British Pacific Fleet Avenger/Corsair/Hellcat paints?

[JensOle]

Any one of you which have any ideas about a realistic launch/recovery fleet formation used by the Royal Navy? Attached is a picture of the current formation, any feedback/ideas are most welcome!

I'm also trying to find information about the Hellcats flown by 885 NAS from the escort carrier HMS Ruler. There is one pic at this link http://www.ozatwar.com/navy/hmsruler.htm
From what I can see so are the Hellcats without any codes or letters. The bigger fleet carriers carried a carrier specific letter and a 3 digit number for recognition (ex W/166 for the Hellcat from 1844 NAS HMS Indomitable). My guess is that since HMS Ruler also brought up fresh airframes to make up losses on the bigger carriers, that the individual aircraft did not spend much time before being passed on.

 

[UncleTgt]

JensOle,

Best formation description I have seen is on Page 187 - 188 of Hobb's book. Admittedly it's a tight formation whilst expecting Kamikaze attack, but populated with Tomcat pickets & CAP sections in orbit it would look really impressive!

4 CVs in a 2000yd diameter diamond formation. Each CV had a DD close in aft in the "goalkeeper position". BBs & CLs formate 2000yds out from their adjacent carrier. Presumably DDs screen further out. Tomcat pickets (1CL & DD each) to the North & WEst of the formation centre, each picket had a CAP section overhead. I think the Fleet CAP is described elsewhere.

I'm sure you're correct about 885 sqn on Ruler. The pace of replacement aircraft movements was such that they can't have held onto any aircraft long enough to put unit markings onto them.

Lastly, look at http://www.armouredcarriers.com/ Lot's of useful snippets of info here.

 

[JensOle]

Thanks for the input! That formation must have made ATC over the group a pretty difficult task when a complete strike group returned back to land on 4 carriers in close formation! Any idea about a good spot for the CVE (Ruler)? I would guess either part of/or trailing the 4 carrier diamond.

 

[UncleTgt]

Unfortunately Ruler provided CAP for the separate oiler group, you'd only see them combined away from the combat zone during RAS ops.

Of course that would be a larger formation over a larger piece of ocean.

I think Hobbs describes that formation in some detail too...

Nice scenery if you want to recreate flying replacements to the big CVs...

 

[JensOle]

Some more screenshots, I have made a few BPF Hellcat repaints myself as well.

CAP Hellcat II from 885 NAS, HMS Ruler

Seafire III landing on HMS Victorious

 

[JensOle]

The Corsair is a real pain go get down safely compared to the Seafire and Hellcat (as it should be..). Not only is the forward visibility terrible, but the approach speed is on a knife edge to a stall and wing over..

 

[JensOle]

Avenger Mk.II JZ466 "380" of 848 NAS, HMS Formidable, British Pacific Fleet, 1945. I'm planning several more Formidable paints, but due to the change of focus to the new Sea Hawk I'm uploading it as a stand alone.

 

[DaveB]

Lovely job JensOle

ATB
DaveB

 

[Pips]

Really like that Avenger scheme.