Training carrier pilots as Allies

[seich_23]

I'm playing my first PBEM as allies and I realized that there are no other air groups for USN than the ones already on the carriers. I'm missing something? I put some the already decent pilots to the reserve and start training replacements on the carrier groups. I'm missing something?

[AcePylut]

Use all those West Coast based Kingfisher squadrons to train your naval pilots. Iirc they are naval. They arrive pretty quickly in the war.

[seich_23]

Even the figher pilots?

[AcePylut]

Yes those units can train 'fighter skills' by flying range 0 CAP.

[seich_23]

Thanks for the answer.

[AcePylut]

Or range 0 sweep. Not sure which is best... but I always make sure they are range 0 (reduces fatigue).

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

Yes those units can train 'fighter skills' by flying range 0 CAP.

I think that the setting for these guys needs to be: 1. Training; 2. Escort; 3. 100% and 4. Range=0 for best efficiency. At least that's what I put for my floatplane IJNAF training units.

OP: This is just observational, but it's my experience that floatplanes set to train as naval fighters (like the settings provided above) will train more slowly than 'traditional' naval fighters under the same settings. But YMMV.

[Ian R]

The other option is to take some of the many land based USN air groups that arrive later (VF, VC, etc) and retain them in the CONUS, in obsolete airframes, and use them as training groups.

Train the fighter jocks in escort, and the bomber chaps in naval attack. Once they get to 70 they can go to reserve. If you have spare time/capacity, the bomber chaps can also usefully train in nav search. If you put the fighters down low on strafe type training, it tends to improve their defensive skill. Torpedo bomber pilots should be trained in nav torpedo, but if you do that outside the operational squadron, you will have to go looking for them for your VTs using the 'request veteran' button.

No other skill really matters IMHO.

Also, fly your CAGs ashore when your CVs go in for repairs/upgrades. 100% training at zero hex range.

[GetAssista]

It is very risky to use those carriers for the first half a year anyway. So train away

[AcePylut]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

Yes those units can train 'fighter skills' by flying range 0 CAP.

I think that the setting for these guys needs to be: 1. Training; 2. Escort; 3. 100% and 4. Range=0 for best efficiency. At least that's what I put for my floatplane IJNAF training units.

OP: This is just observational, but it's my experience that floatplanes set to train as naval fighters (like the settings provided above) will train more slowly than 'traditional' naval fighters under the same settings. But YMMV.

No idea. Not like the allies have a lot of early war naval planes to train.

I've always set my training groups to 30% rest, just to keep airplane fatigue "down" and keep ops losses minimal. I don't like wearing out the airframes and giving them thar bastard japanners free VP.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Ian R

The other option is to take some of the many land based USN air groups that arrive later (VF, VC, etc) and retain them in the CONUS, in obsolete airframes, and use them as training groups.

Train the fighter jocks in escort, and the bomber chaps in naval attack. Once they get to 70 they can go to reserve. If you have spare time/capacity, the bomber chaps can also usefully train in nav search. If you put the fighters down low on strafe type training, it tends to improve their defensive skill. Torpedo bomber pilots should be trained in nav torpedo, but if you do that outside the operational squadron, you will have to go looking for them for your VTs using the 'request veteran' button.

No other skill really matters IMHO.

Also, fly your CAGs ashore when your CVs go in for repairs/upgrades. 100% training at zero hex range.

+1

This is what I do and rest at least 20% if not 30% as also recommended.

[Yaab]

Train Sweep 0 range, 100%, 0 feet with brooms.

[fcooke]

Risky to use the USN CVs early but I always do - just need to make sure to avoid KB. My favorite ploy is to get all the CVs together and then engage with the mini KB if it exists. It is generally playing in the DEI so it takes a while to get over there, but I've never lost a CV engaging the mini KB. And it helps getting the experience up. One positive thing about the long commute is being able to fill out the air groups a bit.

editing to correct from 'plating to playing'

[AcePylut]

Lots of Japanese players will use the Mini-KB to escort the Aleutians invasions. I've always pounced with my Allied CV's and never lost a battle there. Unfortunately, Chickenboy didn't want to play that game, so I wasn't able to sink some baby CV's.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

Use all those West Coast based Kingfisher squadrons to train your naval pilots. Iirc they are naval. They arrive pretty quickly in the war.

Agreed - stop gap solution - very early in the war. Personally I think this has limited value by mid 1942.

I would argue that some of them need to be ASW assets in major ports and are more valuable in that role. They may not sink anything- but they 'spot' well - and spotting IJN subs is half the battle early in the war.

@ OP

1) Keep your Carriers safe and train your squadrons 'when practical'.

Micro manage when you have to act / react. Train (as advised by Hans others above) i.e. during upgrades. You get upgrades in 42 and 43.

Further when cruising around in 'safe zones' i.e. convoy escort San Francisco to Canton - set a percentage to train and/or train in 'off' skill. Example: SBD : Naval Attack : Search 20% Train 20% (Airfield Attack) Rest 10%

2) VRFs are your strongest pool builders.

Of the first 5 CVE that arrive in 1942 - Three as I recall - come with VRF Squardons (Replacements to act as Jeep Carriers)

Place the VRFs on the West Coast / Pearl and train primary skills 100% range 0 as above.

Allow replacements of pilots and airframes but do not upgrade airframes. Keep em in F4F3s for example.

The VRF pilots will train up quickly to 50EXP overall with 70's in primary skill. You can also then train them up in 2ndry skills as above.

Carefully scan through the VMF squadrons that arrive in San Diego.

Buy out the better ones i.e. those that do not withdraw till late 43 or even latter. Pay attention to the upgrade path of these Marines - many of them get F4U-1s - so do not upgrade or if playing PDU on - choose to upgrade them into FM1s / FM2's **

Place the bought out marine squadrons on your CVE to support operations. Even landings to protect beefing up bases such as Suva / Canton / Baker / Johnson / Christmas / Palmyra.

You need the flattop support early in the war. Latter in 43/44 you can switch back some the CVEs to "jeep carrier replenishment duties" when you have the assets.

**home rule / preference. F6F Hellcats were too heavy to operate (fly and land) off almost all jeep carriers in real life although the game permits this. I choose not to allow it to be historically true.

[fcooke]

I've never understood the whole too big/heavy to operate off CVEs thing. TBFs operated off them quite well, and are bigger planes, both weight-wise (loaded or light), physically in all dimensions, particularly in wingspan than the Hellcat. The only thing that I can speculate is that the F6F had a higher landing speed, which could make operating off smaller CVEs a bit dicey.

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: fcooke

I've never understood the whole too big/heavy to operate off CVEs thing. TBFs operated off them quite well, and are bigger planes, both weight-wise (loaded or light), physically in all dimensions, particularly in wingspan than the Hellcat. The only thing that I can speculate is that the F6F had a higher landing speed, which could make operating off smaller CVEs a bit dicey.

Landing speed possibly,how about hangar height and speed of the ship ?

Btw. later CVEs had catapults or ? With them P47s can launch from CVEs [;)]


Edit, here a good link, which says, yes some CVEs had Hellcats, but also some results were ugly.. see pics there:

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2012/12/he ... -cves.html

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

ORIGINAL: fcooke

I've never understood the whole too big/heavy to operate off CVEs thing. TBFs operated off them quite well, and are bigger planes, both weight-wise (loaded or light), physically in all dimensions, particularly in wingspan than the Hellcat. The only thing that I can speculate is that the F6F had a higher landing speed, which could make operating off smaller CVEs a bit dicey.

Landing speed possibly,how about hangar height and speed of the ship ?

Btw. later CVEs had catapults or ? With them P47s can launch from CVEs [;)]


Edit, here a good link, which says, yes some CVEs had Hellcats, but also some results were ugly.. see pics there:

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2012/12/he ... -cves.html

Great post - one with details I had read before - from another source.

I do know they launched F6F and P47 from the jeep carriers. This is noted at Marina's and Okinawa as I recall.

It was the landing / operating / weight (??) generically - size or mass perhaps more specifically ??

I am a Sangamon Class fanboy and I do permit the recommended upgrades to F6F on those decks. I immediately sail the first 3 (early 1942 - March?) from the Panama zone down to Australia and they consistently form the nucleus of 7th Fleet in all my game. They come early - they pack a reasonable punch - they pack reasonable defense - and can support a wide variety of ops in the Coral Sea if managed smartly.

I always understood the Sangamons were built from Oiler frames. I know that oilers were scarce in the early war - but the design behind the Sangamon's seems so intrinsically smart in my opinion. To this day I do not fully understand why the Casablanca design won out over the Sangamons - I think the USN should have shelved the Casablanca's for the Sangamons.

[Alpha77]

Guess in game the Allies will put F6s on most CVEs... as long they have enough (which should be the case, unless heavy losses). But IJN can not put Jakes on Glen subs[:-]

[fcooke]

Was not hanger height - TBF's taller than F6Fs....will read the link.