Specific examples of AVPs/AGs/AGPs

[Lokasenna]

So in theory, I love these ships. The idea of being able to support lots of little "bee sting" operations all over the map is very appealing. However, I've never used them as the task of setting them up is rather daunting. But now that I'm playing against Andy AI to pass the time, I want to see if I can stop the AI advance cold by August or October '42, which I think is going to take a lot of effort.

Can anyone provide some specific examples of how they use them? My trouble with AGPs is that you need a certain supply threshold to create PT boats, and I'm not keen on sending that many to a forward-enough base that I'd have an AGP there. Places where I have enough supplies, I don't need the AGPs to replenish the PT boats because the port is big enough. See what I mean? Likewise with AGs and ADs. Or do people just convert the ADs to other support craft?

The AVPs and AVs are a bit easier to use, but I'm looking for examples on favorite places to send them.

[adsoul64]

You can create PTs let's say in Noumea and then sailing to Luganville. I mean they can move on their own towards small bases. Rules about PT generation here, especially post #5 from Alfred

[jeffk3510]

AVPs are great for float plane bases that are not developed yet.

[LoBaron]

To enhance on what adsoul64 explained:

Usually PT boats do not have the range to reach bases on their own. But what you can do, is create an Escort type TF to which you can add PTs,
as well as a long range AK. While underway the PT boats can refuel from the AK.

If you have not seen it yet, here is one of my all time favourite guides:
What to Do With All Those Darn Tenders!

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

To enhance on what adsoul64 explained:

Usually PT boats do not have the range to reach bases on their own. But what you can do, is create an Escort type TF to which you can add PTs,
as well as a long range AK. While underway the PT boats can refuel from the AK.

If you have not seen it yet, here is one of my all time favourite guides:
What to Do With All Those Darn Tenders!

Awesome I've been doing that with my rowboat/paddle corps, but was unaware it worked for PTs also.

I realize that AVPs, if you send 2-4 of them to some base somewhere, can support a detachment of Catalinas or Kingfishers... I was more asking if people had favorite spots for particular reasons. I think of them as things to be used when you need recon in a place, but know that it's going to be temporary. In the Solomons, for example. Or the Line Islands/Gilberts. Other places?

I will have to check out that thread while eating this afternoon.

[Sredni]

I've never really found AV's, AVD's, AVP's useful against the AI. They seem like they should be used to setup forward airsearch bases far from any fighter cover, and vs the AI anything within the enormous betty range with it's lazer guided torpedoes without heavy CAP is just easy meat.

Trying to sneak in and setup an airbase for search with avp's anywhere close to japanese held islands is just suicide by betty for that AVP along with any supply ships you might try to send in.

I do find agp's useful immediately after taking a small island. Plop an AGP down on a recently conquered island and move a bunch of torpedo boats in for defensive purposes.

Never found a use for AG's. (I use them to haul supply to bases where I expect to get mauled during the resupply attempt)

I tend to use AD's to add repair capability to forward bases for destroyers.


Here's another useful thread about auxiliary type ships.

tm.asp?m=2920431

[LoBaron]

Wow Sredni, actually the link you provided is mine on steroids. Seems Knyvet took wwengr´s post and expanded it with much useful
info. Thanks for sharing!

@Lokasenna: In general every dot forward where time lacks to build it up, or where the threat is too high to assign valuable troops,
and that is located at a potential ingress route for amphib groups, is a valid location for AV/AVD types.
Also, a single AS and a small AO make a nice forward base for subs.

Locations depend very much on the strategic overall situation. If you it as forward defense/scout line for your more important bases
(this can often be used in areas like the Solomons or Fijis for example) as part of a layered defense, or as forward base close to enemy
occupied territory (e.g. in my corrent PBEM Marcus Island has been such a base for a long time) to scout convoy routes or act as a forward
sub base.
The advantage of such bases is that they can be relocated fast if under threat or when the general situation changes, and does not
require a logistics tail to be kept operational.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Sredni

I've never really found AV's, AVD's, AVP's useful against the AI. They seem like they should be used to setup forward airsearch bases far from any fighter cover, and vs the AI anything within the enormous betty range with it's lazer guided torpedoes without heavy CAP is just easy meat.

This has always been true for the AI, especially with regard to ground units that go into move mode anywhere on the map. It doesn't matter if they are 400 miles from the nearest enemy unit, hidden by a jungle canopy and have never been spotted by air recon the AIs infrared sattellite tracking knows all and sees all and targets them the instant they go into move mode.

[Chris21wen]

ORIGINAL: Sredni

I've never really found AV's, AVD's, AVP's useful against the AI. They seem like they should be used to setup forward airsearch bases far from any fighter cover, and vs the AI anything within the enormous betty range with it's lazer guided torpedoes without heavy CAP is just easy meat.

Trying to sneak in and setup an airbase for search with avp's anywhere close to japanese held islands is just suicide by betty for that AVP along with any supply ships you might try to send in.

I do find agp's useful immediately after taking a small island. Plop an AGP down on a recently conquered island and move a bunch of torpedo boats in for defensive purposes.

Never found a use for AG's. (I use them to haul supply to bases where I expect to get mauled during the resupply attempt)

I tend to use AD's to add repair capability to forward bases for destroyers.


Here's another useful thread about auxiliary type ships.

tm.asp?m=2920431

Put an AG with supply in any port to support the little craft such as SC, AMc, AM just like an AD support DDs, an AS supports subs. They take some of the wait of of the base especially small ones.

I do use AV, APD etc at forward bases, you will occasionally get hit but the secret is not to leave them they for very long. Best way to use them I've found is to park them at a small Pacific Islands base, say Johnstone, Palmyra, Baker to sopport the PT a/c. If the a/f is also built upto level 1 and a F group stationed there with air support they make very good search bases and double as staging posts for air unit transfers. If you get them up to level 3 then DBs, TBs or even MBs can operate from them. The AV/AVP support the PT they do not support the land based a/c, but the the land support will support PTs but if they do that they will be unable to support other a/c.

[AcePylut]

A couple AVP's can chill at a base with some kingfishers on Night Cap. Because why not?

[crsutton]

My primary use for ADs is to resupply torpedoes to DDs at small forward bases. If the DD needs repairs, I move it to a rear base.

[bradfordkay]

If you disband your AVDs, etc at that forward base then they are far less likely to be attacked by Netties.

[Lokasenna]

I never thought about using AGs for contested supply runs. As a "commissioned ship", will they unload faster (than an xAK) in an amphibious TF? I will have to go back and look at their armaments and such.

Some good thoughts here, both things I hadn't thought about and some elaborations on others I'd been wondering about. Thanks all!

[Sredni]

I don't think they unload any faster then an xAK, or at least I've never seen any indication they do. I just use them in danger spots out of spite since I don't see any use to them and as the allies you get tons of em just sitting around doing nothing if you don't find something to use them for.

[Gunner98]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

... I was more asking if people had favorite spots for particular reasons. I think of them as things to be used when you need recon in a place, but know that it's going to be temporary. In the Solomons, for example. Or the Line Islands/Gilberts. Other places?

I tend to use the AVP/AVDs early on to set up a search line from PH to Oz. Once I get enough base forces to fill the line I move them to contested areas to feed the Cats and move the search zone into the Gilberts and Solomons. I Also stick a some of the Dutch and Auzi ones on a couple of the islands E of Timor where the dutch search detachments eventualy end up, I then use them to cover the West Coast of Oz.

B