Matrix Games Forums

Hi
I have some questions for the pacwarriors here.

1. How do I use CVEs. Just got the Long Island but can't figure out what to do with it.

2. How do I make more merchant ships be in routine convoys. the AI as the Japanese has about 550-600 MCSs doing these convoys. I have 40-50.

3. The japanese subs are really taking their toll on my ships. They are concentrated mainly around the hawaian islands. How do I stop them before my 40-50 turns to 10-20.

1. I use CVE's in replenishment Tf's with AO [oilers] to refuel and rearm air combat TF's. Your CV's will get replacement planes for there air wings. You have to have AO ships in the replenishment TF though. I guess they will provide air cover for a tf but I don't use them this way. They are to slow for a AC TF.

2. This is a topic of much debate. IMO put many and large MCS groups in LA. Make the 1st groups as large as possible. use old clemson class DD's as escorts. Most importantly move your HQ's around to bases that need supply and use your HQ target to a base you want to get more supply when your not attacking or know an attack is comming. {use sigint]


3. PBY squadrons are the key. DD escorts are important. But the most important thing is to base a lot of patrol planes at different bases in the area to hunt subs. I rarely lost ships to subs any more maybe 3 or 4 a month at most. Check you air coverage zones and the pby bases must have fuel. When subs are spotted in their patrol area their effectiveness goes way down.

Hi, 1 scout (PBY) and 1 bomber airgroup per base.
The Japanese use more merchants also because they have to move resource and oil back to Japan. The allies do not have to do this. Also Japan most likely (if it's early in war) has a lot more units (air/LCU/TF) out there eating supply and using fuel. As they capture bases the new bases need supply. The allies main bases start pretty well stocked and you have few airgroups/LCU's and TF. Around late 42 you should see a increase in the number of merchants running routine supply. It's not how many you are using unless you are finding supply to be a problem. If so do as suggested and locate a HQ at that base. Remember also that routine supply will not run to a base if it is within enemy air zones and you have no airgroups stationed there to provide cover. (check islolated bases)

Thanks for answering. I tried to relocate the south pacific HQ from ellice island but couldn't. There was a message saying 'Not allowed'. Why is that? Also how do I load replacements on CVEs?

Originally posted by Pirate:
Thanks for answering. I tried to relocate the south pacific HQ from ellice island but couldn't. There was a message saying 'Not allowed'. Why is that? Also how do I load replacements on CVEs?

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Four possible reasons . . .

1. SoPac HQ didn't have enough PP left (takes 10 to relocate).
2. The base you were trying to move to is not a SoPac base. You have to change the base to SoPac (5 PP) first then move the HQ.
3. There is already another HQ at the base you want to relocate to. (Possible, but unlikely if it is already a SoPac base).
4. The Japanese have captured the base. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

CVE's: if the CVE has an intrinsic air group, then you can't load replacements. If not, just use the "create" replenishment task force command. After you've selected the CVE, AO and escorts, check the TF -- the CVE and AO should both be loaded.

The USN currently has a PLETHORA of CVE's, since I removed the groups (with special thanks to Ken Hansen!). However, there are a wack without air groups.

1. Use them for replenishment TF duty.

2. Use them for Decoy TF's. When you click on an enemy TF you can see the first few vessels, of course, only the first two letters... So 4 CVE's with Cruiser and Destroyer escort could appear to be 4 CV's... Of course when their aircraft spot the TF they can tell it is a CVE TF, but by this time it is too late and they have changed their plans accordingly. Also, you can use them in actual CVE Air TF's as decoy vessels, so that enemy bombers have a 50-50 chance of sinking a CVE with an air group then with one without. Do this if you are short on CVE's with air groups, as if you just leave the TF with only CVE's with air groups, if the enemy gets through the target heirarchy nails CVE's before your CA's, but the target heirarchy does not care if they have air groups in them...

3. Use them for ASW duties. I read somewhere that CVE's have an ASW value, like DD's, DE's and PC's. Just set up a TF with some CVE's and Clemsons and sail them across known zones of IJN sub activity. Also, use them for Cargo TF's, as one would perfer an empty CVE sunk to an AP full of troops, plus it increases the chance that your escorts sink a sub.