Air group assignments

[dr.hal]

Folks have presented interesting ideas here. I don't think anyone is "whining" and I certainly don't think it is helpful to the discussion if someone is called a whiner. I think we are all trying to contribute. Certainly house rules cover a LOT of territory and as someone pointed out, can correct some possibilities that the game engine allows but real life didn't. For example the Val, it was too tall to go into certain hanger bays as I recall AND it took up a lot of space. However the "aircraft load" CV types can carry is a number, NOT based upon reality such as aircraft size, etc. In the USN in modern times the USS Constellation could "carry" 90 aircraft. Well that is simply not true in terms of "real life" because the 90 was based upon the "unit" size of aircraft which was based upon the A-4 a small aircraft. Phantoms were a LOT bigger, so less could be cared, etc. The Val could be carried on small aircraft carriers, but less than the number the game allows AND they couldn't be put into the hanger bay (although the game engine doesn't address hanger bay storage) which if any aircraft mechanic had a say, is a BIG problem (also given the straight decks at the time, presented a REALLY big problem in carrier ops). The same problem presented itself for British CVs as their armored hanger bays were VERY limited especially in overhead height and thus could NOT strike below many types of aircraft, especially US types. All this is to say that there are many historical anomalies that the game allows and that "real life" didn't. House rules can address some, but it would be really difficult to address all! Thus a chat between players is certainly a good thing...to ensure a good gaming experience. And to me, that's what this is, a game, based upon history, and a darn fine game at that! Hal

[Hyacinth]

Some type of table for carrier class, aircraft types and maximum air group size would be a nice tool.