Matrix Games Forums

LB what is it good for, absolutely nothing? Seriously though, is there any real tactical use for these? (the very small boat not level bomber) [:D]

Where islands are close together or with a larger ship following to refuel them, they can deliver supplies/reinforcements or evacuate garrisons.

If the IJ barges behave like the Allied ones (which are called LCTs), they act as lighters during amphib unloading, transferring troops, equipment and supply from transport ships to shore more quickly than they otherwise would.

I might have to try this, just to try it.

They load and unload REAL fast. So, think of where you might be doing an amphib op just a few hexes away and you haven't yet built up your port …
[;)]

Good to resup small base with small port. Don't cost points when sunk. Often go unnoticed. Can ferry small units amongst said small bases. Etc.[:D]

I use them where it wouldn't be safe to base some xAK. For example: I have Tabiteuea and I want to bring a unit of ENG to Ontoa in order to develop it.

If the Allies are somehow near, it would be quite risky to send xAKs or xAKLs. Or even fast transport.

You take your chance when you see a good moment and you have an immediate way of transporting troops exploiting the good moment. It's a tight time window.


I also like to use them when I push down in Malaya f.ex.: generally there are HRs preventing from crossing the Malacca Strait before Singers has fallen, therefore I like to spawn them in Malacca to invade Bengkalis. Useful? Not much but it's funny and confuses the allied player.


Other good examples of their usefulness are Rabaul-Talasea and similar bases in the area. I generally use barges a lot in the Salomons.


Recently, I have used them from Surat to Bahuanag or something like that S-W of Ahmedabad. If you simply walk to Bahuanag, you trigger emergency reinf, something I didn't want to do at the time. Instead, I landed troops and a lot of ENG through barges and I have been able to develop Bahuanag into an AF lvl 9. It's position is perfect to attack Karachi with 2E and figters. Why not xAK? For the basic reason that they load/unload more slowly and they are comparatively prone to be targeted by enemy a/c even in 1 ship TF. Barges got strafed a couple of times but nothing serious.


I definitely love barges. Japan has a niche use for everything.

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Don't cost points when sunk.

Is this true?

Allied pool craft, PTs and all forms of landing craft, are worth 1 VP each.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Don't cost points when sunk.

Is this true?

Allied pool craft, PTs and all forms of landing craft, are worth 1 VP each.

True - barges and LCTs do not count VPs. They do cost supply to create and I think there is a limit to how many you can have. Destroyed barges/LCTs take a while to be replaced in the pools.

Invading bonus. You can create them from TF supply just before landing. And then get them back into pools, when landing is done.

Also, IIRC planes can attack them only at 100ft, so some sneaky transport where enemy have air superiority.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
True - barges and LCTs do not count VPs. They do cost supply to create and I think there is a limit to how many you can have. Destroyed barges/LCTs take a while to be replaced in the pools.

I think Hans is correct, even if not shown in the sunk ships list, still LCMs / barges are worth 1 VP.

Btw. here are 2 pics of my barges - find something strange ?

Pic 2:

It's strange that the first one survived being hit by a 1,000 lb bomb.

As for the second, sometimes, very rarely, they are not obliterated by a 5-inch shell hit.

Any barge that was last hit by a thousand pounder or 5in shell should not be on the surface.....

Bugger - Hans beat me to it.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

It's strange that the first one survived being hit by a 1,000 lb bomb.

As for the second, sometimes, very rarely, they are not obliterated by a 5-inch shell hit.

The bomb might've not detonated [:)] Pierced the thin hull at the bow. I believe the resulting splash might turn out not enough to sink the barge

Eh - I am going to say (without knowledge) That a 1000 pound splash takes the barge out.

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Pic 2:

I know I checked that bit about VPs for barges some time ago and the points were 0. What game patch are you using?

1.8.11.26b 17. Sep 2016 Scen2 I thought this is the latest version?

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Pic 2:

I know I checked that bit about VPs for barges some time ago and the points were 0. What game patch are you using?

1126b is the latest version but it is a Beta. I was using the official game 1124. It appears to me that VPs for barges was an added detail in one of the beta changes.

The Betas did not alter the rule.
 
The rule is that VPs are awarded to ships which occupy a unique slot number in the OOB database.  These ships appear on the sunk ship list.
 
Ships which are regenerated do not have a unique slot number in the OOB database.  They all reuse the same slot number.  These ships do not appear on the sunk ship list and consequently cannot deliver any VPs.
 
Alfred