Playing a game with my kids, I ran into a scenario where the rules are not well defined; I think.
Assume an aircraft carrier has launched its planes into an amphibious landing. Now, the defender scrambles a fighter against the landing fleeting. The combat value of the fighter is 4. But what is the combat value of the aircraft carrier?
Interpretation A: zero, because the aircraft carrier is attacking. It can take hits, but its combat value is zero.
Interpretation B: two. It is being attacked, and so, it should use its defense value.
So which is it? zero or two?
Zero. Air craft carrier is considered attacking.
Thanks a lot! this settles a long and contentious argument.
This is why you should have escort for any carrier.
good point CS.
This comes up a lot when you attack Leningrad. Defending, 1 Cruiser, 1 Sub + 1 (or more) fighters available to scramble.
The Germans approach with 1 BB, 1CA, 3 TT. Instead of leaving the fighters to defend the city of Leningrad–they scramble alongside the 2 Russian ships, attempting to kill the BB and CA and stop the amphib landing aspect altogether (which can flub the battle for the Germans by leaving inadequate accompanying ground and air units in a battle they must fight at least 1 round).
Since the Germans are attacking in this scenario, if they do lose their combat ships, the transports can withdraw 1 space and the units on the TT may not disembark–because the amphib has not started. Even if all the ships and planes on both sides die, the TTs can still proceed to land.
In this scenario, its advisable to send at least 1-2 German planes with the ships, and more planes to deal with the land battle. This dissuades the scramble and leaves the russian planes to die with the ground troops.
Even if the scramble is unsuccessful in destroying the German fleet, or the Leningrad is lost, if the scramblers can land within 1 space in an adjacent friendly teritory, they are not destroyed. I think.
In the scenario laid out, if the Russian defenders hit 1 or more times than German warships/planes, does it kill a transport before they can withdraw?
@weddingsinger It is an odd scenario, because in most cases this would occur, the Germans would withdraw (when they have fewer hits remaining than the defender) rather than face the potential death of their transports. But yes, spillover hits do kill transports even if every other attacker and/or defender are somehow killed.
@orodeh said in Aircraft carrier defense value vs. scrambling fighter:
Playing a game with my kids, I ran into a scenario where the rules are not well defined; I think.
Assume an aircraft carrier has launched its planes into an amphibious landing. Now, the defender scrambles a fighter against the landing fleeting. The combat value of the fighter is 4. But what is the combat value of the aircraft carrier?Interpretation A: zero, because the aircraft carrier is attacking. It can take hits, but its combat value is zero.
Interpretation B: two. It is being attacked, and so, it should use its defense value.
So which is it? zero or two?
It seems to me that, in this scenario, the “defenseless transports” rule would apply to the aircraft carrier. Quite a price to pay for a failed amphibious assault. As @Caesar-Seriona said, always send an escort with your carrier.
@The-Pripet-Martian Actually, if it were just 1 AC vs 1 Fig, you would roll nothing, they’d get 1 hit–and you’d be a fool to press the attack with just a wounded carrier with no chance of hitting.
@taamvan That’s still a punishment if you have to limp a carrier away.
@taamvan Good point. The defender would have to scramble two fighters to kill the carrier and transports.
@The-Pripet-Martian said in Aircraft carrier defense value vs. scrambling fighter:
It seems to me that, in this scenario, the “defenseless transports” rule would apply to the aircraft carrier. Quite a price to pay for a failed amphibious assault. As @Caesar-Seriona said, always send an escort with your carrier.
Not really. Attackers can always retreat, unlike defenders so that rule doesn’t apply.
@simon33 But it was pointed out that if you take a carrier only with aircraft and it gets scrambled. You’re risking the problem of having a damaged carrier which is a foolish waste of resources.
Makes no difference. If 1 CV attacks 1 scrambled fighter, the CV can retreat after the first round whether the fighter hit it or not.
@simon33 Yes and I pointed out that you just had a foolish engagement of limping a carrier if the enemy scored a hit which it will statically would.
