Training CVE replenishment squadrons.

[turkey]

I've just got my first CVE (Nassau) with 2 replenishment sqdns on board. Could anyone advise how I train these guys? Pilots of the replenishment sqdns are all around 42% exp at the moment, so I don't fancy using them to replenish my CVs, with out training first – does anyone have any suggestions how to train them as the advise in the forum seems to be not to disembark the replenishment squadrons as they can be hard to re-embark, but the number of aircraft exceeds flying capacity of CVE, so how will the unit train? [:(] [&:]

[Alfred]

You don't!

They are there primarily to provide airframe replacements via Replenishment TF trailing some distance behind the fleet carriers. It is not advisable to take the replenishment CVEs into combat to beef up their pilot experience.

NB not all CVEs are intended for replenishment purposes. IIRC, the ones with the airgroup designation VMR (otherwise easily discernable because they are very large airgroups) are the replenishment CVEs. Those with normal sized airgroups are for combat. Any without organic airgroups are for aircraft ferrying.

Alfred

[turkey]

Thanks Alfred but do the low exp pilots of the replacement aircraft join the CV squadron along with the airframes? Won't this dilute my experienced pilots and increase losses on operations? How can I keep the low exp guys out? I thought to train them first but if this won't work do I just accept the dilution of my high exp CV units and the negatives this will bring in terms of operational losses and higher combat causalities?

[Alfred]

turkey,

I hear your concerns and understand your fears but really I think you are indulging in some quite unnecessary worry. Once you consider the following context, I think you will be more at ease. There is however a caveat to what I write below in that it is a long time since I last played WITP classic, and I never had much need to employ replenishment TFs. However, I don't recall the veterans ever being too concerned about the issues you have raised.

Context of Using Aircraft from Replenishment TFs

1. The luxury of CV TFs receiving replacement aircraft from Replenishment TFs whilst remaining on station at sea is really only available to the Allied player (specifically the USN) because the Japanese lack spare flattops. Realistically the Japanese can only form Replenishment TFs for the purpose of refueling at sea whereas the Allies can form them to (a) refuel, (b) restock their aircraft frames, and (c) in 1945 rearm their AA/DP guns using AE ships.

2. The Allied replenishment CVEs only really start to appear in number from 1943 onwards, in time to support the new Essex class fleet carriers. By that stage of the campaign, the Essex carriers (particularly when equipped wiith F6F Hellcats) should be able to defang the Japanese first day strike capability to the point that the enemy lacks critical mass to launch significant day 2 strikes. Thus the ability of the Allies to replenish their fighter stocks for day 2 strikes means they can escort/fly off significant offensive strikes against depleted enemy air resources, an opportunity not really available to the Japanese. Accordingly any diminution in pilot experience is not really a relevant consideration as the main consideration is maintenance of relative staying power.

3. Back in the days of sail it was rarely advisable, even for a wooden Ship of the Line, for a fleet to conduct a bombardment of a fort. Shore batteries generally had a longer range and a bigger weight of shot, than the bombarding ships. Fast forward to the Second World War and the principle remained the same, albeit now the equivalent weapon platforms were aircraft carriers versus land based aircraft. Even in the second half of the WITP Grand Campaign, it is always very risky to use deploy American carriers within range of enemy land aircraft. To employ Replenishment TFs to provide airframe replacements merely to remain within the killing zone of enemy land based aircraft, irrespective of how high (or low) the experience level of the replacement aircrews/aircraft is, does appear to be a cavalier approach.

4. Not every airplane shot down results in a lost pilot (KIA or MIA). As a very rough rule of thumb, anywhere between 33% and 50% of your planes shot down over friendly territory (bases, ships/subs in the vicinity) results in the pilot being rescued. Hence quite a few of your downed pilots from your CAP will be recovered and available for action on day 2 provided their carrier has received fresh stocks of airframes.

Overall, your fears are not really that much of an issue and why I sated in my previous post that the replenishment CVEs main task was to provide airframe replacements. Unfortuneately, most of the veterans now frequent the WITP:AE forum, so in their absence you might be left with only my observations.

Alfred

[tocaff]

It's true the replenishment CVEs should be put into a replenishment TF that trails the CVs.  The CVE pilots only ferry the planes and don't stay with them.  More power to he can put up more planes after the initial fights deplete the other guy.

[turkey]

Hi Alfred, Todd. Thanks for clarifying the point.

I'm half thinking of dipping into AE but so far find the micro management of WitP takes up enough time and from reading what others are saying reckon that AE will take even longer!

[lsdjr18]

Gentlemen,

Can you tell me how to use CVE replenishment in the game tactically... Do you put them in a separate task force as a replenishment and it automatically replace aircraft losses on the big flattop CV's? They are sitting in Pearl because I dont know how to use them in game but totally understand their function.

Best,
Lawrence

Thanks in advance by the way!

[turkey]

Hi Lawrence. In case you've not heard back on this: just put your CVE into a replenishment TF and have it within (aircraft) transfer range of the CV TF. Replacements will automatically transfer to keep the CV and CVL air wings at full strength.