When to return BBs from PH to west coast?

[Mistmatz]

I have some really beaten up BB's after a few days of strikes against PH.

When do you usually move the big boys out to the west coast sys damage wise. Of course I make sure to have no float or fire going on, KB is elsewhere and any sub thread is countered, but would you go for instance with 99% sys damage or wait till 95%, 90% or even lower???

[Halsey]

All Flot repaired and minimum speed of 6kts (2 hex movement).

Only time you move sooner is if PH is under the threat of invasion.[;)]

[BrucePowers]

I usually tried to wait for about 10 knots speed. A lot depends on how busy the PH repair yard.

[dtravel]

Their speed doesn't really matter.  Even at one knot they'll do two hexes a day because of the minimum movement rule.  I wouldn't send them to the West Coast with 99 SYS damage though, too much chance that they'll take damage just sailing and sink.  95 should be safe though (assuming KB and the IJN subs really are gone).

[Milman]

ORIGINAL: dtravel

I wouldn't send them to the West Coast with 99 SYS damage though, too much chance that they'll take damage just sailing and sink. 

Anyone saw something like this ?

[tsimmonds]

The reason to wait until they can move 2 hexes per phase is that at one hex per phase they are just so easy for subs to hunt down.

[niceguy2005]

I would go as soon as float damage is gone and KB is certainly gone.

I heavily escort them though...one TF with many, many destroyers around it. Sitting too long at PH is a waste of time, not much significant repair will go on with 3-6 badly damaged battlewagons clogging up the works.

If you are really worried about subs you can always take an unexpected route to the west coast, like north toward alaska and then east to Seatle

[String]

When you detect KB far away from PH and you've swept the route from PH to respective west coast ports with several ASW tf's.

[Gem35]

I have had some good luck with sending those damaged BB's to several ports on the west coast, a few in Frisco, one each in Seattle, LA and San Diego.

[KPAX]

Yes, loading up the TF with ASW is a great idea.  Also, move them as soon as KB is gone.
 
Repairyards only accumulate up to 4 days of repair points, anything after that is wasted.  Hate to waste the W Coast repair points if you do not have to. 
 
When you get close to the W Coast, I would break off some damaged DDs and send them to Seattle.  Than break off the BBs for SF and LA.  SD maybe too small, so would be good for the non-BBs.
 
Just want to start sucking up the repair points in the W Coast ASAP.

[ctangus]

To be really safe, make sure KB's away and then to protect against subs:

4 Flush-deckers or DMS within the escort convoy that contains the BBs.

4 Flush-deckers or DMS in a dedicated ASW TF following that TF.

CV TF with the SBDs & TBDs on at least 50% naval search also following the TF.

Try to send them on an unpredictable route back to the west coast.

[BrucePowers]

I am playing Terminus. Those BB's didn't move until I spotted the KB in the Far East. And then a lot of DD went with them.

[Gem35]

I have found Seattle to be better than SF in repairing my capital ships.

[BrucePowers]

I have not tried it for capital ships. I will do so.

[moses]

The key as many have said already is to make sure KB is gone. Many players will try to lurk around and catch you unaware. It's really bad if KB hits your 6 retreating damaged BB's halfway between PH and SF. So:

First realize that 10 days is nothing in this game. You have LOTS.......LOTS....LOTS of time. It will really make NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL if you get you're BB's to SF a few days earlier or later. They are going to be repairing for months.

Second, its a happy thing if KB is lurking around PH for several weeks with nothing to kill. KB is needed in the DEI. If they are at PH then rejoice.

Third, before you move just take precautions. I wait until 3 or 4 days after I think KB has gone. (i.e. I haven't seen them in 3 or 4 days). Then I spend several days sending recon out. Just take about 8 PG's/MSW's and send them out in all directions from PH. I load single AK transport TF's and send them on supply missions to all my island outposts (midway, Johnson island etc.) Of course I have subs all over the stinking place. Of course I have search aircraft everywhere that they can fly from. From the west coast and Alaska I also send every PG/MSW I have out to sea in all directions. If after 3 or 4 days of this I find no hint of KB THEN I will send a couple TF's with search aircraft (CA/CL) out into the area's that I believe are safe but just want to be sure.

So now we are at PH +10 days and KB has not been sighted. I feel pretty safe. All flotation/fire damage is surely gone. Any ship that can make 10 knots goes. Anything else waits a while. No hurry. It's a long war. No need to rush.

[String]

And its always good to not send them via the straight route. Use a waypoint instead.

[BrucePowers]

I have learned to really, really like waypoints (and use them randomly).

[Gibbons]

If I have many warships being repaired at Sea, SF, SD, and LA, I send nonessential ships like badly damaged AKs/APs, MSWs etc...to a 9 or 10 base without a repair yard to allow them to repair some there while the warships get maximum repair points at bases with repair yards.
 
Is this a good idea?
 
 
Gibbons

[Gem35]

For the larger yards such as SF or pearl, the smaller ships get repaired so quickly it isn't that big of a deal but sure, I also do that. I find that even size 6 dockyards with a few AR ships can repair the smaller vessels fairly quickly.

[Mistmatz]

I didn't expect that much feedback on such a rather 'simple' question.

Thanks to all for the valuable information and comments.