Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Share your gameplay tips, secret tactics and fabulous strategies with fellow gamers here.

Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition

User avatar
Lawless1
Posts: 327
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:40 pm
Location: Maryland but now living in SC

Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lawless1 »

Ga'day All

Newbie here, have been playing against the AI since purchasing the game last summer. Yes, I started in playing a GC, since most of the PBEM seems to be some sort of GC.

Am playing Scn#26 BabesLite A, stock map, Dec 7th start.. Like the idea of some of the additional ships, and I have not yet master making changes in the Editor to add some conversion capabilities to the Wick class DD.

Remember seeing a thread on converting Clemson and Wick’s class DD to APD, which I have been doing, mainly for the increase ASW/AAA than for the ability of transporting troops. (Note in this scenario, the Wicks class DD can convert to DE, APD, AVD, DMS, in addition to going the upgrade route.

Looking for opinions on how many I should convert, knowing that I will be decreasing my immediate escort capabilities. What I have initially done was to take half of the ships of both classes in whatever ports they are located and converted them to APD.

Interested how some have use the APD in their game. I suppose using them to conduct raids with Marine Raiders, or Para units to recapture some of the abandon Island that are under Japan’s control.

However, after playing for a while and really looking at the options, I am leaning towards converting the Wicks to DE since the DE is the long range version with even greater ASW/AAA capabilities.

Opinion on SS to SST conversion for AFB, is it worth the lost of losing the mining capabilities of the subs that can convert? Off course, not sure how effective submarine mining is.

Due to the weak AAA of the xAK, most that can be converted to AG, AE, or AKE for the increase in AAA. Once again aware that I have to balance immediate transport of supplies against future capability of the converted ship. I figure I can still use them to transport supplies when I don’t need them to be used in their primary rolls, until the ship building starts really cranking out ships.

I am truly amazed and grateful for all the knowledge, wisdom and dedication shared by all on this forum. My thanks to any who take the time to read and or comment on this post.[&o]

Andy Lawless
QM3 SS (USS Sea Devil) USN 1970-1974
USA 1976-1982 Field Artillery and Signal Corps

Two types of ships, targets and submarines
Death from below
User avatar
Yaab
Posts: 5041
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:09 pm
Location: Poland

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Yaab »

xAK to AG conversion is great because you get more AA earlier, sometimes you get more endurance and an can reload depth charges with AG. However, after conversion the AGs cannot particpate in Cargo missions and cannot be loaded amphibiously. So if you plan to move supplies by AGs it is best to use them between developed ports (port 4+) so the ship can find docking space and unload the supplies while docked.
User avatar
Lawless1
Posts: 327
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:40 pm
Location: Maryland but now living in SC

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lawless1 »

Yaab

Thanks for responding and for the reminder about port size. Also didn't know that AG could not participate in cargo missions. One mission that I don't used often cargo TF, usually for movement of resources.
Two types of ships, targets and submarines
Death from below
User avatar
HansBolter
Posts: 7191
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:30 pm
Location: United States

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by HansBolter »

The AEs and AKEs are some of the most valuable ships you have and every one available should be converted.

The DDs should all be converted to APDs. You don't get any for a long while and then only a small number.
They get a huge boost in ASW with the conversion so become very versatile and useful vessels.

You can wait till later for DEs and will get plenty of them so the APD conversion is preferable to the DE conversion.

AGs are extremely useful ships as the conversion only slightly reduces their capacity and I usually have more than enough xAKs for amphib operations as I try not to use that class of ship too much for that operation as a real AK is far better suited.
Hans

User avatar
Skygge
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:49 pm
Location: Denmark

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Skygge »

Opinion on SS to SST conversion for AFB, is it worth the lost of losing the mining capabilities of the subs that can convert? Off course, not sure how effective submarine mining is.


If you upgrade then on the plus side:

You get Radar. I have not found another way to get this very important August 1944 Radar upgrade on the subs with a SST conversion option.

You get a (limited) cargo capacity which can be handy to keep alive small isolated garrisons. Still here I find airlifting with Emily’s more practical.
I can not recommend using the supply subs to supply garrisons under attack, as they seem very vulnerable to ASW attack, and the allied will most likely always have some DE´s on guard when assaulting an island.



On the flip side:

The VP value on the subs rockets up to 26 VP – that is same as some CL´s. So it hurt when you loose them, a bit like when you loose a 10 VP value patrol boats.

You loose the mine capability on the converted subs.. I like sub mining in the late game, especially when you target many different harbors and often far flung ones. It is useful in diverting allied power and mental focus
If they need guard and attend lot of bases. Still you have a lot of mining capabilities left in other subs. If you use sub mining to divert allied effort you need not lay big and dense minefields but rather many smaller ones.


Your choice.
User avatar
Lawless1
Posts: 327
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:40 pm
Location: Maryland but now living in SC

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lawless1 »

The AEs and AKEs are some of the most valuable ships you have and every one available should be converted

Thank you Hans, after checking the availability date of arriving ships, not many AEs are in the pipeline.

I have always appreciated you comments in the various threads that I have read.

I am a fan of converting what I can as early as I can, knowing that this will most likely give even more advantage to a human player, and possibly some advantage to the AI.
Just have to stagger the conversion out, since the down time is from four to twenty plus days depending on the class being converted.
Two types of ships, targets and submarines
Death from below
User avatar
Lawless1
Posts: 327
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:40 pm
Location: Maryland but now living in SC

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lawless1 »

Thank you Skygge for giving me a view from the JFB side, also a tip to watch for mining operations late in the game at what some believe would be a safe backwater port. With the long range of the IJN subs, there are of course not backwater safe ports.
Two types of ships, targets and submarines
Death from below
User avatar
Lokasenna
Posts: 9303
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:57 am
Location: Iowan in MD/DC

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lokasenna »

Converting the SSTs is a must for me. They're way too useful in that role to pass up.
User avatar
Lawless1
Posts: 327
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:40 pm
Location: Maryland but now living in SC

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lawless1 »

Trying to give something back to the forum, for the help given.

Many ships can be converted in Dec 41 to ships with greater AA/ASW assets, the trick is to find an locate them. As was historical the vast Allied fleet is scatter throughout the various areas of operations.

Each scenario has its own set of ships that can be converted, below are the ship classes that can be converted in December 1941 in the Scn#26 BabesLite A, stock map, Dec 7th start

xAK to AG, AKE, AP

Clemson Class DD to DE, APD, AVD, DM, DMS

Wicks Class DD to DE, APD,

Admiralty S Class - DD, DM

Admiralty HDML Class - three different HDML Types

Wilcannia xAKL to PC, AG, AMc

WIlcannia Class AMc to PC, AG, xAKL

Trasmarine Class xAK to AG

Harriman Class xAK to AKE

Dominon M Cargo Class to AP

Hog Island Tender Class to AKE

C2 Cargo Class to AP

Bird Class AM to AVP

select AMC to LST

Fairmile B Class ML to MGB (three different MGB with different AA and 2 different ML)

Beam Tr YP class to ACM. YMS



Two types of ships, targets and submarines
Death from below
User avatar
Lawless1
Posts: 327
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:40 pm
Location: Maryland but now living in SC

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lawless1 »

Thanks Lokasenna for your imput.
Two types of ships, targets and submarines
Death from below
User avatar
BillBrown
Posts: 2335
Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2002 3:55 am

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by BillBrown »

C2 Cargo Class converts to AE. It is the only one that does. And it is size 5400, that is what is needed to rearm the 16" guns on your BBs.
Do not let them do their June 43 upgrade, you can not convert them if you do. I use them to haul freight and a little fuel from Eastern USA
to Cape Town - there are no subs there.
User avatar
BBfanboy
Posts: 19692
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:36 pm
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Contact:

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by BBfanboy »

Nice list Lawless1. There are also a couple of Dutch PGs that can convert to AGPs (which handle PT boats and are scarce in the game).
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
User avatar
HansBolter
Posts: 7191
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:30 pm
Location: United States

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by HansBolter »

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Nice list Lawless1. There are also a couple of Dutch PGs that can convert to AGPs (which handle PT boats and are scarce in the game).


and I wonder where he learned that [;)]
Hans

User avatar
Grfin Zeppelin
Posts: 1514
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:22 pm
Location: Germany

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Grfin Zeppelin »

AGPs are rare for the Allies ? Thats kinda ironic since Japan can easily convert 50 or so but has only a few PTs in the first two years.

Image
User avatar
rustysi
Posts: 7472
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:23 am
Location: LI, NY

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by rustysi »

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

AGPs are rare for the Allies ? Thats kinda ironic since Japan can easily convert 50 or so but has only a few PTs in the first two years.

Yeah, I've only played out as far as Dec. '42 and have never converted one as Japan. I do see in the ship building screen a number of MGB's/MGT's so maybe eventually I'll need one.
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
User avatar
BBfanboy
Posts: 19692
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:36 pm
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Contact:

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by BBfanboy »

Relatively rare. PTs can be created all over the place so the Allies need to have AGPs nearly everywhere!
AGPs are not high-speed vessels so they are vulnerable when they put to sea to change bases.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
User avatar
rustysi
Posts: 7472
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:23 am
Location: LI, NY

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by rustysi »

AGPs are not high-speed vessels so they are vulnerable when they put to sea to change bases.

Sub bait?[:D]
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
User avatar
Lawless1
Posts: 327
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:40 pm
Location: Maryland but now living in SC

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by Lawless1 »

Thanks BBfanboy, forgot to add the Dutch PGs conversion to AGP.. Not only are AGP not very fast, they also have low endurance and takes time to move to where you will need them. There are some Dutch AGP that I move away from DEI AO and eventually to where I want them to provide support.

BillBrown thank for the tip on the C2 class cargo ships. Haven't progressed far enough into the game to worry about rearming my BBs they are either sitting on floor of PH or in a shipyard getting repaired.[:@]

Two types of ships, targets and submarines
Death from below
User avatar
rustysi
Posts: 7472
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:23 am
Location: LI, NY

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by rustysi »

Haven't progressed far enough into the game to worry about rearming my BBs they are either sitting on floor of PH or in a shipyard getting repaired.

Where else should they be at the start of the game?[:D]
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
User avatar
rustysi
Posts: 7472
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:23 am
Location: LI, NY

RE: Convert or not to convert that is the question?

Post by rustysi »

QM3 SS (USS Sea Devil) USN 1970-1974
USA 1976-1982 Field Artillery and Signal Corps

Wait a minute, wait a minute. A 'squid' who became a 'grunt'? Seriously? What gives?[:D]

P.S. Former 'grunt' here, but at least I picked a side.[:D]
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
Post Reply

Return to “The War Room”