How to Ranger

[SaltyMoonshine]

Howdy all, 

 

I enjoy the IJN line quite a bit (currently up to the Taiho, which I adore), and I enjoyed the USN line up until the Ranger. 

 

Last time I tried playing her I did air superiority. I used the two fighters to keep protect team mates and keep the skies relatively clear. Then I'd use the dive bombers one after the other to first set a ship on fire, wait till they DR'ed then hit them with the second squad and set them on fire again. That was the general principle. 

 

Unfortunately I had the unfortunate habit of getting constantly teamed with muppets, and I found the experience to be rather...bleh. 

 

However recently I've been wanting to really make that grind for the Essex, as I love the history and aesthetics of the class. It's just getting through the Ranger and then the Lexington that are daunting prospects.

 

So I ask all of ye USN captains, stalwart and patient as you are: how 2 ranger? 

I know that excellent play can make the ship work, but it's just finding out what that play is.

 

Any tips and advice would be much appreciated.

[smf117]

@SaltyMoonshine Keep doing what you were doing. Buff the fighters and DB health through any means necessary. Become a master with fighter strafe. That is all you can do.

[WanderingGhost]

Basically, pray you do not get bent by MM like I did constantly seeing tier 9 - especially because the last I dealt with Ranger was before USN buffs (that buffed Saipan too) and lines like UK cruisers (damned AA monsters 9 and 10 are). Oh, and no Hood cause that decimates Saipan DB's in under 2 seconds, don't wanna see what it does to tier 7.

 

For AS, you have the right tactic, somewhat better on Lex with the 1000 pound bombs. They hit, they can really ruin a DD players day for sure.The other option your team would prefer if you can make it work is the stock 1,1,1 - liberal use of strafe and being decent at it is required, but makes hitting BB's a little easier and gives you a range option against the likes of Hood. Build to the strengths of your fighters, especially built up they are out right OP against IJN. Do not bother with Emergency Takeoff and Evasive Maneuvers - better to seriously just invest the extra credits  in premium DC and/or modernization's/captain skills (assuming you have the needed CV only ones already like AS) that prevent fire and put it out faster in the first place. The speed penalty leaves you in enemy AA too long and makes it too easy to have your bombers ran down and strafed. And the rearm penalty is so long it is literally only useful if your planes are going to take off right then, and DCS is down.

 

You can use strike, but it sounds like you get the kind of teams I tend to get where they are spread out meaning you have to go get that clear sky to have a shot at winning. Where your only hope is try to avoid any fighters, while trying to sink ships faster than the other CV because only a noob/dumby is gonna let you snipe them, oh how many are still wasting time trying to do that to me and other long time players that expect it and know how to dodge.

[CrazyHorse_Denver]

Well it's called a grind for a reason but it's not as bad as some ships. Those 1K bombs that the Lex gets to use are a blast (pun intended) so it makes that grind almost fun.  The Essex is a worthy goal so hang in there.

[Palladia]

I complain about the Ranger a lot but looking at my stats she has my highest win rate.  Huh.  If I had to wager,  I'd say its because I used her to DD hunt at the start of the match.  Find them, drop all of my ordinance on them,  rinse and repeat.  Makes me wonder about the correlation between DD's and win rates.

[kermitfrg]

I'm having a blast so far in the Ranger. I also have the Hiryu which I enjoy, but I seem to have a lot more fun playing strike Ranger. Basically what I do depends on the ennemy CV. 

I would usually send a group of 2 squads, my torp bombers and 1 DB squad with the main allied force for AA protection, and I would use my 2 other DB as DD hunters, especially at the start of the game. If the ennemy has a lot of fighters, well I would send those 2 DBs individually on different areas of the map to bait the fighters away from my torp bomber group, and possibly scout/hunt DDs if the chance is there. 

I also try to stick close to my allies if possible, or near the other CV for added AA protection. 

I don't have so many matches yet in general, or with the Ranger, so maybe other advice might be better, but that is my 2 cents. 

[kermitfrg]

Also try to send some DB near the ennemy CV as leverage, so if they are going for your torp bombers, try to attack the CV to distract the fighters. If they ignore you, well, you pull away with your torp squad, and get a free attack on the CV.