Amphibious Task force AP/APx composition?

[Rusty1961]

When invading an atoll one needs to deploy the maximum troops in the first turn. I understand this.

1. When landing a regiment of US army or marines, what is the optimum number of APs or APxs one should have said unit embarked upon to maximize said debarkation?

2. Same as #1, but for a division?

3. Same as #1, but for a 68 tank battalion?

4. When dealing with the TF commander, what is the optimum skill for the commander for off-loading and minimizing disruption? Naval? Land?

5. Same as #1 but for combat engineers.


Thank you!

[rms1pa]

ow,
a real grognard can give you detailed direction.

for me i like to have 3 to 1 loading so if the personell cost is 800 i want 2400 capacity to invade with. AP/APx is tough and really depends on availability. butt keep in mind if you use small APx with 300 personell capacity they should unload in 1 or 2 days anyhow.

you have enough APs to load a regiment entirely.

divisions not so much.

tanks need the AK not so much AP

good luck
rms/pa

[Jorge_Stanbury]

The more the merrier, use as many as you can afford. More ships = less crowded ships = faster unloading

For APs/ AKs, you can unload 600 per phase, so you want around 600 to 1,200 troops per ship. This is easy because most APs are around 1,300 to 1,500 troop capacity

For xAPs/ xAKs, you can unload 250 per phase, so here you really need to use the very small ships only, otherwise it will take too long to unload.
Also, because supplies unload before tanks, it makes sense to load them as "troops only"

[BBfanboy]

Once you get into 1943 and get some LSTs and LCIs, you can start custom loading your units.

Tanks love LSTs so form a Landing Craft TF and load the tanks on LSTs and LCIs or small xAPs. Let the bigger xAPs take second wave stuff like BFs and Engs which you can hold back until it is safe to spend days unloading.

xAKLs may have range issues but if you have a lot of them you can spread out your troop/artillery equipment load so that if one or two get sunk the unit is not totally crippled.

Load some smaller xAKs with supply only (don't forget to create them as an amphib TF, NOT cargo!) so that your landing troops have enough to work with from the get-go.

When you have done your custom loading, combine the TFs into one or two big Amphib TFs for economy of escorts. You do not have to do this at a distant loading base because you may want to start your slowest (LST) ships moving several days before the faster ones. Combine them a couple of days away from target.

On the distance to target point, if I am loading somewhere a long way from target and do not want to (or can't) have an interim rest stop, I put the Infantry and Combat Engineers on the fastest APs so they will be less fatigued from time at sea. Baby your fighting troops as much as you can.

[BillBrown]

For atolls I would wait for APA and AKA ships. They will unload 3000 in one phase( or day? - I forget )
If I remember right, you shock attack every turn you unload troops, it helps to get them all unloaded in one turn if possible.

[Revthought]

My impression has always been, without any real proof, that it's better to use APs and AKs, which are purpose built military transports, than it is to use the civilian conversions xAK or xAP when it comes to unloading times for amphib operations.

But I could totally be wrong.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

ORIGINAL: Revthought

My impression has always been, without any real proof, that it's better to use APs and AKs, which are purpose built military transports, than it is to use the civilian conversions xAK or xAP when it comes to unloading times for amphib operations.

But I could totally be wrong.

Of course they are better, but they are a scarce, thereby strategic asset. Moreover, most of these AKs/ APs will upgrade to AKA/ APA later on (starting in early Q1.43).

So it is more a matter of how many of those APs/ AKs you are willing to risk in an early invasion; you lose too many and your invasion potential will suffer until later.

small xAPs/ xAKs in the other hand are rather abundant, and by mid 42 even redundant, as they are too short ranged, too small/ slow for oceanic trade.
I will try to avoid using xAPs or xAKs in the 1st invasion wave, but in my games they will take care of 2nd line troops

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

ORIGINAL: Revthought

My impression has always been, without any real proof, that it's better to use APs and AKs, which are purpose built military transports, than it is to use the civilian conversions xAK or xAP when it comes to unloading times for amphib operations.

But I could totally be wrong.

Of course they are better, but they are a scarce, thereby strategic asset. Moreover, most of these AKs/ APs will upgrade to AKA/ APA later on (starting in early Q3).

So it is more a matter of how many of those APs/ AKs you are willing to risk in an early invasion; you lose too many and your invasion potential will suffer until later.

small xAPs/ xAKs in the other hand are rather abundant, and by mid 42 even redundant, as they are too short ranged, too small/ slow for oceanic trade.
I will try to avoid using xAPs or xAKs in the 1st invasion wave, but in my games they will take care of 2nd line troops

In addition, the scarcity and need to save as many as possible for the upgrade in '43 means not risking them in secondary operations during '42.

I execute most amphibious ops in '42 with civilian transports.

Only the crucial ops get the military transports.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

ORIGINAL: Revthought

My impression has always been, without any real proof, that it's better to use APs and AKs, which are purpose built military transports, than it is to use the civilian conversions xAK or xAP when it comes to unloading times for amphib operations.

But I could totally be wrong.

Of course they are better, but they are a scarce, thereby strategic asset. Moreover, most of these AKs/ APs will upgrade to AKA/ APA later on (starting in early Q3).

So it is more a matter of how many of those APs/ AKs you are willing to risk in an early invasion; you lose too many and your invasion potential will suffer until later.

small xAPs/ xAKs in the other hand are rather abundant, and by mid 42 even redundant, as they are too short ranged, too small/ slow for oceanic trade.
I will try to avoid using xAPs or xAKs in the 1st invasion wave, but in my games they will take care of 2nd line troops

In addition, the scarcity and need to save as many as possible for the upgrade in '43 means not risking them in secondary operations during '42.

I execute most amphibious ops in '42 with civilian transports.

Only the crucial ops get the military transports.

+1 ... and with lots of embedded bombardment ships to soak up/suppress coastal artillery fire ... and ASW protection .... and air cover .... and SCTFs to intercept raiders. Awww, to heck with it - just use xAKs/xAPs you can afford to lose! [:D]