Importance of base and ship command

[CyrusSpitama]

I understand fleets do better with proper command assigned but, with Japan I leave em almost entirely assigned to Combined Fleet. My one exception so far has been my key battle and CTF fleets operating with Southern Fleet command in the Saigon and extended area. Any feedback on this?

As for bases: It can be hard to control which base gets assigned command with the need to use all available resources to take the resources and bases needed. This makes for a mix of base commands. Any real reason to worry about spending PPs to correct the base commands?

[Puhis]

I have never use any PPs to change command of ships or bases. I don't think command matters at all, but if I'm wrong I'd like to hear it...

[crsutton]

Ships, never change the command. The only time I have changed a base command is when I needed an American base to build PT boats and landing craft in the Indian theater. Otherwise, it does not matter much.

[msieving1]

Unless something has changed, the command assigned for ships has no effect, and costs no PP to change. It's just for show.

[LowCommand]

The Command assigned for ships does have at least one effect, the catapult serch aircraft. I just reassigned a bunch of Dutch ships to the (American) Pacific Fleet and the aircraft were upgraded to the American equivelents.

[CyrusSpitama]

I had assumed (perhaps wrongly) that the air operations on my carriers ( and scout planes) would be more efficient when you also consider that efficiency gained by land based aircraft and their personal command HQs. As a consequence, I do see my fleets operating in Saigon area finding things on search to be very effective. I am not entirely sure they are training better as well but, for this rookie it also appears to be so.

To be honest, this being my 5th restart and never gotten deeply into '43, I have found this area to be my most utilized zone. The primary ops area covered is far larger than Saigon, but I use this (and Cam Ranh Bay) as my launch pad for the entire SRA area and beyond. However, my experience is very limited and I bow to most folks' experiences in this forum.

[msieving1]

ORIGINAL: LowCommand

The Command assigned for ships does have at least one effect, the catapult serch aircraft. I just reassigned a bunch of Dutch ships to the (American) Pacific Fleet and the aircraft were upgraded to the American equivelents.

Upgrade to Kingfishers is the normal upgrade path for the Dutch shipborne squadrons, regardless of their command assignments.

[LowCommand]

OK, sorry. The upgrade happened one or two turns after I changed the command assignments. Another problem with I ass - sumed.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: msieving1

ORIGINAL: LowCommand

The Command assigned for ships does have at least one effect, the catapult serch aircraft. I just reassigned a bunch of Dutch ships to the (American) Pacific Fleet and the aircraft were upgraded to the American equivelents.

Upgrade to Kingfishers is the normal upgrade path for the Dutch shipborne squadrons, regardless of their command assignments.

Don't confuse American and Australian Kingfishers.

Alfred

[ny59giants]

When playing Japan, you might want to change the command of a base in the Kuriles and here's why. You have all those air groups in Japan that are restricted due to being assigned to "General Defense" command or one of the restricted commands under it. They can fly to the any of the main Japanese home island bases and Formosa. However, they cannot go to any of the bases in he Kuriles as they are assigned to 5th Fleet in most games. If you were around or read the AAR between GreyJoy and Rader months ago, GreyJoy as the Allies landed up there in 44 after having been pushed out in both China and most of India. It was a great move on his part and the game ended when part of the game mechanics in limits A2A combat got in the way.

So, as a player who plays both sides, I like to change some of those bases in the Kuriles over to "General Defense" command as Japan. This way I can send up some of the restricted air units to those bases if they are invaded. Here's how. I change over a small AA unit on Honshu to 5th Fleet and transport it to the base who's command I want to change. Unless you have a ground unit with a different command at a base, then when you click on the base command (in yellow), the other possible commands are greyed out. This newly landed AA unit has its command changed back to "General Defense" command. This now allows you to change that base command over to "General Defense." I have occasional had to bring a BF over rather than just a AA unit for this to be able to work, but for less than 200 PP, you can change the base command and then be allowed to fly in the restricted air groups. I often ship in an Air HQ and other troops.

You may want to do this for one of the Bonins Islands to catch an Allied player trying to send CVs in to raid your shipping lines. Add in the transport of an Air HQ to an island with a AF 2 on it and it can be a nasty surprise. [:D]