Maybe after this next new plane release...

[FiLtH]

  HTC could rework the whole fleet idea. Take the good ideas that have been brought up on this forum and run with it.  All the ideas like CVs from different nationalities, different types of fleets, setting a TF formation, usable torpedoes on DDs, releasing DDs to aattack a fleet, bombardment groups, tansport tf, colored shell splashes, etc.

[LLogann]

I'm all for a fleet revision!!!!!

+N

[Volron]

I would love to see different class of ships put into place and would kill to see Japanese class ships put into AH.  The question would be, for late war, as that would be the primary argument, which class of CV, CA and DD's would be used?  I was thinking the Shokaku class with either the Tone or the Takao class CA and probably the Matsu 44, Kagero 44 or the Yugumo 44.


I've been thinking about our Fletcher Class DD's we have, and wondered how it would work if one person can pop into the fire control tower and use all 5 guns?  Not for AA, of course, but for bombardment purposes.  When you take control of the tower, if no one is in any of the two mannable guns, you would be able to use all 5 turrets to bombard a target, which are auto set to HE when you do.  It would not be set to lock the two mannable guns from use, so if someone wanted to pop into one while you are in the fire control tower, they can.  I mean, yeah, be a pain especially if you have a good bead on something, but you'd still have 3 guns to bombard with.  The same could be done for the Cruiser we have (I keep forgetting it's class, Baltimore?).  Pop into the fire control tower and take control of either the 3 8" Turrets, the 6" Dual 5" Turrets or Both.  I don't think the fire control tower was used to guide the 5" guns though.  Did it have a separate tower for them or were they line of sight?  At the very least, be able to control all 3 8" guns.  Again, it would not lock anyone out from jumping into one while you were in the fire control tower.  Worst case scenario is, you wouldn't have control of any of them if 3 people decided to pop into the guns.   What would be the take on this idea?

[JHerne]

Not a bad idea...

On the DDs, the FCD was the Mk 37, using Mk.14 radar and later equipped with Mk.22 height-finding radar (the small banana-shaped array on the side).


On the CA (yes, Baltimore class), the 8-in guns were controlled by a Mk.34 FCD using Mk.8 radar. The 5in guns used the same Mk37 FCD with Mk14 radar.



For late war IJN CVs, its tough because there were so few class-built ships, most were one-offs developed from previous ships...Shokaku and Zuikaku were about as close as you can get to 'sisters' in the true sense.

That being said, Unryu would be the most likely, as she was essentially a repeat Hiryu and had 2 other sisters. The downside is that the only true fleet carrier to see any significant combat after Zuikaku and Shokaku was Taiho, and even that wasn't a long career. Unryu's sisters Amagi and Katsuragi never left home waters.

When it comes right down to it - we have only a couple of choices - go with another US design like a CVL or CVE (which could tie in very nicely with the amphibious assault group), or go with the British Illustrious class CVs. They'd certainly be able to take more damage than the current 'Essex' we have.

Amphibious groups with LST, LCT, CVE, DE +1
Detachable DDs from CV group +1

(sorry about the images - they're not mine. I'm just too lazy to scan and post them myself.)

[DERK13]

i see a huge problem with your revision of cv groups, on the different nationalities of the cv group. The japanese aircraft carriers werent equipped with radar i believe .so they had bunch of ppl in tower with binoculars looking for vessels. If they spotted a ship it was from visual sighting of the ship, wether it was from a jap scout plane or with binoculars. No radar on a cv is bad news i wouldnt want to be on that ship

[Yossarian]

i see a huge problem with your revision of cv groups, on the different nationalities of the cv group. The japanese aircraft carriers werent equipped with radar i believe .so they had bunch of ppl in tower with binoculars looking for vessels. If they spotted a ship it was from visual sighting of the ship, wether it was from a jap scout plane or with binoculars. No radar on a cv is bad news i wouldnt want to be on that ship

Surely that would only be an issue in Special Events?

[DERK13]

maybe, but the idea of a new cv group is awesome +1

[skorpion]

if we put in some japaneese ships what would they be? the Tone with the Kongo as a backup? (that would be crazy though) anyways....good idea 

[JHerne]

None of the Japanese battleships, except for Yamato and Musashi, could be classified as 'fast battleships'. All of Japan's frontline BBs, again, except for Yamato and Musashi, were basically WWI designs brought up to modern standards, just like the pre-war US ships and the British Queen Elizabeth Class and R class. Sticking them into a task group with a carrier simply isn't going to work, as our current CVs do what, a healthy 32 knots so we can launch aircraft without turning into a headwind?

Truth be told, perhaps with the exception of the Akizuki Class destroyers, Japanese cruisers were no better than the Baltimore we currently have. Tone is interesting because all of her guns are forward, but she was a single ship in her class. If you're looking for a Japanese heavy cruiser, you have two choices really, Myoko Class and Takao Class. There were 4 in each class and were without a doubt the best of the lot as far as IJN cruisers were concered.

J

[Saxman]

I've always been of the mind there should be three fleet types:

Carrier Group - As they exist now, however the carrier is not allowed to approach closer than 25miles from shore. Can only launch aircraft
Bombardment Group - 1 BB (I'd say go with Iowa-class) and maybe 1 CA, 1 CL, and 3-4 DDs. Can approach within the current allowable distance to shore. Cannot launch any aircraft or vehicles.
Landing Group - 1 CVE, 1 LST, 3-4 DEs. Can approach within the current allowable distance to shore. Can only launch TBMs, SBDs, D3As, B5Ns, F4Fs/FM-2s and A6Ms, but can also launch LVTs and PTs. Sinking the LST stops vehicle launch.

[JHerne]

I'll go along with that! 

[Mato]

I've always been of the mind there should be three fleet types:

I don't post often on the boards (as you can tell by my reg. date/ post count)
I have to say this is one of the best ideas I've seen for Naval groups.
+1 

[Wildcat1]

Surely that would only be an issue in Special Events?

it would only be an issue in special events. and dont call me Shirley