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There are a bunch of issues with the fuel tankers right now. That in effect prevent them from ever operating as intended.

The issues thus far (but not limited to):
1. The Ship Designer puts in too few generators. Usually 1 to few. Meaning the ship runs on less then half FTL power output. So that means they have issues catching up to targets in need of refuelling. Aka, it's primary function.
It also does not put in maxmum STL engines, also part of the job.
And it also overloads on Cargo bays - which are pointless if they can not reach the target.
And then it has weapon systems for some reason.

2. Automatic Tankers in a fleet never upgrade or repair. Meaning they can be literally half the speed of the fleet. Again, incapable of catching up with their out of fuel target.

3. Trying to intentionally refuel your manual fleet with them is near impossible. As that means having to sit still for long periods of time, while the tanker catches up and slowboats around the formation. There needs to be a "refuell with tankers" command, so they actually start flying towards the fleets fuel tankers.

4. They never stop a mission.
They do not stop try to refuel, if the target refuelle the hard way. With 1, now the target that "needed refuelling 1 decade ago" can outrun them indefinitely.
They do not change movement orders, if the fleet changed it's course.

5. They jump in closer to the enemy then the fleet.
If I order the fleet to attack, they too get the attack order.
And jump in closer then the combat ships. And then get shot at. And then run away and take damage, which they will not repair.

Fixes:
1. The Autodesigner needs to understand that cargo means nothing, if they lack any speed to deliver.
2. If part of a fleet, they should have one of these missions:
- Follow the Flagship
- Repair/Upgrade at nearest port
- Refuel a ship of the fleet
- grab more fuel
3. It needs to stop and change mission, if the target managed to refuel on it's own.

6. Fuel Tankers in a Fleet will try to refuel each other.
While the 2nd one still has stuff in the cargo bay, so there is no conceivable reason for it.

7. Tankers can be dragged into Nebula

In the attached Savegame, the Construction Ship "Uta Price" just grabbed resources for a project - and fuelled up while at the planet.

The Starseeker of Uta had propably before that decided to refuel it.
It is currently on a direct path to the ship. Which will lead it straight into a Nebula

8. When the Fleet is in the first part of "Prepare and Attack", the Tankers will go and attack
The target the fleet would have issues fighting
Without Weapons
Without support
While on "Flee if Engaged"

zgrssd wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:03 pm 6. Fuel Tankers in a Fleet will try to refuel each other.
While the 2nd one still has stuff in the cargo bay, so there is no conceivable reason for it.

Looks like my instinct of putting two fleet oilers in a fleet was counter-productive..

I got the situation where the fuel tanker wants to refuel a Ship, that was in warp (slow, without fuel). I think that refueling in warp is not working, at least as long as I was watching. The recipient should stop and wait until the refueling is done. Refueling should be a cooperative mission, but that is not easy to program.

Barleyman wrote: Wed Mar 30, 2022 12:50 am

zgrssd wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:03 pm 6. Fuel Tankers in a Fleet will try to refuel each other.
While the 2nd one still has stuff in the cargo bay, so there is no conceivable reason for it.

Looks like my instinct of putting two fleet oilers in a fleet was counter-productive..

To be fair, it is instinct and default Assault fleet setting.

Gorofin wrote: Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:19 am I got the situation where the fuel tanker wants to refuel a Ship, that was in warp (slow, without fuel). I think that refueling in warp is not working, at least as long as I was watching. The recipient should stop and wait until the refueling is done. Refueling should be a cooperative mission, but that is not easy to program.

The situations where the tanker can and can not demand a stop of the target seem the opposite of sensible.
It can never order a stop while the taget is at warp as it is closing in.

Yet it can stop a ship in the middle of combat. 3 systems away.
I think I saw this mentioned on the roadmap, but I can not find that post right now. So here is to hoping they get around to it.