AI unable to protect transport ships

Fu.Th.Sy. said:

Is it possible to add ''transportcapability'' line to any other naval type unit?

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i doubt this will work

Well, a partial workaround might be the one used in certain mods, e.g. the TRM, in which transports are always attached to at least one DD.

A quick look at the "Sunk ships" ledger page in my current game, though, shows how even this measure proves to be rather ineffective .

Titan79 said:

Well, a partial workaround might be the one used in certain mods, e.g. the TRM, in which transports are always attached to at least one DD.

A quick look at the "Sunk ships" ledger page in my current game, though, shows how even this measure proves to be rather ineffective .

Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised if it was overall even worse, since it may cause shorter initial engagement distances. Lone transports generally try to keep maximum distance (and occasionally succeed) whereas very weakly escorted transports may not.

I don't know that there is a good solution available if the AI cannot be taught proper fleet composition overall, including sizable escorts - which is a lot of work.

Maybe just get the AI always to attach more than one destroyer? Maybe a couple of destroyers and light cruisers? I rarely use more than that as an escort myself... although I do sometimes regret it!

I think it is a tough problem for the AI. In my amphibs I use fleets to screen, NAVs to protect the screen, FTR to protect the NAVs, usually a SAG of some size to go with the TPs, and the TPs always have attached navy such as either DD, CVL w/screen or right now I trying CLs. And given all that, next comes the decision of when and what path to use for amphib.

But the USA AI runs single TPs across a hostile Pacific, and subsequently ends up with nearly zero of the world's best main battle tanks. Seems Yankee ARM is somehow cheaper to lose and presumably better than marines might be for amphibing the jungles of Asia - as regards the AI strategy (?).