Just FYI:
Did you ever wonder why the UK manages to do so poorly at sea (in the Med especially) despite its great navy? Here's the answer:
Oil on convoys to remote provinces:
When you set up the convoy routes for the various countries you "must" ensure that they supply BOTH oil and supplies.
The reason is that the Ai will NOT change existing convoys to supply oil to provinces that it is allready supplying supplies to at the start of the game. ATm most MODs (and the game default) start off only supplying supplies and not oil - in these circumstances the AI simply will not change to start supplying oil, effectively rendering such bases as useless to units that require oil.
EG>
The UK supplies Singapore, Malta and Gibraltar with supplies via convoy...but no il.
If the AI tries to base ships or other units that require oil in those provinces they will NOT get any as there isnt any being shipped. The AI cannot change the exisitng convoys so this is one reason for UK failure in naval encounters in many MODS.
Thus: All default convoys need to ensure two things:
They supply Oil to provinces that may require it (in the future or immediately).
That any convoys eminating from those provinces aren't simply shipping the oil right back out of the province.
(The default AI establishment of convoys does just this - moving oil, coal, steel and rubber no matter what is in those provinces)
What this means:
In mods such as BOLTs some provinces are effectively "dead-ends" for naval units and units that require oil.
MODs need to start off with correct convoy systems in BOTH directions or the AI will never arrange them properly for DEFAULT (starting) convoys. The AI can cope with establishing NEW convoys - just it wont change existing ones.
Further Note on Transports/fleets:
Another issue with the AI is its failure to split default fleets. Once again this is very specific to STARTING fleets.
The problem here is that the AI does not split off transports from combat vessels, thus fleets such as the UK's end up being used as convoy escorts just because it starts off with 2 transports in it.
If you create the transports in default starting fleets ont heir own and with even just one destroyer then the AI will use them more effectively and also wont run the "associated" combat vessels into the seabed travelling long distances.
Similar "failure to split fleets" issues also cause other problems with naval countries - so its best to create starting fleets that are allready grouped and defined properly - unfortunately the AI doesnt always stick with these but not a lot we can do about that, only try to prevent it as much as possible.
Major Country Convoy Problems:
The following countries have exisitng convoy issues (oil supply) due to the above reason that create distinct problems for the AI (varies with mod):
UK (malta, gibraltar, Singapore, freetown, colombo, bombay, hong kong - also note that the default starting convoys are also shipping any oil right back out also, so check both directions)
Japan (Various default island groups that Japan starts with)
France (though less of an issue once france falls so...)
Whilst this may not seem a major problem in tests it makes a dramatic difference. Hope that helps.
Did you ever wonder why the UK manages to do so poorly at sea (in the Med especially) despite its great navy? Here's the answer:
Oil on convoys to remote provinces:
When you set up the convoy routes for the various countries you "must" ensure that they supply BOTH oil and supplies.
The reason is that the Ai will NOT change existing convoys to supply oil to provinces that it is allready supplying supplies to at the start of the game. ATm most MODs (and the game default) start off only supplying supplies and not oil - in these circumstances the AI simply will not change to start supplying oil, effectively rendering such bases as useless to units that require oil.
EG>
The UK supplies Singapore, Malta and Gibraltar with supplies via convoy...but no il.
If the AI tries to base ships or other units that require oil in those provinces they will NOT get any as there isnt any being shipped. The AI cannot change the exisitng convoys so this is one reason for UK failure in naval encounters in many MODS.
Thus: All default convoys need to ensure two things:
They supply Oil to provinces that may require it (in the future or immediately).
That any convoys eminating from those provinces aren't simply shipping the oil right back out of the province.
(The default AI establishment of convoys does just this - moving oil, coal, steel and rubber no matter what is in those provinces)
What this means:
In mods such as BOLTs some provinces are effectively "dead-ends" for naval units and units that require oil.
MODs need to start off with correct convoy systems in BOTH directions or the AI will never arrange them properly for DEFAULT (starting) convoys. The AI can cope with establishing NEW convoys - just it wont change existing ones.
Further Note on Transports/fleets:
Another issue with the AI is its failure to split default fleets. Once again this is very specific to STARTING fleets.
The problem here is that the AI does not split off transports from combat vessels, thus fleets such as the UK's end up being used as convoy escorts just because it starts off with 2 transports in it.
If you create the transports in default starting fleets ont heir own and with even just one destroyer then the AI will use them more effectively and also wont run the "associated" combat vessels into the seabed travelling long distances.
Similar "failure to split fleets" issues also cause other problems with naval countries - so its best to create starting fleets that are allready grouped and defined properly - unfortunately the AI doesnt always stick with these but not a lot we can do about that, only try to prevent it as much as possible.
Major Country Convoy Problems:
The following countries have exisitng convoy issues (oil supply) due to the above reason that create distinct problems for the AI (varies with mod):
UK (malta, gibraltar, Singapore, freetown, colombo, bombay, hong kong - also note that the default starting convoys are also shipping any oil right back out also, so check both directions)
Japan (Various default island groups that Japan starts with)
France (though less of an issue once france falls so...)
Whilst this may not seem a major problem in tests it makes a dramatic difference. Hope that helps.
