Matrix Games Forums

Are they worth keeping in the theater?

I see no need to employ them in their historical role of aircraft ferry given all Japanese A/C can make the flight Truk->Rabaul.

So treat them as the allies do Long Island and send them back home, or is there a useful role they can perform?

Are they worth keeping in the theater?

I see no need to employ them in their historical role of aircraft ferry given all Japanese A/C can make the flight Truk->Rabaul.

So treat them as the allies do Long Island and send them back home, or is there a useful role they can perform?

I think the Japanese CVEs are critical in middle to late game because they are allowed into transport fleets. This allows you to move large convoys (divisions, etc.) with much more protection against land based bombers on Naval Search and Naval attack.

If you are moving large convoys and are going into Allied bomber range put one or two CVEs (with fighters 90%) in with your transport fleet, a CS, AV, (float fighter 90%) one or two LRCAP fighter from land base on top and you can move most times without being bombed from a medium to long range from his bomber bases.

Sadly, your advice, while appreciated, came too late to prevent me from sailing Unyo into the jaws of death. So far my (mis)handling of the Japanese CV fleet has resulted in 6 resting peacefully on the bottom alongside Big E. Only Shokaku has survived, but she is at Tokyo with more holes than deck plating.

A mistake that is learned from has value.  A repeated mistake...............

In reality the IJN used their CVE's more for transport convoy protection than big carrier fleet actions, so all the above advice is quite valid. Normally they embarked a temporary sentai of Zero's.
However, it is worth noting that the IJN never thought much of ASW operations, so it would be very rare (if unheard of) for them to operate CVE's in this manner. Later on in the conflict they had a change of mind and comissioned half a dozen specially constructed small CVL's to act in the ASW role (ironically 5 of these were quickly sunk by the subs they were supposed to be hunting!)

ORIGINAL: Kingfisher


all Japanese A/C can make the flight Truk->Rabaul.

some of the IJA a/c types cannot be transferred to Rabaul just by flying down there (the Ki-61 Tony fighter for example). Either you stage them thru Kavieng or you´ll need some CV vessel to bring them close to action & annihilation[;)] There are some types that even had not the range to make it to Kavieng (the anyway useless 9 Ki-51 Sonia "divebombers", F1M Pete floatplane)
Due to their slow speed you can operate them as Ike said or let them go as escorts for the old battleships (FUSO & ISE class).

IJN CVE's aren't as useful as USN CVE's..  use them for transport..