AVP Class sea tender - what purpose in the game?

[mllange]

I'm slowly Trying to come to grips with the various classes of vessels, so I did a bit of reading up on the AVP class ships; it seems they were primarily used as sea tender vessels to support a small group of float planes. Fine. Problem is, I see no use for them in the game in that role. They can't transport the planes, have no capacity to carry supplies or fuel, etc.

What do you do with these puppies? Whenever I see them stationed initially they are in a small base with a group of float planes alright, but I have no idea what benefit they bring (aside from target practice for the IJN forces).

Please enlighten me! [&:]t

[sven6345789]

act the same way as AV and AVD; act as a "Base Force" for floatplanes and amphibious planes.
According to manual, added for flavor. Appart from being smaller, no difference

[bradfordkay]

They provide "air support" for float planes that are based at the same port. If an AVP has 6 air support points, then it can provide support for up to 6 float planes. The port will still need supply in order for the planes to make any attacks... 

[mllange]

Excellent info, thanks for the quick replies! Wouldn't it make sense for the AVP class to carry a modest amount of supplies and fuel? What is the reasoning behind leaving this capability out?

[bradfordkay]

Someone from the AE design crew will have to explain that, but my guess is that because these are very small tenders they don't have much in the way of carrying capacity (their space is likely taken up with crew quarters and machine shops).

BTW: fuel is only used for refuel ships; AVGAS is considered to be "supplies" in this game.

[sven6345789]

tried to load it with supplies? i know that AD and AS need to carry supply now

[mllange]

Thanks Brad. Nice to see a fellow Washingtonian on the boards - from Seattle myself. Could use some rain about now...

[bradfordkay]

sven, I just created a TF with an AVP and it was unable to load supplies. I tried it as a transport TF, a cargo TF and an escort TF and none of those would load supplies. 

BTW: nim8or, welcome aboard. There's a few of us Washingtonians here (though I am a long term transplant).

And I'm not wanting any rain, just a couple of weeks with highs only in the mid to upper seventies... [;)]

[sven6345789]

ok, thought it might work. in this monster, you never know![:D]

[bradfordkay]

ya got that right! [:D]

[mllange]

I'll have to take a look at the editor to see what would be involved with modifying the class to allow for a modest amount of supply & fuel transport (if possible). I think it would be appropriate based on historical design and use.

[Historiker]

My confidence in the AE team is strong enough to believe the AVPs in the game weren't able / didn't carry any considerable amount of supplies...

all these AV units are good. Put some hundred or thousand supplies on remote islands or even dot bases and you can use them as base for recce missions if needed. No base force needs to go there. I like them!

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

They provide "air support" for float planes that are based at the same port. If an AVP has 6 air support points, then it can provide support for up to 6 float planes. The port will still need supply in order for the planes to make any attacks... 

I believe the intent was to allow seaplane tenders to tend seaplanes at locations where there was no supply. I'll try and get around to looking at this but I am busier than sin on Saturday night right now.

[mllange]

Glad to hear it, I think that direction would make sense when there is time to get around to making the change. Thanks for listening!

[Grotius]

I'm wondering the same thing. Having just fired up the Aleutians campaign, I'm wondering whether the AVDs can park at an island without a dot (and thus without any supply) and support recon missions by float planes. Also, I dimly recall some discussion in WITP about whether the PBY Catalina counted as a float plane -- does it?

[Fallschirmjager]

They don't support just seaplanes either. They act like regualar air support points and can support anything up to a 4 engine bomber. If you are lacking a air support LCU or need some quick support points you can put them into the base and they will help repair and service any type of plane at that base.

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

I'm wondering the same thing. Having just fired up the Aleutians campaign, I'm wondering whether the AVDs can park at an island without a dot (and thus without any supply) and support recon missions by float planes. Also, I dimly recall some discussion in WITP about whether the PBY Catalina counted as a float plane -- does it?

You will have a hard time trying to base float planes on a non-dot/non-base hex. [;)]

ORIGINAL: Fallschirmjager

They don't support just seaplanes either. They act like regualar air support points and can support anything up to a 4 engine bomber. If you are lacking a air support LCU or need some quick support points you can put them into the base and they will help repair and service any type of plane at that base.

I believe the AV vessels (in any variation) only support float planes/fighters. Should be the same as in WitP. Nevertheless they may limit the burden on your regular AV support crews by taking care of the float planes but they will not support land based aircraft directly.

[John Lansford]

If they only support seaplanes then the base screen should show a "0+xx" under aviation support, where the "+xx" is the support provided by the AVP for seaplanes only.  If it just shows a whole number without the + the aviation support is for any plane type.

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

If they only support seaplanes then the base screen should show a "0+xx" under aviation support, where the "+xx" is the support provided by the AVP for seaplanes only.  If it just shows a whole number without the + the aviation support is for any plane type.

John, are you saying there are tenders out there that increase 'standard' AV support for all planes? If so could you please give us an example for such a vessel.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

I'm wondering the same thing. Having just fired up the Aleutians campaign, I'm wondering whether the AVDs can park at an island without a dot (and thus without any supply) and support recon missions by float planes. Also, I dimly recall some discussion in WITP about whether the PBY Catalina counted as a float plane -- does it?

I think some catalinas did not have wheels but most did.