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LargeSlowTarget -> Fuel & PT boats/barges (1/8/2003 12:08:32 AM)
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Am I the only one still unsatisfied with the fuel storage and PT boat/barges fuel consumption issue? I'd like to hear other opinions.
With the current setup that these boats run on fuel oil I find it hard to conduct meaningful operations around frontline bases with these boats. It is next to impossible for me to gather enough fuel for sustained operations, unless the bases are captured and build up to levels that make tanker runs reasonable safe - and at this stage the need for PTs and barges is gone... - but that's why we have small boats, in order not to risk valuable ships in possible hot spots.
If I'm campaigning for Munda as Allies for example, I'd like to set up a PT-base on an undefended adjacent island like Rendova to battle the barges trying to reinforce Munda. In order to ship enough fuel up there I have to use TKs, AOs or AKs substituting as tankers or I have to station a tanker on replenishment mission at the beach. Unfortunately this puts the ships in a very dangerous spot right under the nose of the enemy, something I'd like to avoid. The only way I have discovered to build up a small fuel reserve for PTs/barges is to send a huge convoy of tankers up to the front, protect them with surface TFs, keep my CVs and/or LBA on CAP over them (assets that are tied up for the duration) and let them retire to a safer spot when danger is imminent or CAP needs a rest. Big show just for getting fuel for the PTs, and lots of targets for enemy reactions.
Problem is tankers and AKs unload fuel so painfully slow at beach hexes or small-sized ports that even many tankers in one TF each unloading a few dozen tons per day drop barely enough fuel to operate the PTs for more than just a few days. The fuel consumption of a few TFs with a dozen boats each is quite impressive. This gets even worse when transport TFs sent to the base top off their bunkers (often without really needing it) before they return to the barn and thus use up the precious fuel gathered for the PTs/barges.
But how realistic is fuel storage and fueling operations at beach hexes anyway? Usually there are no fuel storage facilities worth mentioning at beaches or small ports for tankers to discharge their cargo. But in UV, given enough time and lack of enemy intervention, you can store thousands of tons of fuel oil at a beach hex - but where would this stuff be stored IRL? Furthermore, this has a gamey effect on operations since combat TFs can be refueled up front with no need to retire to a major base or to replenishment TFs parked at a safe distance, one reason why the pace of operations in UV can be considerable faster than it was IRL.
Now, since planes in UV run on supplies I presume there are barrels with avgas included in this category. Since PTs and barges run on gasoline or diesel engines (certainly not on bunker C fuel oil), the same principle can apply there. [B]So, why not let PTs and barges use barrels of gasoline/diesel from the supply stocks? [/B] Since it is easier to move supplies to the front by small AK, LST, LCI and barges or even by transport planes, this approach should facilitate the use of PTs and barges at frontline bases and may allow for a more realistic usage of these small boats.
Furthermore, [B]I would like to see the auto-refueling of TFs outside Noumea and Brisbane deactivated[/B] , i.e. a TF at Lunga for example should only refuel if I hit the 'Refuel in Port' button. This would help to build up fuel stocks because the needless drain from auto-fueling TFs that actually still have enough fuel would be eliminated.
And finally, as the game already allows and these measures would further facilitate the build-up of fuel stocks at beach hexes or small bases above and beyond reasonable quantities, [B]I think we need an upper limit on the amount of fuel that can be stockpiled at each base[/B] . This could be achieved by permiting the discharge of fuel only at bases above size 3 or so and by a max storage capacity depending on port size (e.g. size 0,1,2 = none, 3 = 30k tons,..., 9 = 90k).
So, running PTs and barges with supplies representing gasoline drums, deactivating the auto-fuel function and limiting the fuel stocks capacities would have a ripple effect on operations, and a positive one IMO.
Okay, but maybe I'm just too dumb to figure out how to supply my PTs and barges properly without all those measures. Any hints?
Whoops, this one turned out to be longer than expected. Forgive me.
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