Kikaider said:And your list ignores escort carriers, (I have read about the problems of implementation of various CAG sizes). Could an escort carrier be made to have a small boost to sub detection and attack, be short range (similar to DD's range), and have stats otherwise similar to an earlier model, so as to limit their use to their intended role? Or has this been tossed around before? (I'm sure it has, I just want to help with input if it hasn't)
I don't have my Conway's handy, so I can't answer the question about the Malta Class CV's..
As for CVE's, there's more to it than just the CAG size issue (which is a block IMO). One issue is production values (time, MP, IC costs), and how it will effect things in game. Even as is currently, the USA will produce somewhere between 20-25 CV's in the 36GC by 1943/44. Giving a nation like that access to CVE's, with reduced build values, will seriously unbalance things, not only for the AI, but for Multiplayer as well. Secondly, and related to the build issues, is how the AI will handle it. Unless there is a major revamp in the generic naval AI routines, the Ai will not be able to handle the CVE's, or use them properly at all. Keep in mind the AI currently "cheats" with unlimited naval ranges, so restricting the CVE range will only hinder a human player. Throw in the CAG size issue, and becomes unwieldy at best. And all the same would apply to the CVL types as well.