AI - ideas for jap escorts anyone?

[bstarr]

I'm thinking of making fictional 'heavy escorts' for the japanese. what class of ship would the AI recognize as needed for amphibious forces but would be more likely to fight rather than run if attacked by a surface force. I'm thinking APDs with stats like a AMC but with higher skill and moral and maybe some armor added for good measure.

How does the AI decide what fights and what runs anyway? Should I make the tonnage or damage points of these ships higher?

I'm trying to make a mod for allied vs AI. The problem is the AI seldom sends covering fleets and uses too few escort vessels, so what should be a standup fight at an early landing site becomes a one-sided massacre between a 3CL and 5DD Allied force and a Japanese landing force consisitng of about 10AKs escorted by a lonely minesweeper, if they're lucky. I'm thinking if one or two of the ships in the convoy were armed with 6 inch guns and weren't afraid to use them the fight might be alittle more interesting and I could go back to using my CAs and CLs for something other than carrier escorts.

(btw, I realize the difficulties of designing a functional AI. I'm not complaining; I'm just looking for a work-around idea)

[bstarr]

sorry, posted in the wrong spot. moving this to the mod area

[Andy Mac]

DD's are always the best the AI can never get enough DD's.
 
An enhanced PB class is another good one.
 
Personally if you wanted a fictional v AI scenario to do what you want add about 50 Corvette/DE style escorts a few more heavy fleet DD's and add a proper fighting PB class that isnt a converted merchantment.
 
BUT dont read to much into the PI and Borneo massacres I am already fixing that

[bstarr]

I had thought about using APDs so they could also help with transportation but I guess with all those extra slots multi-tasking is not really an issue anymore. DEs it is.

thanks. keep up the good work!