Defeating AS IJN Carriers

[SeaKnight_1990]

So recently, when I get into a game where it's me 1v1 carrier-wise against an enemy Ryujo, and I'm in my Independence, I have more often than not been encountering AS loadouts with no way to beat them. Aside strafing them (which isn't an option against one or two as they will get out of the way and then attack me) and playing it safe, to go along with the risky option of sniping, what other ways are there of winning a contest with one? Thanks!

[The_first_harbinger]

You are at an disadvantage the moment you saw Ryujo on enemy team list while you are in an Independence...

Your planes have no hope of catching their aircraft, while their fighters have no problem overwhelming yours and harassing your strike groups.

The best recommendation is hope that your team lemming trains. Your hover your strike group near your main fleet for cover while your fighter not so far ahead attempt to spot the dds and give their fighters something to think about. Don't go out in a one on one fight, you will lose even if you are running AS yourself as the Ryujo can spare one more squadron to strafe.

[yamatotamura]

You rely on ally AA and bait enemy strafes with your fighters and use the fighter strafe escape move. US CV's require alot of skill so if you're not used to CV's I would suggest going IJN before US or you could practice CV by playing a Saipan. 

[pyantoryng]

Just keep in mind that 4 torpedoes won't be effecting your teammates as much as 8 torpedoes can...and fighters cannot directly attack ships.

[SeaKnight_1990]

7 hours ago, yamatotamura said:

You rely on ally AA and bait enemy strafes with your fighters and use the fighter strafe escape move. US CV's require alot of skill so if you're not used to CV's I would suggest going IJN before US or you could practice CV by playing a Saipan. 

 

Funny you bring that up, because I was in a game with one of those damned things last night, where I kept trying to bait his fighters into range of a Cleveland and a few other ships. Lost half my group, but destroyed two of his. (They were at less than full strength when that happened.) I then realized there was no way of winning, as I couldn't see any good targets for my bombers, so I ragequit. What else could I do?

[StoneRhino]

Play a 1-1-1 Indy and don't fear his fighters. A head on strafe can kill 1/2 of a squadron.  If he stacks his fighters that's 1/2 of each squadron. If he trys to engage + strafe disengage just beat him to the punch and strafe the incoming squadron/s. He has given up so much strike potential to get his 3 fighter squadrons that you can ignore them for a bit. Keep your strike force in allied AA.  They will act like spotters for dds and torpedoes. When you know his fighters are away, strike. 

 

It is more important to spot and communicate then it is to deal damage early on. Especially if you are playing ranked right now too.  

 

Another thing you can do is keep your fighters nearallied AA. This creates a no fly zone for his strike aircraft.  For example you have an allied Cleveland. You can use his AA to protect you bombers while they spot for him. In another part of the map you place your fighters over a group of lower AA allies. You know he will not go near that Cleveland unless he has to and will keep his strike craft away from your fighters in less he brings his fighters. He brings all his fighters attack with your bombers. If he trys to tie you up kill his fighters as above. If his bombers get to close strafe disengage.

 

Never ever chase him. He'll just attack somewhere else and you will always be out of position. 

[HazeGrayUnderway]

I think this thread has Ranked annotations since it's specifically the Tier VI CVs?

 

The real danger AS RJ has is against your DDs.  Sure, you can camp your fighters near friendly Cruiser and Battleship AA and keep them safe but what about your Destroyers?

 

A good AS CV will permaspot the DDs as well as spotting their torpedo salvos.  You either have to go out and sweep the fighters away or let them get away with harassing your DDs all game, forcing them back to stay with the Cruisers, and by that point, you're losing the match.

[HBZK100]

Keep practicing is my advice. AS Ryujo is quite hard to beat but it's beatable, and by beatable I don't mean fighting the fighters head on. Rather ignoring them and staying beyond detection range so your planes are always stealthed.

 

Typically when I fight AS Indies or Ryujo's I use a bait tatic, send one of my fighters and perhaps a torpedo squadron to the front lines and make them visible so the enemy knows their there (sorta like hanging meat out for a trap), then I'll swing my other torpedo squadron and dive bomber down a completely other way and harass a BB or something like that. Sure you won't be getting peak damage, but this allows you to get a semi-consistent damage output and get any damage in at all without loosing all your reserves.

Now I use a Ryujo, in an Independence, you'll probably want to use your fighter and dive bomber as hanging meat, then swing your torpedo bomber in the opposite direction to engage ships.

 

However, this doesn't always work, typically good Ryujo players have all three fighters covering the entire front lines so that makes it tough.