Just Another Newbie Question...

[Sharkbait61]

I apologize if this same question has been answered to nausea, but I have gone through several forum searches and haven’t seen a definitive answer…

Regarding carrier air-combat searches and naval attacks…I’ve seen dozens of differing opinions regarding the percentage and types of search planes that can be used under the ”Naval Attack” order, and I know you cannot order an attack on a TF.

If you decide to use torpedo and dive bombers as part of the search for the enemy taskforces, if an attack is launched from your carrier during that turn, can these planes take part in the battle? Or, if at all possible, it is better to utilize only true search-type planes for your recon, so that any carrier attack will include all of your attack planes?

Thanks for your help on this.

[Quixote]

Regarding your first question/statement - You haven't seen a definitive answer on some of the settings because there isn't one. Different people have had good results with different settings, so that's what they continue to use based on "feel." Since it's such a complicated routine(in terms of how many things the model looks at, plus all the random elements thrown in for fun), there haven't been any tests I've seen proving that one particular set of settings is better than every other one.

Regarding your second question - If you assign a percentage of carrier planes to search, then that's what those planes will be doing that turn. They do not break off a search and join in your attack (although they can and do occasionally "hit" ships during the search phase itself.) As to whether you should just set all of your carrier planes to attack and rely only on dedicated search, this can work out well under ideal circumstances. Follow-up question - How often are circumstances ideal when you're playing the game? (You won't find complete forum agreement on this one either, which makes life more interesting, but personally I always have at least 10% search set, for at least one attack group per carrier.)

Lastly - Welcome to the forums! Mostly a good bunch of folks here, so if you have more questions in the future, don't hesitate to ask.

[Sharkbait61]

Quixote,
Thanks for your reply. I'm glad I can stop this search for that answer that really doesn't exist! I've should have known better after skimming through the manual...everything in this game seems to be as clear as mud

[Sharkbait61]

Also...
Thanks for the welcome! I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time here on the forum.

[SenToku]

Japanese can also use navy recon units. They have D4Y-C and C6N, both of which are carrier capable and with drop tanks far out-range the ordinary strike planes. You can divide them among the larger carriers by overloading your CV's or you can carry them with single CV/CVL by replacing single strike squardon with recon one.

Allies also have such planes (mainly marine units), but theirs are generally shorter ranged fighters and are not available in numbers required to fully cover the search area, so with USN you are stuck in using your strike planes.

This gives you few advatages over strike plane search;
1. You do not need to train your strike plane pilots in naval search = Faster pilot training.
2. Your strike planes can preform their primary mission without wear caused by several days of low level search missions (mainly to D4Y dive bombers, which have service rating of 3).
3. Your search range is improved.

There are few disadvantages as well;
1. You lose a strike squardon replaced by these planes unless you overload. On the other hand, overloading causes maintenance problems (more planes = longer service times) and can cause planes to be ditched if one flight deck is out of action and planes divert.
2. You can not fly ASW missions with recon planes.

[kaleun]

2. You can not fly ASW missions with recon planes.

And after the US gets reliable torpedoes this is vital. (See "The little ship that could.")[X(]

[SenToku]

ORIGINAL: kaleun

2. You can not fly ASW missions with recon planes.

And after the US gets reliable torpedoes this is vital. (See "The little ship that could.")[X(]

Absolutely, but the disadvantage I meant was that you simply need to fly ASW missions with other planes from carrier group, as you can't solve ALL the search problems with the recon planes.

Personally I like to use single torpedo-bomber squardon as dedicated ASW squardon in carrier TF. Works better with IJN as they usually keep their carriers together in KB/MKB. Again this is due training purposes, meaning one Kate/Jill squardon would not bother to train torpedo attacks, but would be expert in ASW.

[JockJimmy]

Whilst I wouldn't consider myself an expert... you should also consider that using CV a/c is a dead giveaway that CVs are present. If you can get away with only using FP or LBA you might be able to maintain surprise a liitle longer.

JJ.

[rockmedic109]

Deleted. Wrong thread.