Which ships should you produce in 1936 that can stay competitive even later on?

[AnssiA]

Since most naval battles only occur 1940 or later, it feels like a waste to build 1936 models that are already outdated when the war starts. However, with the long shipbuilding times, you need to build a fleet before the war & your dockyards have to work on something, so what ships will remain useful even later on, especially if refitted?

 

[Cavalry]

For combat ships, speed is the important factor. Early you will cut gun or something to keep the ship fast. DD 1936 is also good build. Whatever, a 1936 ship should never be "obsolete" in WW2.

 

[SeekTruthFromFx]

This is going to depend a lot on your overall naval strategy. Are you playing a maritime power that needs to protect its convoys or a land power that's going to be using subs to cut the enemy's communications? Will your fleets always be within range of land-based aircraft or are you going to be fighting in the middle of the ocean (in which case carriers are needed if you can afford them)?

 

[GSP Jr]

To me, playing as USA, none in 1936.

I let the active builds finish, but no new ships until radar and other techs are available.
I also refit the Clemson old destroyers to ASW with depth charges.

 

[GrandVezir]

so what ships will remain useful even later on, especially if refitted?

Destroyers are probably the best value, because you can relegate them to convoy escort when new models come online. The 36 and earlier models still provide ASW screening, even if they're not as effective actually fighting the submarines.

Aircraft carriers would be a good option (since it's the airplanes that do the work, and they can be replaced fairly quickly with new models), except that carriers in general don't work right, so retaining more of a value that's close to zero isn't all that great.

 

[GSP Jr]

Destroyers are probably the best value, because you can relegate them to convoy escort when new models come online. The 36 and earlier models still provide ASW screening, even if they're not as effective actually fighting the submarines.

Aircraft carriers would be a good option (since it's the airplanes that do the work, and they can be replaced fairly quickly with new models), except that carriers in general don't work right, so retaining more of a value that's close to zero isn't all that great.

Agree about the carriers.
Too bad, I was thinking back then that Man the Guns (being naval and including the USA) would have fixed naval warfare, but sadly it fell far short.
I still build carriers as the US, because Halsey needs to have a fast carrier task force under his command.

 

[blahmaster6k]

DD1 with 1 gun and nothing else are meta convoy escorts for the entire game, they're the cheapest possible destroyer to provide escort efficiency to a large number of convoys. They don't need to be able to sink subs, just be there to defend the convoys while long range tactical bombers do the actual sub killing.

Same for fleet cruisers, sure, a 1936 heavy cruiser won't be able to have as much light attack as a 1940 one but it's better to have a cruiser than to not have a cruise. Just keep building them until you unlock the 1940 hull techs, you lose nothing by building them because most countries have plenty of steel.