Getting the most out of your replenishment carriers

[HansBolter]

Just wanted to post a few screen shots of how I use my replenishment carriers.
We occasionally get newbies who don't have a clue what these things are for or how to go about using them.
Situation in my game is August '44 with the Death Star on station at the Mariana's covering for an invasion force in two waves.
First wave hitting northern islands is on station with Death Star. Second wave, hitting southern islands is holding at Marcus Island.

I initially had my replenishment carriers in RepCarDiv 1 holding at Marcus as well. Following the first turn of air strikes I did not get replenishment, so I moved the RepCarDiv up to join the DS.
First screen shot is of Death Star on station with RepCarDiv on hex out. At the end of this turn Death Star received its first replenishment.

[HansBolter]

RepCarDiv 1 a hex out from DS enroute from Marcus:

[HansBolter]

RepCarDiv 1 composition: 9 replenishment carriers and the Long Island providing token CAP to ward off unescorted bombers when not under air cover of fleet carriers.

A tenth replenishment carrier is at Pearl forming the nucleus of REPCarDiv 2.

[HansBolter]

Air strikes on the Mariana's on 8/6/44:

Afternoon Air attack on Almagan , at 110,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 2
A7M2 Sam x 25

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 17
F4U-1A Corsair x 56
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21
F6F-5 Hellcat x 17
TBM-1C Avenger x 68

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
A7M2 Sam: 5 destroyed
G4M3a Betty: 9 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground
B7A2 Grace: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 22 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 20

Afternoon Air attack on Agrihan , at 111,88

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 42
F4U-1A Corsair x 36
F6F-3 Hellcat x 241
TBF-1 Avenger x 16
TBM-1C Avenger x 192

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
H6K5 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
G4M3a Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 40 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Afternoon Air attack on Pagan , at 110,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 16
FM-2 Wildcat x 106
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
TBM-1C Avenger x 94

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 7 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Afternoon Air attack on Pagan , at 110,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 18
FM-2 Wildcat x 67
TBF-1 Avenger x 8
TBM-1C Avenger x 74

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Afternoon Air attack on Pagan , at 110,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 9
TBM-1C Avenger x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1

Afternoon Air attack on Almagan , at 110,90

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 17

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 8
TBM-1C Avenger x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Afternoon Air attack on Pagan , at 110,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 9
TBM-1C Avenger x 7

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Runway hits 6

[HansBolter]

Fleet air replenishment on 8/6/44:

VF-1 at CV Shilo takes VR replacements
VB-1 at CV Shilo takes VR replacements
VF-2 at CV Lexington takes VR replacements
VT-3 at CV Saratoga takes VR replacements
VF-42 at CV Yorktown takes VR replacements
VF-6 at CV Enterprise takes VR replacements
VT-8 at CV Hornet takes VR replacements
VF-9 at CV Essex takes VR replacements
VT-9 at CV Essex takes VR replacements
VF-10 at CV Intrepid takes VR replacements
VT-10 at CV Intrepid takes VR replacements
VT-13 at CV Franklin takes VR replacements
VT-14 at CV Sharpsburg takes VR replacements
VT-16 at CV Gettysburg takes VR replacements
VT-17 at CV Bunker Hill takes VR replacements
VT-71 at CV Wasp takes VR replacements
VT-23 at CVL Princeton takes VR replacements
VF-25 at CVL Cowpens takes VR replacements
VC(F)-33 at CVE Anzio takes VR replacements
VC(F)-41 at CVE Corregidor takes VR replacements
VC(T)-65 at CVE St. Lo takes VR replacements
VC(T)-94 at CVE Shamrock Bay takes VR replacements
VC(T)-5 at CVE Kitkun Bay takes VR replacements
VC(T)-13 at CVE Shipley Bay takes VR replacements

[HansBolter]

Weather shut down airstrikes on 8/7 but the replenishment continueed:

VF-1 at CV Shilo takes VR replacements
VF-2 at CV Lexington takes VR replacements
VB-2 at CV Lexington takes VR replacements
VT-2 at CV Lexington takes VR replacements
VB-3 at CV Saratoga takes VR replacements
VB-5 at CV Yorktown takes VR replacements
VF-6 at CV Enterprise takes VR replacements
VB-6 at CV Enterprise takes VR replacements
VF-8 at CV Hornet takes VR replacements
VB-8 at CV Hornet takes VR replacements
VT-8 at CV Hornet takes VR replacements
VF-9 at CV Essex takes VR replacements
VF-10 at CV Intrepid takes VR replacements
VF-14 at CV Sharpsburg takes VR replacements
VF-16 at CV Gettysburg takes VR replacements
VF-18 at CV Bunker Hill takes VR replacements
VT-17 at CV Bunker Hill takes VR replacements
VF-71 at CV Wasp takes VR replacements
VT-71 at CV Wasp takes VR replacements
VF-24 at CVL Belleau Wood takes VR replacements
VT-24 at CVL Belleau Wood takes VR replacements
VF-30 at CVL Monterey takes VR replacements
VF-31 at CVL Cabot takes VR replacements
VF-32 at CVL Langley takes VR replacements
VF-50 at CVL Bataan takes VR replacements
VC(F)-20 at CVE Kadashan Bay takes VR replacements
VC(T)-26 at CVE Santee takes VR replacements
VC(F)-33 at CVE Anzio takes VR replacements
VC(F)-39 at CVE Liscome Bay takes VR replacements

[HansBolter]

On the 8th air strikes targeted troops:

Afternoon Air attack on VII South Seas Engineer Regiment, at 110,90 (Almagan)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 14

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 53
F6F-3 Hellcat x 76
TBM-1C Avenger x 85

Japanese aircraft losses
A7M2 Sam: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 5 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Afternoon Air attack on VIII South Seas Engineer Regiment, at 111,88 (Agrihan)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 8
FM-2 Wildcat x 133
F4U-1A Corsair x 31
F6F-3 Hellcat x 159
F6F-5 Hellcat x 13
TBF-1 Avenger x 14
TBM-1C Avenger x 188

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 30 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Afternoon Air attack on Guards Mixed Brigade, at 110,89 (Pagan)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 24
FM-2 Wildcat x 72
F6F-3 Hellcat x 32
TBF-1 Avenger x 8
TBM-1C Avenger x 195

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
223 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Afternoon Air attack on VIII South Seas Engineer Regiment, at 111,88 (Agrihan)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 76
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
TBF-1 Avenger x 7
TBM-1C Avenger x 42

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

[HansBolter]

And the fleet continued to receive replenishment on the 8th:

VB-1 at CV Shilo takes VR replacements
VT-1 at CV Shilo takes VR replacements
VF-2 at CV Lexington takes VR replacements
VB-2 at CV Lexington takes VR replacements
VB-5 at CV Yorktown takes VR replacements
VB-6 at CV Enterprise takes VR replacements
VB-8 at CV Hornet takes VR replacements
VF-9 at CV Essex takes VR replacements
VF-10 at CV Intrepid takes VR replacements
VF-13 at CV Franklin takes VR replacements
VT-14 at CV Sharpsburg takes VR replacements
VF-16 at CV Gettysburg takes VR replacements
VB-16 at CV Gettysburg takes VR replacements
VB-17 at CV Bunker Hill takes VR replacements
VT-23 at CVL Princeton takes VR replacements
VF-30 at CVL Monterey takes VR replacements
VF-31 at CVL Cabot takes VR replacements
VT-50 at CVL Bataan takes VR replacements
VC(F)-33 at CVE Anzio takes VR replacements

[HansBolter]

This how you use replenishment carriers in their intended role.

This is why it is not a good idea for Japanese players to assume the Death Star can be hit in a weakened state after a few days of combat attrition.

This is how the AFBs keep the Death Star in fighting trim during an extended operation while suffering attrition.

[adarbrauner]

Good lessons

[RichardAckermann]

+1. Good lession and good planning. Are damaged planes also replaced/swapped out or does this only replace losses?

[BBfanboy]

My main concern about using the replacement squadrons as provided is the poor pilot experience and other skills. They are just not ready for prime time ops so I use my Rep Carriers and squadrons in bypassed areas to do strikes and gain experience for a while.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: RichardAckermann

+1. Good lession and good planning. Are damaged planes also replaced/swapped out or does this only replace losses?

Only losses are replaced. You don't want an overcrowded carrier. The good think is that the replacement planes arrive combat ready.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

My main concern about using the replacement squadrons as provided is the poor pilot experience and other skills. They are just not ready for prime time ops so I use my Rep Carriers and squadrons in bypassed areas to do strikes and gain experience for a while.

This can be an issue but by mid 44 even my replenishment squadrons have decent pilots. However, you can also keep a reserve of skilled pilots on the carriers and that should keep you in decent pilots. I think it is best to keep a few more squadrons out of the battle in 1943 for training to ensure that you have big surpluses in 44-45. My problem in 44 is that our air mutual air losses have been so massive that I don't have enough planes to fill out the regular squadrons much less the VR.

[LargeSlowTarget]

How comes that the AI already has Sam, Grace and Betty 3a in service in 8/44?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

How comes that the AI already has Sam, Grace and Betty 3a in service in 8/44?

Its scenario 40. Andymac's Ironman Nasty ported to Babes. AI has lots of toys.

[Yaab]

I bet the AI graces sameone...

[boldrobot]

Could you explain a little bit how to set something like this up please? This is the first I have heard of replenishment carriers. I have noticed that some squadrons say replenishment squadron but am not sure what that really means.

[BBfanboy]

Whether on a CVE or a land base, a VR squadron will send planes to replenish vacancies on any carrier in range. You don't have to do anything, just get the carriers in range of the squadron.

If the VR squadron is on a CVE, I think the normal rules for overstacking the CVE apply - i.e. over 15% above capacity they should not launch. There may be an exception for replenishment since it is a transfer rather than a mission and the departing aircraft will be lighter because it has no weapon load. Anyone know for sure?

[HansBolter]

A CVE carrying replenishment squadrons will transfer replacement planes to a combat CV/CVL/CVE in range even when stacked to double capacity.

Each CVE typically carriers two replenishment squadrons; a fighter and a dive or torpedo bomber.

Each squadron is sized equal to the capacity of the CVE.

Normal flight ops can't occur, but transfers can, even at double capacity.

Each of my nine replenishment CVEs went into the op with two full squadrons.


An interesting side note is that a combat carrier air squadron will preferrentially pull from a replenishment squadron, even when both are in the same port.

The combat squadron will pull from the replenishment squadron and the replenishment squadron will pull from the pool, all in the same turn.