War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition...what's stopping you?

[Herman Hum]

If Lunga is in enemy hands and if your task force is configured for Transport (not Amphibious), it might tend to withdraw from the hex even if you have the Remain on Station option enabled.

[JudgeDredd]

I fired this up the other week to have a wee go again and re-loaded my Guadalcanal save - and I have to say - I was pretty bored waiting on the next turn to start...and that was only a very small scenario. It boggles my mind to think how long a full scale campaign would take on the AI turn.

[Herman Hum]

I just played the Guadalcanal scenario v AI and set all the messages and animations to minimal/fastest possible values.  It was quite speedy.  However, I do agree with you that a full-blown campaign would be mind-numbing.

[JudgeDredd]

I just played the Guadalcanal scenario v AI and set all the messages and animations to minimal/fastest possible values.  It was quite speedy.  However, I do agree with you that a full-blown campaign would be mind-numbing.

I never messed with any settings - so that then is likely the cause then.

[MengJiao]

I fired this up the other week to have a wee go again and re-loaded my Guadalcanal save - and I have to say - I was pretty bored waiting on the next turn to start...and that was only a very small scenario. It boggles my mind to think how long a full scale campaign would take on the AI turn.

  I'm running through the modified May 1942 campaign (itself something of a mod) i cooked up.  I have a new Japanese strategy for total victory: just don't be the Japs -- take the allies for once.  Anyway, the AI doesn't seem to be taking too long and hopefully by tonight the PBEM will get rolling.

[SgtRock]

Hint: If you hit or hold down the 'Esc' key it will speed things up during the AI's turn.

[Toonces]

You can also press the space bar.  For some reason that speeds up the AI very, very fast.

I do have my transports set to "transport" vice amphibious.  I'll take a look at that.

[JudgeDredd]

Changing the settings fired things on significantly.

Having a problem loading troops. The transports are at Noumea(?) but when I go to load troops, it says the task force isn't docked. I thought (from UV and possibly WitP) that you set their destination and they docked automatically. Anyway - I can't seem to find a docking command.

Where's my manual  :D

[Toonces]

There is a dock command in the TF screen.

Also, your troops have to be set to "Strategic Mode" or they won't load.

[JudgeDredd]

Thank you. You are of course correct. I can't dock though - TF size apparently.

And I am VERY pleased to see a tool tip showing (when moving the mouse over the text) the port size, ships docked and TF size. Nice one Gary...that's good help there. I thought for a moment I was going to have to go hunting about in various screens to work it all out myself.

[Herman Hum]

Also, your troops have to be set to "Strategic Mode" or they won't load.

Be forewarned.  Amphibious load and unload troops that are in Combat Mode.  Transports load and unload troops in Strategic Mode.  It is not possible to switch between the two once the process begins.

[Toonces]

FUC.....   >:(  See, I thought I had try to switch my transports to amphibious previously and couldn't...now I know why.

I don't know how I'm going to salvage this operation.  I don't want to re-load an old save, so I'm going to have to figure something out.  I have like 500 Marines landed.  Should be enough to hold out against 8000 Japanese until I come up with something...  ;)

[JudgeDredd]

So let me get this right...

If I have an amphibious TF, my troops can load fine (Combat mode)?
If I have a transport TF, my troops have to be in Strategic mode?
If I have a task force that's a mix of amphibious ships and transports - what happens?
Are ships clearly labeled as transport/amphibious? or is it based on what type of TF it is (Amphib TF or Transport TF)?

And finally (sorry)...what's the difference? I presume an amphib TF can load and unload in Combat mode because they are able to fight...so you would use Amphib TFs to move ready for combat (invasion) where Transport TFs would be used to move troops to a staging area? Is there a penalty for Amphib or Transport mode?

[Herman Hum]

So let me get this right...

If I have an amphibious TF, my troops can load fine (Combat mode)?
If I have a transport TF, my troops have to be in Strategic mode?

Correct.

If I have a task force that's a mix of amphibious ships and transports - what happens?
Are ships clearly labeled as transport/amphibious? or is it based on what type of TF it is (Amphib TF or Transport TF)?

It is physically impossible to have a TF that is both Amphibious and Transport types.  They are mutually exclusive TF types.  Any ship than can go in an Amphib TF can also go into a Transport TF.  It depends on what type of TF you wish to create.  Amphibious-class landing ships and transports can go into either type of TF, transport or Amphibious.

And finally (sorry)...what's the difference? I presume an amphib TF can load and unload in Combat mode because they are able to fight...so you would use Amphib TFs to move ready for combat (invasion) where Transport TFs would be used to move troops to a staging area? Is there a penalty for Amphib or Transport mode?

An Amphibious TF simulates 'combat loading'.  This means that it is not as administratively efficient as a Transport TF because of the necessity to have a unit spread amongst different ships in case of loss due to combat.  This means that the vessels will only load to about 80% of their maximum capacity.  Also, Amphib TFs will load a portion of their cargo as supplies as they expect to land at enemy-controlled locations.  Transport and Cargo TFs are generally from friendly port to friendly port.

I think Amphib TFs also have a quicker unload rate than Transport TFs, especially in the face of the enemy.  I think that Transport TFs will still unload into combat zones, but they retire and you have to repeat the Unload command continuously.  Also, some large equipment such as radar may not be able to offload from a Transport TF but may unload from an Amphibious task force.

[JudgeDredd]

Brilliant...thanks HH

I'm a tad confused with mixing amphib with transports in, say, an amphib TF. If I was to create an amphib TF with both amphib and transports and load troops - how would those troops load? I guess if they are in combat mode, then only the amphibs would load troops - so what about the transports? Would they just be empty, or would I then change some units to strat mode and load them...or...could I even work out which units to leave in combat mode, change others to strat mode and select Load Troops from the options for the TF and the troops would automatically be loaded into the appropriate vessels in the TF?

No need to answer - I might try that.

But - I would presume it's best to keep your transports away from danger and use them in transport TF's - leaving out any confusion anyway.