how to use resupply ships?

[CrashCourse]

hey guys, just wondering.
im at a stage where i can build resupply ships,
my question is how do i use them?
do i stick them into a fleet and they automatically repair\resupply it?
or do i have to make a new fleet and manually do it?

[Bingeling]

You should never have them in an active fleet. You could make a fleet for them, with possibly some ships to help defend them, or just run them as single ships. For me, they are the only military ships outside of fleets. If I don't make a 1 ship fleet for them.

To use it, locate a fuel source. You may want to find one that only has the fuel you use to optimize cargo space, but that is not ideal if you are two swap fuel (or risk the AI swapping fuel for you). With the ship selected, control right click on the source and the deploy option is there. If you try a gas cloud, make sure to zoom far enough in for the cloud and not the system with the cloud to be selected on right click.

When deployed at a source, it will mine hydrogen and caslon, and state ships can refuel at it. Not that I tried it, but you can also deploy at a non fuel source for others to refuel.

So when you got a new ship, deploy it at a good source to load it with fuel, being loaded with fuel helps when it moves to the front alongside your fleets. When you have a need, be it to support offensive operations, or just help with fuel in an area where you have poor fuel supply, undeploy it and deploy where needed.

You may require more than one ship in an area with multiple fleets operating. I have needed them to support defensive battles, as large fleets in action run the normal fuel supply dry quite easily.

On the offense, find a good fuel source that is near the area where your fleets will operate. If it is already loaded, you can strike out alongside your fleet. Deploy it, refuel the fleet. Then have the fleet do its thing, to refuel again at the resupply ship.

The AI designs also carry long range scanners, which means they can double as surveillance stations while refueling your fleets.