Replenishing carrier airgroups

[Bella]

What’s the best way to replenish aircraft on carriers, as American (besides transferring whole new units onto them)?

[RangerJoe]

Use the get replacement aircraft function.

[Bella]

Use the get replacement aircraft function.

That’s only in ports though?

[RangerJoe]

Use the get replacement aircraft function.

That’s only in ports though?

Not necessarily. For American Naval air units, there are the VR squadrons.

[Admiral DadMan]

Either in a port with enough supply (20,000+, I think) or from a VR squadron that's in range.

[Bella]

Either in a port with enough supply (20,000+, I think) or from a VR squadron that's in range.

May I ask what VR stands for?

[Platoonist]

May I ask what VR stands for?

The full term is VRF. It stands for Navy Ferry Squadron. You could also think of the "R" standing for "reserve" if that helps you remember. These are special naval air units stationed on some escort carriers and usable as a source of replacement aircraft for nearby carriers. They start showing up in August 1942 along with their escort carriers.

They are not meant to used as combat squadrons. They start oversize with two VRF units per CVE, filling the CVE to its maximum carrying capacity. Once the capacity falls then you can use them in a combat role. However, their main purpose is to serve as a source of planes and pilots to replace losses on the larger carriers while at sea.

[sstevens06]

May I ask what VR stands for?

The full term is VRF. It stands for Navy Ferry Squadron. You could also think of the "R" standing for "reserve" if that helps you remember. These are special naval air units stationed on some escort carriers and usable as a source of replacement aircraft for nearby carriers. They start showing up in August 1942 along with their escort carriers.

They are not meant to used as combat squadrons. They start oversize with two VRF units per CVE, filling the CVE to its maximum carrying capacity. Once the capacity falls then you can use them in a combat role. However, their main purpose is to serve as a source of planes and pilots to replace losses on the larger carriers while at sea.

This is very good advice. Since VRFs are a source of replacement pilots I sometimes offload them at a rear area airbase & set them to train for a while.

[Sardaukar]

VRF-squadrons are good source of Navy pilots, no need to even offload them from CVEs (unless you want extra CVEs and man them with USMC units).

In 1944, USN has almost too many CVEs, so it's more for 1943.

[RangerJoe]

Those CVEs start coming in during later 1942.

[Chris21wen]

I believe there is a bug to do with the pilots in the Air replacement Unit (VR). If you transfer manually then only the ac are received. In auto with ‘Replacements on’ then both ac and pilots are transferred, I don’t think should be?

[btd64]

I believe there is a bug to do with the pilots in the Air replacement Unit (VR). If you transfer manually then only the ac are received. In auto with ‘Replacements on’ then both ac and pilots are transferred, I don’t think should be?

Yeah, I've noticed that to. But I don't remember if my pilots level was full on the CV....GP

[Bella]

I believe there is a bug to do with the pilots in the Air replacement Unit (VR). If you transfer manually then only the ac are received. In auto with ‘Replacements on’ then both ac and pilots are transferred, I don’t think should be?

Might be useful to play with those settings. You might want it Manual if your combat/carrier air units have taken aircraft material losses but a lot of your (vastly more experienced) pilots were rescued/salvaged from wrecks (happened to me in a fight one hex from my base on Tulagi. Short on planes but lots of good pilots left.) In this case you want the planes, not the new pilots. Otherwise, do it Auto.

[sven6345789]

I believe there is a bug to do with the pilots in the Air replacement Unit (VR). If you transfer manually then only the ac are received. In auto with ‘Replacements on’ then both ac and pilots are transferred, I don’t think should be?

Another work around might be to send the pilots back to the replacement pool the carriers draw their pilots from. No idea which pool this is though.

[Chris21wen]

I believe there is a bug to do with the pilots in the Air replacement Unit (VR). If you transfer manually then only the ac are received. In auto with ‘Replacements on’ then both ac and pilots are transferred, I don’t think should be?

Another work around might be to send the pilots back to the replacement pool the carriers draw their pilots from. No idea which pool this is though.

You can't do that at sea. Only two, Fighters (F/FB) or bombers (DB/TB).

[Bella]

Use the get replacement aircraft function.

I’ve been trying to locate this since this thread began. Where is this “get replacement aircraft function”?

[Chris21wen]

Use the get replacement aircraft function.

I’ve been trying to locate this since this thread began. Where is this “get replacement aircraft function”?

Not sure why you can't find it! Here's it is in red with reserves being drawn in blue. It's also in section 7.1 Air Unit Info screen p155 in the new manual.

Capture.JPG (106.42 KiB) Viewed 461 times

[Bella]

Use the get replacement aircraft function.

I’ve been trying to locate this since this thread began. Where is this “get replacement aircraft function”?

Not sure why you can't find it! Here's it is in red with reserves being drawn in blue. It's also in section 7.1 Air Unit Info screen p155 in the new manual.

Capture.JPG

Oh,that! Well, that’s switched on, of course. I thought you were referring to a switch like the one you use to get extra pilots (which works instantly). Thanks for the info.

[LargeSlowTarget]

If all conditions have been met (e.g. either in range of a VR group or in port with enough supplies, I think there is a minimum port / airbase size as well), then there should appear a "Draw aircraft from pool" button just under the "Upgrade / Do not upgrade" button. However, drawing replacement aircraft from the pool is possible only once every 7 days and up to 12 aircraft max per draw (and of course only up to the air group max size)

[Chris21wen]

If all conditions have been met (e.g. either in range of a VR group or in port with enough supplies, I think there is a minimum port / airbase size as well), then there should appear a "Draw aircraft from pool" button just under the "Upgrade / Do not upgrade" button. However, drawing replacement aircraft from the pool is possible only once every 7 days and up to 12 aircraft max per draw (and of course only up to the air group max size)

It's 20K supply same as land based ac. Difference is land based can also get replacements if either their air or command HQ are within air transfer range and HQs base has 20K.