Reserve planes

[Sieppo]

What is the exact function of them in a squadron?

EDIT: obviously they replace damaged or destroyed aircraft but do they for example reduce the plane fatigue of other planes by rotating etc?

[goatan]

One immediate use i can think of is if you are moving a squadron to a base with poor supply the reserves give you a buffer before you have to us the base supply to replace planes.

I have also found it useful for patrol planes on cruisers etc. If the pilot makes a heavy landing and writes the plane off there is no need to return to port for a new plane as there is a spare below decks and they doesn't use up the allowed space for planes like reserves do on carriers.

[Sieppo]

ORIGINAL: goatan

I have also found it useful for patrol planes on cruisers etc. If the pilot makes a heavy landing and writes the plane off there is no need to return to port for a new plane as there is a spare below decks and they doesn't use up the allowed space for planes like reserves do on carriers.

I have also though of how many spare planes fit into a Jap sub. Anyone know? At some point they show in red so in my experience only one extra.

[czert2]

resrve planes are very helfull, mainly for sqadrons involved in heavy fighting and for patrol planes. For figting units is is evident - it allow you to operate at bigger strength than without them (they imediatly replace shoted down planes or badly damaged ones so while they are repaired sqadron use reserve planes to fly combat missions), For patrols it is very useful too - since fatigue is here your main enemy, you will simply use extra plane to replace one (or more) under maininetance.
And as told it is very usefull on ships too, as if you lose plane/pilot you dont need to turn to port for resuplyiing , you will use spare.
 
And just got idea (no idea how much realistic) - when you lose your float from ship that insead of turning to port for replace you "make call" (new added button) and new plane+ pilot appear on your ship, asuming you are in range of friendly base capable of generating new plane (same requrements as for upgrading sqadron).