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I have just started playing again and I am getting close to when I will have access to deploying Landing craft for the Allies. Can I create them before I get to the beach or do I have to create them at the base that I am launching my invasion from?

I'd say it is a good idea to load them before you get to the actual beach you are going to land on...IOW...

Fred

ORIGINAL: abalido

I have just started playing again and I am getting close to when I will have access to deploying Landing craft for the Allies. Can I create them before I get to the beach or do I have to create them at the base that I am launching my invasion from?

Read s.6.2.16 of the manual.

Alfred

So if wanted to invade say Saipan I would have to build the landing craft in Pearl Harbor and move them to Saipan already built and loaded?

IMHO try to build them as close to your target as possible because (as in real life) those smaller boats will suffer some damage from fatigue...and one boat slowed will affect the speed of the entire group.
Keeping certain boats with them which carry fuel (like those Coast Guard PC's, etc) will keep the landing craft fueled.

Later in the war, APA's are presumed to already be carrying their own landing craft and will deliver the land units at landing craft speeds.

My dad was carried maybe 100 yards from Omaha Beach before the Germans sank LCI 91, and he had to swim in.
As large as an LCI was compared to an LCVP, even it bobbed around on the surface like a cork...another reason to keep the amphib trip as short as possible for your smaller landing craft.

ORIGINAL: abalido

So if wanted to invade say Saipan I would have to build the landing craft in Pearl Harbor and move them to Saipan already built and loaded?

Yes, and most of the deployable from pools landing craft are very short legged. They are not practical to use for an assault over that distance.

In addition to the very small, very short legged deployable from pools landing craft you will start getting regular ship landing craft that enter as reinforcement ships in 1943.

These are LSTs, LCI and all kinds loaded with rockets and mortars.

These ships have longer legs and should be used for the long range invasions.


You will not get enough landing craft to make large invasions with only the landing craft ships types. Your APAs, LSILs and AKAs are your invasion bread and butter ships with large capacities.


My late war invasion TFs of 100 ships (the limit) are a mix of APAs, AKAs, LSTs, LCIs and landing craft gunships.


There are also other large ships types with assault landing specialization like LSDs and LSVs that get added into those large amphibious TFs.

Use the small, short legged pool craft for inter-island movements over short distances like expanding throughout the PI once you have used the longer ranged craft to deposit a large army at one point in the island chain.

ORIGINAL: abalido

I have just started playing again and I am getting close to when I will have access to deploying Landing craft for the Allies. Can I create them before I get to the beach or do I have to create them at the base that I am launching my invasion from?

You can create them from supply in TF, but you obviously can't load Landing Crafts at sea. But they will add their unloading bonus during assault. Single one costs 60+ supply, and you create group of 12.
My guess is, it will be best to stop ONE hex from destination, and there create Barges TF.

My guess is, it will be best to stop ONE hex from destination, and there create Barges TF.

I like that idea.[;)]

Thank you everyone that is all very helpful. It would still be cool to load the lcvp right before the beach.

ORIGINAL: abalido

Thank you everyone that is all very helpful. It would still be cool to load the lcvp right before the beach.

That is what APA and AKA ships do, and they do it automatically.