Matrix Games Forums

Useless in AE. Three hex range and each can carry only 11 supply points. Dont waste your time creating them.

thanks for the warning

I can not agree here. They are more usefull in troop transport than supply transport.
I find them quite usefull.

Try adding Escorts and/or PBs to your Landing craft and Barge TFs. You will be pleasantly surprised.

ORIGINAL: jetjockey

Try adding Escorts and/or PBs to your Landing craft and Barge TFs. You will be pleasantly surprised.

yeah, especially as they then get attacked by aircraft on "nav strike" [:D] thus losing the "barge TF" effects

I agree with Miller, they aren't worth the supplies it takes to create them.

I've rarely used barges to haul supplies, and never near enemy air, but I frequently use them to spear-head an invasion and find them very useful. My troops off-load rapidly and suffer fewer losses and disruption from enemy action, including air attacks. Landing craft are very range-limited (even with PBs escorting) and they can not carry vehicles or guns, but I use them where possible.

As a Jap. player I cannot think of where I would use them. Maybe in the Rabaul/NG area for low level resupply in the presence of enemy air ?

They were more useful in WITP, where they not only had longer range, but you could paddle around with them after the fuel ran out. Not anymore though. They still have a use, but only in certain very specific circumstances.

Too bad they can't carry some extra gas in the cargo hold.

I'm going to use them (or try to) between Singapore and that resource-providing island base just 1 hex off the Southern tip of the island. Pretty pathetic range, though...

How about Singapore-Palembang, the rest of Sumatra, or any of the small islands in the area (Muntok for example). Supply in Singapore is a problem, but with a little planning a well timed supply convoy solves this. Adding PBs and escorts to your TF will increase your range to 13-14 hexes one-way. You can refuel from your follow-up TFs for the return trip.

I might consider using them, if I could get them to do it as a CS mission.

They're more trouble than they're worth, since you have to do them manually.

Just think of all those Dog Faces stuck on those barges, too long and they would be useless for days.

I find them useful in the Solomons and the Philippines toting supply and troops around to the small bases.

same with allied barges, the short legs make them difficult to use.. I try to araign for a friendly ak to be nearthem to resupply at sea.. works but makes planning a b*tch and a half... can I say that?[:-]
I use barges to move troops, they load and unload well in small ports and invasion sites...

ORIGINAL: freeboy

same with allied barges, the short legs make them difficult to use.. I try to araign for a friendly ak to be nearthem to resupply at sea.. works but makes planning a b*tch and a half... can I say that?[:-]
I use barges to move troops, they load and unload well in small ports and invasion sites...

Historically the barges and landing craft were used for short range movements.

By the Japanese mainly to move troops a short distance down the coast or between islands. They did establish a series of bases to allow movement of supplies and reinforcements in the Solomons and New Guinea.

By the allies to make short hop invasions, mainly in New Guinea, once or twice in the Solomons, and along the coast of Burma.

With this in mind, we implemented short ranges and severe penalties for keeping troops standing in the landing craft for days on end. You are forced to use barges and landing craft in an historical manner.

Proposals for some additional work on barges/landing craft were on the table for development but did not make the cut. Just can't do everything, and some of the "just for barges" stuff would really complicate the normal functions and create lots of places for errors.

Can they be made capable of doing the Barge Transport as a CS mission?

It would really make them more useful.
Form and forget.[:D]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

They were more useful in WITP, where they not only had longer range, but you could paddle around with them after the fuel ran out. Not anymore though. They still have a use, but only in certain very specific circumstances.

Too bad they can't carry some extra gas in the cargo hold.

Are you saying Barges don't get the minimum 1-hex-per-turn movement speed that out-of-fuel TFs are given?

ORIGINAL: fflaguna

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

They were more useful in WITP, where they not only had longer range, but you could paddle around with them after the fuel ran out. Not anymore though. They still have a use, but only in certain very specific circumstances.

Too bad they can't carry some extra gas in the cargo hold.

Are you saying Barges don't get the minimum 1-hex-per-turn movement speed that out-of-fuel TFs are given?

They do, but any ship out of fuel rapidly takes on damage, and eventually founders. So, bad idea to run without fuel.

In WITP, they would still move at 1-hex, and everything else would be fine

I use barges for initial invasions in places where I don't have enough DDs to provide suitable AAA support to a normal invasion TF. Remember barges unload fast (but don't carry much) but are immune to normal air attack. I drop off a few units to secure the base and move a base force in and then fighters, then use normal transports to move the bulk of the troops / supplies.

Currently using them to great effect from Oosthaven to Merak.

Xargun