Most effective mix of escorts for allied CV

[Gem35]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

ORIGINAL: J Boomer

I usually put three carriers in a TF, am I being silly? Am I missing some advantage in making more TFs?

The allies suffer an air strike coordination penalty for multiple carrier TFs, its in the manual somewhere.

Because of ship availability I like 2 CVs per TF and am willing to live with a small drop in air capability, but most players I think like the single CV TF because it maximizes their air strike capability. Also, it reduces the risk of massive carrier loss.

I spent a couple of days running tests with early war allied carriers against a Jap CV TF. I found that with four carriers in 2 different TFs. The allies could pretty much hold their own once the zero bonus expired. In my test it was 1 US CV and 1 UK CV per TF taking on 2 Jap CV and 2 Jap CVL. In about a dozen test battles the Allies usually lost 1 CV (usually a Britt CV), with moderate damage to 2 more, while the Japanese usually had 1-2 CV severly or heavily damaged.

Acording to the manual on page 130:

The coordination of airstrikes is affected by how many Carrier aircraft are based in the TF
launching a strike. The chance of uncoordination is doubled under the following circumstances:
�� Allied TF in 1942 and the number of aircraft in the TF is greater than 100 + rnd (100).
�� Allied TF in 1943 and the number of aircraft in the TF is greater than 150 + rnd (150).
�� Allied TF in 1944 or later or a Japanese TF at any time and the number of aircraft in the
TF is greater than 200 + rnd (200).

[Mynok]

So I was right that it depends on numbers of aircraft, just remembered the maximums instead of the formula. 1 CV in 42, 2 in 43 and 3 in 44 sounds reasonable.

As a Jap player, I generally have 4 CV/CVL in my AC TFs.

[hvymtl13]

Early war- 42- three CV's operate together (Optimally). Two CV's in one Air Combat TF, and one forward. Forward CV Air Group on Escort 30 cap/70 escort, one rear group on CAP, and one rear group on LR cap. (I'll deal with the air coord penalty to get a dozen or more extra fighters up. Along with Three CA, Two CL, and nine to eleven Bristol and Mahan DD's.
 
Mid War- 43 early 44- Two CV's with a CVL. One BB (Preferably South Dakota Class or equivelent) Two CA- North Hampton, Pensacola, London Class with lighter belt armor (Save the heavy belted CA's for SAG duty), Two CL, One CLAA, Nothing but Fletchers and upgunned Bristol DD's - approx nine to eleven.
 
Late War- Late 44 early 45- Two CV's operate together always, 3 CVL's operate together, 4 CVE's operate together. The CV's are pushing the front lines, on Naval hunting and Air elimination missions so get the Bulk of my heavy escorts. Sometimes Two BB's and three CA's, two CL's, and seven to nine Fletchers. The CVL's and CVE's get token screen cover and usually the CLAA's. They operate either in back areas with SWPAC, or well behind the CV Groups. Able to get in quick to cover a CV withdrawal if needed.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


So I was right that it depends on numbers of aircraft, just remembered the maximums instead of the formula. 1 CV in 42, 2 in 43 and 3 in 44 sounds reasonable.

As a Jap player, I generally have 4 CV/CVL in my AC TFs.

I've been trying to keep the number of squadrons down to reduce the DL. I've noticed that the massive Japanese CVTFs are much easier to track than US CVTFs early in the war.

[NormS3]

I am pretty sure that there is/was an AA penalty if you have too many ships in a task force.  Did that change?

[John Lansford]

My CVTF's currently have two fleet carriers and 2 CVL's in them, then a BB and 3-4 cruisers, with the rest being destroyers.  I have had as many as 3 CV's and 2 CVL's in a TF and still not had a problem with coordination or strike forces not sending maximum plane numbers at targets.
 
For a while I had Saratoga and four CVL's in one TF, but IMO that was too light for a serious strike force.  They had a very good CAP though; I was able to raid Truk in late 1943 and none of the LBA made it past the fighter patrols (had them at 70-80% CAP).

[crsutton]

Early to mid 1942, one carrier per TF. But, I am not going to fight KB unless the conditions are very favorible anyway. 7/42 upgrades to aircraft and AA gives the six Allied carriers parity with KB and they can fight them heads up. I won't run from a fight if the conditions are right. However, unlike others I like to operate in 2 or 3 carrier TFs. I am looking for maximum AA mass and less concerned about coordination. And my fast BBs always are in carrier TFs. No matter what the big gun people thought, the only real purpose for fast BBs after 1942 was to protect carriers. So in late 1942 I run 2 and 3 carrier TFs with the best AA ships I can find in them.

My reasoning is different. Yes, I want to sink Japanese carriers and not lose mine, but find it just as critical is to shoot down as many Japanese planes as I can when the big carrier battle comes. This is just as important as sinking carriers. They will never get those pilots back and if you kill them off, the Japanese carriers are nerfed anyways. Thus, I want the Japanese attacking into the strongest CAP and AA that I can put together. Even with the coordinatin penalty, I expect I will get enough hits on KB.

By late 1943, I am working my carrier TFs with two CV and two CVL per TF with two fast BBs in each, if I got them to spare. Coodination be damned, by that time if you are doing it right, they are not going to get much through the hellcat cap anyways. I am pretty much sailing around hoping that the Japanese air force will attack.

[Shark7]

Well, I can't tell what is a good escort combo, but I can sure tell you one that doesn't work, since I managed to lose 2 carriers in the same turn utilizing that escort. [X(]

For allied I generally will use 1 fast BB and 3 CA or 4 CA, 2 CL/CLAA, and 8-10 DDs. If I have them. More often than not, you don't.

[herwin]

In 1942, I tend to use 1 CV, 3 CA, 6 DD per TF. That's a balanced force that is unlikely to be overwhelmed by an IJN SAG at night.

For the IJN, I tend to use 2 CV, sometimes 1 CVL, 3-4 CA/BB, 1 scouting cruiser or CS, 1 CL, and 6 DD. That has a good punch, low DL, and good defensive firepower against submarines, aircraft or a night SAG attack.

I know the game rewards massive KBs, but I've been able to track them halfway across the map once their DL is up. I've worked professionally with naval fleet command and control systems, and the one thing you don't want to be is seen before you've had an opportunity to put the hurt on your opponent. In naval operations, surprise is critical.

[Hornblower]

this won't always happen, BUT.... 2 cv's 1-2 CVL's  4 (combo of Fast BB's  or baltimore CA's) 2-4 CL or CLAA's and at least 1 DD(war built) for each major ship.  I like to have 2 (fast bb, ca, cl, claa) for each carrier and 1 destroyer for each cv, cvl, bb, etc...   I keep the older CA's and CL's with the invasion TF's and the CVE groups as they would be less likely to encounter a major threat.    The new ships are in the air TF's and the older ships to everything else.    Also, and i don't know who else does this, i have a surface TF that tags along with the TF 38/58's air groups.  usually its 4-5 CA's and CL's with 8 DD's... saves having to detach ships incase the unexpected opportunity rears its head, and its always ready..  give it to LEE and if necessary attach some fast BB's