Matrix Games Forums

I really like the semi-abstracted nature of the supply / trade / escort / ASW aspect of the game. Took me a while to understand even the top layer of it and assume there are a few more layers I can discover.

The question: What has worked for you best so far against pesky Axis subs on the convoy lanes? I am thinking mostly about early war British efforts. The French have other worries I guess....

From what I understand the Brits have several options:

- build more escorts and assign them to the existing routes
- build Naval Air specialized Aircraft - only effective within their range and cannot cover entire convoy route. But you can place them in Iceland, Scotland, N. Ireland etc).
- attack subs with carrier groups (seems overkill since that is not what they were meant for)
- only mentioned for completeness: can attack subs with patrol groups near land (situational and will usually not happen if the Axis is careful)

My question is where do I get the most bang for the buck? I know what each unit costs and how long it takes to build. But I am not sure how effective they are in comparison to each other.

But perhaps some of you are playing this a bit longer (playtesting etc) and know much more.

Thank you -

Game is designed for players not to min-max. So your strategy depends on what the Axis player does.

But as a general rule you should be buying escorts and making sure the advancement for ASW is up to speed.

You will take a beating early. By about 1942 you should have good control of the situation if you did all the right things. The key is balancing building the escorts and planes vs other resources. Also keep an eye on the map where the subs are. You can move escorts around.

So your strategy depends on what the Axis player does.

Excellent.

But as a general rule you should be buying escorts and making sure the advancement for ASW is up to speed.

You will take a beating early. By about 1942 you should have good control of the situation if you did all the right things. The key is balancing building the escorts and planes vs other resources. Also keep an eye on the map where the subs are. You can move escorts around.

Sounds like good advice - will try over the next games... Thank you very much!

Only max 9 escorts are effective on any given convoy route. Carriers were used against subs, especially later in the war.

One technique to attack subs is to send out surface forces to entice the sub into intercepting, and thus causing combat - if the sub is not in raider mode.

And hi, long time ago PBEM partner!

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

Only max 9 escorts are effective on any given convoy route.

Good to know!!! So any extra are just there to cover losses??

I just looked and couldn't find this in the manual...can someone verify the 9 escort max?

Hello Gary - good to hear from you and also glad to see you are still active here.

I have been playing OTC board games mainly over the last years and hardly touched any computerized simulations. But this game really attracted me and I decided to take the plunge again.

Yes - also thinking fondly of the old PBEM days.

Best - Cornel

10 escorts is the max. Placing 11 or 12 is good because sometimes an escorts get sunk.

Thanks for the confirmation

ORIGINAL: Hoyt Burrass

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

Only max 9 escorts are effective on any given convoy route.

Good to know!!! So any extra are just there to cover losses??

I just looked and couldn't find this in the manual...can someone verify the 9 escort max?

Mid to late war IIRC aviation became the primary concern for U-Boats.

Long range patrol bombers closed the Atlantic gap, small escort carriers provided close air coverage and hunter-killer groups with carriers completely turned the tables. From ports in France to the whatever hunting ground U-Boats were targets.

Submarines spend most of their time on the surface.