Feinder
Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002 From: Land o' Lakes, FL Status: offline
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It really depends on your opponent, as to when to commit your Allied CVs. If Japan splits up KB, maybe having 2 - 4 CVs going about, sending in the American CVs against them can be handled. In this case, I'd still wait until July, after Zero bonus has expired (in May), and you've had some flak refits and upgraded your fighters from 27 to 36 planes. But the game engine can handle this "well enough" to provide you with plauable results. But against an opponent who creates "mega-KB" (every IJN CV/CVL/CVE), you're dead meat until probably the 03-43 refits. An Allied player needs the extra CVs (Wasp, Essex + RN CVs), to even stand a chance vs. mega-KB, and even then the CAP model will likely yield lop-sided results. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with IJN roving about with mega-KB. I believe it's the natural order of things, and that historically intended by Japan (Shok and Zui would have participated in Midway, except for damage/air losses sustained in Coral Sea). I think the "tactic" of mega-KB is sound (if you could call it that), but the engine doesn't handle the large air clashes well. I hate to say it, but in the case of an IJN opponent using mega-KB, in my own PBEM experience, it's best to simply wait with Allied CVs until about early 1943. I ran the 6 USN CVs and the 4 RN CVs vs. mega-KB in October 42. Some had refits, most didnt'. Got my arse kicked. Similar situation in Aztez AAR vs. mega-KB in Decemeber with Essex but not RN CVs. It can be potentially very lopsided vs. Allies. But it is what it is. The short - Vs. broken up KB, the engine handles this better. It's likely ok to engage with Allied CVs in about August after 07-42 AAA refits and larger fighter squadrons. Vs. mega-KB, the engine is not so hot. Hindsight tells me to wait until about 03-43 after next round of AA refits and even more Allied CVs. -F-
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