Automatic Convoy problems?

[Whisper01]

Question concerning Automatic Supply TF creation and use.

Yes, I read the scraps of paper that constitute a "manual" and it seems pretty straight forward, but...

1) I placed a good number of AK's and TK's and some DD's in San Fransisco and then placed them all on "Automatic Supply Convoy" duty and the name of each ship so chosen turned 'RED'.
2) I placed several (12 or so) bases in the Central Pacific (PH, Midway, Johnson Is, Palmyra, Canton, Fiji, Anchorake, Dutch Harbor, etc...) to accept automatic convoys (toggled to yes).

Then waited several turns to allow some of those bases supply numbers to dwindle (turn orange and or red) but no convoyes where formed in San Fransisco, none of the ships left port, none of the ships formed TF's or picked up supply...

Turned the whole system off, formed convoyes to supply the bases shown above and went on down the road... but, this can not go on forever as the back (not forward edge of combat bases) bases need supply and it gets boring checking them constantly and forming new convoys to supply them.

So, am I doing something wrong or is the system whack?
I'm playing the stock game 41 to 46 campaign. Bought in June 09 with, seemingly, all upgrades / patches already on it (but I can't confirm this).

Thanks!

[Mynok]

Don't use auto convoy.

[Charbroiled]

ORIGINAL: Whisper01

Question concerning Automatic Supply TF creation and use.

Yes, I read the scraps of paper that constitute a "manual" and it seems pretty straight forward, but...

1) I placed a good number of AK's and TK's and some DD's in San Fransisco and then placed them all on "Automatic Supply Convoy" duty and the name of each ship so chosen turned 'RED'.
2) I placed several (12 or so) bases in the Central Pacific (PH, Midway, Johnson Is, Palmyra, Canton, Fiji, Anchorake, Dutch Harbor, etc...) to accept automatic convoys (toggled to yes).

Then waited several turns to allow some of those bases supply numbers to dwindle (turn orange and or red) but no convoyes where formed in San Fransisco, none of the ships left port, none of the ships formed TF's or picked up supply...

Turned the whole system off, formed convoyes to supply the bases shown above and went on down the road... but, this can not go on forever as the back (not forward edge of combat bases) bases need supply and it gets boring checking them constantly and forming new convoys to supply them.

So, am I doing something wrong or is the system whack?
I'm playing the stock game 41 to 46 campaign. Bought in June 09 with, seemingly, all upgrades / patches already on it (but I can't confirm this).

Thanks!

I do not use or trust the automatic convoy system.

Instead, I use CS (continuous suppy) TFs.

To create these, create a transport or tanker TF as you normally would (with escorts, if needed, AKs and TKs). Preferably create in from the port you want the suppiles to come from (i.e. Pearl Harbor). If the TF is created in a different port then where the suppiles will be coming from, then set the "Home Port" to the supplying base. Set the destination to the base you want supplied. Right below the TF picture, click on "Human controled"...it will change to "CS: <base to be supplied>". The TF will automatically start loading supplies (and fuel if you have tankers). If the base is not the suppling base, you will have to stop loading and set the destination to the supplying base. The TF will then go to the supplying base....start loading and will the go the base to be supplied.

The TF will then load supplies....go to the base to be supplied.....unload....go to the supplying base....load...and will repeat until you cancel the CS routine. The default speed for the TF will be set to "cruise", so if you want supplies to go faster, change to speed to "mission speed". If the base to be suppiled is a front line base that eats a lot of supplies, you might want to set the speed to "fast speed".

[Quixote]

In answer to your actual question, no - you aren't doing anything wrong. The AI will eventually form supply TFs and send them on their way. It does a very poor and erratic job of selecting what to send, where to send it, and when to send it, but it will happen sooner or later if you have the ships and bases assigned and are patient enough. That said, I'd still recommend taking Mynok's advice.

[Charbroiled]

ORIGINAL: Whisper01

I'm playing the stock game 41 to 46 campaign. Bought in June 09 with, seemingly, all upgrades / patches already on it (but I can't confirm this).

Thanks!

To confirm you have the latest version, when you start the game and get to the main menu screen, you should see:

PATCH VERSION 1.806......this will be in the upper right hand corner, right below the tag that says "Main Menu Screen"

[Andy Mac]

I find it ok actually it does th ejob after a few days

[Shark7]

My main problem with the auto convoy system was that it seemed to run me completely dry on my supplies in the home islands. Since that lesson was learned I just handle it myself...tedious but effective.

[moonraker65]

I've always used Auto Convoy. But as has been mentioned it can be a bit erratic in what and when it sends. Looking forward to seeing how the new system works in AE.

[Rainer]

An old bug. You probably have the NE Zone under Computer Control.
If so NO supply TFs will leave San Francisco (even those you created manually). They will be disbanded by the program.
If you set NE Zone to Human Control the Auto Convoy System will work just fine. (Click "Show Control Zone Map", then click NE Zone to toggle from Computer Control to Human Control).
Since 1.806 the Auto Convoy system observes ZOC (Zones of Control), thus avoiding areas where the Japanese have Air Superiority. Just check once in while where these convoys are heading to, to prevent a bold TF commander to come too close to harms way.
Cheers
Rainer

PS: There is another bug. Allied ports in Northern Australia and Northern Borneo should not be set to Auto Supply. The program will try to send Supply Convoys from India, but these convoys will try to refuel in Pearl Harbour. As I said, a bug.

[rtrapasso]

DO NOT USE ANYTHING ON COMPUTER CONTROL - unless you somehow enjoy unpleasant surprises...

Setting anything to be controlled by computers can have unfortunate results... you might find your subs leaving port when you wanted them to stay and repair... you might find units inexplicably marching off to nowhere... etc.

All of these things (and many more) can happen if you set any little piddly thing to be controlled by the computer.

[Mynok]

Wish someone had told that to the investment banks. [:'(]

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Wish someone had told that to the investment banks. [:'(]

[:D] [:D]

[Rainer]

With all due respect Robert, but I disagree.
I have finished two full campaigns and recently started the third (Allies vs. AI, Scenario 15, no mods), and I have always used the Auto Convey system (in lieu of what I said in my last post). I have subs under computer control, and it works. I use CS extensively, and it works. The supply convoys unter Computer Control even avoid areas with enemy sub and aircraft activities (ZOC awareness).
If you had said "Beware what you are doing when using Computer Control and monitor carefully what units under Computer Control are doing" I could agree with you. Then again, a prudent player will always monitor what his units are doing, regardless if they are computer controlled or not.
I feel it is a matter of taste and style of play. People who love micro management will probably agree with you, people who want to ease their work load may try my approach.
In the end I hope WitP/AE will do away some of those concerns how (and if) computer controlled support works. We'll see next Monday

[byron13]

I've used the Auto Convoy and am largely satisfied when used for limited purposes. As stated, it is what might be described as "erratic." It will run enough supplies to to a base to last a decade. I have had bad luck running them from Karachi to anything much beyond Singapore - I have found auto convoys from Karachi refueling in Pearl Harbor. Where I use it mostly is supplying bases in Alaska and back-water bases in the South Pacific such as Palmyra, Johnston, Suva, or some tiny base where I have PBY's stationed - bases where a direct route to them from San Francisco don't come close to potential battle areas. They are ideal for what I consider their purpose to have been: taking my mind off of supplying places that aren't all that important and relieving me of the task of monitoring their supply status.

[Rainer]

I use Auto Convoys also to supply Noumea and selected Australian ports (eg Brisbane). Even Port Moresby is supplied this way (Mid 1942). The convoys avoid the Marshalls and go deep south (in the direction of Noumea) to avoid the Coral Sea where Japanese bombers rule the air. Then they turn north to reach Port Moresby because they have to. I try to give air support (Long Range CAP) but that is difficult with the limited range of Allied fighters available (no P-38 yet). However, the Japanese have their air attack focus on Port Moresby itself, and on Guadalcanal (Lunga). Thus the auto convoys do not get the attention most of the time. When they are close enough (3 hexes) fighters from Port Moresby provide air support.
The biggest problem for the convoys in that area is Japanese subs. But even those the convoys try to avoid be re-routing (not always successful). The convoys do all that routing on their own (computer) without interference from me (the player).

I agree with you that supplying bases south of Singapore does not work, because of the "first go to Hawaii to refuel" bug. That also applies to support of Northern Australia (notably Darwin) and - later in the war - ports on the northern part of New Guinea. The only way to supply those ports is to set up CS convoys from "Supply Hubs", which in turn are supplied by auto convoys.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Rainer

With all due respect Robert, but I disagree.
I have finished two full campaigns and recently started the third (Allies vs. AI, Scenario 15, no mods), and I have always used the Auto Convey system (in lieu of what I said in my last post). I have subs under computer control, and it works. I use CS extensively, and it works. The supply convoys unter Computer Control even avoid areas with enemy sub and aircraft activities (ZOC awareness).
If you had said "Beware what you are doing when using Computer Control and monitor carefully what units under Computer Control are doing" I could agree with you. Then again, a prudent player will always monitor what his units are doing, regardless if they are computer controlled or not.
I feel it is a matter of taste and style of play. People who love micro management will probably agree with you, people who want to ease their work load may try my approach.
In the end I hope WitP/AE will do away some of those concerns how (and if) computer controlled support works. We'll see next Monday

Unless you monitor EVERY unit EVERY turn, you are probably going to get bit... and even if you do monitor the units, i've seen the AI haul ships without orders out of drydock and make them sail... i strongly recommend all computer control functions be stopped.

If you want to live dangerously, of course, that's your business! [:D]

[DivePac88]

Burn this on the back of your Hand;

Never ever use Computer control for anything... never ever.

[Shark7]

So you guys who do use auto convoys. I assume you are only using it to supply the forward 'depot' type bases? Thus limiting it to a certain number of bases and ships?

[Andy Mac]

I use Auto convoy a lot but I use it for waht its designed for keeping small out of the way bases topped up with fuel for stockpiling I use CS convoys
&nbsp;
Maybe 5% of my total AK fleet as the allies is in the autoconvoy system at any point in time in 41/42 early 43 rising to 10% in 44/45
&nbsp;
I get good value out of it for doing the things I want it to do.

[Mynok]

CS isn't the same as auto-convoy. CS works fine. Auto convoy does not.