IJN Carrier Air Groups

[jomni]

Warning! Noob question.

I'm playing Japanese and it's now Jan 1942. I have about 3 carriers at the home islands without air groups assigned. Do I really have to reassign the existing land-based air groups to these carriers? Looking at the reinforcement screen, there seems to be no specific air gorups that are to be assigned to the carriers (also the ones under production).

So does this mean that the only way is to use Political Points to unlock the home islands air flotilla(s) to be able to assign air groups to the carriers?

Another alternative is to get the air groups that are in Formosa but they're mostly naval fighters.

[Iridium]

It would help to know which CVs we're talking about but off hand I'll guess your probably looking at CVEs which had no organic air groups. You can take carrier capable craft to them but no carrier trained groups are available (unless you've lost a CV and saved the air groups).

[Admiral DadMan]

Which Scenario is this? CVE's will arrive without airgroups.

[jomni]

I see so CVE's don't have airgroups and you have the choice of loading them up with what ever you like.
I think they can also be used for Air transport to a certain degree right?
 
Anyway, just to confirm... will CV's and CVL's come with their respective air groups once they come out of the production line (but limited by airframe production capacity and replacement rate)?

[Admiral DadMan]

7.0.1.1.1 BASING CARRIER, PATROL, AND FLOAT AIRCRAFT
Any fighter, fighter bomber, dive bomber, or torpedo bomber type plane can take off from an Aircraft Carrier, but not necessarily land back on the Carrier.

Carrier Trained aircraft are noted as such on their Air Unit Information Screen. They function normally on Carriers, and may take off and land on a Carrier and perform non-transfer Missions from it.

Certain other units will be listed as Carrier Capable on their Air Unit Information Screen. These planes may be fully functional on Aircraft Carriers, but have a higher chance of suffering Operational Losses during take-offs and landings. Just because an aircraft is Carrier Capable (i.e. it is built for carrier operations, having a tail hook and other necessary equipment) does not mean the pilot flying it is trained to land and take off from one.

If an aircraft squadron is a fighter, fighter bomber, dive bomber, or torpedo bomber and is not Carrier Trained and Carrier Capable, and is located on a Carrier, it may only be transferred to a Carrier in the same hex (loaded with cranes, as they could not land on a Carrier) or may only fly from the Carrier when ordered to transfer to a base. Also, carriers may never carry more than 5 air units at one time.

Any Float plane or Float fighter may be based on a Battleship, Heavy Cruiser, CS, or other non-carrier type ship that has the capacity to carry aircraft. Aircraft Carriers (including Light Carriers and Escort Carriers) cannot carry float planes. Float planes, float fighters, and patrol planes can be based at any friendly airfield, including those that are size 0 as long as they are on a coastal hex.

[Fishbed]

... and from what I've seen in the AAR, a carrier-capable unit can become carrier-trained overtime (saw it work with some Marine units)

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: jomni

I see so CVE's don't have airgroups and you have the choice of loading them up with what ever you like.
I think they can also be used for Air transport to a certain degree right?

Anyway, just to confirm... will CV's and CVL's come with their respective air groups once they come out of the production line (but limited by airframe production capacity and replacement rate)?

Yep. CVs and CVLs come with groups. CVEs do not.

[P.Hausser]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

... and from what I've seen in the AAR, a carrier-capable unit can become carrier-trained overtime (saw it work with some Marine units)

Comfirm `?

How to do that ?

[Fishbed]

ORIGINAL: P.Hausser

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

... and from what I've seen in the AAR, a carrier-capable unit can become carrier-trained overtime (saw it work with some Marine units)

Comfirm `?

How to do that ?

Saw it in Scott's "Wienie Roasting" AAR

VMF-221 attains carrier trained status on Saratoga
VMSB-241 attains carrier trained status on Lexington

About how you do that, you'll have to ask him... But I guess it's just a matter of operating them long enough on a CV platform

[USS Henrico]

So if you base carrier trained planes at land bases, like the Japanese did with some of their carrier air groups historically, do they eventually lose their carrier training and become only carrier capable? If an air group can get carrier trained by operating off carriers, it seems only fitting that they can lose their edge when operating off land bases, especially after you have some replacement pilots join the group.

[scott64]

Use them or lose them. [:'(]

[jomni]

Thanks for the reply everyone.  It has been very informative.  This is my first grand campaign.
 
I read that some players don't even bother building the CVE's.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

ORIGINAL: P.Hausser

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

... and from what I've seen in the AAR, a carrier-capable unit can become carrier-trained overtime (saw it work with some Marine units)

Comfirm `?

How to do that ?

Saw it in Scott's "Wienie Roasting" AAR

VMF-221 attains carrier trained status on Saratoga
VMSB-241 attains carrier trained status on Lexington

About how you do that, you'll have to ask him... But I guess it's just a matter of operating them long enough on a CV platform

[X(][X(][X(] WOW

[Fishbed]

Shameless bump: I'd be very interested knowing about the general mechanics behind that. Maybe someone like the Elf would be able to give us a hint about what to do to gain this carrier trained ability (is it a matter of pilots or a matter of group?) and if such a group may lose this ability if it stays on-shore too long because of the crew replacement?

(My 1000th post... Hail the Legion!!! [:D] )
(Edit: looks like it's not enough yet... Damn, damn, damn!)

[scott64]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

ORIGINAL: P.Hausser

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

... and from what I've seen in the AAR, a carrier-capable unit can become carrier-trained overtime (saw it work with some Marine units)

Comfirm `?

How to do that ?

Saw it in Scott's "Wienie Roasting" AAR

VMF-221 attains carrier trained status on Saratoga
VMSB-241 attains carrier trained status on Lexington

About how you do that, you'll have to ask him... But I guess it's just a matter of operating them long enough on a CV platform

I do not recall what happened. I either were training them or they appeared. Lexington has not seen any combat as the Saratoga has seen some near port Moresby. [:)]

[Fishbed]

I guess it must be automatic then...? We'll have to try have some tests about that (if The Elf still refuses to show up [:D] [;)] )

[SteveD64]

learn something new everyday- that would explain why, when landing carrier capable Vals on the Unyo, they all became inoperable

[jolly_pillager]

ORIGINAL: jomni

Thanks for the reply everyone.  It has been very informative.  This is my first grand campaign.

I read that some players don't even bother building the CVE's.

The CVE's are somewhat....anemic....in the airpower department.

CVE's are slow.

CVE's are favorite targets of subs, making their use as roving ASW ships somewhat questionable.

CVE's can perform air transport, but so can AK's

CVE's use merchant build points that might be better spent building TK's before the US subs sink so many that you're behind the curve trying to catch up....except you start behind the curve and can never really catch up.....[;)]

[Zacktar]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed
Saw it in Scott's "Wienie Roasting" AAR

VMF-221 attains carrier trained status on Saratoga
VMSB-241 attains carrier trained status on Lexington

About how you do that, you'll have to ask him... But I guess it's just a matter of operating them long enough on a CV platform

Oh, nice! I can't wait to play around with that one a little.

[Czert3]

Have all japanese CVL own airgroups, or some of them arive without them ?