+ for the PBY and resupply of CV. A flying boat resupplying a CVBG is no more ridiculous than a single M3 doing this for a land base. The resupply feature of the main arena strat game was never meant to be realistic. Rather, it was meant to introduce a basic logistics system without requiring the massive manpower and material support, not to mention the inherently unexciting (relatively, as I don't wish to in any way denigrate the heroic efforts of the combat support troops) nature of, military logistics.
The PBY is, as has been noted, an iconic aircraft, built in larger numbers than any other comparable seaplane, and played a historically significant role in every maritime theater during WWII. It has the advantage of being amphibious, able to operate from both land and sea, and is a multi-role platform. I'd like to see it capable of operating from ports and coastal airbases, and have the ability to carry field supplies, vehicle supplies, bombs, and torpedoes (not troops, as it was not typically used for dropping paratroops, though it was occasionally used to insert commando forces). Resupply of a CV would involve setting down on the water within 1 mile of the CV and discharging the cargo (do so quickly, lest the CV move beyond 1 mile while you're puttzing around). On a historical note, while the limited cargo capacity of a PBY did not allow it (historically speaking) to perform bulk resupply of a task force at sea, they
were in fact used to deliver high-value replacement parts for critical systems, and personnel, too, to naval units at sea and to isolated land outposts. From a game-play perspective, I would not allow them to spawn from CV's, as this is simply historically unfounded.
On a tangential note, I'd love to see the float-plane version of the A6M added, also to give ports a limited ability to project air power and to protect against it. I also think it would be cool to add a float plane that could operate from the cruiser, while we're asking for the world.
