When to return ships

[jerryandlinda]

What is everyone's thoughts about when to return battle damaged ships to Pearl Harbor in the long campaign games? I have been returned ships with system damage of over 10. I've notice the Japanese AI seems to keep their ships around a lot longer.

[XPav]

10? Keep em! Leave them in Noumea/Truk or another large port and they'll be fixed up in a much shorter time than they would if you sent them home.

I've been playing with a 30+ send home limit. They can sit at harbor slowly repairing and act as a reserve.

Exception:
Carriers, I'll keep them around until they can't fly, or if they're US carriers w/o AAA upgrades.
The Long Island gets sent back immediately.
If there are ships I want sitting around at home and my chance of ship release is low, I'll send damaged ships back.

[strollen]

I send Carriers back around 30. Even damage in the mid teens can take months to repair. I figure in a size 8 or 9 port that they repair about 1 to 2 points a week. Japanese battleships in the 20s.

I'll send ships that need an upgrade of AA weapons sometimes as low as 20. On the other hand things like CLAA cruiser I'll keep in the mid 30s.

[Q-Ball]

I agree with strollen's comments. The one exception might be AP's, I find as the Allies you can run short of them pretty quickly, and they repair fast. A size 9 port will knock off 4 or 5 points a week. So, if I really need transports I'll keep it around up to 50 or 60.

[chrisp]

Originally posted by XPav
Exception:
Carriers, I'll keep them around until they can't fly, or if they're US carriers w/o AAA upgrades.

How do I know if the CV needs an upgrade or one is available?

Chris P.