Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Undercover -

Just some generalities -

PC/SC - These guys tend to be shorter range ships (usually under 2000 endurance).  Fair convoy escorts (for ASW), but all but worthless in suface action.  Think of them as bass-boats with a DC rack.  Not the best for long convoy treks (because the convoy will have to keep slowing down to refuel them).  But if you're talking about running between PH and Palmyra (about as far as I'd go), or say Tokyo and Manilla.

PG/DE - There are your ocean-going escorts.  Fair ASW platforms, and can operate well enough in suface combat.  They usually have 3000 - 5000 endurance, so they won't force a refuel every other turn.  Note that, esp in CHS, some of the PGs do not have ASW capabilities.  There are some old dreadnaught-style ones (Soerbaja and Idzumo come to mind), that have no ASW, but their armor is good to put them with an invasion TF to soak up some of the CD fire (unfortunately, they cannot be added to a bombardment TF where their 12" guns would be very useful).

DD - Best escorts (usually) for ASW and surface combat (naturally your convoy wants to -avoid- surface combat, but if push comes to shove).  But you can never have enough DDs (because you're need them for your main fleet units as well).

ORIGINAL: undercovergeek

fantastic - thanks very much indeed.

Have been playing 2 years now and i cant believe this hasnt occured to me before - when you 'escort' the convoys do you actually put DDs in the same TF or have them seperate following the convoy TF - and i think i read here somewhere that the 'escort' mission doesnt work - is this right?

And the other Allied dreadnaught George Averoff

ORIGINAL: Feinder

That leads to the reason for putting the armored PGs, and CLs and CAs in -with- your invasion TFs.  The armored ships will soak up fire from the CDs (and with their armor, depending on the size of the CD, it probably won't pentetrate), and return fire to supporess the CDs.

-F-

ORIGINAL: gladiatt


I thought CV was for Carrier Vessel ....

ORIGINAL: ttjhowell

Speaking of the escort mission I have seen it written elsewhere that putting CV airgroups onto the escort mission avoids the 'wandering air combat TF' problem. Is this correct and does at affect air combat at all?

ORIGINAL: Feinder

My apologies for calling the Averoff and Idzumo "dreadnaughts".  I suppose I should have called them "really old barges with some armor and guns" because that's pretty much what they amount to.  [;)]

While a do recommend a separate (covering) ASW and SC TF to accompany an invasion TF, I usually also put some escorts (PCs/SCs/PGs/DDs) in the invasion TF; in case the covering forces get by-passed (maybe the ASW TF doesn't find the sub and it gets a shot at the invasion TF), at least you have another shot at shooting back. 

But yes, the escorts in an invasion TF will draw fire from the CDs.  This is a two edged sword.  Unarmored ships like PC/SC/(most)PG/DD/MSW will have a really bad day when getting shot up by a bunch of CDs during the invasion.  But the escorts do (supposedly) shoot back and suppress the CDs (a little), altho I'm not sure you'd be happy with the results.  That leads to the reason for putting the armored PGs, and CLs and CAs in -with- your invasion TFs.  The armored ships will soak up fire from the CDs (and with their armor, depending on the size of the CD, it probably won't pentetrate), and return fire to supporess the CDs.

-F-

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

'terminused' ?[&:]