Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian R

CVE Copahee is a Bogue class replenshiment carrier. It's air groups are probably named VRF-3F and VRF-3B.

These air groups do not fly operational missions; they can train, and will supply replacement aircraft to your shipboard groups*.

They will do this from the CVE, or if you transfer them to a base in range of the operational area of you air combat task forces, then can supply the carrier groups from there.

When such a group is available to feed a carrier group, you get an extra option on the carrier group's screen - to the effect "draw aircraft from replenishment group" - under the current draw an aircraft button/line. Among other advantages, the replacement air frame arrives in flyable condition.

You can offload those groups if you desperately need an extra operational CVE; you will need to put a Marine Corps group on instead. Resizing of USMC groups shipboard is a complex topic, but there are some. There are also some USN VS units that can be switched to SBDs.

Edit - * SOP is to put the 'jeep carriers' in a replenishment group with fast AOs, and in 1945, AEs, that follow behind your air combat groups and provide them with the means to operate at sea for extended periods, Okinawa style. Alternately you can park the replenishment task force somewhere like Ulithi, and rotate the CVTFs to the anchorage. That has the advantage that AKEs parked there can help supply ordnance. Another advantage is that you can have a TF made up of AOs that are continually loading fuel from the base, and handing it on to TFs coming in for resupply.

Stacking the base with naval support squads helps everything run smoothly, and will also assist the activities of an ARD, and other repair ships parked there to do triage work.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian R

Yes, but not unless you first pare down the numbers to carrier operational levels.