Additions to the Battle Fleet...

[swareiam]

Now, here is an idea that I think folks will like.

The addition of Liberty ships to the fleet.

Well, what the heck would it do Redtail? Ahh, I thought you might ask that question...

Well, beyond the obvious being a less well defended target.  It would make available the launching of the LST.

The LST once it reached the shore would autoMAGICALLY bring a fully destroyed base up to 100% after being
captured. This action would make the Liberty ship an extremely valuable target during any attempted base captures.

Any thoughts? 

[Clone155]

I like it!

[Pigslilspaz]

seen better, but what the hell, go for it!

[waystin2]

Variety is the spice of life.  I say add it when the times right HTC!

[Denholm]

If the river tiles are fixed in the next T.E. release this might become a very nice addition.

[vipers]

Now, here is an idea that I think folks will like.

The addition of Liberty ships to the fleet.

Well, what the heck would it do Redtail? Ahh, I thought you might ask that question...

Well, beyond the obvious being a less well defended target.  It would make available the launching of the LST.

The LST once it reached the shore would autoMAGICALLY bring a fully destroyed base up to 100% after being
captured. This action would make the Liberty ship an extremely valuable target during any attempted base captures.

Any thoughts? 

They should also be able to carry vehicles?

[swareiam]

They should also be able to carry vehicles?

Well the problem with vehicles is this. Who's going to be in the vehicles. The LST will be player manned with a few defensive weapons, (2) 50 mounts and (1) 20mm mount. We don't have any unmanned vehicles in the game. So that didn't make any since.

[DrDea]

 I like it

[Saxman]

Now, here is an idea that I think folks will like.

The addition of Liberty ships to the fleet.

Well, what the heck would it do Redtail? Ahh, I thought you might ask that question...

Well, beyond the obvious being a less well defended target.  It would make available the launching of the LST.

The LST once it reached the shore would autoMAGICALLY bring a fully destroyed base up to 100% after being
captured. This action would make the Liberty ship an extremely valuable target during any attempted base captures.

Any thoughts? 

Not a bad idea, but it should be completely independent from the CV battlegroups we already have in the game. And with the addition of such "invasion fleets," LVTs (and PT boats, for that matter) should be removed from the CV groups entirely.

Invasion fleets could comprise: 1 CVE, 2 Liberty ships, and maybe 3-4 DEs. LVTs could spawn only from the Liberty ships. CVE could carry F4Fs, FM-2s, SBDs, TBMs, Seafires, A6Ms, B5Ns and D3As. Sinking the Liberty ships would eliminate LVT spawning, while loss of the CVE would obviously eliminate aircover, as well as trigger the respawn countdown.

[AKP]

I was thinking about liberty ships (troop transports) just today actually.  Ya beat me to it!  

Personally, I think each task force should have 2 - 4 of these in it.  THESE would be the launching point for the LVT's and PT Boats instead of the carrier.  It would make it much more realistic.  Right now, the carriers in game function more like LHA's than CV's... and LHA's didnt exist in WW2.

Now... I can already hear the "but they would be sitting ducks," and "if the Troop transports get sunk, what good is the task force?"  Well... here are my thoughts:

1) The liberty ships would have AA guns on them... so the fleet would pick up a few more guns to defend it.
2) The team attacking a task force would have to split its forces and decide what to take out first... the CV and its ability to provide air cover, the escorts and their AA and surface guns, or the troop transports and its landing craft.
3) It would now take MORE hits to disable the amphib capabilities of the task force.

And even if a CV group lost its transports, it could then be used as a cv group is meant to be used... fighting other cv groups and providing air support to ground actions anywhere on the map.

Well... those are my thoughts anyway.

[vonKrimm]

Well the problem with vehicles is this. Who's going to be in the vehicles. The LST will be player manned with a few defensive weapons, (2) 50 mounts and (1) 20mm mount. We don't have any unmanned vehicles in the game. So that didn't make any since.

Beach Supplies.  A VH that players can spawn from for 15minutes or is hit by 1000lbs of ords; whichever comes 1st.

1) The liberty ships would have AA guns on them... so the fleet would pick up a few more guns to defend it.

Manned by civillian gunners, so ack leathality for those ships to be set at 0.25 of MA standard (I hope).

[AKP]

Not a bad idea, but it should be completely independent from the CV battlegroups we already have in the game. And with the addition of such "invasion fleets," LVTs (and PT boats, for that matter) should be removed from the CV groups entirely.

Invasion fleets could comprise: 1 CVE, 2 Liberty ships, and maybe 3-4 DEs. LVTs could spawn only from the Liberty ships. CVE could carry F4Fs, FM-2s, SBDs, TBMs, Seafires, A6Ms, B5Ns and D3As. Sinking the Liberty ships would eliminate LVT spawning, while loss of the CVE would obviously eliminate aircover, as well as trigger the respawn countdown.

Wow... you were thinking almost the same thing I was while I was typing.  And the separate task group is an even better idea.  Even more like it really was.

[BigKev03]

I think we already have the ability to resupply bases in the game as it would have been rsupplied in actual combat.  Currently we can spawn an amtrak and drop supplies.  In WWII and after the Liberty class ships and the AKA/LKA class ships carried supplies and troops to the invasion beaches but once on station they would drop their Landing Craft Utilities (LCU's) to transport men and supplies to shore.  Landing Ship Tanks (LST's) were the ships that carried their cargo straight to the beach and unloaded it and it future amphibious operations the LST's would splash their cargo of amtraks so they could make the run to the assault beach.  Normally in an amphibious assault the only craft to come ashore during H-hour would be the amtraks (LVT's) and the LCU's.  The LST's would not beach and unload until after the landing beach was secure and beachhead expanded.  Reason being is that the Navy did not want to risk losing a vessel crammed with troops and equipment to direct enemy fire.  So if your point is to resupply a base then we dont need Liberty ships or LST's because we can do that now with amtraks once we capture a base or we can run supplies from another land base with a nearby spawn.  If your purpose it to land vehicles in an assault then I guess an LST is an option to add.  But I just think it would be sunk quicker than the carrier in the task group.  Just my thoughts. What do you all say?

BigKev

[Wraith_TMS]

I like this idea.  Would it be possible to go the extra mile and make it a truly game-changing feature by treating these beached LST's as mobile vehicle bases?

I haven't thought it out completely (so please be gentle), but if technically possible (code-wise), wouldn't beaching an LST with the ability to offload a dozen or a score of GVs (with troop and supply capability too), allow for some interesting fights.  Right now, the GV spawns are well-known.  If an LST group could be brought into an enemy's back yard at points that are not known, it seems to me it would add several fun elements (suprise invasions, new ships, new tactics).  There might be more reliance on reconnaissance and coastal patrol, for instance.

The GV, and mission and capture- oriented folk would get a new way of attacking (heck, invading...), and the furballers and attack people will have a blast (literally) trying to take out the LST group and its air cover.

I think this idea above may have some holes in it, true, but maybe it's doable.  If so, you could expect some hellacious combat as a result.  Certainly what the OPs have suggested seems doable, even if it's not taken as far the above.

FWIW,

[swareiam]

I think we already have the ability to resupply bases in the game as it would have been rsupplied in actual combat.  Currently we can spawn an amtrak and drop supplies.  In WWII and after the Liberty class ships and the AKA/LKA class ships carried supplies and troops to the invasion beaches but once on station they would drop their Landing Craft Utilities (LCU's) to transport men and supplies to shore.  Landing Ship Tanks (LST's) were the ships that carried their cargo straight to the beach and unloaded it and it future amphibious operations the LST's would splash their cargo of amtraks so they could make the run to the assault beach.  Normally in an amphibious assault the only craft to come ashore during H-hour would be the amtraks (LVT's) and the LCU's.  The LST's would not beach and unload until after the landing beach was secure and beachhead expanded.  Reason being is that the Navy did not want to risk losing a vessel crammed with troops and equipment to direct enemy fire.  So if your point is to resupply a base then we dont need Liberty ships or LST's because we can do that now with amtraks once we capture a base or we can run supplies from another land base with a nearby spawn.  If your purpose it to land vehicles in an assault then I guess an LST is an option to add.  But I just think it would be sunk quicker than the carrier in the task group.  Just my thoughts. What do you all say?

BigKev

Kev,

Point well taken and understood. But how many times have you captured a base to have it sit there without stores because guys are too impatient to help with the resupply. With the advent of the Liberty ship a well organized and disciplined attack group that protects the Liberty ship gets icing on the cake after the capture. That's pretty simple... On the other hand, if you're defending and you fail to take out the Liberty ship. The next adjacent base up the road a piece won't be yours for long.  In general, WARs can actually be won in 10 -12 hours rather than 3 - 7 days.

Cheers...