Barges, ASW, & other Qs

[Grotius]

Hi all. I have a few tactics and gameplay questions. I'm playing Scen 17 as IJN vs the AI. Once I feel a bit more comfy with game mechanics, I'm going to try PBEM. Anyway, my questions:

1. I'm not sure I'm creating barges correctly -- or, to be more precise, in the correct place. I create a Transport TF in Truk, load it with supplies, and (when that's done) I "activate barges." My barge hubs are Shortland and Rabaul, but the barges appear in Truk. I then have to drive them down to Kavieng, loaded with fuel. They run out half-way, and I try to replenish them using their own fuel, but the rest of the journey is still slow. Is this the right way to make barges?

2. Which Japanese aircraft are best for ASW? More generally, what makes a good ASW a/c -- torpedo loadout?

3. Mogami says he doesn't fly in bad weather. Mogami, does that include not flying CAP?

[pasternakski]

As far as your point 1 is concerned, you want to send your transport TF to the destination where you want the barges to appear, then create them after the TF gets there. Saves you a lot of annoyance.

[Grotius]

Aaaahhhh... Many thanks, Pasternakski. Makes sense.

[bilbow]

The TF has to originally be loaded in Truk, but the barges can be created from it anywhere. One watchout is the barges will always have a home port setting of Truk, so if you don't change it you will suddenly find them headed home to mama, to promptly run out of fuel and be marooned.

[Grotius]

Thanks, bilbow. In fact I did just catch a bunch of em heading north from Kavieng! Fortunately I noticed 'em right away and turned 'em around.