Use of Naval units (nugget)

[TremblingBlue]

How can I successfully divide my naval units into fleets that are effective? My current strategy is to create one or two huge fleets, combining everything, to protect tiny areas of the ocean (where my transports will be). Consequently my coverage is terrible...and it's all because I'm afraid of my navy sinking bit by bit. In my hearts of iron 2 days, my Japanese navy was sunk in about a month by the US.

What is an effective strategy of naval supremacy?

Basically, I have no idea about ship warfare.

 

[LiamRiordan]

My typical Carrier Task Forces, consists of

• 4 CV's,
• 2 CVL's/2 CA's,
• 4 CL's
• 2 DD's

That combo tends to do well, but MAKE sure your doctrines are up to scratch, if you let a superior doctrine Battleship based fleet in range, your carriers are as good as dead.

As Japan, you've got to make sure your doctrines and CAG's are in top grade.

 

[MastahCheef117]

I usually keep my carriers with a small group of heavy cruisers and predominantly light cruisers and DDs with mixed AA/ASW. The rest of my heavy cruisers/battleships are placed in larger battlegroups where they patrol local waters (carrier fleets are used to project naval power across oceans and should only be used offensively IMO), though my plans do go through errors and failures from time to time like all do. Always keep watch for enemy fleets moving to intercept your carrier fleets, and if larger than your own, get them the hell out of there. If several of your own fleets encounter a smaller enemy battlefleet, combine them all and try your luck on a one-two knockout punch to destroy a good portion of the enemy's capital ship fleet

Carrier fleets for me are usually 4-6 (latter if my IC permits) CV Fleet Carriers, 2 CVL Light Carriers (optional, I usually place them in "reserve battlegroups" that assist my battleships in patrolling home waters), 2-4 CA Heavy cruisers, 4-8 CL Light cruisers, and 4-6 DD Destroyers (half ASW, half AA)

 

[TremblingBlue]

Thank you both! that's given me a lot of perspective...I'll try both strategies. Both will at least give my future navies some structure. I'll have to put it all to the test.

And also, submarines? More effective in larger groups right?

cheers!

 

[LiamRiordan]

Thank you both! that's given me a lot of perspective...I'll try both strategies. Both will at least give my future navies some structure. I'll have to put it all to the test.

And also, submarines? More effective in larger groups right?

cheers!

Tend to be, though the more in a group, the larger the stacking penalty and chances of being spotted. A Submarines only true weapon is stealth. Keep the Submarine doctrines and the latest models as much as possible in enemy sea lanes. FEAR the CVL.

 

[MrMan95]

well after some experimenting i found that 5cv 5cvl 5bb and 5cl works great for me.

 

[LiamRiordan]

well after some experimenting i found that 5cv 5cvl 5bb and 5cl works great for me.

Get more screens, like CL's and DD's, if you face a CV's fleet you're dead. Your fleet is facing a big screening penalty and your capital ships will take damage first.

 

[TremblingBlue]

Alright, great! I think I understand it now... :]

 

[Lord Finnish]

As USA or Japan I use 10 CV + 20 DD as a task force... Thus I get two or three main fleets but I keep a constant watch where they are get maximum coverage.
My battleships and cruisers I transfer into small reserve fleets that protect coasts (that is, I know something's wrong when they get up in a battle and are destroyed).

 

[sobrano]

As USA or Japan I use 10 CV + 20 DD as a task force... Thus I get two or three main fleets but I keep a constant watch where they are get maximum coverage.
My battleships and carriers I transfer into small reserve fleets that protect coasts (that is, I know something's wrong when they get up in a battle and are destroyed).

quote only CV and DD.
With CV you shot the enemy from large distance so your CL never shot 1 gun. SO DD are much more cheap and easy to build.
i add 2 BB just for shore bombardment

 

[LiamRiordan]

I always add BB's to CV fleets just in-case you force a fleet out of port since usually, especially in the North Sea, they close the distance to double digits, within CA range, and your Carriers love to take damage when Cruisers are in range.

 

[MajorStoffer]

I'm quite partial to 4 CVs, 1 BB or SHBB, 1 CA, 4CL and 2 DD. Sure, it's not as powerful as other fleets, but it allows you to use Vice Admirals, thus allowing higher skill levels for your fleet leaders earlier in the game, and it doesn't feel too "gamey," i.e. it's not too far off most actual task forces used in the Pacific. Upgrades are also important; a fully decked out BB is a good 50% more powerful, at a fraction of the time and cost of a whole new ship. Since most upgrades are >2IC it's always a good idea to slap them on new ships, and be sure to upgrade your starting vessels; it can give them a lot more life.

You can also always expand them later in the game, but I prefer to retire older fleets to defensive missions under lower-skilled admirals, promoting my veterans and giving them larger, more powerful armadas in the late 1940s, particularly when dealing with carrier-centric enemies (which unless you have a clear advantage over, are better to avoid and weaken with NAV bombers.)

 

[sobrano]

I always add BB's to CV fleets just in-case you force a fleet out of port since usually, especially in the North Sea, they close the distance to double digits, within CA range, and your Carriers love to take damage when Cruisers are in range.

quote
in DH for shore bombardment CV are a little better than BB so BB are very good out of the enemy port where fire distances are very close...

 

[LiamRiordan]

Only in late games do Carriers actually become good fleet killers, and good shore bombarders. Keep the BB's for support and Carrier shielding roles.

 

[UlrichVonBaden]

For CTF's I generally go for 4 CVs, 4 CAs (Carriers already have good Air Defense Values, and CAs can chase off CLs), and 4 DDs (2 AA, 2ASW).

For Battleship Task Forces I usually go with 4BBs (or preferably 4 SHBB), 4 CLs with AA (Later I'll replace 2 CLs with 2 CVLs for better Air Coverage), and yet again 4DDs (ASW)

For Military Transport I tend to use my Vice Admirals, 8 TPs, 2 CLs, 2DDs (Used in Conjuction with a Battleship task Force you can usually establish beachheads without taking too heavy losses)

SS Squads tend to be independent of any other ships, 6-12 per Wolfpack (Depending on Admiral's rank and if they have Seawolf trait).

Homewater Defense/ASW Squads usually consist of 5 DDs (ASW) and 1 CVL or 4DDs + 1CVL + 1CA will kill off Wolfpacks very quickly.

 

[Gytis]

I see many here use Light Carriers. What are they good for?

And how should submarines be used so that they would do enough damage but wouldn't be hunted out by enemy ASW forces?

 

[Slavick3000]

CVLs have a really high detection value compared to their visibility, so they end up having a large positive effect on a task force's positioning. With a carrier fleet, you need good positioning to avoid a surface fleet from closing and ripping your defenseless CVs to shreds. With a surface fleet, you need good positioning (and therefore CVLs) in order to do just that.