Ron Saueracker
Posts: 12121
Joined: 1/28/2002 From: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece Status: offline
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by HawaiiFive-O [B]This is my first attempt to quantify the strengths and weaknesses of Allied warships. If I made any mistakes, please point them out so I can correct them. Essentially it drove me mad not knowing what ship best fit what role, so I started this list, it's just the DDs right now but I'll get started on the CL/CA/BBs next. I doubt I'll do the CVs or cargo vessels, as it's pretty clear what you should use those for. Please note that this is only for the ships that appear in Scenario 17. Also note that ships can get "refitted" at Pearl. So the early Farragut class DDs have one AAA number, and the later ones have a second (higher) number. I am under the assumption that you can send back the obsolete warships and get them back with upgraded weaponry. The same is true with radar, the early DDs lack radar but the later ones of the same class have radar. For armor, only the Fletcher class has armor, hence the *. Also, the Fletcher's have a superior type of radar, hence the **. For ASW, the early Mk7 depth charges have an accuracy of 9, the later Mk7/m1 depth charges have an accuracy of 13. It does not appear that it is necessary to send a ship back to Pearl to get the Mk7/m1's, so most of the 9's on the list can truthfully be 13's. The "ASW Score" column is an attempt to rate the efficacy of the ASW weaponry of the vessel. Right now the formula is # of Launchers * Accuracy. I'm open to other ideas for the formula, of course. My goal was a playing aid that you can print out and keep in front of you while building your TFs. The "Best Suited?" column is open to interpretation and I welcome any discussion on my classifications. Farraguts are easily the worst of the lot, so I'd stick them in Bombardment TFs. Porters (refitted) have excellent AAA and radar, so they'll be good CV escorts. Mahans/Gridleys/Benhams have mediocre AAA and ASW, but a lot of torpedoes, so I'd use them in Surface Combat TFs. The Sims class are better at ASW than the preceding, but not as good as the Bensons or the Aruntas. The Bensons have decent AAA as well, so the Bensons, in a pinch, can serve as CV escorts. The Bristols shine in the CV escort role, with the best AAA rating of all the DDs. And the Fletchers are the utility infielders, matching adequate AAA with superior ASW to be excellent CV escorts. Any comments? [URL=http://www.ctuit.com/bill/alliedshipcomparison.xls]Allied Ship Comparison (EXCEL file)[/URL] [/B][/QUOTE] Your list is fairly accurate. Too bad we can't get the refit routines to be more encompassing (hopefully in WITP). If we could, the old "goldplaters" (prewar DDs) would not seem so bad as many received the latest radars, improved AA and ASW suites (at the cost of torpedo armament). The worst of the lot were Gridley, Craven, Maury and McCall, which were civilian designed and were extremely unstable, so they had torps removed and only received ASW improvements of note...their close in AA never exceeded 8 x 20mm. The only thing I'd make certain everyone understands is that the Porter and Somers class DDs had single purpose Mk22 5" mounts, which were not AA capable. They are best suited to combat TFs.
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Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
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