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Carrier vs. Carrier
Topic Started: Aug 29 2015, 01:19 PM (166 Views)
Basil Fawlty
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Post Tenebras Lux
In the spirit of the battleship duel discussion, I offer one pitting carriers against each other.

Now obviously, combat would not be the same inasmuch as a carrier's striking power is dependent on its air group, which might change over the course of a long service life. Therefore, we should specify the aircraft and year, if relevant.

To start the discussion: HMS Ark Royal vs. the Japanese carrier Shokaku, both mid-1941 configuration.
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Simon Darkshade
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
Ark Royal if it is at night, Shokaku in the daytime.
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Basil Fawlty
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Post Tenebras Lux
Ark Royal had much better armor than most Pacific carriers from what I remember, at the cost of a smaller CAG. However, Shokaku was apparently also better armored than other USN and IJN fleet carriers.

What was the air crew on Ark Royal like before its sinking? Pilot experience would count for a lot.
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Simon Darkshade
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
Very decent indeed. The Jap aircraft were better in each category and had very experienced aircrew. One would need a prior PoD for a FAA with three decent types for daylight competitiveness; otherwise, it is down to nocturnal torpedo strikes, which were trained for.
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