AE vs AKE

[Dereck]

I'm getting conflicting information.

I was under the impression that the only differences between an AE and AKE were: 1) an AE can re-arm large battleship guns and 2) in 1945 they can be used in replenishment TFs.

Are there any other differences I'm missing?

[Dereck]

I can only see this query if I am logged in. Is there something wrong going on?

[btd64]

An AKE can rearm CV'S, including torpedoes. AE'S can not do that. At sea replenishment can occur 1.1.1945 and after. However both ship types can rearm CV'S and Battleships at any base. Must be loaded with supplies....GP

[btd64]

I can only see this query if I am logged in. Is there something wrong going on?

Don't know....GP

[rockmedic109]

An AKE can rearm CV'S, including torpedoes. AE'S can not do that. At sea replenishment can occur 1.1.1945 and after. However both ship types can rearm CV'S and Battleships at any base. Must be loaded with supplies....GP

I did not know this! Now if I can just remember this little nugget in a year or so when I get to the time the knowledge will be needed.

[zebrazwo]

An AKE can rearm CV'S, including torpedoes. AE'S can not do that. At sea replenishment can occur 1.1.1945 and after. However both ship types can rearm CV'S and Battleships at any base. Must be loaded with supplies....GP

Always the fountain of knowledge GP. Thanks.

[Dereck]

An AKE can rearm CV'S, including torpedoes. AE'S can not do that.

Is that correct or should it be the AKEs that can't?

[btd64]

An AKE can rearm CV'S, including torpedoes. AE'S can not do that.

Is that correct or should it be the AKEs that can't?

The AKE'S were made to resupply CV'S....GP

[dr.hal]

I was under the impression that smaller AEs (the Japs can make a lot of them) can't resupply large caliber guns (BB) due to their limited cargo/ammo capacity, do I have that wrong or is cargo size on the AE a factor to consider?

[rockmedic109]

I was under the impression that maller AEs (the Japs can make a lot of them) can't resupply large caliber guns (BB) due to their limited cargo/ammo capacity, do I have that wrong or is cargo size on the AE a factor to consider?

That is my memory. It was related to cargo capacity for how much they can resupply. I do not remember the formula. I was under the impression that UNREP was limited to 5" and lower. Can an AKE UNREP? If so, can they UNREP just %" and below or do they also supply sorties? Torpedoes?

[btd64]

It also does depend on cargo capacity. Whether or not an AKE can resupply a CV....GP

[Yaab]

I can only see this query if I am logged in. Is there something wrong going on?

I have exactly the same problem. If I am logged out, the forum shows me no new threads/posts after June 1, 2026. I click the referesh button and nada, the forums are frozen just like they were on June 1, 2026.

This is the Main Forum when I am logged out and refresh the page. It has been the same since June 1, 2026.

[Chris21wen]

I first read five days ago and some of the things posted are incorrect but before posting I wanted to confirm them. I think I've only ever got that late in the war once and can't remember using rearming at sea so I decided to test it.

The two things I did know for sure are

You have AE and AKE mixed up. AE can reaming from replenishment TF but only after 1 Jan 1944, AKE cannot. In fact you can't put an AKE in a replenishment TF. Prior to this date AE act like AKE rearming when disbanded in port.

It is the damage effect size of a device that determines if it can be rearmed from AE/AKE. It does that by comparing the devices effect against the cargo capacity of the ship, if its effect <= cargo capacity then it can be rearmed. The US late war C2-S Mt Hood class has a cargo capacity of 6400 and can rearm almost anything with the exception of ship borne torps which cannot be rearmed at sea. Same apply to Japan but not at sea.

Refuelling works as described in the manual. Basically any ship in any type of TF with spare fuel will refuel another ship if that over ship is short. This fuel comes from from its own bunkers. Any AO is always used first coming from it's liquid fuel tanks.

Now the anomalies with AE and for me should be fixed!!. This possible includes the date.

An AE can be in any type of TF, it doe not have to be in a Repl TF An AKE can also be used in this way. (but you can put an AKE in a Repl TF).

If you order a TF to meet and refuel, which is how I've always done it, the Repl TF will plot a course to intercept. Once it meets it will repl as much as it can up to it's Operational Point limit then stop, plotting a course for home unless do not retire is set. In which case it stays in the meet hex. This all sound fine but the point is is it's a bg TF short of both fuel and ammo then it will only be partial refuel/rearmed. The Repl TF should stay with the other TF until it has been completely replenished but it doesn't. You cannot set a TF to refuel and follow at the same time.

When set to meet a Repl TF will automatically repl on the turn it meet the other TF. You have to manually refuel the other TF on any subsequent turns if it is still short.

[Chris21wen]

Here the evidence on AE rearming from any TF type.

The date is 30 Dec 1944. The All ships in the CV TF have been doctored to have only 2000 fuel cap and all have zero ammo except for the Ellet and no ammo. This is reflected in Guns 1917 (11) etc.

The two TF have just met, hence refuel to max but zero rearming has been carried out as the Repl TF ran out of OPs.
AO has 978 Ops used and only 39% of it's fuel left but the AE/AKE are still fully loaded. It is also a Support TF and has been set to meet and follow.

Screenshot 2026-06-17 083444.png (120.05 KiB) Viewed 404 times

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[Chris21wen]

The turn after a manual refuel order by the CV TF.

It is now full armed except for torps on ships. Guns 1917 (100) etc
Supplies in the AE/AKE are now down to 80ish%. Still set to follow, still a Support TF.

Screenshot 2026-06-17 083733.png (122.11 KiB) Viewed 397 times

Screenshot 2026-06-17 083847.png (154.48 KiB) Viewed 401 times