How to use barges

[firefly177]

Took a bit of work just to find out that what I would call landing craft are lumped under barges in the manual (which itself is impressive). Now the instructions on how to build are clear and as soon as my AK load up I will build. My questions from here are:

- do I have to build these barges at the port where I will load my Marines or can I build elsewhere and TF to where I need them?

- when building my invation TF, will the barges actuall carry troops across the seas OR will they just be used to ferry trrops ashore at the invation site?

- I wanted to confirm what I have read in other posts that you need to pound the CD guns into dust (port attack) PRIOR to invading unless I what heavy losses just getting to the beach

Thanks folks!

[tsimmonds]

- do I have to build these barges at the port where I will load my Marines or can I build elsewhere and TF to where I need them?

You can build them anywhere, but they are quite slow and have very limited range. You want to build them near where you are going to use them in any case.

- when building my invation TF, will the barges actuall carry troops across the seas OR will they just be used to ferry trrops ashore at the invation site?

They actually carry troops, just like APs. Their capacity values are not large, but actually this is an advantage; this means that you spread a unit out on more transports, making it less vulnerable to loss and it will unload fast, usually all in one turn. You might want to look at the tutorial, there are landing craft in it....

- I wanted to confirm what I have read in other posts that you need to pound the CD guns into dust (port attack) PRIOR to invading unless I what heavy losses just getting to the beach

You got it. These vessels are quite vulnerable to all CD guns (as well as to just about everything else....)

[Brausepaul]

Do I get this right? The barges are the very landing vehicles to storm the beaches? I always thought it was okay if one uses LCIs.[&:]