Carrier Squadron Allocation of Nav Search & ASW

[Dante Fierro]

I've been looking around the forums for advice regarding allocation of Carrier aircraft when it comes to Nav Search and ASW allocations. And also CAP. I guess, how do players go about breaking down how their squadrons will operate on the Carriers? I do have a copy of the excellent 'Air Missions Guide 2.1', but this doc is mostly about air mission allocation etc. What I'm interested in is how do people break down their CAP, Nav Search, and ASW for the air squadrons you have on board? Do you cycle the squads? Do you only use certain plane types for given activities? How do you vary your allocations depending on context i.e. current mission and combat environment for the Carrier? Thanks for any and all suggestions or doc links, if people have written about this already.

[RangerJoe]

It depends upon which side you are and when. Also, the British carriers do not normally carry dive bombers so they would need to use torpedo bombers for search/ASW if you want to augment any float planes.

It also depends upon whether or not you are attacking out of you land base air search and ASW areas or are defending and going in fast to strike the enemy.

So it is situational.

[Lowpe]

Egads, that is a book, and it is all situational. (double egads, RangerJoe and I think alike[;)]).

When no carrier clash is expected, I have gone to a 20% rest for all squadrons, except training squadrons at 100% 0 range.

Search is generally 10% of strike planes, exceptions made all the time depending upon date, weather, torps available, type of divebomber, expected opposition in area, etc.

CAP, if expected clash I like to go 90% of fighters on 0 hex range staggered altitudes. and 10% cap for squadrons tasked with escort duties. I might keep some squadrons at a lower level if I expect many multiple waves.

Search, and night search are so exceptionally critical for CV clashes. MDL and DL are king. I look to get multiple sources of contacts from flying boats, ground based air and carrier air, and subs really anything.

I have been known to assign 80% to ASW and or NavSearch (and combinations yielding 80%) Search to devastate subs near Carrier task forces.

Of course, everything is situational.

[Dante Fierro]

Yeah, I've been pulling my hair out already on this. It's a game within a game itself trying to figure out how to fly the planes on the carriers themselves. But yes, it appears like most of the rest of the game, how you allocate is 'situational'. But man, you could write an entire guide on this alone.

[Dante Fierro]

Other notes I have gleaned on this subject:

- Have more pilots than planes (10% - 20%)
- Generally patrol at about 50 to 60% max range, as returns not worth drops in fatigue levels, mechanical failure, and spotting %
- High altitude spots Large TFs, low altitude smaller TFs (for Nav Search)
- CAP at bomber altitude or slightly above is optimal
- Even with Search Arcs set, aircraft will still do a 4 hex 360 degree search
- You only see what arcs will be covered if all your available planes fly, not what you've set.
- Very important: A carrier battle only fought by carriers is the worst possible way to do it. Have subs present to hunt down wounded ships.
Have plenty of ASW capabilities and search.
- a mix of NS and ASW missions overlapping is often optimal (again situational adjustment)

[RangerJoe]

Shorter ranged patrol? You like to be surprised?

Max fill out with trained pilots. You can always set some tired ones on "Group" Reserve.

Low level CAP is good.

[Dante Fierro]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Shorter ranged patrol? You like to be surprised?

Haha. Do I like to be surprised? Hell no!

But then there is the question of what will actually achieve better results? If I set the searches for longer arcs, will that increase discovery chances all along the arc, or lessen the percentage? i.e. is the search more shallow at each step of the journey, or equal in all parts?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Dante Fierro

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Shorter ranged patrol? You like to be surprised?

Haha. Do I like to be surprised? Hell no!

But then there is the question of what will actually achieve better results? If I set the searches for longer arcs, will that increase discovery chances all along the arc, or lessen the percentage? i.e. is the search more shallow at each step of the journey, or equal in all parts?

Carrier aircraft do not have to worry about widening arcs because their range is limited. Patrol aircraft over 12 hexes suffer lower probabilities of spotting ships/subs. Many, if not most players leave their carrier-based search with search arcs set to "random". IMO, the game seems to figure out the threat vector and find the enemy just as well as those who set the arcs manually.