Set them to Retire to another base, not the destination.
3. Make sure they have mines on board.
4. Set Destination.
5. Set Lay mines.

When they get to the destination they lay and then return to Home . I know there is a way to do this in the same hex, but I find it haphazard.

You do NOT need to have a different port (i.e. - home port and the port you are laying mines at can be the same) under 1.806 (earlier versions did though).

You can have an MLE in a port under size 9 supply mines... you need "sufficient supplies" there, though.

Also, you need "sufficient supplies" even in a size 9 port... hard to gauge what this is, but it seems to be at least 2K supply... you can have supply in a lightly held size 9 port be "in the white" but when it total supplies are less than (at least) 2K, your MLs (or subs) will not reload mines.

You do NOT need to have a different port (i.e. - home port and the port you are laying mines at can be the same) under 1.806 (earlier versions did though).

As I said

I know there is a way to do this in the same hex, but I find it haphazard.

... I'm patched and still find the same base - same destination mine laying to not be an exact science... I was not trying to mislead anyone, but was perhaps less than expressive.

Thanks rtrapasso for making me clean up my mess again [;)]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

You do NOT need to have a different port (i.e. - home port and the port you are laying mines at can be the same) under 1.806 (earlier versions did though).

As I said

I know there is a way to do this in the same hex, but I find it haphazard.

... I'm patched and still find the same base - same destination mine laying to not be an exact science... I was not trying to mislead anyone, but was perhaps less than expressive.

Thanks rtrapasso for making me clean up my mess again [;)]

Interesting... since the 1.806 patch, i've never had any problems EXCEPT for the business about "insufficient supply" - i spent many turns at the beginning of my current PBEM trying to figure out WHY mines could not be loaded at Trincomalee, and finally figured out it was the supply issue. Aside from this, i've never had any problems.

However, i always take the precaution of "undocking" any ships about to lay mines at a home port, so perhaps that makes a difference if you don't do it religiously... i had problems in earlier versions, so routinely (for all ships about sail) do it without thinking about it.

I'm playing with 1.806 patch level, and I've not yet had a problem laying mines in the home port of a TF.  I load it, don't seem to need to undock it, and just select "Lay mines". 

I havent seen docking or undocking as an issue. 2 things to check are that you are set to unload the mines. This is what I do:

1) Make sure you set the TF to unload the mines. I do this before setting the target.

2) Set your target. After you click it, you will see a brief message on the screen that says in effect "mines will be laid at Kwajalein. After you see this message you are golden. I (personally) ALWAYS do it in this order and have never had a problem.

Ahh, tricks of the trade night ... love it . I think I must set the destination first ... Thanks YH

To add to that. How many mines are enough for a defensive field?

My "basic" field as the Japs is 5000. This will take an allied player about 2 weeks to clear. An outlaying area (like Midway) I will make stronger to give me more time to react to it.

The purpose of a minefield isnt to cause casualties. Its purpose is to slow down the allied player. Players that choose to ignore this and charge on in get what they deserve. These fields can be easily cleared, it just takes time. If you dont want to take the time to do it right, as I said, you get what you deserve.

And as a Allied player who seems to have a history of PBEM opponents with mine fetishes:
 
1.  You -should- pay minefields their due respect (esp if they're combined with a CD gun).
2.  Protect your MSWs.  They're a *close* second in importance behind your CVs (as an Allied player).
3.  You don't have to sweep "all" the mines.  Yes, it's nice to clear them all out, but you don't always have that luxury - it can take forever.  When your MSW TFs have a harder time detecting the fields, but the dot still shows up, you know the minefield is getting to size you can invade.  If you don't sweep all the mines, you're going to hit some.  Just accept that fact, and PLAN ACCORDINGLY, and your blood-pressure won't spike on invasion day.
4.  Be as ready as you can to triage the casualties from MSWs and CDs.  Know where the closest port you can disband in is, and have 4x ARs + AD + Fleet HQ ready to handle the casualties.
 
-F-

Historically, the Japanese had minefields with 15000 to 25000 mines in the straights around the Home Islands and Tokyo Bay. 

One other point about your minefields is the need to maintain them.  Minefields at a friendly port will erode 1% per day so, for example, Yamato Hugger's basic minefield of 5000 mines will erode to 4660 mines after a week (5000 x 99%^7).  This plays into your calculations about the aerial balance at your position.  If the trend will be for the enemy to acquire an increasing edge in air power, you might want to really build up your minefield before you lose local air superiority and then send your minelayers further back to work on the next barrier of defenses.   For example, a minefield that starts at 30,000 mines will attrit down to about 5000 mines after six months. 

Also, if you start to go hog wild with mega minefields of tens of thousands of mines, you will begin to pick up "friendly fire" casualties where you own ships will run over and detonate one of your own mines.  It's a rare event, but I've seen it happen. 

Also, there is a whole nuisance campaign of submarine minelaying. Subs can load up a few mines and then lay them secretly at an enemy port. If you mine an enemy port, your lines will attrit at 10% per day, but you might get lucky and hit an AK or warship. This is why the OOB has all those little MSW's all over the rear of the theater so you can do periodic minesweeping runs against the devil dog opponent who doesn't mind inflicting a death of a thousand cuts on your side. If your port is mined by an opponent's subs, you won't know about it until either a ship blows up or a minesweeping capable ship (destroyer, DE, minesweeper) detects the minefield.

Minefields at a friendly port will erode 1% per day

Actually, this is probably a case where the manual is wrong again.

It's actually 1% per TURN. So a game playing 2-day turns, will erode 1% every two days at friendly port.

Yes, I just tested this. Whatever. Just thought I'd clarify.

-F-

Set destination to the port with a left click. Set destination again to the port with a right click. You will see the hex location rather than the port name now. Then change to Lay Mines. Done.

Actually, this is probably a case where the manual is wrong again.

It's actually 1% per TURN. So a game playing 2-day turns, will erode 1% every two days at friendly port.

Yes, I just tested this. Whatever. Just thought I'd clarify.

-F-

 
Good catch.  I usually play 1 day turns unless I hit a slow patch.  The 2 day turns will stretch the life on minefields.

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Set destination to the port with a left click. Set destination again to the port with a right click. You will see the hex location rather than the port name now. Then change to Lay Mines. Done.

Making re-born this thread.
What does that mean if a Mine Warfare TF, with DM or ML don't have the "Lay Mine" in yellow, but in grey ? Is it a bug of some kind?
Checking the ships themselves, everyone has a load of mine;the port is Pearl (in Stock), so size enough. More than 20000 supply. I set a destination to a nearby hawain island....the DM come back to pearl with their load still aboard.....

Eric, which patch version are you playing?