Escort fleets?

[Leon]

So here's something I'm scratching my head over. What's the best way to compose convoy escort fleets? Generally I like using pared-down really basic destroyers with some ASW, but how do I organise them? Right now I have a large fleet with 5 task forces of 12 DD each. Is it better to build a whole new fleet with another 5x12 DD setup or should I upgrade my one fleet to 24 DD per strike force? (I need to cover a lot of territory as Japan.)

Also, how important is speed to convoy escorts? Will it improve their escort efficiency?

[shiggies713]

it really doesn't matter, only nation that will convoy raid you is USA and you can shut all that down with a small-medium fleet near your homeland.

As Japan I just make sure to patrol with subs all over the place, i have one mega strike force in the pacific big enough to scare USA away and another good sized one in the Indian Ocean for GB. If I have troubles with naval landings i switch them to naval invasion support temporarily. Its been working like a charm.

USA is losing tons of subs and really can't even get them to my homelands now. For purely escorting, my effeciency did seem to go up when I split them into smaller, multiple task force. But again, i only do escort convoys very close to home base, further out, i don't pay attention and a rare raid doesn't seem to affect me at all really.

[Ryan]

You can get up to 10 task forces per fleet. Only reason to make a new fleet is to get a different admiral involved or if you want to separate the fleets geographically. I like to build cheapo destroyers for convoy escort. Fastest engine + 1 ASW module, and it hits the ocean. I may add 1 AA if it is patrolling where enemy planes are.

[Ryan]

Speed is good as your fleet will intercept the enemy subs faster.