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when the mighty American CVE's and those which have air squads on board - I take I can only use them for Training air crews, Not for air strikes etc attack bases or ships??

Some of those CVE's carry replacement aircraft. The ones with extra planes stuffed onboard. Put them in a replenishment TF and they will replace aircraft losses the larger CVs suffer. You can strip the replenishment CVEs of their extra planes to convert them into regular CVEs.

The CVE’s are classified as “Escort” or “Jeep” carriers.

They are just smaller and slower versions of the Fleet Carriers.

They can launch and recover embarked air groups and conduct all offensive
and defensive missions that the fleet carriers can.

They don’t have the range, speed or strike power of the fleet carriers.

You can put them into air combat task forces as well as a wide variety of
other task forces to provide air cover and a full range of other missions.

In fact, they can do something that the fleet carriers can’t:

They can operate their air groups at full capacity in base hexes.
As noted they can provide replacement aircraft for the Fleet carriers.

They're very good for Amphibious TF's and Escorting Larger supple/fuel convoys to provide air cover or air strikes....GP

Trugrit wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 1:18 pm The CVE’s are classified as “Escort” or “Jeep” carriers.

They are just smaller and slower versions of the Fleet Carriers.

They can launch and recover embarked air groups and conduct all offensive
and defensive missions that the fleet carriers can.

They don’t have the range, speed or strike power of the fleet carriers.

You can put them into air combat task forces as well as a wide variety of
other task forces to provide air cover and a full range of other missions.

In fact, they can do something that the fleet carriers can’t:

They can operate their air groups at full capacity in base hexes.
As noted they can provide replacement aircraft for the Fleet carriers.

The CVEs can also be put into transport TFs to give them Air ASW as well as CAP against sub launched float planes or other enemy aircraft.

With some extra room, they can also recover fragments of other carrier groups if their home carrier is damaged or sunk.

Replenishment squadrons are the VR ones. I find those useful only later in the game, when your big CVTF cover large amphibious operations in ‘44-‘45 (or ‘43 if you’re lucky), as before that you probably don’t have enough adequately trained pilots to really afford a protracted battle. In ‘42 and early (or most of) ‘43, their CVE’s may be more useful with Marine squadrons, to provide air cover (either CAP or ASW if trained).

You can also use them to move some LBA (fighters, or DB/TB) to bases too exposed to enemy LBA to risk a cargo transporting an air unit (lose a supply-laden xAK, it’s not too harsh ; lose an air unit-laden xAK, you lose the unit, planes and pilots).

I would also add that whilst jolly useful a lot of CVEs dont equate to a full carrier group - their slow speed and lesser AA make them more vulnerable to Japanese airstrikes. They also have airgroups that are Wildcat based (Sangamons being honourable exceptions). As others have said they make for good back up for CVs and even better for amphibious assault as they can operate at full capacity in base hexes.

I have on occasion used trailing CVE groups to provide long range CAP over a fleet carrier group to provide extra defence whilst keeping them out of harms way.

Playing Guadalcanal as Allies vs CPU.

I've had a great experience with 2 seperate CVE groups on the south shore of New Guinea between Moresby and Milne.

Early in the scenario there was a ton of air battles in the skies of Moresby as the IJN tried to sink my transports unloading supplies to help Kodoka Trail forces headed towards Buna.

The arrival of the CVEs has been great. In the air combat screens it is refreshing to see Wildcats along side the P40s and P39s fighting for the skies of Moresby. They boost air defense and overlap with Moresby and Milne.

I wouldn't feel comfortable to send them solo in the waters between Rabaul and Truk as the CVEs are fragile and carry less planes than the big CVs. That being said, so far, in their role in bolstering Air Defense at Moresby, I have been happy with the Jeeps.