Q&A ยท 1:51:26-1:52:19

How to screen an Admiral-class carrier force

A hypothetical British carrier group pairs each large carrier with a battlecruiser, two Town-class cruisers, and a mixed destroyer screen.

Question

What cruiser and destroyer screen would a fleet of Admiral-class carriers require?

Short answer

Each task group could use a carrier, a battlecruiser, two Town-class cruisers, and a mixed screen of J-class and Tribal-class destroyers.

Notes

Separate task groups would work better than one undifferentiated mass of escorts. Each group would combine a carrier and battlecruiser with two Town-class cruisers. A mix of J-class and Tribal-class destroyers would provide the inner screen, with enough flotillas required to support all of the capital units. Adding large carriers creates demands for cruisers and destroyers that are easy to overlook when only the carrier hulls are counted.