Size of escort

[hbrsvl]

Hi-With the new Japanese sub strategy of attacking merchants, the Allies now have to provide convoy escort to Cargo/transport TFs.

My question is, what is optimum size of escort? Yes, I know it depends on size of TF, but is there a rule of thumb? In other games I've used one escort for every 5 merchants.
I also know there is a difference between DDs and MSWs doing A/S work.

Comments from experienced AE players, please.

Thanks, Hugh Browne

[Dixie]

I'm not sure there are too many AE experienced players yet [:D] I don't claim to be one either [;)]

In general, vs AI and up to Feb 42, no more than 6 escorts for any convoy.  Or 4 if they're good quality (modern RN destroyers although they're better used in ASW TFs).  A convoy of 45 ships gets the same escort as one of 15, the reasoning being that one convoy is more likely to slip past a patrolling submarine than 3 smaller ones.  Doing that frees up more escorts for fleet work and ASW patrols.  If I'm fairly certain that there are no subs around and it's a small convoy then there might be just a couple of corvettes or similar.

The main job of my convoy escort is to force the subs to stay submerged, ASW TFs are there to kill them.