Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: crsutton

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Most at start carrier avenger pilots and those arriving on fleet carriers come with fairly good ASW skills as well as all other skills. Really, anything in the 45-60 range is good enough. Nobody really knows the best altitude but I just keep them at 5,000k and they work just fine.

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Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly

(in reply to crsutton)

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I've got some CVE TBFs flying ASW now. I switched them out before I sent John the turn this a.m. But I forgot to check pilot ASW skill levels. I'll do that next turn and see if I can draw enough highly-skilled pilots to allow three or four of the CVE TBF squadrons to do the job.

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I've got some CVE TBFs flying ASW now. I switched them out before I sent John the turn this a.m. But I forgot to check pilot ASW skill levels. I'll do that next turn and see if I can draw enough highly-skilled pilots to allow three or four of the CVE TBF squadrons to do the job.

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ORIGINAL: crsutton

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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).

I would not set cap to zero. Depending on DL and radar CAP will extend out quite a few hexes and then can protect stragglers or damaged ships that detach and head for home. I always leave fighters on CAP at normal range. Assuming that you have VR squadrons along for spares and considering your abundance of carrier fighters you should look for the opportunity to shoot down any Japanese aircraft that flies near you. Your radar would have probably scrambled more fighters if they were needed. They were not. Don't fret it. %40 Cap is fine but as you close boost it to 50% or %60. But if your ships are all upgraded with the latest air search radar you should be fine.

I can't believe how pitiful your anti sub results have been You should be sinking 3-4 of his subs when you run into a flock of them like that. Considering the ASW assets you now possess with the new MK 9 DC and your DC laden DEs. DW is right about it in his earlier post. He may be a Matrix Trooper but you should listen to what he says. One 18 plane avenger squadron set to 4 hexes and 80% ASW (make sure the pilots have decent skills) will totally reverse your losses. You will get multiple air attacks on his subs with lots of hits reported (most are not) and it will raise the DL of the Japanese subs to the point where many will not attack, and your ASW ships will react to them like dogs to a cheeseburger and smack the snot out of them. You can afford at this point to spare an attack squadron. After all, a couple of torpedo hits on a CV will reduce you by 90 aircraft. Usually, I prefer using a squadron on a CVE for the ASW job Do this and you can thank us later.... "There is no off position on the genius switch." That is why we are here..

Also, many Japanese bomber commanders have very high aggression ratings. This will at times cause them to act (wait for it) in an aggressive manner. Not necessarily in their best interest.

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ORIGINAL: jwolf

So far the movement of "the herd" is doing a great job of selling the Marianas as the target. I don't know if John thinks that or not but it seems likely. I'm impressed that you already have the next op forming

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ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I realize a lot of players think the Kingfishers are not well suited for ASW due to their limited range, but I use them in that role for protecting the close in approaches to my ports, both major ports and front line ports.

I also use rebuilt or orphaned cruiser Kingfisher squadrons to operate from the very few American AVs that have a capacity like the AV Wright.

The Wright with 4 float planes aboard performing ASW becomes a very nice shepherd for wounded ducklings.

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Truk is going to be the choke point. The only vector is to sail close to that fortress, which has a level eight airfield.

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ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

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Truk is going to be the choke point. The only vector is to sail close to that fortress, which has a level eight airfield.

Truk is only a Lvl 5 airfield on the stock map. A 60% increase in capacity is huge. Any other changes to bases that were added to the JFB wish list for this scenario?

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

An ARD is enroute from San Fran to Pearl, but it is 30 tons and Washington is 38 tons. So it won't work, will it?

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ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

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Truk is going to be the choke point. The only vector is to sail close to that fortress, which has a level eight airfield.

Truk is only a Lvl 5 airfield on the stock map. A 60% increase in capacity is huge. Any other changes to bases that were added to the JFB wish list for this scenario?