AMc have depth charges but no ASW mission?

[Boomer Redleg]

I was looking at Japanese AMc and was surprised to see they carry depth charges. But when I set a mission for ASW the AMc ships can't be used.

How does the games use the depth charges on AMc? If I attach an AMc to a TF, is there a chance the AMc will defend the TF?

[AW1Steve]

PT's have them too, but as they have no SONAR they don't have ASW missions. Does that particular type of AMc have SONAR? [&:]

[btd64]

Even if docked and not in a TF, they do help with ASW at the port they are in. In the past I have had them attack midget subs in a port hex......GP

[Terminus]

Arming a ship with depth charges has no bearing on whether or not you can put them in a given type of TF. You can put DCs on a battleship or aircraft carrier or oiler or anything and it'll use them for self defence. There are no such things as sonars in the game. Last turn in my current PBEM, an MTB sank a Jap midget with DCs.

[Lokasenna]

With clever use of the Escort TF mission you can duplicate the starting setup's use of AMc's in Amphibious TFs. With DCs on board, they should then carry out ASW duties like any other escort. They'll be bad at it though, given crew experience levels.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Arming a ship with depth charges has no bearing on whether or not you can put them in a given type of TF. You can put DCs on a battleship or aircraft carrier or oiler or anything and it'll use them for self defence. There are no such things as sonars in the game. Last turn in my current PBEM, an MTB sank a Jap midget with DCs.

Really? I didn't know that about the SONAR? Then what happens when you update , say a US DD from 2 to 6 ASW? More depth charges? [&:]

[Terminus]

I should have said "no sonar DEVICES". ASW rating is measured solely on number of ASW weapons.

[HansBolter]

While they can't be put in ASW TFs they will perform an ASW role by using their depth charges on any sub they encounter while performing their Coastal Mine Sweeping role.

Put them in Coastal Mine Sweeping TFs give them a one hex patrol in a port hex and they will keep the port free of sub laid mines and help fight sub and midget sub infiltrators.

[Mac Linehan]

Boomer Redleg - Good question.

T- thank you for the clarification; it makes sense.

Mac

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

I should have said "no sonar DEVICES". ASW rating is measured solely on number of ASW weapons.

And I believe the ASW rating per device is dependent upon game date and nation. USN gets 'upgrades' during the game that are not explicitly stated. There is at least one in '43 ...

[Terminus]

The improvement is a modifier to the crew's skill check for ASW. Happens to the Japs as well. The devices themselves remain the same (except, of course, for device upgrades during ship time in dock).

[wdolson]

The nationality changes to ASW reflect improvements in doctrine for the most part.

Bill

[Boomer Redleg]

Thanks for the responses. So if I understand this correctly, regardless of weather an AMc is alone or in a TF it can attack an enemy sub.

Bill - is there some kind of a nationality chart somewhere that reflects a modifier to ASW or is that something that is coded in the game?

Terminus - you mentioned a crew check to modify the success of an ASW attack by the AMc? Is this different then some kind of a command rating? I thought there was an ASW modifier based on the leader's Naval skill.

[wdolson]

I think the dates where things change is in the manual. I'm not 100% sure.

Bill

[Jorge_Stanbury]

AMc can be part of the following TF:
- Barge/ Landing craft
- Support
- Local minesweeping
- Escort

Their natural mission should be local minesweeping, but as Lokasena mentioned, you can use it to escort TF anything (but with the limitations of escort FG: no load/ unload allowed, won't perform any function, and will
flee all enemy forces.)

You can also put them into the very generic "support". and then it can work as escort for tenders.

But short range means I wouldn't bother to use them for anything other than their natural mission.

[rustysi]

Bill - is there some kind of a nationality chart somewhere that reflects a modifier to ASW or is that something that is coded in the game?

I think the dates where things change is in the manual. I'm not 100% sure.

Bill

Check 6.4.4.1 in the manual, p132 about halfway down. "Prior to 1944,..."

This states the modifiers to ASW warfare based on crew experience.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Boomer Redleg

Thanks for the responses. So if I understand this correctly, regardless of weather an AMc is alone or in a TF it can attack an enemy sub.

Counterattack would be a more appropriate description.

Since they aren't in an ASW TF one can't expect them to hunt and attack the subs.

However, they will counterattack subs that target them.

I have never seen a coastal minesweeping TF initiate an ASW attack.

I have seen them drop depth charges on a sub that targeted (and usually hit and sunk) a member of their TF.

[oldman45]

Since I have been using them instead of just sitting in port, I actually stopped a mini sub attack. They are now in TF's at all my major ports.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: oldman45

Since I have been using them instead of just sitting in port, I actually stopped a mini sub attack. They are now in TF's at all my major ports.

To me they are a basic component of major port maintenance.
I have seen threads asking what good AGs are. Again for me they are a basic component of major port maintenance,
AGs serve as tenders for a plethora of small craft.
Each major port gets at least one AG, a TF of AMc's and a TF of YPs or other similar small craft capable of the ASW mission with the TFs set to patrol the port hex.