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Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2025 7:29 pm
by Dereck
I'm having trouble getting supplies to Darwin by land. I'm hesitant to send supply convoys because the Japanese are taking over Timor and can have air strikes to sink them.

I'm trying to "draw" supplies to Darwin but I must not be doing something right because it doesn't seem to be helping the supply situation. What do I need to do?

North Australia Supply-edited.jpg
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Re: Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2025 7:43 pm
by RangerJoe
You need to evacuate most of your units from Darwin since the overland route won't bring in enough supplies. The supply convoys can be attacked by air and naval forces. This has been explained in many AARs.

Re: Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2025 8:17 pm
by pbiggar
Further to Ranger Joe's response that the infrastructure will not allow sufficient supply to flow to Darwin to support a large garrison, you have a couple of other options if the tactical situation works.

1) Stock up Darwin full of supplies before the base are approaches are closed.
2) Use carefully placed LRCAP to cover convoys from Normanton or Derby areas to create some cover for convoys into Darwin. Be prepared to lose ships but maybe it is worth it for you.

Against a determined Japan player it is hard to hold Darwin, but ultimately the tide will turn and those Japanese troops will surrender or be evacuated.

Re: Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2025 12:41 am
by BBfanboy
I'm also not sure you have used the supply draw appropriately. It looks like you set the bases with increasing draw from Tennant Creek to Darwin. That probably confuses the supply movement coding because it will handle each base in sequence of its database index number (at the top left of the base screen) and the bases will end up trying to draw from each other. The south is just too far away for the draw to get to Darwin in one big suck.

You must build supply in Alice Springs first with no extra draw set from Tennant Creek. When a decent amount of supply is at A.S., turn off the extra draw there and put it on Tennant Creek. Once the supply is there, repeat all the way to Darwin. It can take a month or more to get it working.

Re: Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2025 1:14 am
by Bo Rearguard
I've never experienced difficulties getting seaborne supplies into Darwin against the Japanese AI. But then I usually manage to keep Timor and some of the adjacent islands out of the hands of the Japanese AI as well.

Re: Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2025 12:57 pm
by Sardaukar
Usually 1-ship xAK TFs set to Coastal routing and Absolute threat tolerance get through from Perth to Darwin.

East Coast of AUS have high sub threat and unescorted ships get often sunk. So using Perth is your best bet.

Re: Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2025 1:22 pm
by btd64
Sardaukar wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2025 12:57 pm Usually 1-ship xAK TFs set to Coastal routing and Absolute threat tolerance get through from Perth to Darwin.

East Coast of AUS have high sub threat and unescorted ships get often sunk. So using Perth is your best bet.
Every once in a while your xAK's will encounter a enemy surface TF. But doesn't happen very often....GP

Re: Darwin Supply Woes

Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2025 6:35 am
by Chris21wen
Bo Rearguard wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2025 1:14 am I've never experienced difficulties getting seaborne supplies into Darwin against the Japanese AI. But then I usually manage to keep Timor and some of the adjacent islands out of the hands of the Japanese AI as well.
Against the AI you shouldn't but you should also let the AI take Timor etc if you want a decent game.

It is difficult over land. I'm not sure about the way BBfanboy suggest, never tried in it but you have yours the wrong way round. This works for me, Alice should have the larest x value (e.g. x4), Dawin the lowest (x 1). Your tying to draw x4 supply from somewhere that doesn't have it. Doing it my way ensure Alice has supply to give or at least that's my theory and it appears to work for me.