Not being critical of the damage to shipping. I like the idea. It is something that needs to be taken into account.ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget
Well, I don't believe that all ships of all nations started the war in perfect condition, like if never used prior to Dec 7th. So I added a low random amount of sys and eng damage.
Check carefully for conversion options, I have added a lot or changed availability dates. The coastal minelayers for example can convert to ACMs.
Personally, I convert all To'su xAKL hulls to ACM, their short range makes them useless for anything else. For the same reason the Ha'chi class converts exclusively to AMc.
The longer-legged xAKL become PB escorts, the Kiso-E class escort the 10kn xAKs, the Kujira class escort the 12kn xAK and some serve as pickets, the Ansyu class escort 14kn xAKs and TKs or run self-escorted FT missions near the front. Frees-up older DDs and E types to escort the fast AKs and TKs and to form hunter-killer groups.
The short-legged Daigen class xAKL convert to AGs, which I spread along the convoy routes, so escorts can reload DCs if necessary.
Furthermore, I convert all Husimis to AV. Parked at a base which also gets one the many 8 AV air base companies, the total amount of 24 AV is perfect for supporting one resized float plane unit on ASW or naval search. Even if the AV gets sunk by a port strike for example, the float planes can still operate and evacuate thx to the ground-based AV support. They can also be effective at low naval strikes against un-CAPed transport TFs.
I temporarily convert Yusen-N, Limas and Adens to xAK-t for the initial expansion, the convert them back to haul resources.
Finally, I convert the big 16kn and 18kn xAKs of the Kyushu and Yusen-A / -S classes to AK types for moving troops to the front, or eventual counter-invasions. I tend to keeps the xAPs in the rear, they transport troops to hubs safely behind the front, where the AKs take them over
Thanks for your comprehensive review of shipping options. I am kind of racing in my head to work out what is to be done so we can get this thing rolling. I did see To'su already converted to ACM and was initially thinking that they would be the ones to convert. Then I saw the Kiso E and my mind went off on a tangent. To'su it is then for conversion to ACM. Haven't looked at the coastal mine-layers yet but if they can switch over to ACM I'll be doing that. I'm not ashamed to grab ideas and run with them and I like what you have laid out here for Japanese shipping. Good tip on the AGs as I am sure I never had enough or used them properly in my previous game. Great tip on floatplane support. Certainly agree with the conversions to xAK-t and subsequent conversion back to cargo transport. Your thinking on converting to AKs and the use of xAPs sounds much like the way my thinking has been developing in this area.
Thanks heaps for putting this into perspective for me.
