What the heck are AV's for anyway?

[grraven2004]

Hello.

Can someone please tell me what AV's are good for?
I know they are seaplane tenders but how the heck do you make them work?
I have been using them as targets for enemy planes to shoot at to save my transports but I know they should be good for what they are intended.

Please help a frustrated newbie.

Thanks

[madflava13]

There's actually a thread devoted to this somewhere... But I send them out to isolated spots, then transfer in a squadron of PBYs/Mavis' and let them operate as a forward recon base. You need to Fast Transport some supplies in as well. There's lots of little spits of land to do this from, but be careful because once they're discovered, they're an easy kill for your opponent...

[grraven2004]

ok.
Can you do this on any scratch of land or do you need to park at a forward base? How do you unload the supplies?

[madflava13]

You can do it at any base that is controlled by your side. You don't need land forces there - all you do is send a fast transport (or any kind of transport) with a little bit of supplies. This gives you an empty base with some supplies. Then you send the AV to the base (set it as the AV's home base) - then transfer in the sea planes. When you click on the base, you'll see under air support 0 + 18 or something like that. The base provides no support, but the AV gives about 18. (Thats what the big US ones provide, IIRC). As long as you keep a small amount of supplies there, and the AV isn't sunk, you can operate the squadron of float planes indefinitely. This is good for those spits of land in the middle of the Coral Sea - gives a nice advance warning of approaching enemy TFs... Just make sure to beat feet if you're identified.

[grraven2004]

Thankyou very much.
I will immediatly implement this

[redman1]

AV's and CS's are very similar except for one important point: CS planes can fly while at sea, while AV planes fly only when docked. In effect, a CS is a mobile AV.

If you're going to plant a AV forward as many do (you can also use it as an internal ASW platform in the Solomon Sea, for example) you can of course group it into a TF with a ship or two that have good AA ratings for protection. Madflava's right about them being targeted by enemy air.

[rogueusmc]

I started a thread on this just after the hack attack.....I had no clue how to use them either....lol

[DoomedMantis]

I use them mainly as ASW, I park them in choke points and forward bases for this purpose.

[madflava13]

One thing I do with the fast CS's -Chitose/Nisshin- is load them up with Rufe squadrons and have them accompany the CVs. I put the Rufes on 100% CAP as TF cover just before I expect contact with the enemy. If I'm really getting hammered by Allied subs, I'll load them up with search planes and use them as Hunter/Killer TF leaders. I don't kill a whole lot of SSs this way, but I certainly drive them down and use up their fuel...

[redman1]

Interesting thought re the CS Rufe's, 'flava. I'll have to try that. You could have as many as 15-20 more CAP planes that way.

[madflava13]

Redman,
Yeah I learned about it the hard way - I usually play the Allies, and I kept getting stomped on by this one opponent. Finally I realized what he was up to, but not after I'd had my strikes completely eaten up by his massive CAP...

[DoomedMantis]

Ruffes really are just fodder though

[Mark VII]

In my first two games as Japanese, used Rufe's in front line role(Gili Gili before airfield built, on CS's) and they never really preformed very well. Many were shot down while shooting down far less. I now use CS's as ASW/Recon platforms filled with mostly Jake's.

[demonterico]

Great ideas guys. The importance of many minor vessels if often overlooked especially compared to the obvious importance of the major ships like CVs and BBs ect. However, each class of vessel was built to provide specific assets to the period commanders.

By asking the question; "What are AVs for anyway?" you have already answered your own question, although you might have rephrased the question as; What do AVs do?

The answer is AVs are self propelled aircraft support systems. Where ever an AV is, aircraft can be flown and maintained. Also, this applies to any aircraft not just float planes. Japan starts scenario 17 with more airfields than air support engineers. However in the first month of the game Japan deploys 3 AVs with I believe 40 points of aviation support. These AVs can be moved to any empty base with an airfield to provide support for that base. Also I've found that it is not necessary to have one point of support for each plane flying so an AV with 10 points of support can keep a squadron of 20 fighters flying pretty well. Repair time is longer but its not a serious handicap.

One of the first things I like to do is get an AV to Lambeti with the Mavis Squadrons (and supply of course). This allows me to fly recon missions over Luganville. Also, as mentioned above it also extends my Naval Search further south.

CSs are great too. One thing I love to do with a CS is to build a raider force around one with squadrons of CLs and DDs. I send this force down south of Gili Gili and it cuts the supply line to PM. The aircraft do search and provide early warning of an enemy TF approaching. The CLs provide the punch to take out the APs/AKs. Although I really do enjoy putting the Jakes on Naval Attack and watching them bomb the enemy APs/AKs as well. They don't do much damage with those 60 kilo bombs but its still fun. And, just think of the assets the allies will have to tie up if they want to chase off this little force.

[redman1]

ORIGINAL: DoomedMantis

Ruffes really are just fodder though

Given that CV battles often come down to 1 or two torps deciding whether one side comes away with a victory or defeat, that fodder could make the difference if it frees up enough of your CAP to down a few additional enemy torpedo or dive bomber planes.