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Feinder -> (1/4/2003 3:57:26 AM)
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Spooky's is da best!
Off the top of my head...
AP, AK : Basically freighters and troop transports - Moves troops and supplies to a base so you can build an airfield and then bomb stuff.
PG, PC, SC : Gunboats, Patrolboats, Subchasers, Frigates, and all those other little classes below a DD - Usually get pea-shooters and couple of depth charges. These are little toy boats that are "relatively" expendable (don't tell them that) that are used to escort your APs and AKs. They're usually used for ASW protection, but it might be worth while to use their pea-shooters against low-flying aircraft trying to kill you or your APs. Usually just best to keep them with your APs and AKs, because they're not fast enough, and don't have the endurance of any of your fleet units.
DD : Destroyers - Usually about 5" guns. Bigger toy boats that are still relatively expendable. They're (usually) much better at ASW and have decent AAA against low-flying aircraft. Even tho you shouldn't shed too many tears over their loss, there never seems to be enough of them to go around. Also not bad at shelling enemy air-fields as shore bombardment. Be wary of a AF that that a coastal defense unit tho. The CD units have bigger guns than these guys, and will make your DDs regret having to get close enough to use their own guns. Put 4 or more of these guys with your CVs to provide ASW and a little extra AAA.
CL : Light Cruisers - Usually about 6" guns. These are little big boys. They've got bigger guns than your DDs, and are usually better at bombardment and surface action. Their AAA may or may not be any good. Their ASW capabilities usually suck. Basically, use them to bombard airfields and bully enemy DD and ASW TFs. Again be wary of the CD units, their guns are as big as yours (usually 6").
CLAA : Light Anti-Aircraft Cruisers - LOTs of 5" guns and even more pea-shooters. Park these near your CVs or anything else you deem allergic to a Val's 500kg bomb. They don't stand up up against CAs, or other other CLs in a surface action. They weren't meant for that. Use them to kill airplanes, they're good at that.
CA : Heavy Cruisers - Usually about 8" guns. These are guys are good to saddle next to your carriers. They're usually fast enough to keep up with your carriers, and have have good AAA defense. During a surface engagement, they will knock the snot of out CLs and DDs, but won't fair well against a battleship (BB). They're quite good at bombardment, because they can stand out of range of a CD unit and lob shells all night long.
BB : Battleships - Big targets with 14" to 18" guns. They're great at bombardment, and will pummel anything in a surface engagement (if you can actually score one), including each other. They've usually got good AAA to help protect your carriers, but be mindful of their speed, you don't want to saddle a BB that moves at 24kts with a carrier TF that can (and should be) moving at 32kts. They only role in ASW is that of a target.
CS, AV - Seaplane tenders. - The USN one do NOT transport or launch any aircraft. They're used to supply a seaplane base, if you want more info, seach the forum on "seaplane" and you'll find how to make one. The IJN CS and AVs can actually operate seaplanes and float-fighters. Frankly, I pull off some seaplanes off the IJN tenders, and put a Rufes on them (you end up with 2 squadrons of Rufes), and then use them to escort smaller supply convoys around Lea. Don't get me wrong, the Rufes won't save you from an attack from a -real- carrier squadron, but they might drive off an unescorted flight of Hudsons bent on your demise.
MS, DMS : "Minesweepers" and "Fast Minesweers". Used to get rid of those annoying minefields. Also USN DMS units are capable ASW escorts if you get them trained over 50 exp.
ML : Minelayers - Irritating SOBs that drop magnetic exploding things in shallow and costal hexes with the intent to kill your invasion forces. The only "mine depots" (where these guys can resupply their mines) are at Truk, Noumea and Brisbane. Obviously, if you're IJN you shouldn't be driving to Brisbane to resupply.
CVE - Escort "Jeep" Carriers. Usually used to TRANSPORT aircraft between Noumae to Brisbane (because the range of the AC is too short to fly there themselves). Many of them can actually operate squadrons tho. CVEs tend to be slow, so they're better used to follow a transport or supply convoy and provide either LRCAP with a fighter squadron, or ASW with a dive bomber squadron (of experience > 75).
CVL - Light Carriers. Again, used to provide LRCAP or an occasional ASW squadron for your convoys or amphib invasions.
CV - Your flat-tops. Your pride and joy. Basically, the game revolves around your ability to protect these gems and use them to effectively bomb the snot out of your enemy's CV, CVL, CVE, BB, CA, CL, DD, PC, PG, SC, AP and AKs.
Oh, and the japanese DDs can be confusing. You've really got to look at their loadouts. Some IJN DD classes are better at ASW (look for 4 or more depth charges), but suck at everything else. Another is good at surface combat and bombment (look for ships with lots of 4-5" guns). And a 3rd class is good at AAA (look for lots of pea-shooters).
And another edit, FWIW a "happy"
Convoy : 4 APs + 4 SCs
ASW group : 4 DDs + 2 SCs (they act as bait).
Light Bombardment TF (no CD unit) : 2 CLs + 4 DDs
Mixed Bombardmnet TF : 2 CAs + 2 CLs + 2 DDs
Heavy Bombardmnet TF : BB + 4 CAs (be wary of subs tho)
Carrier TF : 1 or 2 CVs or CVLs + 4 CAs + 4 or 6 DDs
Convoy Escort : CVL or CS + 1 CL + 2 DDs and/or 2 SCs.
Regards,
-F-
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