I'm building the CVL IJN Ibuki for Treaty combat. Becuase it wasn't completed it can't be used in official IRCWCC events, but I was wondering if similar 'legal' CVLs would be more useful in competition if equipped with 3 x 0.5 unit pumps and used as blocking ships to hem in targets for fleetmates that do have with BB cannons. Has anyone ever seen that done (i.e. a ship with multiple pumps and few or no BB cannons)?
We've seen CVs used as blocking ships during Nats with all units used as pumps. There is no rule preventing it, though if someone asks if the ship is a warship, then the answer must be "Yes". That means if sunk, it will give the other team sink points.
I think I'll give it a try. I'll be able to use Ibuki in unofficial IRCWCC-type competition locally; with 1.5 units of pumps and dual rudders it may be useful as a blocker. With offensive armament it would have a 1.0 unit stern gun and 0.5 unit pump or vice versa. As a blocker in Treaty combat it could have 3 x 1.0 unit pumps, or a single stern gun and 2 pumps. I was going to arm it for Treaty with dual stern guns and a pump but the rules for carriers won't allow 100% of the BB canons aft -one would have to be in the bow, which wouldn't be very useful. Looks like it will have a mainly defensive/blocker role in both formats.
A blocker in campaign has a place. Either escorting convoys or blocking targets. They have no use in fleet battle. It would be just a defenseless bb magnet, FREE POINTS.
I should have mentioned I was thinking of using it in Campaign Lite for IRCWCC competition. With only 1.5 combat units it's not worth using in regular battles; I have a couple of Class 3 cruisers and am building a new capital ship for that. Under Treaty rules it's one of the faster ships, has 3 units and may be worth trying with the single allowed stern gun and two pumps. It'll be my only Treaty ship until I build the Furious.
