Convert or not to convert that is the question?

[Lawless1]

To make a long story short, the recession of 1976, I had a choice of losing my new car and than taking a long bus ride to college or to keep the 76 Honda Accord, drop out of college and reenter the service. There was a waiting list to get back into the Navy, no waiting list for Army. Was back on active duty within 30 days at same grade as I left the Navy.

Had to be extra squared away, as all my ribbons from the Navy were also on my chest. Never failed to get a question about my dolphins or some of my Navy medals.

Not to uncommon, had a drill sgt at Ft. Sill that a former Navy Seal

[rustysi]

Of course I was just kidding, and yes a bit curious. For me when I got out (1975-1978) I would have walked over glass on my hands and knees to get to anywhere so I didn't have to go back in. Good motivational tool I must say. Not that I had any real problems, got promoted outta basic, next was in AIT, and just missed an advanced promotion in the NCO Academy. CO's policy was if you finished number one in your class you got a stripe. I was second to a Special Forces guy. Lost by 2.5 points outta 1000. Hey, he was a great guy and totally deserved it. Bet he enjoyed the competition, as did I. For me though the military just wasn't my cup of tea, that's all.

[jamesjohns]

Spent many years active Army and was in National Guard during college and after active duty. National Guard always seemed to have lot of guys with prior service in another branch; knew a Major who was an Enlisted Marine in Vietnam, a Communication NCO who was ex-Coast Guard, an E-5 Machinist who was a Machinist in the Navy. The diversity really helped add to the units and helped make for a better unit.

[Lawless1]

bump

[Gridley380]

I'm still playing an old version of Babes, but in that you can convert the "Empire L Cargo" xAK to AKV (9 available including 1942 arrivals). I find those highly useful.

The conversion removes the liquid cargo capacity, but I think it is still worth it.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

I'm still playing an old version of Babes, but in that you can convert the "Empire L Cargo" xAK to AKV (9 available including 1942 arrivals). I find those highly useful.

The conversion removes the liquid cargo capacity, but I think it is still worth it.

While they may have been overlooked in the discussion, every last one of the AKV conversions area must for me.

I refuse to offload perfectly good fighting and bombing squadrons from my CVEs just to use them for air transport.
This leaves me with only AKVs capable of delivering squadrons in an un-disabled state.

[Canoerebel]

I almost never use AKVs. 95% of my aircraft deliveries take place by air (simply changing base). The few that take place by sea are short-ranged aircraft (fighters, 1EB) going to major ports like Pearl or Oz. From there they can reassemble quickly and then island hop to most bases. So xAKs are fine. If more range is needed, I wait until the Lightnings, Hellcats or Corsairs come online to get them to remoter places.

[Moltrey]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I almost never use AKVs. 95% of my aircraft deliveries take place by air (simply changing base). The few that take place by sea are short-ranged aircraft (fighters, 1EB) going to major ports like Pearl or Oz. From there they can reassemble quickly and then island hop to most bases. So xAKs are fine. If more range is needed, I wait until the Lightnings, Hellcats or Corsairs come online to get them to remoter places.

I've been watching THG's Youtube series as Allies vs. XTRG. I don't want to be too critical of THG's play because like myself he is fairly new to the game, but one gaff in particular made me cringe.

He transported a disassembled P-40E squadron on a transport to Pago Pago, already knowing that XTRG had at least two I-class subs in the waters surrounding the islands. A couple of ships had already been sunk and... you guessed it- he lost the whole squadron when the ship was hit by multiple torpedoes and sank. I would have ferried them to New Zealand or some other rear area airbase and then transferred as necessary. Granted, there are not all that many choices in the S/SE Pacific to choose from... but that was a bit hasty and ill-advised to me.

I like that part of the "fun" as Allies is the struggle to overcome your initial poor position and situation. Making do with what you have at hand and eking out small victories anywhere you can.

[jdsrae]

I try to avoid moving air groups by sea for that reason, and therefore have zero use for AKV conversions on either side.
The benefit of unloading flyable aircraft is of most use if you are delivering fighters to a forward area, but the need for that is rare and that is also the highest risk of the priceless cargo running over an enemy submarine.
I keep cargo ships with planes on board well to the rear, repair them at a rear area base and fly them forward.
A few days delay perhaps, but much lower risk of them being lost outright with the pilots gone as well.

[BBfanboy]

1. Transfer all the pilots out of the squadron into the pools
2. Split the squadron into three dets.
3. Load on 3 separate ships and send in 2 or 3 different TFs
4. Reassemble survivors at forward base
5. Draft in the pilots you want from the reserve pools.

I find doing transfers by air at near max transfer range usually ends in loss of 1-3 planes with their pilots. Shipping by sea can be done without losing any pilots.

[Moltrey]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
I find doing transfers by air at near max transfer range usually ends in loss of 1-3 planes with their pilots. Shipping by sea can be done without losing any pilots.

Ouch. I didn't realize the trip could be that dangerous, but I guess it makes sense. Thanks for the rest of the tips too.

[jdsrae]

Air ferry moves were dangerous IRL with many non combat losses.
You can reduce the risks in game by flying less than max transfer range, have a rest day in between hops and use trained pilots so they don’t crash as often when landing. But I still cross my fingers when I do it. I see 1 op loss every now and then, I don’t think I’ve seen 2-3 ops losses in one turn but it would be realistic if the pilots/planes were already fatigued and it was a max distance transfer.
Or run the risk of enemy subs and move by sea.

The value of AKV ships in all this is still so marginal to me that I don’t convert any. If I need to move an airgroup by sea I just use an xAK with good escorts

[Lawless1]

*1 on what BBfanboy said. Gridley380, thanks for the reminder on the AKV

[traskott]

And remember to convert your Wilcanias, all of them, to PC, they got 200 transport capacity, and make a great option for fast transport T.F.s

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I almost never use AKVs. 95% of my aircraft deliveries take place by air (simply changing base). The few that take place by sea are short-ranged aircraft (fighters, 1EB) going to major ports like Pearl or Oz. From there they can reassemble quickly and then island hop to most bases. So xAKs are fine. If more range is needed, I wait until the Lightnings, Hellcats or Corsairs come online to get them to remoter places.

I found AKVs extremely valuable when assaulting the Marianas. I was able to deliver 11 ready to fly fighter squadrons on the bases I had just taken, without having to reduce the capacity of my DS by using CVEs for the delivery.

Even if a transfer from Midway was possible, the base would have been horribly overloaded to pull this off and many air frames would have been shunted into repair, or lost, resulting from the long range transfer, not to mention the potential pilot losses.

[rustysi]

I found AKVs extremely valuable when assaulting the Marianas.

Yeah, AKV's are probably more useful to the Allies than Japan. Just sayin'.

[pontiouspilot]

Good thinking but holy crap that's a lot of work!!....I prefer to escort the transports

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

QM3 SS (USS Sea Devil) USN 1970-1974
USA 1976-1982 Field Artillery and Signal Corps

Wait a minute, wait a minute. A 'squid' who became a 'grunt'? Seriously? What gives?[:D]

P.S. Former 'grunt' here, but at least I picked a side.[:D]

I was told that the grunts were the rear echelon of the Scouts.

A guy who was in the Army at the time told me he was in the navy first. He was sitting in the head when the ship lurched while he was putting his cigarette in the toilet and he burned [X(] himself. He did NOT go to sick bay for his injury . . .