Now as of late there have been a ton of questions about CV's and setups so I
wanted to pool information and perhaps get a decent guide going to help people
out!

Please refrain from spamming this message and post anything constructive below, I
will then add it to the original post if it warrants it.


*******************************************************************


So you want to make a CV?

There is a critical question you must ask yourself before you create your pilots and
get going on the CV path;

What will my role be in the games I play?

That being asked; please consider one of the following Pilot options/configurations.
All CV players should have a minimum of 8 pilots and the configurations below are
based on exactly that.


**************

What might help you pick your plane configuration is the IJN plane info that will be
added shortly, it is below the CV Amouring section.

**************

1: 6 Fighters and 2 TB or 2 DB (Not my choice but its an option, considered a Heavy
support config)

2: 4 Fighters and 4 TB or 4DB (Balanced Configuration)

3: 4 Fighters and 2 TB and 2 DB (My preferred configuration and a balanced
Configuration)

4: 2 Fighters and 6 TB or 6 DB (This is more for an attack CV not a support CV)

5: 2 Fighters and any variation of 6 TB/DB (This is more for an attack CV not a
support CV)

**************

Now that we've cleared up the roll you want to play the resaon you make 8 pilots is
because once you get to the Ryujo or the Junyo you will have 2 gun slots plus the 6
or more support slots. This allows you to level up 8 pilots in tandem. I know this
sounds like a waste of time but once you get to a CV with 7 or 8 support slots you'll
really
appreciate having that at level and ready to go pilot, not to mention you can change
your configuration around depending on the game type.

**************

Next up is the consideration of the CV line you want to take. 2 lines to choose, the
Hosho Line or the Junyo line.

Each line has distinct advantages which I will review here.

1st I will list the Hosho line's pros and cons and then the Junyo pros and cons.

**************

Hosho line Pros:
1: Only need to be lvl 46 to get the 1st cv and lvl 53 for the 2nd cv.

2: A wide variety of CV that come fairly quickly good for impatient people!

3: The Akagi and Kaga both get heavy guns to repel close proximity enemies.

4: All cv but the Hosho have 6 or more AA slots if you elect to use aa (worthless in my
book until cv4 and cv5 since I put other pilots in the gunner slots). (refer to
trainworld.us for the size of the AA gun slots and quantities for each ship line)

**************

Hosho line cons:

1: Hosho gets no AA (Gunner slots) for the 7th and 8th pilot.

2: If you purchase and remodel all the CV's you spend more money in this line then
the Junyo line.

3: Takes 1 more level to reach CV5 than the Junyo line.

**************

Junyo line Pros:

1: The CV's at level in Junyo Line are better in varying aspects to the same level CV
in Hosho line.

2: Cheaper to reach CV5.

3: First CV5 of any nation reached at lvl 95.

4: Taiho first CV4 for IJN.

**************

Junyo Line Cons:

1: 1st CV is not until level 60.

2: Long runs of time in the same CV only 4 in the Whole line compared to the 7 in the
Hosho line.

3: Shokaku is the weakest of the 3 CV5 IJN get though after the CV patch the Kaga
and Shokaku are almost Identicle, so dont let this be a determining factor.

**************

Armoring the CV

The only armor I put on my CV is a little bit of bulge to help protect me from torps if a
wall makes it deep into our ships lines other than that rely on your speed to dodge
DB and TB.

**************

Pilots

**************

First lets talk about the primary stats

1: Aircraft - (Primary Scout Stat) This ability is directly tied to a planes "durability",
"survivability". This stat effectively counters your opponents ability to shoot you
down.
(This is what I've been able to gather through posts and personal experience)

2: Fighter - (Primary Fighter stat) This is the pilots ability to shoot down other planes
and to resist dmg from AAW and other planes.

3: Bomber - (Primary TB and DB Stat) This stats affects both TB and DB, while widely
debated what this stat affects its generally accepted that this stat is responsible for
resistance to AAA guns. I also seem to notice that the higher the bomber stat the
more bombs hit from my DB in a test I did with a +9 bomber stat db and a +11.
Anyways
let the debate rage on!

After reviewing these stats when ever you're referencing a pilot they say #/# for the
stats of a pilot. A 10/12 fighter is a fighter with 10 in aircraft and 12 in fighter
abilities. A 10/12 DB is a dive bomber with 10 in aircraft and 12 in bomber abilities,
etc....

Comparing the different planes of the different nations is ALL a certain amount of
speculation but most will agree with the following;

Fighters: KM>US>IJN=UK or some say KM>US=IJN>UK

TB: UK>US=IJN>KM

DB: KM=IJN>US>UK or KM>IJN>US>UK

Now certain pilots do at some level become almost immune to ship's AAA (Automatic
antiaircraft) the IJN TB is one of those pilots making them valuable at high levels
when they learn this ability. Our fighters also almost earn this abilty as they become
very
difficult for AAA to hit at high level and our DB also get this as well though I am not
sure when. The fighters seem to get it at 105+ the TB get it around lvl 85 and the DB
around lvl 85 also.

Now lets talk stats!

For IJN its is IMPERATIVE you do not settle for anything less than an x/10.
On any pilot these would be acceptable stats if you want to be competitive. The
previous
stat is nothing great, though x/11 is respectable while /x12 isgreat.

Now this next portion of Stats is personal preference.

Fighters - x/10 mandatory but I prefer x/12 if possible I would take a x/11.

TB - x/10 is fine and the pilot will rock at higher levels and be usable even at lower
levels, this is a respectable TB. x/11 is great and x/12 is aces!

DB - x/11 Always demand an 11 or 12 in the bomber ability of your DB, accuracy is
everything. So for DB I always try to have 11 or higher in the bomber stat. If you
already have x/10 keep them they arent useless, but if you're starting from scratch
shoot for the x/11 and x/12.

**************

Here is a break down of the CV rankings (I referenced the CV listing in the Tips and
Tactics Forum, I've modified this list to incorporate the latest CV patch "Ostober
2008" and realigned the CV's to what I feel they should be considered.)


CV 1

**************

Lv 50 ~ US Bogue ~ 5 Support slots ~ 1850 (6) ~ N/L
Lv 50 ~ RN Attacker ~ 5 Support slots ~ 2100 (6) ~ N/L
Lv 46 ~ JP Hosho ~ 5 Support slots ~ 1600 (6) ~ N/L (Hosho Line)


CV 2

**************

Lv 55 ~ KM Seyditz ~ 6 Support slots ~ 3700 (7) ~ 5 (37)
Lv 55 ~ US Independence ~ 6 Support slots ~ 3780 (7) ~ N/L
Lv 58 ~ RN Collosus ~ 6 Support slots ~ 3720 (7) ~ N/L
Lv 53 ~ JP Ryujo ~ 6 Support slots ~ 3760 (7) ~ 6(47) (Hosho Line)
Lv 60 ~ JP Junyo ~ 6 Support slots ~ 4540 (7) ~ 6(47) (Junyo Line)


CV 3

**************

Lv 63 ~ RN Courageous ~ 7 Support slots ~ 4700 (8) ~ N/L
Lv 67 ~ KM Graf Zeppelin ~ 6 Support slots ~ 5200 (8) ~ 6(37)
Lv 66 ~ JP Hiryu ~ 6 Support slots ~ 5700 (8) ~ 6(47) (Hosho Line)
Lv 65 ~ US Yorktown ~ 6 Support slots ~ 5860 (8) ~ 4(24)
Lv 72 ~ JP Unryu ~ 6 Support slots ~ 6100 (8) ~ 6(47) (Junyo Line)
Lv 75 ~ JP Akagi 1927 ~ 7 Support slots ~ 7320 (8) ~ 2(136) 6(47) (Hosho Line)
Lv 73 ~ RN Illustrious ~ 6 Support slots ~ 5980 (8) ~ 8(43)


CV 4

**************

Lv 79 ~ US Essex ~ 7 Support slots ~ 8200 (9) ~ 4(61)
Lv 82 ~ RN Ark Royal ~ 7 Support slots ~ 7900 (9) ~ 8(63)
Lv 80 ~ KM Graf Zeppelin II ~ 7 Support slots ~ 7400 (9) ~ 2(78)
Lv 81 ~ JP Akagi 1938 ~ 7 Support slots ~ 7620 (9) ~ 6(65) (Hosho Line)
Lv 78 ~ JP Taiho ~ 7 Support slots ~ 7380 (9) ~ 7 (65) (Junyo Line)
Lv 86 ~ JP Kaga 1928 ~ 7 Support slots ~ 8200 (9) ~ 2(136) 6(73) (Hosho Line)

CV 5

**************

Lv 97 ~ US Lexington ~ 8 Support slots ~ 9840 (10) ~ 4(140)
Lv 98 ~ RN Malta Project ~ 8 Support slots ~ 9700 (10) ~ 6(82)
Lv 96 ~ KM Europa ~ 8 Support slots ~ 9600 (10) ~ 6(88)
Lv 97 ~ JP Kaga 1935 ~ 8 Support slots ~ 9800 (10) ~ 8(80) (Hosho Line)
Lv 95 ~ JP Shokaku ~ 8 Support slots ~ 9600 (10) ~ 8(73) (Junyo Line)
Lv 103 ~ JP Shinano ~ 9 Support slots ~ 10900 (10) ~ 8(80) (Either line)


**************

CV 6 (SCV)

Lv 120 ~ De Grasse ~ 9 Support slots ~14000 (12) ~ 12(70) (Either Line)
Lv 120 ~ Midway ~ 9 Support slots ~????? (12) ~ ??(??)
* Bear in mind on the CV6 you can only load 8 pilots.


The base line for speed is Ship hull and the highest HP engine available for the
engineslot size. I know the Hosho speed is missing so if you have it let me know
please :)
(I AM NOT SURE THIS SECTION IS ACCURATE NOW POST CV PATCH)


Hosho Line:

*Hosho - std: ? ovr: ?
*Ryujo - std: 32 ovr: 46
*Hiryu - std: 29 ovr: 47
*Akagi 1927 - std: 29 ovr: 37
*Akagi 1938 - std: 28 ovr: 36
*Kaga 1928 - std: 27 ovr: 35
*Kaga 1935 - std: 30 ovr: 39


Junyo line:

*Junyo - std: 28 ovr: 43
*Unryu - std: 29 ovr: 49
*Taiho - std: 28 ovr: 38
*Shokaku - std: 29 ovr: 39

Both lines:

*Shinano - std: 28 ovr: 37
*De Grasse - std: ? ovr: ?



*******************************************************************
Updates:
*******************************************************************
2009-Feb 27th - Fixed spacing and reviewed for mistakes. Updates CV6's
2008-Nov-19th - Updated the remaining CV's. Verified Information (Thank you Domq)
2008-Nov-13th - Massive update to incorporate the CV patch changes.
2008-June-23rd - Corrected some grammar and punctuation.
2008-May-16th - Added more descriptive information to the pilot area
2008-Mar-20th - Added the CV speeds.
2008-Feb-7th - Amended the Taiho description.
2008-Feb-5th - Minor spelling corrections and typo's.
*******************************************************************

Now that is all I can think of and any additional helpful information would be great. If
you want to know the specifics of each ship in each line please use trainworld, just
Google it, I wont post the site URL here.