Is there a best formation

[Acey]

I was wondering if there was a best formation for protecting a US capital ship or CV

[JazzObserver127]

Against air and under water threats, a very spread out circular formation, and against surface threats, line ahead.

[cswiger]

Protect against what?

The default answer is probably circular formation if you only have one capship, but 2 lines can work as well or better against sub attacks and maybe torp bombers also.

[Amogus]

well against plane the cricle formation is the best but if just ship against ship i find it that no formation and microing the ship yeild the best results, often time in a formation if the lead ship is heavily damage the rest of the ship will just stop moving cuz the lead ship was damage to the point they can't move, and is such a pain to microing them out of that, but in a lose formation where i micro all ships then i don't suffer casualty.

[cswiger]

Circular formation is too spread out to take out a lot of planes compared to 2 lines. It's easy for even the AI to target a DD on the outer edge and nibble away without taking too much AA fire in return. Although diverting planes from the capship maybe worth the tradeoff...?

Anyway, I like to take out a DD or two by air using dive bombers and then engage with a sub to put a salvo of torps into the capship. Or engage with torp bombers if no sub is handy.

[byepopejoy]

If you're trying to protect it against an submarine, I use a line ahead formation so ships can perform collision avoidance maneuvers with a minimum of collisions.

Against enemy aircraft, a circular formation around your CV or best ship.

Against an enemy surface force, I like the line ahead that you can split up into multiple lines depending on the tactical situation.

[MeowThai]

For enemy subs i use line ahead formation. so i dont need to move all of my ships at the same time or no need to worry about if the torpedos will hit another ship when im not looking.

For enemy aircraft, circular is the best.

For enemy ships sometimes circular and sometimes 2 column so i can split them if needed.

For my convoys i use 2 column mostly.

[Acey]

Thank you all for your answers

[ltrbs104]

You won't like this answer, but here it is: it depends. The best formations are dependent on the number and type of your ships, intel on enemy ships, and or aircraft, location, likely enemy response, and your support. As a general rule, tighten your formations if you need to defend against air attacks. If I'm dealing with one enemy submarine, spread out a little so a wide spread of torpedo's won't hit more than one ship, and give your ships more room to safely use evasive action without being constrained by other ships in your formation.

[Acey]

I dont understand why I wouldnt like that answer since it makes total sense

[Katie1888]

i usually use 2 carriers, and i use the convoy formation, and usually space them out. i maybe put a battleship in, but mostly i put heavy cruisers, and destroyers. at times maybe a fleet oiler for decoration cause you can find oilers with carrier fleets