Cardboard CVs

[Bullethead]

The information in the 4-meg info file published by HTC is incorrect.  It says that it requires 8 x 1000 lb bombs to kill a CV.  While this apparently WAS true several patches ago, say last summer, it has not been the case for some time.  In reality, it now only requires 2 x 1000 lb bombs to sink the CV.  I have now done this myself, and seen it done by others, enough to become convinced there is no prior damage involved.

This is ridiculous.  A single US jabo can carry 2 x 1000 lb bombs.  It can then make a vertical dive-bombing attack and usually get its bombs off before the acks get it, even when they're under player control.  And the CV instantly sinks.  Allowing just 1 player to have that much impact on the course of events is wrong IMHO, especially when it involves something as important as a mobile airfield.

[weazel]

I've sank CVs with the 40mm gun on the PTs stern.

[Hooligan]

CVs would be far more useful if CV groups would contain more than one CV and a larger number of escorts.  Also it might be nice if CVs should be allowed to respawn within the task group after a certain time as long as any other CV is still there.  Basically I think that it should be about as hard or perhaps harder to disable a task group as it is to take a large airfield.  i.e. it should take a concerted effort to get rid of one.

As long as I am on the subject, I also think it would be better if a naval group with no CVs could not spawn those annoying PTs.

Hooligan

[FDutchmn]

Originally posted by Bullethead
The information in the 4-meg info file published by HTC is incorrect.  It says that it requires 8 x 1000 lb bombs to kill a CV.  While this apparently WAS true several patches ago, say last summer, it has not been the case for some time.  In reality, it now only requires 2 x 1000 lb bombs to sink the CV.  I have now done this myself, and seen it done by others, enough to become convinced there is no prior damage involved.
 

On the NDIsles Map, I believe this is 6 x 1000 lbs, on the other maps, its 2 x 1000 lbs.

[Bullethead]

Hooligan said:

CVs would be far more useful if CV groups would contain more than one CV and a larger number of escorts.  Also it might be nice if CVs should be allowed to respawn within the task group after a certain time as long as any other CV is still there.

That's a cool idea.  Having additional CVs in the group would also make launching squad ops or scenario missions easier because different flights could use different CVs in the same TG.  You pick which one to fly from with a button kinda like how you pick runways at land fields.

Basically I think that it should be about as hard or perhaps harder to disable a task group as it is to take a large airfield.  i.e. it should take a concerted effort to get rid of one.

I agree.  Right now, CVs are basically useless.  As soon as they get close enough to a target to become effective, they're instantly spotted thanks to the bogus 8" tracer flying along for miles, or the stream of radar blips from the planes they launch.  Then it's only a matter of the few minutes it takes a lone dweeb to get 2 x 1000 lb bombs to 12k or so over the ship.  The CV needs to be MUCH harder to kill.

As long as I am on the subject, I also think it would be better if a naval group with no CVs could not spawn those annoying PTs.

Naw, I like this feature.  The customary massacre of the PT flotilla after the sinking of the CV is one of the fruits of victory

[Bullethead]

Originally posted by FDutchmn


On the NDIsles Map, I believe this is 6 x 1000 lbs, on the other maps, its 2 x 1000 lbs.

Hmmm, I think it's 2 x 1000 lb on all maps.  The last CV I got was on the NDIsles map and as far as I know I was the only guy to bomb it.  But I could be wrong.

Anyway, it's still too low a number.

[Tac]

when the cv's degrade as they get damage, then you can up their damage points.

As it is now, you can smack a 1000lb bomb in the flight deck and it can still launch fighters. IRL, that 1 bomb wouldve put the whole thing out of comission.

[Bullethead]

Originally posted by Tac
when the cv's degrade as they get damage, then you can up their damage points.

As it is now, you can smack a 1000lb bomb in the flight deck and it can still launch fighters. IRL, that 1 bomb wouldve put the whole thing out of comission.

Seems to me the same applies to airfields.  One big crater in the middle should render the runway unuseable.  IIRC, that used to be the case in AH like it was in WB, but craters don't seem to be a problem now.

[WhiteHawk]

I say add about 4 more cv groups to each country so  they can
rondevous to form a more vicious strike fleet

[MrLars]

Originally posted by WhiteHawk
I say add about 4 more cv groups to each country so  they can
rondevous to form a more vicious strike fleet

I'd bet that all you'd do is create a larger ack umbrella for the pilots to hide in. Having more ships in a convoy has no guarantee that there will be more pilots using it as intended.

[Bullethead]

MrLars said:

I'd bet that all you'd do is create a larger ack umbrella for the pilots to hide in. Having more ships in a convoy has no guarantee that there will be more pilots using it as intended.

If the CVs were more durable, more people would use them.  With them being cardboard, everybody knows they'll die muy pronto just as they're coming into effective range, so why bother?

[Bullethead]

Originally posted by MrLars


I'd bet that all you'd do is create a larger ack umbrella for the pilots to hide in.

Forgot to respond to this part

This argument misses the point.  CVs are an offensive weapon, intended to provide a close base near a key nme area for purposes of neutralizing and capturing that key nme area.  

For instance, CVs about the best tool for attacking the country in the NW peninsula of the Mindinao map.  If your country attacks from the center of the map towards the west along this peninsula, the attack often quickly grinds to a halt.  This is because once you establish a foothold at the base of the peninsula, you have driven a wedge between the 2 nme countries so now your schwerepunkt has to fight a war on both flanks.  This dilutes its effort to drive further along the peninsula.  OTOH, you can take a CV group across to the west end of the peninsula to roll it up from the rear.

What this all means is that to be effective, forces from the CV have to leave the TG's ack umbrella to conduct offensive missions.  If the defenders achieve enough air superiority to keep the attacking planes circling in the ack, then they have neutralized the threat posed by the CV group.  

A CV with planes hugging the ack is useless.  That's the important thing from the POV of your country's strategic situation.  So consider such behavior a sign of success.  Not only have you thwarted the nme's sea-based offensive in this area, but that TG can't influence events elsewhere.