Hands-On Usage
transfer_navy is commonly used in scenario events to simulate historical fleet transfers, such as France transferring part of its navy to the government-in-exile after surrender, or a metropolitan power allocating fleets to dominions. The exile flag (is_government_in_exile = yes) is particularly useful, allowing transferred fleets to automatically return to the original nation upon restoration, accurately recreating the historical logic of exiled navies.
# France surrenders and transfers navy to Free France (government-in-exile)
country_event = {
id = fall_of_france.5
option = {
name = fall_of_france.5.a
FRA = {
transfer_navy = {
target = F30 # Free France TAG
is_government_in_exile = yes
}
}
}
}
Synergy
[become_exiled_in](/wiki/effect/become_exiled_in): Typically invoked alongside transfer_navy when placing a nation into exile status, ensuring the government-in-exile actually controls naval forces rather than being an empty shell.
[annex_country](/wiki/effect/annex_country) / [end_puppet](/wiki/effect/end_puppet): Transfer the navy before annexation or ending puppet status to prevent fleets from disappearing with the nation, preserving equipment for the recipient.
[has_capitulated](/wiki/trigger/has_capitulated): Use as a trigger condition to execute fleet transfer logic only when the target nation capitulates, preventing unintended timing that could result in fleet loss.
[destroy_ships](/wiki/effect/destroy_ships): An alternative when destruction rather than transfer is desired, forming mutually exclusive branch options with transfer_navy to provide different disposal methods for players or AI.
Common Pitfalls
- Aircraft Carriers Not Supported: The official documentation explicitly states this effect does not transfer aircraft carriers. Novices using this command to transfer fleets containing carriers will find the carriers disappearing without explanation (neither transferred nor remaining with the original nation). Pre-handle carriers separately with
[destroy_ships](/wiki/effect/destroy_ships) or use alternative methods to avoid this issue.
- Incorrect Scope Targeting: The scope of
transfer_navy must be the exporting nation (the original fleet owner), with target being the recipient. Beginners often reverse these, executing within the recipient nation's scope, resulting in invalid or erroneous scripts. Always verify you are in the correct nation scope before invoking the command.