Nimitz hoards carriers in Pearl Harbor

[mapie500]

[:)]I've neutralized the Japanes carriers, occupy southeast New Guinea and Guadalcanal, and have six divisions ready to invade Rabaul. However, I have only three fleet carriers when I need about six to hold off Japanese land based bombers. However, Nimitz won't release the repaired or new fleet or fast light carriers that have been docked in Pearl for several months[>:]. Since Nimitz wouldn't support me to fulfil orders to occupy Rabaul, I resigned in late August 1943.
So, how do you get Nimitz to cough up those carriers.[&:]

[rogueusmc]

You generate a 'need' for the ships by either 1) having them sunk...or 2) sending them back to Pearl.

Sometimes the CVs are still in Pearl because of the lack of escorts...send some escorts back.

In your ship availablity screen, does it say 'high' in the upper right corner?

[mapie500]

It says "low." Is sending back screening vessels, e.g. destroyers, the only way to raise this to "high" or must I send back almost everything to Pearl? This game is so (too?) deep!

[rogueusmc]

Yep...send some escorts back...sometimes the CVs are held for lack of escort.

Send a few cruisers back...they may be available for upgrade.

[Blitzer]

Yes the escort issue might be the problem. I've found that a minimum of four DDs is required for each CV you want returned.

The LOW ship availability would have me more concerned however. You've probably got a massive fleet swinging at anchor at New Caledonia or elsewhere. Make a long-term plan, start thinning out what you don't need and send it back until the availability rises to MODERATE.

As for the Japanese LBA pestering your ships, you are probably flying insufficient CAP Healthy CAP tends to make the Jap planes hesitant to attack. The answer is to systematically blast their bases with heavy bombers before you send your vessels into the fray, then compound the insult with CV airstrikes on the crippled airfields and ports.

God I love this game.

[mapie500]

Thanks Blister! When moving carriers into Indian territory (in range of land based bombers and not expecting Jap carriers), I usually have all my carrier fighters on escort with 90% cap.
By the way, I usually do better when listening to Richard Roger's "Victory at Sea" very loud. Inspirational. (In November 1942, I just moved off two large transport groups from Lunga before they were completely unloaded; glad I did since two Jap carrier groups visited the area the day after!)

[neuromancer]

Also because commitment level was LOW you should send back 'junk'. Its all about point values, so send back escorts for the carriers (a plethora of DDs and CLAAs woithout anything to escort are almost useless), transports you don't need (I usually have more AKs and AOs than I need, but not enough APs), AVs (barely useful for the allies, particular in the late game), cruisers and such that haven't been refitted in a while, Jeep Carriers (Long Island for example), subs (there comes a point when you can have an awful lot of subs, but it sounds like you have naval dominance, so send some SS back), etc., etc.

Don't forget to send back your damaged units too. I tend to do destroyers, subs, and transports when over 10 to 15 SYS damage. Capitol ships when over 20 SYS damage. Pearl can repair ships MUCHO faster than you can in the field (usually).

You'll need to send back a lot of points to free up for the CVs, because CVs tend to be worth so much more than everything else.

As Blitzer said, make a long term plan, don't short yourself on units you will need (for example, you will need adequate transport capacity for your six divisions and their supply), but send back the units you don't need see above). If you look at it realistically, the war is a lot bigger than just the Coral Sea, so you might be holding onto ships that could be used elsewhere.

[mapie500]

OK guys. I've started over at May 1. Essentially, back where I was but without any Jap carriers sunk this time; however, I have all the first six of the heavy carriers still in good shape. It's late fall and I've been sending all non-critical ships back to Pearl. But have "dirtied up" (put some wear and tear on) my cruisers and destroyers doing fast transport to Lunga to keep that base marginally operational before sending them to Pearl and continue to send 2 and 3-ship transport groups to Port Moresby to keep that airbase active to wreak havoc on Jap transport groups.
Don't find AVs totally useless. The faster ones, at least, can do fast transport duty to Lunga. With a couple more divisions, the Essex, and replacement excorts, I hope to be "good to go" for Rabaul by March 43. But since I'm off to Alaska, it will be a couple of weeks before then.

[ritterkruz]

NOW I get it! I have the reverse problem from Mapie 500. It's October 1942, and all the US CVs are KIA. I have 3 IJN CVs in good shape at Rabaul, and experienced aircrew rarin' to get at those Yankees in Luganville. I've been waiting and waiting for more CVs, for the same reason that Mapie had... but the two IJN CVs in Tokyo are too busy enjoying the geishas to join the battle. I took the great advise offered here and sent back a small fleet of escort types, and the release level has changed to Moderate. [&o]
While I'm here, I have a question. Are the aircrew of my CVs, "disbanded" at Rabaul still carrying out the last missions assigned? Or do they sort of go into suspended animation unless they're assigned to a fleet. Obviously this is important for training new crews and resting the vets. In "reality", weren't the CV squadrons off-shipped to train, re-equip, etc.? (By the way, if asking a question in someone else's thread is a no-no, please excuse my faux pas. I really don't get out that much, [electronically] and I wish to learn to avoid offending anyone.[:(]

[crsutton]

As the fight progresses, you will find less of a need for AVs. Send them back. Also, send back ships you find yourself not using. I don't recommend sending back DDs though, unless they need an AA upgrade. There should be enough in Pearl for escorts. You probably have a surplus of tankers. Send a few back. Try to keep only 4 or 5 APDs ( or none if you have a lot of DDs). Keep only six MSW at a time or better yet DMS. Perhaps only about 8 SCs. If sending these surplus ships back does not boost your level to at least moderate, then send some warships. Go through them and send the ones with the lower AA levels first. They will eventually come back with better AA.

Oh yes, If you still have Long Island-send her home too. She is invaluable in the first few months but useless later in the game.

[tsimmonds]

Are the aircrew of my CVs, "disbanded" at Rabaul still carrying out the last missions assigned? Or do they sort of go into suspended animation unless they're assigned to a fleet.

Carrier air units will only conduct operations if they are in an air combat TF or on a land base. Typically, carrier air units were put ashore whenever the ships were in port. You can leave the air units on an ACTF in port, but the number of a/c assigned to all missions will be halved due to the difficulties involved in conducting flight operations near land.

[ritterkruz]

Thanks, Irrelevant. Things in Rabaul and Truk are gonna have to get a LOT more crowded with all my CV squadrons ashore! Hope the base force(s) willbe up to it. Still, very good to know that I will no longer be wasting possible training time while the CVs refit.