jwilkerson
Posts: 10525
Joined: 9/15/2002 From: Kansas Status: offline
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Late war ASW tactics are no different from early war ASW tactics. The first priority is air search over the area. Seeing the enemy subs helps you attack them and retards their ability to attack you. There is no maximum limit to how much air search you can have. The more dangerous an area is the more air search you should add. And because of this, avoid totally areas of deep Ocean that are not near airbases. "Hop" from one base to the next, yes make your journey longer and slower, but stay as close to your airbases as possible at all times. The second priority is to use hunter-killer groups in a "zone" defense. Assign them to the dangerous zones. If they have to contacts to prosecute, keep them in the most important port in their zone to defend the port. If you see subs in the area you can send them out to prosecute, but ideally end the turn back in port. Zoom out and back. Third, defend your convoys with embedded escorts. I define 2 types of ASW groups: The Light Group is 4 vessels of the types PG, PC, MSW The Heavy Group is 4-6 vessels of the types PG, PC, MSW, APD, DD ... and rarely you might add an AV or CS to these groups. Light groups are usually used as embedded escorts. Heavy groups are usually used as hunter-killer. The backbone of my ASW airforce are the Sallys .... I also use the float planes at less well traveled bases and bases with level 0 airfields. I use these planes on Naval Seach at 6000 feet maximum range in general. If enemy subs are really close, like 0,1,2 hexes away I will switch to ASW mode at the lowest possible altitude. This will generate more attacks but at very short range. You also get success with airsearch at lowest possible altitude.
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