Don Bowen -> RE: Amphibious Task Force unload rates while being undocked at a friendly port (1/31/2013 9:00:40 PM)
The manual provides numbers for "an assault unloads over the beach" and "amphibious unload in a small friendly port" but in my case none of those numbers fit but that can be expected as the manual further states:
"Amphibious TFs not docked at a friendly port unload at a different rate, depending on port
size, amount of free dock space, and the types of ships in the TFs. Amphibious ship types, with
attached landing craft, will unload faster than non-amphibious ships."
The first two cases get some solid numbers, this case lacks any numbers to give clue on the unload rates in this particular case.
Also the paragraph doesn't make much sense because why should an Amphibious TF unloading while UNDOCKED have its unload rate influenced by port size & free dock space?
Isn't this the point of making an Amphibious TF to not be bothered by port size and dock space?
Obviously the undocked amphibious unload is neither, an "assault unload over the beach" nor an "amphibious unload while docked in a port".
I just have an amphibious TF unloading 804 supplies per ship(2x AK) last turn in a hex with a level 2 port while undocked. This strange value might has been effected by a air and a sub attack but still it's clear that neither the "assault unload over the beach" rate of 600 nor the "amphibious unload while docked in a port" rate of 300 for cargo(supplies) fit into this.
So is anyone able to provide numbers for Troop unload & Cargo unload rates for the following ship types in case of an "amphibious unload while NOT docked in a port"???
» Beaching Crafts
» Attack Amphibious Ships
» Regular Amphibious Ships
» Merchant Ships
I do not believe it is possible to directly answer your question. Unload rates must consider two factors: the ability of the ships to unload and the ability of the port to receive.
An UNDOCKED amphib TF can probably unload faster than the port can receive. Landing craft of the amphib ships can unload directly to a beach, somewhat increasing unload rate. However the "over the beach" unload rates for friendly ports are less than those used during invasions. During invasions you just dump the stuff on the sand and hope it gets used. When using beach unload at a friendly port the port must provide facilities to handle and store the unloaded stuff. When the port is overwhelmed, ship unloading must pause while the port catches up.
And, remember, there is a port manager that optimizes use of port facilities. If the entire TF can not dock but there is some free dock space, the port manager will "temp dock" any individual ship that it can. This is subject to ship size and free dock limitations.
What I can answer:
Beaching Craft and Attack Amphibious Ships are all Amphib ships for the purpose of non-invasion unloads. In UNDOCKED TFs, they unload at a factor based on the amphib rate. This factor is 60% of the amphib rate for troops and 40% for cargo. The amphib rate is 3000. However, you will almost never see these unload rates due to port limitations.
By Regular Amphibious Ships I assume you mean AP and AK types. These unload at the 60% Troop/40% Cargo factors based on the Transport Ship rate of 1500.
Merchant ships use the same 60% Troop, 40% cargo factors but base it on the Merchant rate(s). These rates are:
Japanese Merchant Ships: 400
except during initial bonus period 1200
Allied Merchant Ships: 250
(I do not recall why Japanese Merchant ship rate is higher than allied. Some gaming issue I expect)