Lets talk about Carriers

[Alex_brunius]

Are you sure? I am fairly certain I have seen carriers work effectively even with 2000 fighters in the region.

It depends on the size of the naval region. A large region can require up to 4000 fighters to get max cover and give -100% efficiency for enemy carrier planes, while in a small one 500 might be enough.

The fighters also have to be using air superiority mission, interception won't work for air superiority.

100% enemy air superiority gives a 100% penalty meaning that your carriers are completely useless.

From what I have seen both cover and superiority is needed. You can't deny enemy Carriers with a single fighter plane, even if it can get 100% superiority without enemy planes present.

 

[CharlieFox]

From what I have seen both cover and superiority is needed. You can't deny enemy Carriers with a single fighter plane, even if it can get 100% superiority without enemy planes present.

You are right, it's not just air superiority but also having enough planes to cover the region.

By the way, the Devs should probably put more effort to keeping the wiki updated. I wanted to find the "official" description of how land based fighters reduce the efficiency of carrier planes but I was unable to find any mention of it in the Wiki.

 

[browd]

Keep in mind that although the wiki may have been "seeded" by the devs with initial content, it is a community wiki -- anyone can login and edit pages that need editing. From the wiki's front page:

"Anyone can contribute to the wiki. If you want to become a contributor please register (though you can also edit anonymously), and check out the work needed page. If you spot anything in need of improvement, don't hesitate to make an edit. If you plan on making any major changes it is recommended you read the style guidelines first. To help with the translations see the information on the translations page."

 

[davej]

Is it worth having them in HOI IV? They hardly carry any airplanes and very expensive to build. Worse when you have to make Aircraft variants to boot.

Sorry for the stupid thread, never tried Japan before till last night, and yes, got my butt handed to me by China LOL.

I never use them. There is usually a cheaper alternative. They hold on average like 60 planes, that doesn't do much of anything.
I only build them when I want to a boast a gluttonous navy. And by then it's just for the lolz.

 

[Admiral Piett]

Carriers are extremely good. Countries that can rely on land-based air power to cover their fleets (i.e. Italy) don't need them, but anyone that wants to actually project naval power away from their land bases isn't going to get far with surface fleets alone. Even when you are operating within your own land-based air power, carriers are still a good choice since they are just so freaking strong in naval engagements. In my current Japan game, I have been fighting the US as per the IJN's historical defensive operational plan. It relies heavily on using air bases in the Mandates to wear down the advancing USN and provide support to my own fleet. Between NAVs hitting every USN ship that moves anywhere near my islands and land-based fighters providing air superiority, my fleets are beating up USN fleets over twice their size.