Supply Range Control

[Mehring]

In my view, one of the weakest aspects of the current game is the randomness, in terms of distance, viability and relationship, by which units draw supplies from depots and depots from each other. It stretches credulity that units would

1. seek supply at such distances that most if not all supply drawn would be lost en route and to the detriment of their own mobility.
2. seek supply from depots that are in sectors occupied by units of a different command hierarchy, particularly when other functioning depots are closer by.

It would be much better, I think, to be able to limit the distance at which units under a particular HQ will attempt to draw supply, also, to measure those distances along traversable terrain rather than as the crow flies which seems to be the way at present. Further, depots could be built into a hierarchy, the dispensing depot attached to an HQ or HQs, allowing only those units and its/their subordinates to draw supply.

An interface such as that used for ground support allocation could handle depot hierarchy and allocation, while the supply priority toggle might be adapted for specifying supply range, shading the map to depict the range chosen.

It would also be useful to have a better idea of the rail capacity pushing supplies between depots.

[carlkay58]

As a comment:

During the battles around Smolensk in July 41 PG 2 received over 60% of their supply from sending their own trucks back to Germany (not even captured Poland) to get spare parts and other rare to find supplies. This is from David Stahel's research.

[Mehring]

ORIGINAL: carlkay58

As a comment:

During the battles around Smolensk in July 41 PG 2 received over 60% of their supply from sending their own trucks back to Germany (not even captured Poland) to get spare parts and other rare to find supplies. This is from David Stahel's research.

That doesn't really make sense. Spare parts and rare supplies would not make up 60% of their supplies. Presumably, they were not roaming around Germany commandeering whatever they found, either, but drawing from their designated depots authorised to supply them. And in spite of the distances, they were nevertheless sufficiently mobile to engage in major operations against a numerous enemy. I'd like to know more about how this supply actually worked.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: Mehring

ORIGINAL: carlkay58

As a comment:

During the battles around Smolensk in July 41 PG 2 received over 60% of their supply from sending their own trucks back to Germany (not even captured Poland) to get spare parts and other rare to find supplies. This is from David Stahel's research.

That doesn't really make sense. Spare parts and rare supplies would not make up 60% of their supplies. Presumably, they were not roaming around Germany commandeering whatever they found, either, but drawing from their designated depots authorised to supply them. And in spite of the distances, they were nevertheless sufficiently mobile to engage in major operations against a numerous enemy. I'd like to know more about how this supply actually worked.

you are overestimating the importance of official channels and underestimated the importance of connections and barter. Yes, a lot of this sort of ad-hoc gathering of resources was pretty much at the level of drive to somewhere that might be able to supply.

Soviet commanders used a barter system, in fact you could argue that at the practical local level the entire Soviet economy was essentially a barter system

As to your question, I can get pretty neat supply chains but I also quite ruthlessly set HQs to relatively low priority - that is part of the system and one that many people overlook

[GibsonPete]

Loki is right. As for bartering and going outside normal channels to get what you need I will inform you it was not only the Soviets who did this. As a commander in the U.S. Army in Germany, Federal Republic of, during the mid-80's I had choices I could order and wait for weeks for critical supplies through the official channels or I could go swap with another unit or procure it from the locals.

As for establishing an efficient supply chain it can be done. Your troops may go hungry but they will not starve.

[OberstVonWitz]

ORIGINAL: Mehring

ORIGINAL: carlkay58


As to your question, I can get pretty neat supply chains but I also quite ruthlessly set HQs to relatively low priority - that is part of the system and one that many people overlook

How does that work? For example WHICH HQ's are you talking about ? Also how would this relate to supply depots

Example:
ARMY Group A ( low priority) with depots at 1., 3,4 the closer to the front

ARMY Group B Low priority depots all at 2 say

ARMY Group C high priority depots all at 2 say

Lastly, id AG's have low priority ands Corps HQ have high what happend then in principle ?

Look forwards to an answer