Minelaying Submarine (and ship) question

[Thunderspirit2014]

Question- exactly how do Minelaying submarines work?  If I build them and sit them outside an enemy port or in a strait do they build a minefield there?  Does the minefield go away if the subs are sunk or return to port?  

For ships, my understanding is that they only create a minefield around the port they are in.  Correct?  

 

[Pappystein]

On 1/9/2025 at 11:32 PM, Thunderspirit2014 said:

Question- exactly how do Minelaying submarines work?  If I build them and sit them outside an enemy port or in a strait do they build a minefield there?  Does the minefield go away if the subs are sunk or return to port?  

For ships, my understanding is that they only create a minefield around the port they are in.  Correct?  

 

I have never really used the Minelaying subs after building my first set.  Back then (V1.0ish) it seemed they were not worth the effort.   IDK if that has changed

Minelaying ships lay defensive mine fields arround ports you hold that they are docked at.  The More ships the quicker the Minefield grows to its maximal size.   Having a Cruiser at every port with Mines is a key to my victories over the AI (the AI does not retain ML ships in their ports all that often)  To the point, I invest tonnage and $$$ in keeping 2500-3000 ton Cruisers in service up until I have 1800+ ton Destroyers because destroyers smaller than that can not easily carry the guns, torpedoes Minesweap and Minelaying gear.

My current campaign, in year 1912 I am building my 4th class based on my OG 3500 Ton Light Cruiser updated with the Gen 4 5" Cannons that I just unlocked.   I am upgrading all my older ships through a 6-8 month refit to DoubleGeared Turbines 26kts speed those Gen 4 5" Guns and Oil fired boilers.     Why update when new ships take 10 months?   So I don't have to worry about ports loosing coverage as I cycle through replacing ships. 

Why?   Too many of my ports have a 4000 ton tonnage limit and I prefer not to overload too many ports outside of repairing ships.

 

Oh, also as Germany I have taken over the Soviet Union (in 1901) and France (1911) and am now invading Gulf coast of USA    And before you ask.  Russia had its Revolution to change to communism in 1891 and attacked me in 1892 with like 22 ships in their fleet vs me having almost 150 with more under construction.   The Quick takeover of the Baltic states, North Sea states, by naval invasion and then the Black Sea via same method gave me enough income to set research to 100 from 1894 onward.   RNGus was NICE to me on this career (my previous Career with the same setup was as Japan and I lost in 1903 thanks to backstabbing ally USA (broke alliance and within 6 months was at war with me doing naval invasions in conjunction with Imperial Russia and China)