Limited supply sources

2.4.2 Tracing supply

A secondary supply source is:

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• a cooperating supply unit located in any friendly-controlled city (see Supply units)

(insert after the example about Poland)

If a unit can't trace a supply path to either a primary supply source or a secondary supply source, it might be able to use a limited supply source instead. Units cannot trace to a limited supply source. In order to use a limited supply source, a unit must be stacked in the same hex as the limited supply source.

A limited supply source is:

• any controlled city or port that is not already a primary supply source

A limited supply source must be able to trace a supply path either to a primary supply source or to a secondary supply source which is able to trace a supply path either to a primary supply source or to another secondary source, and so on. There can be any number of secondary supply sources in this chain as long as the path ultimately traces to a primary supply source of the unit tracing the path.

Supply paths

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If you are tracing a path from a secondary supply source to a primary supply source, it is a railway supply path. If you are tracing a path from a secondary supply source to another secondary supply source, it is a railway supply path. If you are tracing a path from a limited supply source to either a primary or secondary supply source, it is a railway supply path, however, all hexes traced must be via rail or overseas (no non-rail hexes allowed).

(replaces fourth paragraph, first sentence)

A suppy path, basic or railway, can be up to 4 hexes if traced to a primary or secondary supply source; it can be 0 hexes (but never less than 0 due to weather or terrain) if traced to a limited supply source (ie units must be on a limited supply source).

Background/Purpose: Why do only conquered capital cities have supply capabilities? Why is Oslo a better supply depot than Kiev? This rule allows a small number of units - only those actually located on the limited supply source - to be in supply. One example of usefulness here is that German units in northern Norwegian ports might actually be able to be in supply without need of an HQ nearby.

Dave's Notes: This is of less impact than you might expect on the ground war. If you only have supply from a limted supply source, you lose supply the instant you leave the city/port (or when the enemy cuts your rail lines -- no 4 hex trace-arounds for limited supply sources). This means that this is, essentially, "defensive" supply only. You'll still need an HQ around to conduct an offensive, or even a decent counter-attack. However, this does allow a small number of airplanes, and potentially large fleets, to operate without an HQ to lead them. An example is the German sub fleet in Brest -- now you don't need an HQ just to run your sub war. However, if you expect to be able to ward off an invasion of Brittany, you probably do need an HQ nearby.

Dean's Notes: I've always wondered why a certain city should be capable of providing supply to an armed force while another city could not. For example; Singapore is not a secondary supply source but Kuala Lumpur is!?! This rule allows all cities to provide supply to forces located in their hex but this is of limited use other than to defend the city and to base air and naval raids from the city. This rule relaxes WIF's overly stringent and sometimes arbitrary supply rules without making supply easier. In fact, you will need an HQ even more than before if you wish to conduct mobile land operations against the enemy!!