Increasing CAP flights

[hbrsvl]

Hi-Scen.9, Allies, 3/9/43. Allies hold Guam, Rota and are ashore at Tinian.Saipan has 90+ VB, field damage 18. I have CVTFs at Guam, not docked.

During the last turn I had 76 shipboard and 21 land-based VF on CAP, set to LRCAP, target Guam. Planes were split about evenly at 15-20K alt. and 1K. alt. Of these squadrons, highest fatigue was 14-one unit only.

I sent 2 VF sweeps(exclusive of CAP) to Saipan along with a 60+ dive bombers and VT set to airfield attack.

Problem-When enemy strike against Guam arrived, less that 15 of my VF attacked them. With 97 VF set to CAP, I think I should be able to get more into it. How do I do that?

Suggestions, please. Thanks, Hugh Browne

[hunchback77]

Your Mistake was to set them to Long Range Cap. You should have just left them on Escort with 100% Cap set. That should give you at least 40 to 45 fighters ready to meet the strike.

[hbrsvl]

hunchback77-Gotcha-thanks. Wilco. HB

[bradfordkay]

Another problem is that flights from CV TFs in a base hex are reduced by 50% (search, CAP and strike missions - rule 7.2.1.13.2)

[hbrsvl]

Brad-OK, but a further question. What if the base hex is an enemy hex? Does the 50% rule apply then?

I'm thinking about having a CVE TF in a base I'm invading.

Thanks, HB

[bradfordkay]

The rule doesn't say "friendly base", it just says "base hex", so we have to assume - unless told otherwise - that it still applies in an enemy base hex.

[PaxMondo]

It would seem logical that it would apply in any case.  To launch, CV's need sea room to operate.  In a port, you just don't have that.

[jeffk3510]

ORIGINAL: hbrsvl

Brad-OK, but a further question. What if the base hex is an enemy hex? Does the 50% rule apply then?

I'm thinking about having a CVE TF in a base I'm invading.

Thanks, HB

Why would you want to put your carriers that close to the action/danger?

[crsutton]

But note that the penalty does not apply to CVEs- only CVs and CVLs. Once you get enough you alwasy want to have plenty of the CVEs in your target hex for close air support and CAP.

[pmath]

CAP penalty only seems to apply to friendly bases, the purpose of the rule is to take into account the historical difficulty in coordinating friendly base CAP w/CV CAP.

[aphrochine]

Now, does the malus apply to dot hexes also??  I've never been sure of this, so my CV's avoid anything with a dot or a base.