No lex or E - and it's 1941!

[Crimguy]

Well, I'm playing chickens**t for the next 12 months or so. I'm hoarding every ship I've got for the moment. The transport losses are pretty meaningless IIRC because I get about 100 of them in mid-january.

I'm curious about the Japs though - do they start running low on AP's and AK's, and if so, when?

[Ddog]

I lost my carriers taking Wake in late 41. It's now 8/42 in my PBEM game, and I'm starting to defend myself pretty well. The war is far from over for you Crim. The American CV's are worthless until they get a fighter that can stand toe to toe with the Zero. When I lost my carriers, I had 55 F4's up. Lost them all in the first wave. It went downhill from there.

I must say that I have scored some serious shots using the Brits CV's with the Swordfish. I use them in a "hit and run" manner. Very effective!

Just sit back and beef up your main bases and keep supplies moving. You will do just fine.

[madflava13]

Never use your CVs as the Allies until you get the Oct. 1942 AAA upgrade. I only use mine to screen really important convoys until after that date.

For instance, in one PBEM I had to commit them north of Noumea just after 4/42 to cover the landing of a rather large number of troops. Part of KB struck back, but not before I battered some IJN BBs (and I think turned back a potential invasion attempt).

I won't say what damage I took, or what exactly I landed, because the enemy is listening.

[moses]

The main purpose of the allied carriers early on is to prevent UNSUPPORTED landings. So if you're playing someone who is sending 10 AP's and a couple CA's to Lunga on week two with no carrier support then the allied carriers are the answer.

My view is that as long as KB is around Japan can do what it wants and my carriers stay far far away. But when I know that KB is not around then my carriers can operate with caution. Stay within you're cocoon of air recon and at least 12 hexes from any Japanese level 4 airfields. Look for invasion/bombardment fleets that are coming to you.

Whenever KB disappears you calculate how long it would take him to from his last known location to your current carrier location. Thats how long you have to disappear.