CV Fighter Limits or Replacement Pilot Problems

[DJAndrews]

Is there a limit on the number of fighters you can place on a carrier? Or alternatively, are there known problems when a large number of planes and pilots are replaced on a CV?

I had a carrier that was down to about 15 fighters (with pilots) and returned to port for replacements. I got aircraft immediately, topping me up to 36 fighters, but there were only 27 or so pilots. I waited a few turns and eventually the pilots filled out. I headed out to protect an invasion fleet and on the way off-loaded one of the 18 plane SBD squadrons and brought on a 24 plane marine F4 squadron. All looked good and I continued on my way. When I went to set the LRCAP for the invasion however, my 36 plane navy squadron had been reduced to 24 planes (with 12 in reserve) and the number of pilots had been reduced to 18. I have no idea where the 18 missing pilots went. The marine F4 squadron was as originally loaded. Any ideas?

[Quint]

We're you sailing through the Bermuda Triangle by any chance?:D

Seriously, I've had a few strange things happen myself when loading land based planes onto carriers. I loaded a squadron of P39s or P40s, cant remember which onto Long Island. The squadron (of 16) was reduced to 12 once aboard the carrier, despite the Long Island having an a/c capacity of 16. The other four planes never did turn up. I checked at Noumea (where they were based prior to embarkation on the Long Island) and the four remaining aircraft were nowhere to be seen. The simply disappeared.

I've no idea why.

[DJAndrews]

I guess I should count my blessings, Quint. Earlier in the game, I loaded 24 P-39Ds onto the Long Island, moved them to Noumea and unloaded, without even damaging an aircraft.

[Damien Thorn]

Originally posted by DJAndrews
Is there a limit on the number of fighters you can place on a carrier?

Each CV tries to keep a set % of each of the three types of planes: fighters, dive-bombers, and torpedo-bombers. When you put too many fighters on the game reduced them to try and keep the percents in-line with its expectations.
I've noticed this happens on it own later on when the % settings change. It happens first to the Japanese who go from equal percents of each type to more fighters and less torpdeo-bombers. I don't know the exact numbers. Hope that helps.

[Flying fortress]

I've tried something similar myself. I loaded up my carriers with fighters and one TBF squad. I ended up with 3sqds of 24planes and 15TBFs. Fine, total #=86 planes, but If I want 1sqd of 36Fighters and 24Fighters along with 2sqds of SBDs, then that equals 94 fighters. Cmmon, I know you can have up to 110% on carriers.

I tried this on the Yorktown ended up with
24fighters (Orignially 36)
24fighters
18SBD
18SBD

This makes a significant difference in battle as 12 extra fighters can certainly make a difference. I wish they would fix this.

Can someone try experimenting with transferring extra fighter sqds on one carrier like this?

36fighters
36fighters
18sbd

This ends up at 90. I like this combination as it gives me extra Aircover, but I don't think it would let me do this. Probably end up with 2 24 plane sqds resulting in 66 planes!!!!!

This can have an huge effect on Air missions, so matrix, can you please fix this?

[bilbow]

I don't think this is a bug- during this period of the war the mix of a/c types was pretty constant. There was some experimentation with adding extra figher groups, but only well after the time period of UV. So we should fix a "bug" that encourages the player to use carriers in a historical manner? I don't think so.

[Admiral DadMan]

If you add extra VF units to a USN CV (Max 5 AirGroups per CV), all VF units reduce to 24 Max. It is something that has been in place since the game began and is accepted as SOP.

In theory, you could put four 24 plane VF squadrons on a USN CV