Carrier modes

[Jusepe131]

Hello, can anyone help me with the aircraft carriers? Reading the manual, there are different modes, but I don't quite understand how they work, whether it's CAP mode, bomber mode, mixed mode... Can anyone give me a summary of what each mode is? I don't quite understand the manual.

Also, can you advise me on what mode to put the aircraft carriers in, depending on the circumstances in the battle? Thanks!

[Bo Rearguard]

It's pretty simple overall. Use fighter/CAP mode as defensive air cover if anticipating an attack on your carriers. Use Naval/Tactical mode if attacking a target you know to be undefended by air. Use mixed mode if unsure. If using at least two carriers, one can be on fighter mode and the other on tactical mode and the fighter carrier will likely escort the tactical carrier's strike. What you don't want to do is use fighter mode when attacking a target as it is weak on attack although great for aerial defense/escort.

[Jusepe131]

I understand...thanks. And in CAP mode there are several modes: auto, intercept, escort, stay on tietta

[Elessar2]

It's a bit more complicated than that. Leaving your carriers in a Mode which is NOT 100% Fighter mode WILL render them more vulnerable to counterattacks by enemy carriers and land-based air. Bomber mode will leave them completely defenseless on the actual hull attack, with Mixed somewhere in the middle. I found this out the hard way a couple of years ago, when I set most of my carriers to Bomber mode to attack the enemy's flattops, only to have them get totally eviscerated on the enemy (Japanese) turn. IOW there is your CAP, which will explicitly engage enemy air units when they try to attack your carriers, but the game has this "hidden" "close-in" CAP for each individual ship once all bombers commence their actual attacks on your ship, where it assumes some or most of your fighters are not available if the CV is not in Fighter Mode.