Oilers?

[spacenerd4]

One thing that I don't think has ever been seriously considered in this game, but is somewhat easy to add are oilers. They could be relatively simple- perhaps like 8000 to 28000 ton 12-28 knot AMCs with a maximum of 2 5 in guns- and be spawned with your fleet during most fleet battles and some smaller engagements and have weak, flammable structure but be nearly impossible to sink with torpedoes(representing their historical properties)as well as being required to decrease the odds of a fuel shortage after 1930 or so.

[seawolf]

It would be cool to see support ships in general, but I'd rather have it as a DLC representing more of them, as well as their strategic/tactical value by a SAI style engagement.
For example, Submarine Tenders, Minelayers, Ammunition Ships, Repair Ships, and Seaplane Tenders were part of the commissioned fleet.

I'd also like to see tankers, because their strategic value was quite important.

[williammiller]

Fleet trains are something to think about, and something we (NWS) have discussed internally. Right now no specific plans to include them, but the future is wide open as they say.

[spacenerd4]

Aug 1, 2020 8:39:28 GMT -6 williammiller said:

Fleet trains are something to think about, and something we (NWS) have discussed internally. Right now no specific plans to include them, but the future is wide open as they say.

I think oilers wouldn't require much  more code and vastly improve immersion.

[noshurviverse]

Aug 1, 2020 15:22:31 GMT -6 spacenerd4 said:

Aug 1, 2020 8:39:28 GMT -6 williammiller said:

Fleet trains are something to think about, and something we (NWS) have discussed internally. Right now no specific plans to include them, but the future is wide open as they say.

I think oilers wouldn't require much  more code and vastly improve immersion.

I've seen this topic discussed earlier, and for me my answer currently sits at "indifferent", with perhaps a slight leaning towards "no". You mentioned oilers being a way around the fuel shortage, but I partially disagree. I was under the impression that these shortages are the result of blockades restricting the ability for oilers to move their cargo, not the lack of them itself.

I don't think simply adding oilers in would currently add a significant element to the game, because oilers represent an element to RtW that is currently very abstract, which is as William mentioned, supply and fleet trains. So for me, adding oilers without a meaningful purpose to them or an expansion to what they represent would kind of be like having a monitor without any computer to hook it up to. If the act of supplying your fleet was expanded beyond what it currently is now, maintaining a "base capacity" above the amount of ships you have then I'd say they have a place, but currently that's not the case and I suspect that designing, implementing and balancing such a system is a rather hefty task. With RtW extremely small dev team, that means competing with other popular requests.  If we wanted to include oilers but little to no other support vessels, I think an option would be to have them act as essentially mobile base capacity.

On the other hand, having a couple oilers/coilers in with a merchant convoy would make sense and could probably be done with some rather smaller amount of work.

[stevethecat]

Aug 2, 2020 4:45:40 GMT -6 noshurviverse said:

Aug 1, 2020 15:22:31 GMT -6 spacenerd4 said:

I think oilers wouldn't require much  more code and vastly improve immersion.

I don't think simply adding oilers in would currently add a significant element to the game, because oilers represent an element to RtW that is currently very abstract

Well in the short term an oiler (or coaler) could act as an extension to the base size to allow more ships to be supported in an area (the amount depending on tonnage of the ship), and also improve the effectiveness of raiders acting in that area and reduce the chances of 'scuttled due to lack of fuel'. The player could be informed of such effects in the monthly events log with 'Oiler HMS barmaid resupplied raider HMS Shootymcshootface in West Africa'. etc.

They could even allow short ranged ships to act as raiders in an area if present.

[seawolf]

The system I would want to see is regional Fuel levels. Sort of like a suuuuper simplified WITP. Having tankers in a foreign region would resupply the fuel level there(From your home region).

Then using that fuel level, your bases and oilers supply your fleets.

Generally fuel shortages were global, but especially in WWII a lack of tankers meant it was hard to get Fuel Oil from the US to areas overseas, despite the abundance of fuel in the Continental US

[oldpop2000]

You might find this interesting and this one. www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/BBBO/index.html

Oil Logistics.pdf (1.15 MB)

[aquelarrefox]

Yes

[spacenerd4]

You can express your opinion by clicking on the poll.

[aquelarrefox]

Sept 2, 2020 13:37:43 GMT -6 spacenerd4 said:

You can express your opinion by clicking on the poll.

i did of course

[spacenerd4]

ok

[rimbecano]

I don't get all this talk about fleet Eulers. Leonhard Euler was a mathematician, not an admiral!

*rimshot

[cabalamat]

Jul 31, 2020 17:57:12 GMT -6 spacenerd4 said:

One thing that I don't think has ever been seriously considered in this game, but is somewhat easy to add are oilers. They could be relatively simple- perhaps like 8000 to 28000 ton 12-28 knot AMCs with a maximum of 2 5 in guns- and be spawned with your fleet during most fleet battles and some smaller engagements and have weak, flammable structure but be nearly impossible to sink with torpedoes(representing their historical properties)as well as being required to decrease the odds of a fuel shortage after 1930 or so.

If a fleet is active a long weay from home, then it will require either permanent bases or a large fleet train. The fleet train will be open to attacks by submarines and surface ships, which give opportunities for battles.

[aquelarrefox]

An oiler like a merchant higly explosive? or with witch new elements?