Convoys and TC

jpugh619 · 17-08-2006, 20:33

Sorry if this question is too rookie but I was hoping someone could explain the TC and convoy process and how it all works together. For example, I usually play as USA starting in 36', although I have tried others. Anyway, as USA in 36' I usually start out with very few convoys and feverishly build them up to around 1200-1500 with 200-250 escorts. Don't know why, I just picked those numbers. Everything is fine for a while then my TC on top turns red and my convoy numbers start fluctuating but steadily decreasing. Do I need to build more convoys or are other factors influencing this, like enemy attacks? I just draw a blank when trying to understand exactly what TC is and how it all is intertwined.

I guess I was hoping for a general explanation of how it all works. I can't find my game instructions at this time. Thanks

chimney · 17-08-2006, 22:21

tc and convoy is 2 separate things

Garth Vader · 17-08-2006, 22:32

Convoys are used to ship supplies to your troops in your posessions overseas, and that also ship goods back to your home country.

TC use is related to the number of divisions you have to support and also how much occupied territory you control.

What probably happened to you is that you occupied overseas territory driving up your TC use, and had to ship more supplies and resources back.

jpugh619 · 17-08-2006, 23:18

but don't I need to build more convoys to maintain my TC? How many convoys should I have for USA 36', as an example? Are there other factors that affect TC?

potski · 17-08-2006, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpugh619

Sorry if this question is too rookie but I was hoping someone could explain the TC and convoy process and how it all works together. For example, I usually play as USA starting in 36', although I have tried others. Anyway, as USA in 36' I usually start out with very few convoys and feverishly build them up to around 1200-1500 with 200-250 escorts. Don't know why, I just picked those numbers. Everything is fine for a while then my TC on top turns red and my convoy numbers start fluctuating but steadily decreasing. Do I need to build more convoys or are other factors influencing this, like enemy attacks? I just draw a blank when trying to understand exactly what TC is and how it all is intertwined.

I guess I was hoping for a general explanation of how it all works. I can't find my game instructions at this time. Thanks

Try the HOI2 Wiki for some information about TC:

Transport Capacity and Supply Efficiency FAQ

I think as US you would probably just start with convoys to Alaska and Hawaii, neither of which should suffer a great deal of interdiction once war breaks out because they wouldn't come within the range of the JAP navy. So I doubt you'd need to build any extra convoys/escorts for there. If you gain territories overseas in the Pacific you are going to need convoys/escorts to move supplies and oil to those islands, otherwise any units you base there are going to be out of supply - naval and air units particularly will be useless unless you move oil to their bases.

Fortunately the AI deals with the convoys for you, unless you turn-off automatic convoys. The AI identifies the need for a new route if you occupy a new island and allocates convoys and escorts to the route. Only if there are insufficient convoys/escorts available in the pool, either because you're overstretching the existing ones, or they are being sunk by enemy fleets, do you need to build some more.

If you feel the need to manage convoys see this thread:

Quick Guide on Micro-Managing Convoys

You won't need convoys if you rebase units to mainland GB, Gibraltar, etc. as the UK will supply them. If you invade France or North Africa then you might need to send supplies there, depending on whether the AI regards the provinces as occupied by UK or US.

Unfortunately the Wiki Strategy Guide for US makes no mention of convoys. This might be an oversight, or just that they are not really an issue for USA.

Weasel Division · 18-08-2006, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpugh619

but don't I need to build more convoys to maintain my TC? How many convoys should I have for USA 36', as an example? Are there other factors that affect TC?

convoys do not affect tc in any way, except that they deliver supplies to troops.

BlueEmperor · 18-08-2006, 02:29

TC means transport capacity. Transport capacity is the ability of your nation to logistically supply your armed forces. TC is determined by taking your IC and multiplying it by 1.5.

As it has already been said here, convoys deliver supplies to your forces overseas. They run daily on an as-needed basis, so your fluctuations are due to them running where they're needed when the stockpiles at the depots overseas are depleted.

TC does not interfere with your convoys, even if it is overloaded. TC overload can still cause problems like making strategic redeployment take longer than it normally would and lowering your units' ESE (Effective Supply Efficiency) which will lower their org regain rate.

GoforitPanzer · 18-08-2006, 02:29

If you hold your mouse over the TC number in the top of your screen it'll tell you why the TC is so high. If your TC gets into the red, your units start moving slower, fight worse and will give you severe penalties if your TC rises too high. Fortunately there are some techs that increase your TC.

As USA you can easily build heaps of armor and other units that use enormous amounts of fuel. These also put a heavy strain on your TC.

If you occupy enemy territory you can also get partisans in those provinces.
These will also count towards your TC. Provinces with high partisanlevels in them should be garrisoned by garrisons+mp's.

Solon · 18-08-2006, 04:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueEmperor

TC means transport capacity. Transport capacity is the ability of your nation to logistically supply your armed forces. TC is determined by taking your IC and multiplying it by 1.5.

As it has already been said here, convoys deliver supplies to your forces overseas. They run daily on an as-needed basis, so your fluctuations are due to them running where they're needed when the stockpiles at the depots overseas are depleted.

TC does not interfere with your convoys, even if it is overloaded. TC overload can still cause problems like making strategic redeployment take longer than it normally would and lowering your units' ESE (Effective Supply Efficiency) which will lower their org regain rate.

As I usually play Germany, Convoys/Escorts are hardly something to which I pay much attention.

Question: any chance that these convoys/escorts are stacking up in the undeployed pool? I know if you leave something like an "Airbase" in the deployment pool, then the TC load goes way up!

Solon

Garth Vader · 18-08-2006, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpugh619

but don't I need to build more convoys to maintain my TC? How many convoys should I have for USA 36', as an example? Are there other factors that affect TC?

Probably less than you have. I don't build to a set amount. If I have zero left, or are planning a new overseas operation I will start one or two runs of convoys and one run of escorts for a year or so.

jpugh619 · 18-08-2006, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garth Vader

Probably less than you have. I don't build to a set amount. If I have zero left, or are planning a new overseas operation I will start one or two runs of convoys and one run of escorts for a year or so.

if i have zero left in the production bar, does that mean they are all gone or that none are avialable? Dumb question, sorry.

Crusher Neko · 18-08-2006, 15:24

Some of the logistics related techs increase your TC. Also one of the heads of state gives you a TC bonus (old general? something like that). This is the advantage of the central planning political slider, even though central planning is pretty suck compared to free market, it does give you more IC, which means more TC. In addition, some German players will build factories even though they are no longer 'economical' to increase their TC. In general, it is the oil hungry units which eat into your TC the most (watch out for H tank brigades, as they use almost as much oil as a regular panzer division by themselves.)

Convoys are something different, which are used to move suppiles and resources (rare, oil, etc) around over the ocean. As the US, you'll probably want a total of maybe 600-1500 convoy points, since shipping supplies to all those little islands in the pacific really eats into your convoy points. You'll also want maybe 100 points of escorts. As the US, you can just send in your navy and level the japanese navy, so you won't have to worry about escorts too much.

In general, it is best to build convoys and escorts in long build queues to maximise your gearing bonus. There are no tech upgrades to convoys or escorts, so a convoy point you build in 1936 is just as good as a convoy point you build in 1944. Note that the ship assembly line production tech reduces the costs of convoy points and escorts, so you may want to hold off convoy production unitl you get this tech.

Garth Vader · 18-08-2006, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpugh619

if i have zero left in the production bar, does that mean they are all gone or that none are avialable? Dumb question, sorry.

What do you mean the production bar? Do you mean the item in your production list, or the line above your list of active convoy routes? If you mean that second thing, that number is what is available after the ones used on convoys. If you are using auto-convoys the AI does odd things. One day it will use very few so almost all of your ships will be available, the next day it will use all of them!

jpugh619 · 18-08-2006, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garth Vader

What do you mean the production bar? Do you mean the item in your production list, or the line above your list of active convoy routes? If you mean that second thing, that number is what is available after the ones used on convoys. If you are using auto-convoys the AI does odd things. One day it will use very few so almost all of your ships will be available, the next day it will use all of them!

Yeh, sorry for the terminology. I mean the number listed on the line above the active convoys. It lists the number convoys and escorts. That is the numbers I was referring to. Thanks

17-08-2006, 20:33	#1
jpugh619 Sergeant Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast, USA Posts: 53	Convoys and TC Sorry if this question is too rookie but I was hoping someone could explain the TC and convoy process and how it all works together. For example, I usually play as USA starting in 36', although I have tried others. Anyway, as USA in 36' I usually start out with very few convoys and feverishly build them up to around 1200-1500 with 200-250 escorts. Don't know why, I just picked those numbers. Everything is fine for a while then my TC on top turns red and my convoy numbers start fluctuating but steadily decreasing. Do I need to build more convoys or are other factors influencing this, like enemy attacks? I just draw a blank when trying to understand exactly what TC is and how it all is intertwined. I guess I was hoping for a general explanation of how it all works. I can't find my game instructions at this time. Thanks

17-08-2006, 23:18	#4
jpugh619 Sergeant Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast, USA Posts: 53	Ok....... but don't I need to build more convoys to maintain my TC? How many convoys should I have for USA 36', as an example? Are there other factors that affect TC?

17-08-2006, 22:21	#2
chimney Major Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Land of the summoned frogs Posts: 504	tc and convoy is 2 separate things

17-08-2006, 22:32	#3
Garth Vader Second Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Saskatoon, SK, CA Posts: 199	Convoys are used to ship supplies to your troops in your posessions overseas, and that also ship goods back to your home country. TC use is related to the number of divisions you have to support and also how much occupied territory you control. What probably happened to you is that you occupied overseas territory driving up your TC use, and had to ship more supplies and resources back.

18-08-2006, 02:29	#7
BlueEmperor Honorary Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 1,020	TC means transport capacity. Transport capacity is the ability of your nation to logistically supply your armed forces. TC is determined by taking your IC and multiplying it by 1.5. As it has already been said here, convoys deliver supplies to your forces overseas. They run daily on an as-needed basis, so your fluctuations are due to them running where they're needed when the stockpiles at the depots overseas are depleted. TC does not interfere with your convoys, even if it is overloaded. TC overload can still cause problems like making strategic redeployment take longer than it normally would and lowering your units' ESE (Effective Supply Efficiency) which will lower their org regain rate.

18-08-2006, 02:29	#8
GoforitPanzer General Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,949	If you hold your mouse over the TC number in the top of your screen it'll tell you why the TC is so high. If your TC gets into the red, your units start moving slower, fight worse and will give you severe penalties if your TC rises too high. Fortunately there are some techs that increase your TC. As USA you can easily build heaps of armor and other units that use enormous amounts of fuel. These also put a heavy strain on your TC. If you occupy enemy territory you can also get partisans in those provinces. These will also count towards your TC. Provinces with high partisanlevels in them should be garrisoned by garrisons+mp's.

18-08-2006, 15:24	#12
Crusher Neko First Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 216	Some of the logistics related techs increase your TC. Also one of the heads of state gives you a TC bonus (old general? something like that). This is the advantage of the central planning political slider, even though central planning is pretty suck compared to free market, it does give you more IC, which means more TC. In addition, some German players will build factories even though they are no longer 'economical' to increase their TC. In general, it is the oil hungry units which eat into your TC the most (watch out for H tank brigades, as they use almost as much oil as a regular panzer division by themselves.) Convoys are something different, which are used to move suppiles and resources (rare, oil, etc) around over the ocean. As the US, you'll probably want a total of maybe 600-1500 convoy points, since shipping supplies to all those little islands in the pacific really eats into your convoy points. You'll also want maybe 100 points of escorts. As the US, you can just send in your navy and level the japanese navy, so you won't have to worry about escorts too much. In general, it is best to build convoys and escorts in long build queues to maximise your gearing bonus. There are no tech upgrades to convoys or escorts, so a convoy point you build in 1936 is just as good as a convoy point you build in 1944. Note that the ship assembly line production tech reduces the costs of convoy points and escorts, so you may want to hold off convoy production unitl you get this tech.