Freighter User's Guide

The Ship

The freighter is modeled after the Hog Island class of World War I.  It was named after an island near Philadelphia where a massive shipyard was constructed on what used to be a swampy wasteland.  The island was close to the Delaware River and the shoreline was capable of launching deep draft ships.  Soon after the purchase of the island by the American International Corporate, Hog Island sported a new rail line and a forest of shipbuilding cranes.  Even though World War I ended before a single ship could be produced by the new yard, wartime contracts were honored and 122 ships were completed between February 1918 and January 1921.  These ships assumed their previous role during World War II by transporting freight and troops for the Allies.

The freighter in WWII Online can do 17.5 knots at full speed and carries 4x 20mm cannons for defense.  She can hold 4 vehicles on her decks and in her hull, plus an unlimited number of infantry.  She has one crane to hoist cargo on and off the ship, plus four lifeboats for infantry to climb aboard.  She has one screw (propeller) and one smoke-stack. To spawn a freighter a player must be the rank of lieutenant or higher in the navy.

Crew Positions

There are seven positions on the freighter that take you to various parts of the ship.  While infantry riding the freighter can move about the ship at will, the crew of the freighter are fixed in place.

Position one is the Captain.  He is responsible for working the freighter's engine and steering the ship.

Position two is the Port Side Lookout.

Position three is the Cargo Master who is in charge of operating the hoist to load and unload cargo.

Position four is the First Officer.  He has all the same functionality of the Captain.

Position five is the Starboard Side Lookout.

Position six is the Bow Defense Officer.  He controls the two 20mm cannons at the front of the ship.

Position seven is the Stern Defense Officer.  He controls the two 20mm cannons at the rear of the ship.

Position 1 and 4 - The Captain & First Officer

The Captain starts the ship's engines by hitting the e key on your keyboard.  After they've been started the transmission is set in the forward gear position by default, but can be changed by hitting the r key.  To change gears the player must use the [ and ] keys.  To increase or decrease your engine's horsepower use your joystick's y-axis (forwards and backwards).  To steer the freighter to port (left) or starboard (right), use your joystick's x-axis (side-to-side).  Use your number pad on your keyboard to look around in a 300 degree arc.  Hitting the del key on your number pad will give you a view to your rear.  The Ins key on your keyboard's number pad will show you your instruments.  To take infantry aboard your ship the Captain must lower the lifeboats by pressing the o key and then raise them again once they are on.

You'll find these same basic operations for all land and sea units in World War II Online.

Captain's View

Captain's Instrument View

Positions 2 and 5 - Lookouts

The lookouts are stationed on the near the midsection of the vessel on the bridge.  There is a port and starboard side lookout and each has a 360 degree field of view.  You turn the lookout's focus using the joystick and access the lookout's binoculars by pressing the del key on your keyboard's number pad.  The binoculars have a 2x zoom and can see farther than any other position on the ship.  The lookouts can also swap positions by pressing the o key.

Port Side Lookout's View

Starboard Side Lookout's View

Position 3 - The Cargo Master

By far the most important position on the ship, the Cargo Master is whole purpose of using the freighter in the first place - and the most complicated to learn.  The crane is used to load and unload cargo for your freighter.  By default the crane controls are mapped to your joystick, and is divided into two separate parts: the hoist and the hook.  The crane's arm is mapped to your joystick, but the up and down function of the actual hook does not come mapped.  I suggest you map it to your throttle if your joystick has one.  For a better idea of what the hoist and hook look like, see figure below.  You can switch Cargo Master views from left to right by using the o key.

The Cargo Master has views from above the hoist and above the hook, and you'll need them both to align the hook above your target.  You can access the hook view by hitting the del key on your keyboard's number pad and it has a 2x view.  The hoist camera view can be accessed by pressing the Ins key on your keyboard's number pad.

Hook Camera View

Hoist Camera View

To pick up cargo you must swing the arm of the crane over to the port or starboard side of the ship depending on which side your target is parked.  Lower the arm once the hoist is over the target to about a 90 degree angle to the waterline, then lower the hook so that the end of the hook is near the top of the target.  Use the hook camera to help your aim.  In order to pick up the target, the driver of the target must hit the j key when the hook is within 3 meters.  The target will automatically "jump" onto the hook and will be ready to be raised.

Use the hook controls to bring the tank up a few meters, then use the arm of the crane to life it clear of the freighter's deck so that it can be placed at the position of your choice.  The freighter can hold four parcels of cargo and store them in four locations.  Two are on the deck of the ship and 2 are in the hold.

Once the target has been lifted and moved to a spot on the ship where you'd like him to stay, the operator of the target must hit the j key again to stick to the cargo ship.  To unload your cargo simply do this in reverse.

Position 6 and 7 - Defense Officers

The bow and stern Defense Officers coordinate the fire of the gunners.  Each officer controls 2x 20mm cannons and can aim these guns by pressing the del key on the number pad.  To shoot, the primary fire button on the joystick controls the gun on his left and the secondary fire button controls the gun on his right.  These can also be fired using the f and b keys. The 20mm cannons fire an even mix of AP and HE rounds.

Gun Technical Information (Single Mount)

Gunsight View from the Bow

Conclusion

The freighter has the potential to be a very powerful tool in WWII Online, but is severely hampered by stability issues in the game (CTD's) and an extreme vulnerability to the overwhelming air game.  In the game's present state, freighters are nothing more than an odd curiosity without much function, and will remain that way until major changes are made.  In short, the freighter is slow, poorly armed, and a very big target - and only truly useful in a handful of situations.  Only the most patient of captains will be found at the helms of these ships.

If you're an experienced Freighter captain and have found any mistakes please contact me at: tarrif@hotmail.com