Is the claude worthless?

[Tophat]

Basically just what the title says........Is the claude squadron you startout scenario17 withgood for anything? Or should it be withdrawn in hopes of getting it back as a Zero type ftrgroup? I think i've actually found a use for the claudes,a combat report will tell soon enough.[:'(]

[Drex]

I send it back to Truk to build up to full size and then to upgrade.

[AmiralLaurent]

You can use it as most Allied players use the Wirraway: to provide LRCAP of ships around Kavineg/Rabaul so no PM bomber will attack them. But I never use them on the frontline (that is in range of Allied fighters). And in mid-May I send them to Truk for upgrade.

[Tophat]

How does the upgrade work? simply send it to Truk?

[AmiralLaurent]

You have to wait until there are enough A6M2 Zero in the stockpile available. The right number is (unit size x 1.5) in the pile before the unit upgrades, so in this case it is 40-41. Probably in the end of May it will be OK.

[scorryuk]

Curious about upgrading squadrons now that I`ve read this... Playing as US. Do I have to send squadrons back to Nomeau or will Brisbane do? Any essential upgrades I should be making sure I do in 42/43?

[Drex]

I think as long as the base is in supply back to Noumea or Truk the squdron will upgrade.

[DoomedMantis]

Brisbane or Noumea for the Allies.

As long as the unit is in flying range of these bases it will upgrade, although preference is given to those closest

[crsutton]

I don't use the claudes in combat if I can avoid it. The squadron starts with high quality pilots and it is a shame to waste them in the obsolete claudes. No need to take them back to Truk, they will upgrade to zeros in any base within long range of the zero. Just park them and wait, it does not take long.

[wobbly]

ORIGINAL: DoomedMantis

Brisbane or Noumea for the Allies.

As long as the unit is in flying range of these bases it will upgrade, although preference is given to those closest

I am not sure this is entirely correct. I think there is a specific preference as to which sqds get upgraded. I had a sqd of P-39s go to P-38s at Gili Gili while there were sqds of P-39s at Townsville and Cairns.

[Bobthehatchit]

ORIGINAL: wobbly

ORIGINAL: DoomedMantis

Brisbane or Noumea for the Allies.

As long as the unit is in flying range of these bases it will upgrade, although preference is given to those closest

I am not sure this is entirely correct. I think there is a specific preference as to which sqds get upgraded. I had a sqd of P-39s go to P-38s at Gili Gili while there were sqds of P-39s at Townsville and Cairns.

Think some of he units will up grade when they did historically, the rest will follow suit when there are enough air frames available.

[AmiralLaurent]

I am not sure this is entirely correct. I think there is a specific preference as to which sqds get upgraded. I had a sqd of P-39s go to P-38s at Gili Gili while there were sqds of P-39s at Townsville and Cairns.

I'm quite sure that the unit with the lower number in the database will upgrade first if it is in range and enough planes are available.

[spence]

I think the Claude sqdrn starting at Rabaul in Scen 17 upgrades to A6M3s after the number of A6M3s in the replacement pool reaches around 33 or so - pretty much regardless of the strength of the squadron itself (Can't remember when exactly that is). The pilots are pretty good though so it is kind of wasteful to let them get slaughtered by the P40s and even P39s (?!!!!?) which is pretty much what happens if you move them up to Lae and put them on Escort. They're not too effective but they might knock down a Hudson or two flying CAP at Rabaul. With only one squadron of land based Zeros the IJN player is hard pressed adequately escort the Nells and Bettys to suppress PM so there are times the Claudes can help.

[Zeta16]

I think they go to AM2's. on me they have never gone to AM3's.

[Oznoyng]

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

You have to wait until there are enough A6M2 Zero in the stockpile available. The right number is (unit size x 1.5) in the pile before the unit upgrades, so in this case it is 40-41. Probably in the end of May it will be OK.

The number is not 1.5 for Japan. Nor for Allies for that matter. Alllies I am sure is 1.33, Japan is smaller, but I can't remember for sure what the number is. I *think* it is 1.2. Check the manual in the section on aircraft replacements. The number is there.

As an example, an Allied group with a full strength of 36 F4F-3's is eligible to upgrade to F4F4's when there are 48 (36 * 1.33) F4F4's in the pool. A Jap Claude airgroup with a full strength of 27 is eligible when there are 33 (1.2 * 27) A6M2's in the pool.