Why are my carriers still reacting to the enemy?

[von Murrin]

Originally posted by Wilhammer
...It might be a little too bloody.

Not when their crews are still good. Then it's the other way 'round. The reason I get turkey shoots like that is because I don't go on the offensive unless I'm sure the Japanese air crew quality is starting to really crumble.

[The Gnome]

Yes, you are right there. Crew quality makes such a dramatic difference. Japanese carrier strikes at or near the begining of the game (long campaign) instill me with terror. Once I've whittled them down a bit they're much less fearsome.

Everytime I see a Zero pilot reported killed or captured at the start of the game is a small victory!

[von Murrin]

Yup. I don't even bother to engage anymore until Nov/Dec. During the interim, I use my CV's as bait to get theirs into LBA range. Haven't sunk one that way yet, but it sure wears down their aircrews.

I find that going out to pound some hapless engineers that have no AA to defend them is a good way to get Kido Butai to come roaring in. It also has a side benefit of drastically increasing the experience of your own aircrews at next to no cost.

[Slaughtermeyer]

Originally posted by Wilhammer
Gamey Tactic Alert!

Playing against the AI, I have fed transports into PM JUST to watch the IJN send strikes against them, and to LET my CAP heavy PM defenders attrit the IJN Naval Air away.

This tactic should also work in PBEM games because players have no control over what targets their bombers allocated to naval strike missions will choose to strike (unless the player takes his bombers off of naval strike missions, thereby potentially missing out on poorly-defended worthwhile targets).