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US Shipyards crank out lots of EC2 transports; they only make 12 knots, but are large. Good slow haulers!

Does it make sense to convert most of them to xAP, or leave them as xAK?

I've never reached 1944 as Allies, so I don't have a sense for where you are short; cargo space, or AP space

I suspect the answer is convert them all to xAP, but want to make sure. Even in xAP configuration, they do have decent cargo space.

You won't be short of anything...more like..you have hard time to use all the excess stuff.

Most of the time an xAK rated for 12 knots will be cruising at 10 knots. For troops, I prefer to put them in ships with a top speed of 14 kts or more because:

1. they get to destination a bit faster
2. they are marginally harder for a sub to torpedo (two knots more speed)
3. the troops arrive a little less fatigued.

The 12 knot Liberty Ships have a 19000 mile range so they can cross the Pacific and get back to WC USA. I use them for cargo only unless there is an air unit I need to move a long distance (loaded on two or more ships to hedge against loss of one ship).

I usually convert about 3-4 dozen, maximum.

6 x EC2-USAT, in a transport TF with 6 x EC2, can carry an entire division from the CONUS to the far reaches of the ocean(s), but that isn't their forte. A smaller TF can ferry construction engineers, base forces, etc, from the West Coast to the South Pacific with a minimum of fuss, on its own fuel. You could also use some based in Aden to free up the CW fast liners.

There are enough fast liners, Capes (C1s) and C3 fast AKs for unit movements - even after you quarantine the ones that convert to APA and AKA in 1943. Starting in late 1943, the large General, and later the larger Admiral, class APs arrive in numbers. Those, grouped with C3 AKs, and later the VC2 AKs, give you fast strategic lift aplenty.

The Liberty xAPs are a useful asset due to their long range, and free up some other shipping, but you don't need a vast fleet of them.

Like Sardaukar mentioned, you get so much of everything, including slower xAP's and xAK's, you can send 500 of these ships to Tokyo for underwater bowling and you will still have so many left. Just take good care of the faster ones with speeds 16+ knots. You don't have that many of them.
The only thing that can somewhat, but hardly, hamper the allied effort is losing a bunch of AP's (or APA's after conversion) That and the CV's.

APA, AP, AKA and AK are precious. Latter maybe less so, since you get loads of LSTs (they are slow though, but unload better).

Early war I find myself as Allies hampered by:

1. Lack of AP/xPA for troop transportation
2. Lack of TK for shipping fuel
3. General lack of escorts

Also lack of Base Forces to reinforce forward bases, but that is a different issue.

None of these will be an issue after 1+ year into war. When first Essex CV arrives, you will already have so many ships you don't know what to do with them.

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

APA, AP, AKA and AK are precious. Latter maybe less so, since you get loads of LSTs (they are slow though, but unload better).

Early war I find myself as Allies hampered by:

1. Lack of AP/xPA for troop transportation
2. Lack of TK for shipping fuel
3. General lack of escorts

Also lack of Base Forces to reinforce forward bases, but that is a different issue.

None of these will be an issue after 1+ year into war. When first Essex CV arrives, you will already have so many ships you don't know what to do with them.

Actually there is something to do with all of the ships - completely empty ConUS of supplies!

I never convert any of them.

There is a heavy troop ship surplus, while there are never enough xAKs to go around.

I organize them in Supply Division Task Forces.

Each Sup Div gets 40 liberty ships and 8 escorts.

Each Sup Div moves 250,000 supply and 20,000 fuel per trip.

Last game I had a DOZEN Sup Divs plying back and forth between WC and HI.


Do the math. Its 3 million supply on the move at all times.

Thanks gents! I definitely know the importance of keeping any fast transports, and fast-unload transports, out of harm's way. Just didn't know what I need to do with all the 12kt Cargo Haulers. This helps!

If I use Liberty xAPs, it will be to haul lower-priority ground units, like engineers and base force

I’d rather convert all the C1-A to troopships rather than the EC2. Reason is simple : tonnage. At 4820 tons, a C1 will be able to dock at a Port 1, or two ships at a Port 2, when an EC2 won’t dock at a Port 1, and only one ship at a Port 2.

Additionally, by converting a C1-A to troopship, you gain 1660 troop capacity at the cost of losing 2750 cargo capacity. Converting an EC2 gives a troop capacity of 2050 (only 23% more), but you lose 500 liquid capacity and 3750 cargo capacity (36% more, cargo only).

I use the Liberties nearly exclusively on the long haul trip to places like Australia, New Zealand or other well-built ports. Or Hong Kong and Canton, in uber-convoys under a good CV escort, when the Chinese have taken those bases back.

Be mindful that only the first C1-A/EC2 class convert, not the upgrades (at least in stock). If you want to keep a reserve of convertible EC2, just in case you fear losing too many ships, use a couple of them on the off-map trip between Eastern Coast and Cape Town, without upgrading them (the upgrades only change the armament).

And do not convert the C2 to troopships, that’s a trap ![;)]

I also seldom upgrade the smaller cargoes that can become AGs until later, when I see how many AGs that I need. If the ships play bumper ships and one becomes heavily damaged, then I might convert that ship since it has to be in a shipyard anyway for awhile. Any CW ship that can become an AE does so as soon as is possible. The ships that will becomes AKEs can wait, unless they become heavily damaged.