I forgot to add to the above about the carriers, they would not serve any other purpose in the game much as an airfield doesn't. I could see the argument
maybe why some would say there should be a plenty for a carrier. If that should be the case, and just for "food for thought" such penalty should be at either
250 or no more then 500 points plus the cost of the assets involved in jets and air assault troops. But
again no penalty for airfields should apply to carriers. A nice picture of the vessel, aircraft/helos fitted for close air support, available from
turn one dropping all ordnance, with a
ten turn delay between sorties of the pairs as used allowing for recovery, rearming and return,
yes as fully loaded aircraft. It can be done after speaking to a retired USN "AO". This assumes a near over the horizon capability of the carrier
100NM off the coast with the jet
returning at a speed of 700 knots, flight time would be less than
8.57 minutes. I'm assuming sortie times and delay only because I'm going by memory, that each player turn is
6 mins long? I also only see six to ten pairs being available (Less where limited to available aircraft.) for use based on "other missions in the area" off map. Helos might incur around 12 turn cycle, however their support ships would be at least or could be well inside 50NM from shore.
Air Assault - I think were Jets and possibly AH Helos would fall under the artillery phase to allow for the turn delays. Regular Assault helos might not allow for the return to ship to bring in additional troops and might just have to sit in low altitude hover out to sea on the map unless there is a way to fly them off the map and be able to bring them back on the board when inland progress is being made and using them to lift the troops further inland.
Don't know, that's beyond my expertise out here.
Other issues - How hard would it be or can it be done to rearm the recovered jets and attack helos. Or do you just use
KISS increase the pairings slightly and simply once they appear on the map and
drop all their ordnance, we assume if not shot down they return to the carrier to support "
other ops" and NOT return to your AOR.
If your going to suggest something you gotta present the Pro and Cons as far as you can see them. Just me I guess. But I think the concept could open another dimension to the game beyond just landings to maybe include
coastal countries as well either locally i.e. Brazil, France (As demonstrated in the Middle East.) or more of world wide projection which in reality might only mean the U.S. and maybe the UK. I can see this for China in the not to distant future as well and India somewhat more operating in the Asian AOR.
Just my thoughts all from a harmless conversation with a retired "AO". That last (AO) is the homework part!
Regards,
Pat