Ghost squadrons of the IJN

[spence]

I remember some old posts about an A-20 squadron with no planes or pilots
showing up on US CV's. Can't really remember what brought that on but it seems that the IJN is not immune to the phenomenon. In this case it's Claude though - and it seems that they are capable of reproduction.

HIJMS KAGA got severely damaged in 1942 and spent the next 12 months in the shipyard getting repaired. When it left the theater all surviving Vals and Kates were left behind at Truk and it returned to Japan with only a few damaged Zeros aboard.
When it returned to Truk late in 1943 it had a small squadron of Zeros and 2 squadrons having no pilots or planes which showed a picture of a Claude though the aircraft type for both squadrons was not specified. In any case I sent the mighty KAGA off to sea to do whatever damage it might manage (not much hope of that really) loaded with a full Zero squadron, a Val squadron, a Kate squaadron and these two Claude(?) squadrons with no planes or pilots. After a couple of turns at sea the KAGA had reached a point North of G-canal undetected from which it might profitably raid the merchant shipping in the lower Solomons so I clicked on KAGA and the ship was now loaded with 7 squadrons: 1 of Zeros, 1 of Vals, 1 of Kates and 4, yes 4 of pilotless Claudes(?). Total aircraft complement was around 60, well below KAGAs capacity but KAGA launched no raids and, now having been detected, was forced to retire towards Truk at max speed from the USN's overwhelming carrier force.

Seems there were some hints as to how to get rid of the A-20s on USN CVs. Do they work with the Claudes? What are they? Has anybody else run into these ghosts of departed samurai?

[tabpub]

I don't have this EXACT problem right now, but something similar:

During a big CV fight (in our I 80 AAR) I lost a BUNCH of airplanes..over 100.
In the process, I withdrew some of the shot up Val Squadrons (and possibly Kates also, I don't remember right now). They were scheduled to return, but now have not. They disappeared, leaving the arrival list, but never arriving. Since then, my Val replacement pool never builds up and my onboard squadrons don't seem to be receiving any. They are not on carriers in the home waters that I can see, so they appear to be in limbo still filling up with planes and pilots, as far as I can tell. I do hope that they show up sometime...failing that, that they finally stop drawing planes somewhere down the road.