Carriers Vs Carriers

[Robbyroy]

I really love this game and I'm fasinated with its detail. I started with the tutorial but gave up and jumped right into the full senario. I save almost every turn so I can go back and try differen't things to see how things work. I'm to 4 mo. of 1942 now. I'm letting the Computor handle A lot of the game like China, Australia, Great Britton Etc. So I can get a feal for the basics. I find that the computer is lacking in a lot of things and find I have to intervean more as I'm learning. While playing the USA I'm concentrating on taking the Marshal Islands back, having already set up a good foothold at Midway and Wake. I have captured 2 Islands While Japan has taken everything else in the Pacific or so it seems, infact I don't know how this could last to 1943 at the rate they are moving. Anyway to my question. I have 3 carrier taskforces. One of the TF has 2 CVs., all thier planes are the ones they start with. It just so happens that I have been confronted with 4 Jappo Carriers in the Marshal islands. I'm not sure what the difficulty the game is set to, if there is a difficulty swith to be set. I cannot seem to survive any kind of confrontation with these guys. I'm lucky to get one or two planes thru there fighters. I have tried hitting them head on, splitting up forces, different locations etc. The only dammage I can do is to form a Surface TF out of the Carrier Battle groups and rush into the same DH, but during the surface battle the BB's DD's, CA's etc will not attack CV's or CVL's. I seem to get the upper hand there, but it's not worth loosing 3 or 4 carriers. It seems my only option at this point here is to flee. How can I improve my chances?

[crsutton]

Well, the Japanese have better quality pilots at this stage and I think you are still in the phase where the zeros get a bonus. Not to mention that in 1942, American carriers get a stiff coordination penalty as well. You can see where given equal forces, the Japanese will come out on top.
 
Basically, as the Allies I try to avoid a carrier fight until, these things below happen. The more that happen the better.
 
1. I have all six carriers available.
 
2. I have upgraded all carrier groups to 36 fighters (7/42)
 
3. My CA, DDs, and CVs have undergone at least one AA upgrade (7/42, I think).
 
4. I have a few fast BBs to use as escort. (They have monster AA values and can soak up some bomb hits that you carriers might take otherwise)
 
You can't always achieve this but in general, the more the better.
 
But, I have even better advice. Don't play against the AI. You are going to develop bad habits and expectations that will hurt you. Use the AI to learn the basic mechanics, then find a pbemail opponent as soon as you can. You will probably get knocked around a bit but will learn so much more and find our how much fun the game really is.
 
By the way, welcome to the madhouse...[;)]

[Koniev]

"By the way, welcome to the madhouse"
 
Being in the same situation as Robbyroy, I fully understand and appreciate this comment.

[BrucePowers]

In my opinion playing against the AI is fine especially to learn. There are a lot of players who only play the AI. THey did a poll last month with over 300 responses. Over 40 percent said they only play the AI. I do both. I am in 2 PBEMs and 1 AI game right now.

At the stage of the game you are at American carriers are at a coordination disadvantage and IJN pilots generally have higher experience. Even against the AI avoid a carrier battle. In my AI game, I sunk the Ryujo, but the Enterprise is still in San francisco 4 months later repairing damage.

In one of my 2 PBEMs it is Dec 11 and I just managed to lose the Lady Lex and the Enterprise for some damage to the Kaga.

[rogue]

I would like to add a question to this thread without hijacking it.  For American CV aircraft, should their maximum range be set to the aircraft with the shortest range?  For example the Avenger can go 5 hexes while the Dauntless/Wildcat can only go 4.  Should the Avenger be limited so as to attack with its fighter escort and dive bomber support?

[BrucePowers]

Limit your avengers to the range of your fighters. Otherwise you could have a lot of dead avengers.

[rogue]

thats what I thought.  Does the same still apply when you get the Helldiver?

[BrucePowers]

I can't say. None of my games is that advanced. I think fighter cover is important

[Dino]

Another thing to remember is that Avengers won't carry their torps at extended range(5) but only up to their normal range.