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In our current game, the Axis invaded Cyprus and took Pyla, the 2 factor port on the east coast. The Allies hold Famagusta.
Using the intelligence available, it looks like the required supply for the German and Italian units on Cyprus total about 102. Since Pyla can only supply 40 they are 62 over before any supply interdiction by Allied air and naval forces that are in range.
I believe that if the supply requirements of the units exceeds what a port can provide, those units are considered in "basic supply" and cannot receive any reinforcements. I have looked at the manual and cannot determine if there are additional penalties. What level of supply would the units that exceed the port supply be considered at?
Thanks.

Units in basic supply not only do not get reinforcements but will also gain very little readiness recovery (can remember exact amount as it varies like normal supply with weak units getting more) but it is very low. But if left alone, as long as there is some supply, units will still get back some readiness, they will not lose readiness.

If those units have to fight however (or are bombed), they will eventually lose readiness faster than they can regain it. So it could be hard to have a prolonged campaign with too many units in basic supply (Many players do have supply problems in France with the Allies a few month after an Overlord, if they send the kitchen sink). However for a short campaign of a few turns, it is still viable to go over the port limits if you think the opponent will crumble. It will take a prolonged campaign to feel the pain.

Also, units farther to the port will also be the ones first on basic supply, so one can also "rotate" units and bring the ones on basic supply back to the port and send a fresh one to the front if close enough. It is a very viable tactic if only a small fraction of units are in basic supply but most in normal supply.

So to make it short :

• Many units in basic supply = bad on the long run, but should be ok for a blitz if you can win fast.

• A few units in basic supply = mangeable with "rotation" and some baby sitting as long as you keep the good one forward and pull back the weak ones.

PS : do not forget that, like any other "normal" supply problem, you opponent can also compensate some of the basic supply problems effects on readiness with naval or air supply (or even truck which is weird in that last case).

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Just one question, if my navy and planes are destroying XX amount of supplies arriving by sea each turn. How does it impact the units already in basic supply?

Sometimes I am under the impression it does not help.

I'm not sure, but indeed I also do not think it affects the one already in basic supply. But by destroying enough during your turn, there will be less supply for the enemy's turn hence there might simply be more units puit in basic supply mode.

Basic supply is just that. IF you are in it then there is no "less" basic supply.

But as Nirosi said it is great to destroy more supply if there are a lot of units that require supply.

Biggest issue I see is air. IF you see one unit in basic supply all your air units are normally.
From what I can see...land gets supply then air.