CVE a/c question

[mussey]

I've read good posts about how to use allied CVE's. But I have questions on the original purpose of having 2 air squadrons on a CVE (ie fighter & torpedo bomber totaling 48 planes)when a CVE can only handle 24? What did the US do with these a/c? Did they all stay on the CVE's, or did they pull a squadron off to use off land?

[Mundy]

I believe they were to replenish regular aircraft carrier squadrons.

[kbfchicago]

Some, not all show up with a double plane load. In this configuration your cve is essentially an AKV plane ferry. You can NOT conduct flight ops due to over capacity (ops limit is 10% over capacity).

(Edit) note even though you should not be able to IRL...see Mundy pick above...you CAN launch the extra squadron to fly to a base when you are in range vs having to go port side and unload.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: kbfchicago

Some, not all show up with a double plane load. In this configuration your cve is essentially an AKV plane ferry. You can NOT conduct flight ops due to over capacity (ops limit is 10% over capacity).

(Edit) note even though you should not be able to IRL...see Mundy pick above...you CAN launch the extra squadron to fly to a base when you are in range vs having to go port side and unload.

No, not quite. The over stacked CVEs are carrying VR squadrons which are "replenishment squadrons" If you leave these squadrons on the carrier it will not conduct flight operations but you can add it to a replenishment TF and these VR squadrons will fly replacement aircraft to your fleet carriers to replace losses. This happens automatically if the fleet carriers are short of aircraft and within range of the replenishment TF. Very handy later in the war. If you want, you can simple pull these squadrons off of the carrier and use them normally as you would any other air unit. If you leave one on the CVE, it can then operate normally. I typically pull them off early in the war for training and replace the good planes with obsolete ones to help fill my pools. I then put them back on the CVEs later in the war.

Bear in mind that these VR squadrons will send replacements to carriers from land as well as from replenishment CVEs so be careful if your are using them near your fleet as they may empty out of aircraft if a nearby carrier needs them.

[mussey]

Thanks to all. This is a part of the game I've yet to master, especially "VR squadrons which are "replenishment squadrons"and "VR squadrons will send replacements to carriers from land as well as from replenishment CVEs".

For now, in late 1942, I'm pulling off the Tp/DB sqdn leaving the fighters on and using the CVE to provide CAP protection for my Amphib invasions. I did as you mentioned and downgraded a SBD sqdn to an obsolete one, putting them into my depleted pool. I'm playing Ironman vs Japan and my SBD pool has been consistently low. If any of you have some spare SBD's please send them my way...[8|]

[HansBolter]

Plane pools will continue to be tight throughout the game although never as tight as '42.

Later when you have a plethora of CVEs you will see the benefit of the dedicated Replenishment squadrons and have more flexibility to use them in that role.

[m10bob]

In my modified games, I have put an "R" behind the name of the ship so when creating carrier groups, I will not accidentally take one of the replenishment ships..I am too lazy to micro-manage by looking at the plane complement..

[mussey]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Plane pools will continue to be tight throughout the game although never as tight as '42.

Later when you have a plethora of CVEs you will see the benefit of the dedicated Replenishment squadrons and have more flexibility to use them in that role.

Hans, I suspect you're right, especially in the CenPac with long range invasions in '44/45. The Repl TF's would then be essential to perk up a/c losses on Air TF's if I understand this correctly.

[tiemanjw]

ORIGINAL: m10bob

In my modified games, I have put an "R" behind the name of the ship so when creating carrier groups, I will not accidentally take one of the replenishment ships..I am too lazy to micro-manage by looking at the plane complement..

Sorry, but can I ask why? I didn't think it mattered... Load up a CVE with "R" groups and put in a replenishment TF. Is there something more to it then that?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

ORIGINAL: m10bob

In my modified games, I have put an "R" behind the name of the ship so when creating carrier groups, I will not accidentally take one of the replenishment ships..I am too lazy to micro-manage by looking at the plane complement..

Sorry, but can I ask why? I didn't think it mattered... Load up a CVE with "R" groups and put in a replenishment TF. Is there something more to it then that?

The CVEs with replenishment groups enter with them already aboard. Nothing distinguishes them from CVEs with fighting squadrons aboard when selecting ships to fill out a CV TF.

It is easy to pick them for a CV TF if you don't first examine the individual ship to see what kind of air squadrons it has aboard.

His methods sounds like an effective way to avoid accidentally adding them to a CV TF.

[mussey]

ORIGINAL: m10bob

In my modified games, I have put an "R" behind the name of the ship so when creating carrier groups, I will not accidentally take one of the replenishment ships..I am too lazy to micro-manage by looking at the plane complement..

Oh boy, dumb question: How do you put an "R" next to the ships name? Through the Editor?

[jmalter]

There's 2 types of arriving CVEs, each has its own purpose, it depends on the embarked airgroups.

1) w/ 2 airggoups of type 'VR', they are meant to form into ReplTFs that can off-load aircraft to in-range CVs.
2) w/ 2 airgroups of type 'VC', they are meant to provide Escort / ASW service.

But each CVE can do either function, depending on the embarked airgroups, & on the CVE's plane-capacity, & on the TF type.

[tiemanjw]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

ORIGINAL: m10bob

In my modified games, I have put an "R" behind the name of the ship so when creating carrier groups, I will not accidentally take one of the replenishment ships..I am too lazy to micro-manage by looking at the plane complement..

Sorry, but can I ask why? I didn't think it mattered... Load up a CVE with "R" groups and put in a replenishment TF. Is there something more to it then that?

The CVEs with replenishment groups enter with them already aboard. Nothing distinguishes them from CVEs with fighting squadrons aboard when selecting ships to fill out a CV TF.

It is easy to pick them for a CV TF if you don't first examine the individual ship to see what kind of air squadrons it has aboard.

His methods sounds like an effective way to avoid accidentally adding them to a CV TF.

I get that, if you keep air groups on the CV. I guess I just thought it common practice to fly off the airwing when in port, then fly (or crane) them on once (or just before) getting underway.

[mussey]

ORIGINAL: jmalter

There's 2 types of arriving CVEs, each has its own purpose, it depends on the embarked airgroups.

1) w/ 2 airggoups of type 'VR', they are meant to form into ReplTFs that can off-load aircraft to in-range CVs.
2) w/ 2 airgroups of type 'VC', they are meant to provide Escort / ASW service.

But each CVE can do either function, depending on the embarked airgroups, & on the CVE's plane-capacity, & on the TF type.

I think your reply really gets to the core of my initial question in 1st post. I just want to make sure I get this right. So will a VR fighter unit perform CAP/Escort from a CVE? Or is it just for replenishment?

[tiemanjw]

ORIGINAL: mussey

ORIGINAL: jmalter

There's 2 types of arriving CVEs, each has its own purpose, it depends on the embarked airgroups.

1) w/ 2 airggoups of type 'VR', they are meant to form into ReplTFs that can off-load aircraft to in-range CVs.
2) w/ 2 airgroups of type 'VC', they are meant to provide Escort / ASW service.

But each CVE can do either function, depending on the embarked airgroups, & on the CVE's plane-capacity, & on the TF type.

I think your reply really gets to the core of my initial question in 1st post. I just want to make sure I get this right. So will a VR fighter unit perform CAP/Escort from a CVE? Or is it just for replenishment?

Simple answer: yes

Slightly longer answer:
The squadron has to have a CAP percentage set and the CVE can't have more than 115% rated capacity.
I do it all the time.

[m10bob]

(deleted for the following comment)

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

ORIGINAL: m10bob

In my modified games, I have put an "R" behind the name of the ship so when creating carrier groups, I will not accidentally take one of the replenishment ships..I am too lazy to micro-manage by looking at the plane complement..

Sorry, but can I ask why? I didn't think it mattered... Load up a CVE with "R" groups and put in a replenishment TF. Is there something more to it then that?

The CVEs with replenishment groups enter with them already aboard. Nothing distinguishes them from CVEs with fighting squadrons aboard when selecting ships to fill out a CV TF.

It is easy to pick them for a CV TF if you don't first examine the individual ship to see what kind of air squadrons it has aboard.

His methods sounds like an effective way to avoid accidentally adding them to a CV TF.

Hans is correct as usual...When creating a carrier group...Only a good memory or micro-management will prevent one from selecting a replenishment flattop..To avoid this, in the editor, I change the names of those replenishment carriers by placing an "R" after their names.
Of course, the computer will do this when creating replenishment groups.
Also remember you cannot alter any of the original scenarios so to make changes, (like that letter R), you will need to copy/paste an entire scenario in the editor to slots higher up.....like #30 or so..

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: m10bob

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: tiemanj




Sorry, but can I ask why? I didn't think it mattered... Load up a CVE with "R" groups and put in a replenishment TF. Is there something more to it then that?

The CVEs with replenishment groups enter with them already aboard. Nothing distinguishes them from CVEs with fighting squadrons aboard when selecting ships to fill out a CV TF.

It is easy to pick them for a CV TF if you don't first examine the individual ship to see what kind of air squadrons it has aboard.

His methods sounds like an effective way to avoid accidentally adding them to a CV TF.

Hans is correct as usual...When creating a carrier group...Only a good memory or micro-management will prevent one from selecting a replenishment flattop..To avoid this, in the editor, I change the names of those replenishment carriers by placing an "R" after their names.
Of course, the computer will do this when creating replenishment groups.
Also remember you cannot alter any of the original scenarios so to make changes, (like that letter R), you will need to copy/paste an entire scenario in the editor to slots higher up.....like #30 or so..

Or just make your life easier and keep replenishment carriers is a different port...[>:]
[;)]

[mussey]

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

ORIGINAL: mussey

ORIGINAL: jmalter

There's 2 types of arriving CVEs, each has its own purpose, it depends on the embarked airgroups.

1) w/ 2 airggoups of type 'VR', they are meant to form into ReplTFs that can off-load aircraft to in-range CVs.
2) w/ 2 airgroups of type 'VC', they are meant to provide Escort / ASW service.

But each CVE can do either function, depending on the embarked airgroups, & on the CVE's plane-capacity, & on the TF type.

I think your reply really gets to the core of my initial question in 1st post. I just want to make sure I get this right. So will a VR fighter unit perform CAP/Escort from a CVE? Or is it just for replenishment?

Simple answer: yes

Slightly longer answer:
The squadron has to have a CAP percentage set and the CVE can't have more than 115% rated capacity.
I do it all the time.

Most excellent. I think I'm on the right road now. Thanks to all for helping me get to the bottom of this.

[Major Shane]

Newbie question. Through a combination of tactical and logistical errors I went from 6 to 1 carrier available. I could use the CVE as a poor man's Air Combat TF if I wanted to?