Best protection for transports

[ajarnlance]

Am I better off placing my destroyers in the same TF with my transports? Or should I place my destroyers in a separate TF with an ASW duty and order it follow in the same hex?

[Yaab]

You put your DDs in a separate TF, and set your cargo TF to follow the DD TF by a distance of 0 hex. Thus, when enemy ships intercept your TFs, the enemy will only fight your DD TF.

If you put your DDs and cargo ships in the same TFs, your cargo ships will fight alonsgide the DDs during surface combat and you don't want that. Why? Your cargo ships carry supplies/res/fuel and ANY CARGO will fuel FIRES on your ships. Also, every shell that hits your cargo ships also destroys SOME PART OF THE SUPPLIES they cary. Thus, you want your cargo ships to be screened from combat at all times by a dedicated DD TF, so they can deliver all supplies they carry to their destination

Hope it helps.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Ideal would be both a dedicated "flycatcher" TF and embedded escorts.

[Yaab]

Yep, embedded escorts in a cargo TF would be great, especially against enemy subs, since they can penetrate DD TF screen altogether.

[ajarnlance]

Great tips thanks. Sounds like the answer is both an embedded and a dedicated separate DD TF. Will a DD TF set to ASW also engage in surface combat to protect the transports??

[btd64]

Ideal would be both a dedicated "flycatcher" TF and embedded escorts.

That's how I do it. If I have enough escorts....GP

[btd64]

Great tips thanks. Sounds like the answer is both an embedded and a dedicated separate DD TF. Will a DD TF set to ASW also engage in surface combat to protect the transports??

Yes....GP

[Yaab]

Come to think of it, the answer depends on type of enemies you meet.

Against enemy surface TF, separate DD TF and cargo TF are safest.
Against enemy sub TF, mixed TF is good
Against enemy air threat, mixed TF is best, because it lets you pool you big DP guns from DDs/xAKs against incoming aircraft

Also, if you want raise exp among xAK crews, mixed TF is best. The xAKs will fight then in surface actions, and provided they survive, they can reap huge exp gains (20-30 exp points). For this, high durability xAKs are best, ideally loaded at 50% capacity to reduce the chance of igniting fires when hit.

[Leandros]

I have experimented a little with tagging (following) a cargo convoy on a, say, two-ship ASW unit (DE or DD), with the cargo or troop transport unit one hex behind. The enemy submarine would then, I presume, go for the advance ASW-unit. As more often than not the escorts would evade the torpedoes, the sub would normally be counter-attacked and damaged to the point that it loses interest. Of course, it doesn't do any damage to merge some ASW units within the convoy, too.

I have had good experience with this when protecting more valuable ships, like battlehips, carriers, etc. which usually have a number of escorts, anyway. More clicking, tough....

Fred

[haegint]

There is also the option of making a "Escort" TF (and not a ASW or SCTF) with say a DD/CL and some ASW, and let it follow the Cargo/Transport TF with zero distance - or vice versa make the CTF follow the Escort TF.

Not sure if the Escort mission provides any better protection for a Cargo TF than the options already mentioned. However, the Escort mission must be in the game for something, I suppose.

[Sardaukar]

There is also the option of making a "Escort" TF (and not a ASW or SCTF) with say a DD/CL and some ASW, and let it follow the Cargo/Transport TF with zero distance - or vice versa make the CTF follow the Escort TF.

Not sure if the Escort mission provides any better protection for a Cargo TF than the options already mentioned. However, the Escort mission must be in the game for something, I suppose.

Don't use "Escort" TF for combat missions, it will avoid combat and it is used for getting damaged ships back home.

"CV Escort" is different, it is basically Air Combat TF for lighter CVL/CVE.

[haegint]

Don't use "Escort" TF for combat missions...

Lovely, appreciate for correcting my thinking there

[Sardaukar]

Don't use "Escort" TF for combat missions...

Lovely, appreciate for correcting my thinking there

This is complicated game that still makes me learn new things.

But some things, from "older hands".

Task forces move in game based on their TF number. Thus, unit that is more combat oriented, you should form before non-combat oriented.

[BBfanboy]

Not just order of movement for TF #s, the order of checking for contact with the enemy and order of engagement use TF#s to check which are first up for die rolls. That means the lower number TF gets first opportunity but it is still possible that die rolls are failed and the enemy ends up meeting your transport TF first, bypassing the protection you set up.