The players decide to replenish while an enemy air attack is approaching and openly treat the move as reckless. They bring a large merchant supply ship alongside a carrier, with both vessels carrying fuel and explosives. Combat air patrol from the carrier and the supporting Saipan covers the evolution, yet the two ships remain a concentrated target. The game compresses the resupply sequence, but it still exposes the tension between restoring endurance and preserving freedom of maneuver under threat. A support ship sustains the task group while creating a serious vulnerability whenever it must come alongside.
Notable Point · 2:35:16-2:39:49
Why replenishment under air attack is so dangerous
A deliberately reckless resupply in the game highlights the danger of placing a carrier beside a fuel-laden support ship while enemy aircraft are inbound.