Clock wrote:
Most people just don't use Aircraft Carriers correctly. Also, it would be nice if Naval Patrol Aircraft could land on them and they could have a feature that could carry aircraft along with them so that when the aircraft carrier moved the aircraft moved. Also, if you land planes on a carrier and your ally isn't moving the carrier or the other way around, is that really the game's fault? They're supposed to be active at the same time to coordinate it or can just leave it somewhere good.
Also, you can put carriers next to each other, bam, 30 capacity with them next to each other. If the opponent doesn't have frigates, they're going to get decimated by NPA, etc. If no Cruisers, decimated by ASW and ships. If no Destroyers, decimated by subs. So Carrier Group + Aircraft + Submarines seems good. People really just use aircraft carriers too little and when they are used they are used improperly, I have never actually seen a carrier used properly. Also, for an example, I was going to land planes on my ally's carrier to bombard the Americas but I couldn't because it's not allowed in the state of the game as it is. My ally wasted tens of thousands of Romponents, Rares, etc. on those Carriers that would have been useful if allied planes could land on them and help out.
By the way: Do the planes go back to the carrier if the carrier moves too far away? If they don't, what happens? I have never experienced this and I would like to know.
So exactly how many different units do you need for a Carrier Battle Group? You suggest carriers, submarines, ASW choppers, naval patrol bombers, and probably naval air-superiority fighters. Plus escort ships like frigates and maybe some aircraft that can do some damage against ground targets like strike fighters or attack and gunship choppers.
That adds up to 5-10 different units, each of which costs resources, buildings, and most importantly time to get properly upgraded. If your game is lasting till day 60-80 then maybe that is viable but most games last half that time.
And how is that stack better than spamming frigates and submarines, for example, with airfields at available islands for any aircraft needed? Why not just crush the opponents navy and force a landing, and then quickly building an airfield? This way is just immensely more cost and time effective than building a Carrier Group. (RP maps might be an exemption, especially if there are certain rules in play that prevent all-out war scenarios.)
I wish the carrier was more viable but at present it has too much against it to be taken seriously. (Every time I find out there’s a carrier in an foreign fleet, I am not filled with any apprehension, nor do I feel the need to adjust for it, like I would if I find that someone is building cruisers for example. Instead I see a juicy target )
PS- I believe that if carrier moves beyond the aircraft’s patrol range then the aircraft will immediately fly back to the carrier and land on it.
I am Aeneas, duty-bound and known above high air of heaven by my fame, carrying with me in my ships our gods of hearth and home, saved from the foe. I look for Italy to be my fatherland, and my descent is from all-highest Jove.