Lokasenna
Posts: 9297
Joined: 3/3/2012 From: Iowan in MD/DC Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel Commander Cody, Death Star was in the same hex (131,100). Thanks, Loka, for the suggestions. I had already bumped up CAP to 50%. Next turn, I'll remove the 10% rest. Then I'll divide my fighters into two groups: some at a high percentage with range zero (CAP) only [this will include the Corsairs, as NYGiants suggested several days ago) the rest at 0% CAP with range 6 (these to escort bombers). For what its worth, the settings during the Great Naval Battle were 50% CAP, no rest %, and range 6 for all fighter squadrons (except those few squadrons with lower ranges). These settings can definitely work, and in terms of function for a CV battle only (i.e., all your guys in the same hex or maybe even just 1 hex apart) are pretty close to having dedicated units for escort and for CAP. The only difference is fatigue - the pilots will get worn out faster. Perhaps having a completely overfull pilot list would mitigate that a bit, but the extra fatigue from a CAP range higher than 1 or 2 makes me balk in general. I'd be wary of dropping the altitude too much - torpedo bombers can still come in at 25K or 35K feet and then teleport down to wavetop to drop torpedoes. However, you really only need to worry about LBA there, as I doubt John would risk a KB strike getting split up due to altitude so they will all likely be between 10K and 17K feet (because of dive bombers). A mix of altitudes between 8-20K is my preferred if I'm going to be facing off against CVs. I might drop to 6K if I think TBs might come in at 5. quote:
ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake Wait a minute. Am I to understand that a carrier fighter squadron set to "escort" and let's say 40% CAP will NOT fly escort with the non-CAP planes of the squadron if the opportunity arises? I don't think that is true. I think the AI assigns them to strike missions if it decides to go after a target. I am 99% sure I have seen a carrier with 1 fighter squadron perform both duties in the same turn. Neither do I believe that the 40% CAP means that 40% of the squadron is up in the air with the other 60% waiting to scramble. My recollection is that the 40% is the maximum allotment to CAP with the planes cycled back to the AF or the carrier to refuel, rearm. Lastly, I'm not sure I believe this business about "CAP range". The range setting is for strike/escort missions. On the other hand, I have read about 2.5% of the manual. Yes, you should check the documentation on the range setting. With Range 0, no escorts will be launched. With Range 6, CAP will attempt to respond to any enemy air strikes within 6 hexes of the hex they are providing CAP for (the CV/base in the case of CAP, or the target hex in the case of LRCAP). Any pilots not set to CAP/LRCAP/training/rest will also attempt to escort any strikes within that range setting. This is the prime reason I do not use CAP 50% and Range 6/7/8. Having dedicated CAP units also allows me to put all of my Corsairs on CAP with the best of the best pilots, while the Hellcats escort and merely have really good pilots. The best way to spot subs with planes is with ASW, not search (though search will detect them sometimes).
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