Matrix Games Forums

Whats the best way to use the colliers in UV?

Doomed

What ships run on coal?;)

But I have 15 of the buggers in scen 19. Can they be used to help repair ships in port? As their not much use as a supply or replenishment ship

Doomed

I use them to run supplies from Rabual to Gasmata and then another routine from Gasmata to Lae when PM LBA really starts to clamp down on the area. Keeps the troops at Lae supplied and it saves a lot transports.

FYI, they can also carry troops just like an AP. The only difference really is that AK's tend to be smaller and slower. That's it. Otherwise, they are the same.

The little AGs are also difficult to interdict using Aircraft alone. They are rarely attacked, and even when they are only one is usually hit. This makes them good for transporting troops and supplies through contested waters. Unless the enemy can get surface TFs to intercept them, they are very hard to stop.

Sorry, I mixed up AK's and AG's. The AG's are incredibly useful for the IJN player as already noted. If the Allied player has an active airbase at PM, it's basically the only way to safely get troops and supplies into Eastern New Guinea. One way I use them is by setting up a large base at Hoskins or Madang, safer ports that are a bit of distance from Lae, running AP/TK tf's there to drop everything off, then moving the supplies on AG's from there down to Lae, Finschafen, and Buna. In the Solomons, Shortland can be used in a similar way to run supplies down to Lunga. But using AG's will save alot of AP's.

I did several strafing runs on 7-8 AG's over a couple of days, and despite the fact that there were upwards of 40 aircraft strafing they only sank 1 each time (each barge was hit by upwards of 60 odd shells and at least 1 bomb). Must be something wrong with the game engine there.

I find this subject a little confusing. When I think of a collier I think of a medium sized replenishment ship. The aircraft carrier Langley was a converted collier IIRC.

AGs as a class are defined as colliers but they sure look like small barges to me.

I'm sure that colliers came in all sizes but since there aren't any coal fired ships in UV why not just call the AGs what they are..........barges.

Are there bigger colliers in the game that I haven't seen

Originally posted by Mojo
I find this subject a little confusing. When I think of a collier I think of a medium sized replenishment ship. The aircraft carrier Langley was a converted collier IIRC.

AGs as a class are defined as colliers but they sure look like small barges to me.

I'm sure that colliers came in all sizes but since there aren't any coal fired ships in UV why not just call the AGs what they are..........barges.

Are there bigger colliers in the game that I haven't seen

Your absoluteley right, which is why I was cofused at the start

Yah, I've always thought that "collier" was a silly name for these boats, but I never complained because I think there's been too much complaining about minor stuff. What was the historical research that went into identifying the existence of these? None of the materials at my disposal mention any such thing as a "collier" as a major ship class in the IJN (you get dozens of 'em in UV). If the Japanese had myriads of small craft in the theater that were used for transport of supplies, fuel, and small combat and support units, they were "barges," as far as I can tell. Let's call 'em that, if this is big enough a deal to warrant a change. If not, I guess I can live with "collier" being a tactical synonym for "barge."

Now that I know what they are, I'm not worried what they are called

Doomed

I'm with you guys. It's a small issue and such a great game.

Makes me laugh though to click on a TF of AGs and see the general representation, which is a largish supply ship, and then click on an individual AG and see a Daihatsu barge with the capacity of a thimble.

I'm more concerned about the drunken coastwatcher with the .303.

Originally posted by Mojo
I'm more concerned about the drunken coastwatcher with the .303.

Sounds like my retirement.

Originally posted by pasternakski


Sounds like my retirement.

ROTFLMAO. Sounds like fun;)

I wonder if the coastwatchers got back pay, or they were paid in alcohol. There certainly wasn't much else for them to do.

Originally posted by DoomedMantis
I wonder if the coastwatchers got back pay, or they were paid in alcohol. There certainly wasn't much else for them to do.

Are you kidding? What with all those native girls? Nothing to do?:rolleyes:

I suppose it depends on which Island you were on

Originally posted by DoomedMantis
I suppose it depends on which Island you were on

Well OOooookkkkkaayyyyyy, just for you:-

Are you kidding? What with all those native girls/boys? Nothing to do?:rolleyes:




Happy?:p

I didn't know you were that way inclined