optimized Minesweeping

[Historiker]

I'm thinking about the maximum efficiancy for japanese ship conversions. Several ships can be converted into AM/AMc.
As their range is different I see two options:


1. convert short legged ships - that also have just a small cargo so you don't loose too much - and use them stationary
2. convert longer legged ships and add at least one to every TF to counter sublayed mines


I prefer option 1 as a AMc in a TF lowers the danger of mines but doesn't end it. Instead, aA minesweeper at a base keeps it clean.

But: Do "docked" AMc sweep mines? Do AMc with "react 6" sweep mines? What to do to do to keep them sweeping automatically?

What do you think? What's better?

[Smeulders]

Have only played allies so far, so not really an expert, but option 1 seems far better.

1) The reason you mentioned, a minesweeper that sweeps a port every turn (or the turns before convoys arrive) will give better protection then just one minesweeper getting one shot before the rest of the convoy arrives.

2) Again one of your reasons, less cargo capacity wasted

3) Shipping around your minesweepers all the time uses up fuel.

The one reason I can think of for option 2 is in the limited role of sweeping ports that you only use rarely. Having designated minesweepers to clear a port that's used once a month seems like a waste of ship.

The manual does say somewhere (I think) that AMc will only sweep the hex it is in, not the surrounding ones. AM will sweep surrounding hexes, but I don't think that reaction range does anything, not sure though.

[Historiker]

Japan only has a neglible number of AMs and a few DMS which will more likely be used as Escorts (in both their E-conversion or as they are). So most of the minesweeping will be done by AMc that aren't able to do "minesweeping" but only "local minesweeping".

Ports with a visit only from time to time will have to live without minesweeping or with regular minesweeping patros.