MSW as ASW Escorts?

[WiTP_Dude]

Does anyone use MSW as ASW escorts for transports when playing as the Japanese? I've noticed a lot of these ships have an ASW value of 3 vs only 2 for most DDs. Mine sweeping isn't usually a big deal so a lot of these ships just sit around unused.

[2ndACR]

If it has a depth charge on it, USE IT. As the IJN you have to use everything for convoy escort. The MSW have short range, so use them from the resource producing base to escort convoys to a marshalling base. Use longer legged DD's and APD's to escort to Home Islands.

[Culiacan Mexico]

ORIGINAL: WiTP_Dude
Does anyone use MSW as ASW escorts for transports when playing as the Japanese? I've noticed a lot of these ships have an ASW value of 3 vs only 2 for most DDs. Mine sweeping isn't usually a big deal so a lot of these ships just sit around unused.

MSW with a ASW value of ‘3’, I use to hunt submarine early in the war, but those with a value of ‘1’… I use as escorts.

[waynec]

Does anyone use MSW as ASW escorts for transports when playing as the Japanese? I've noticed a lot of these ships have an ASW value of 3 vs only 2 for most DDs. Mine sweeping isn't usually a big deal so a lot of these ships just sit around unused.

the japanese were quite shorthanded on asw assets in the beginning of the war (well throughout the war but that is another subject) and some of their transport convoys in the beginning of the war were escorted with "lesser" ships.

[WiTP_Dude]

I am moving a lot of those APDs into sub hunter roles. Most of them have 10 Type 95 depth charge mounts. Don't know if the multiple mounts helps when trying to kill subs but it can't hurt.

[Deathifier]

Just keep in mind their experience.
DD's and co. have very high day/night experience compared to aux. ships like MSW's.

This point was hammered home with an allied MSW+PG ASW TF was losing more ships than hits they were scoring on subs, when their partner DD TF (a bit further north, on the east coast of Aus.) was fairing much better.

And yes, more charges is better - the ship will fire everything it has at the sub if it makes contact and attacks, obviously the more stuff being thrown at it the better chance of sinking it

- Deathifier

[Xargun]

I us MSW heavily in ASW roles, especially against subs close to or in a base hex. MSWs have very short legs (around 2000 endurance is best I think I've seen) so they need to be used in such a role where their short legs will not hamper their work. I use them mostly in hunter-killer groups at my forward bases... I use the better DDs (the few that are usable for ASW) for long-range escorts as well as a high experienced HK (hunter-killer) group.

Don't forget both PCs and PGs carry depth charges as well and have a decent speed (16 & 18 knts) whereas MSWs only have 10 or 20 knts..

Xargun

[HawaiiFive-O]

Another thing to keep in mind is that Japanese AKs/APs only make 10-11 kt themselves. So those 10 kt MSWs are fine as escorts, even through blue water because they will top off their tanks automatically from the freighters.

So you don't lose anything even sending the MSWs on a Tokyo to Kwajalein run, for instance.

Japanese ASW escorts are in short supply, use all that you have. I'm not a big mine layer (during the expansion period at least), and since there are a couple of MLs with depth charges aboard too, they serve convoy duty as well.

All the time at sea will (slowly) raise their experience as well.

[esteban]

Minesweepers are ok as escorts. Their biggest problem is that they start with about 10-15 lower experience than even the Japanese PGs and PCs. However, they will get in the occasional attack and hit, so by all means, use them.

Having a MSW get in a hit may make the difference between sinking an Allied sub and having it escape with damage, and then be back attacking your convoys again in 4-5 months.

[Caltone]

ORIGINAL: esteban
Minesweepers are ok as escorts. Their biggest problem is that they start with about 10-15 lower experience than even the Japanese PGs and PCs. However, they will get in the occasional attack and hit, so by all means, use them.

That's an excellent point. The low experience is a big factor. For this reason, don't form an ASW TF entirely of these ships, they won't hit anything and will probably end up as targets. If you can stick a few of these with some better escorts then they will gain experience faster than just doing shakedown cruises. As in all things, trial by fire is the best way to gain experience.

[Rob Brennan UK]

I use msw,pg,sc,apd (best) and some dd units for ASW duties. I have good results mixing the good (dd+apd) with 40-60% more msw and patrol craft.. the units seem to refuel themselves for a while giving more endurance.. and I use them close to shore ( around formosa and nth phillipines so if a sub gets a lucky hit you 'can/might' save the poor blighter [:D]

also larger groups seem to work better , but as japs numbers is something you dont have [;)]

Good luck and have fun

[Moquia]

I think the Australien Bathurst class was mainly employed on escort duties. Maybe they should be classed as PCs.

[Xargun]

I do have a question about ASW Destroyers.. I have noticed several Japanese DDs have depth charges, but you cannot put them into an ASW TF.. Is there reasoning behind this ?

Xargun