Quote:
Originally Posted by skunk works
One Carrier would be (sorta) too easy to keep track of. You'd really need a bunch of em to be able to sneak up on someone. Cover enough area(s) to be a menace. You'd need a free-ranging, self-sufficient, Battle-group, or two, or three to be scary
To threaten an enemy (their plans) you really need to come out of nowhere, be where he doesn't expect you to be...with power.
It would've helped by delivering air-power out of the range of current land based resources, but then again would've used up other resources for her protection. The proverbial double-edged sword.
I believe their best ability (if they had the correct aircraft/enough fuel) would be to search areas of the ocean to direct wolf-packs to targets early on. The subs could definitely do more damage....if they could find them, and be directed (in mass) to intercede.
If they see you (the one Carrier) coming, or know where you're going, it's possible for them (your adversary) to make a mess out of your grand scheme.
Even Yamato had a sister.
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About the only way I can one carrier being of use is in covering a surface ship raid into the North Atlantic. Lets imagine the Graf Z, the Bismarck or Tirpitz, and Prinz Eugene & one other of that size making a sortie out to the Iceland Gap. Its timed to intercept a possible convoy, or preferablly when two are between Ireland and Newfoundland. If the British discover it enroute, or if suprise is achived and a convoy is actually intercepted the result is the same. The convoy/s turn south towards awaitng submarines. If the Germans are lucky the Brits will react the same as with PQ17 and order the convoy to disperse to make it less vulnerable to the surface raiders. As with PQ17 the submarines will be able to have easier time of it with the convoy scattered.
Best case the German raiding group gets close enough to suprise a convoy and pick off some cargo ships and bang away at any escourting crusiers and battleships. The convoy is even more likely to scatter south toward the submarine ambush.
If the raiders have turn back empty handed then they will still have attracted British attention and they can rest assured the Brits will use up a lot of resources trying to track them down and sink them.