Bullwinkle58 -> RE: fuel to Oz question (7/21/2010 6:42:11 PM)
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ORIGINAL: Offworlder I also usually have Brit Convoys coming either from Cape Town or Colombo. A fast convoy of mixed AKs and TKs (16-17 speed range) is the main hauler and I usually direct it through the Cocos Islands to either Darwin or Perth. Now that I'm trying to hold Java, Darwin has become even more important as the short legged supply convoys can operate a short route in Soerbaja/Tiljap (ok you know the base I'm referring to![:D]). If you still have Java your situaiton is quite different than if you had lost it. The Cocos route is completely untenable if the AI has Oosthaven; it makes it a huge Betty base and can reach out to much of the normal, non-waypointed CT--Perth routes. The Cocos are a happy hunting ground. You need to route tankers almost to the western map edge on the trip south to avoid the Betties. Also, sending Abbadan and Aden fuel convoys to western Oz is OK until the AI scripts activate to send big carrier raiders into the IO (well north of Diego Garcia in my experience) and crush some precious tankers. As others have said, a lot of the fuel strategy is personal preference. I think that building beautiful, complex way-stations east-west is nice, but by the time you have them humming, you usually don't need them (you have Tarawa back for example.) In the very early days of 1941--winter 1942, the AI floods the San Diego--LA area with subs as well, and your ASW is throwing fluffy pillows at them. Losing even 5-6 tankers here early hurts a lot. I'm of the off-map camp myself. It's slower, and you have to redistribute in-theater from Perth, Adelaide, etc., and Sydney HI does suck up a lot of your effort, but it saves ships. I played a GC against the AI through August 1945, and to the very last day I didn't have enough tankers. I lamented those lost in the first six months through the whole war. Whatever else recommends against the off-map routes, those ships are safe for most of the trip.
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