Carrier torpedoed under!

PrinceBimz · October 3, 2002, 01:02

Yeah, in my current game I just had a greek submarine torpedo my first aircraft carrier under! It was loaded with 2 fighters and 2 bombers too! I had my destroyer jump on that sub and sink it but it was too late. On my map in this game there is a channel to my west. That channel has become a watery grave, so many ships from several countries were sank in that channel. At the present it is 1940AD in this game.

notyoueither · October 3, 2002, 03:10

It sucks. Happened to me too, but the CV was empty.

That would be a good reason they never go anywhere without escort, would it not?

Ethelred · October 3, 2002, 03:48

My carriers always travel in fleets. Two battleships in a stack that may have one or more carriers.

I don't use carriers much anymore. I find I like to take things intact. I would still use them to 'help' out an ally. Bomb the roads in front of his tanks. Knock out the resources. Devestate anyplace I don't want for myself.

TacticalGrace · October 3, 2002, 06:17

This isn't what carriers are for. They are most effective as naval superiority units. Put a fighter and 3 bombers in it, have 2 battleship escorts and maybe a few destroyers fanned found it.

use the fighter and destroyers for reconnesance. when you spot any enemy ships, bomb them. If you don't sink them (and you definately won't if lethal bombardment is off) then finish them with your ships.

the more carriers you have the more foolproof your screen is (more fighters).

Using this strategy you can stay out at sea for far longer without having to return for repairs.

PrinceBimz · October 3, 2002, 08:24

I use Carriers for many different roles. I find them an absolute must sometimes. For example, in order to get aircraft in range of an enemy continent which is a good distance across the sea from my homeland, I must use a Carrier. I can really hurt many powerful cities using aircraft alone just by bombing improvements around them and bombing the cities themselves.

Secondly as Grace mentions above, for naval superiority. They can see farther and allow you to attack further. It gives me a great advantage to controlling the seas and keeping enemy vessels away. No matter if I use lethal bombardment or not (I normally don't use lethal), I get great use out of my aircraft carriers. An enemy ship with only 1 unit of health left is not much of a threat to me at all. I can easily finish them off.

I did have my carrier escorted by one destroyer. They were both on the same space but that sub got the carrier first. I was able to sink the sub afterwards with the destroyer. I guess with subs they can get any of the ships stacked in a space? I never noticed this before, I don't build subs a whole lot but I think I will start. Since the AI schooled me on it...LOL

SpencerH · October 3, 2002, 09:32

I only occasionally build a navy (what for) and even less occasionally build a carrier. When I have built them and been at war and decided it was worth the effort (boredom) of attacking the enemy cities I've used the bombers to obliterate enemy resources and roads.

ChrisiusMaximus · October 3, 2002, 12:05

Excuse me if this sounds thick but how do you get lethal bombardment on is it the game editor or something?

vmxa1 · October 3, 2002, 12:50

I rarely even make carriers/sub, but then I often used the min amount of water.

planetfall · October 3, 2002, 13:34

Christopher
This is an unit characteristic in the editor.

Bimz
I think the AI will always attack the strongest defender first.

Carrier 1.8.4
DS 12.8.5
BS 18.12.5

The AI has to choose between 2 equal units, carrier and DS. I don't know if choice is random or not. If you always escort with BS you won't have the problem. Alternative is to edit the carrier to 1.7.4 so the DS is more powerful.

--PF

IthacaMike · October 3, 2002, 13:35

Quote:

Originally posted by PrinceBimz

I did have my carrier escorted by one destroyer. They were both on the same space but that sub got the carrier first. I was able to sink the sub afterwards with the destroyer. I guess with subs they can get any of the ships stacked in a space? I never noticed this before, I don't build subs a whole lot but I think I will start. Since the AI schooled me on it...LOL

A Destroyer is 12-8-5 while an Aircraft Carrier is 1-8-5. If the two are stacked together and attacked the carrier will always defend first. I think the way it works is that the defender is unit with the highest HP*defence. Ever noticed that the first defender is the elite unit? The tie breakers seem to be lowest attack strength first then least wounded (militia before elites). The same thing happens with Privateers (2-1-3) and Carvels (1-2-3). If you are going to escourt the Carrier its escort's defence value must be higher than 8 -- in other words it must be a Battleship (18-12-5). Or stack veteran Destroyers with regular Carriers.

Mike G

TacticalGrace · October 4, 2002, 08:32

Quote:

Originally posted by ChrisiusMaximus
Excuse me if this sounds thick but how do you get lethal bombardment on is it the game editor or something?

yup. open the editor and go to the unit you want to give lethal bomabard (e.g. bomber)

there should be a list box with the unit characteristics. You need to add the characteristic for lethal bombard against naval units. I can't remember exactly how you get multi-select: you might have to use the Ctrl key to select more than one.

lethal bombard against ground units can also be selected separately.

PrinceBimz · October 4, 2002, 11:37

Hey guys thanks for clearing that up. I was wondering why that Carrier got torpedoed first. I do believe that carrier was a veteran and the destroyer was a regular. Anyway just wondering what if I put 2 destroyers with the carrier? I do think I will use a battleship next time, but I normally have more destroyers readily available because they are cheaper.

The AI has massive naval power in my current game. I am talking over 40 ships each for 3 nations and thats just what I can see. Another nation has about 10 or so. I would not last very long here without any naval power thats for sure. If you haven't already checkout my posting in the strategy section with the subject My attack plans. If you look at that last screenshot, you will see several battleships baring down on my coasts. The only way I can attack any of them but france is by using navy. Which means I have to get through their powerful navies to get to them. In turn this means lots of sea battles and my ships are a must if I want to hang in there.

TacticalGrace · October 4, 2002, 12:52

Don't forget to use unsnkable aircraft carriers where possible... base them on your coastal cities.

If they are "baring" down on your coasts then build up a bomber force and hit them with it in combination with a tightly packed navy.

Ethelred · October 4, 2002, 13:18

Quote:

Originally posted by PrinceBimz
I do think I will use a battleship next time, but I normally have more destroyers readily available because they are cheaper.

In turn this means lots of sea battles and my ships are a must if I want to hang in there.

Destoyers cost less but they are worth far less than a Battleship. The bombardment range of two alone make the Battleship far more usefull. I mostly build destroyers in the short interval between there becoming available and Battleships becoming available.

If the AI brings their ships near your shore you don't need much to kill them. Thats one instance when a destroy can come in handy. Just move some artillery near the ships and pound them down to one hit. Then even an Iron Clad has a good chance of sinking them and if you fail the ship has to go home to heal. This is also one of the best uses for cruise missles. Bombard with artillery and then kill with the cruise missle.

TacticalGrace · October 5, 2002, 04:12

the AI tries to move to shore to bombard then back off to a safe distance. Unfortunately it isn't smart enough to do it right and often leaves itself in range of artillery.

artillery+well railed coastline makes for a very safe continent.

If only the AI knew this

HazieDaVampire · October 5, 2002, 08:09

hehe, i was playing as Britain once (i always do cuz i like naval combat and the man'o'war) and some bastards, probubly french (always at war with them!) managed to take control of my little choddy 3 city island, i was loving this, i had my own little falklands war bombed the hell out of them and prevented re-enforcements coming by boat then invaded with a load of Marines and paras and killed'em all!
It was so satisfying!

Gen.Dragolen · October 17, 2002, 15:29

Hazie,

Were you a Royal Marine or a soccer fan ?

I've been getting right blood-thirsty of late using the Iroquois, and they have used their horses to conquer 5 civs and are in the process of adding two more civs to the Iroquois Confederacy. And the funniest part is that I haven't started one of these wars since I killed off the first civ...

This will likely be my best score so far to boot...

D.