The existing SA is as written, from the Supermarine Walrus.
Plane Guard - The first time a local, friendy aircrat is destroyed. Score 3 victory points at the end of the turn. You can only use Air Rescue once per game.
I've always found the US DDs harder to fit in cost wise between those units above and below them in their fleet. Particularly the Fletchers & Sumners with the bumped defense line and high AA.
I think Smith is going to be the go to cost comparison for Drayton and where it would stand with one or two SAs.
Just looked at the smith whilst I was on the cards.
Same top order.
Smith has two abilities but not guaranteed or immediate. Could be lost without using either.
Drayton with carrier escort would equal these two IMO as its more likely to be immediately/consistently triggered. Your obviously going to pick it to go with your carriers straight off the bat and unless said carrier(s) is sunk (always tougher with the US), this will potentially always trigger.
Then just depends whether the air rescue addition (a potential trigger SA), bumps it up to 9 or not.
I could see it getting regular use and with potentially three high AA ships, plus aircraft its a tough nut. Any variations of close escort has always been among the strongest SAs for me.
Maybe 7 then without the rescue but with it might push it back up again.
Possibly Smith is a 7.5 too and could have been rounded down.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"
Still not fully swayed either way with the one or two SAs but maybe just in comparison with Smith, I'd go 7 with just carrier screen. I do think looking at it again Smith could have been seven. I agree rescue can be seen as almost cost neutral but just loading it up with them both at seven could make Smith look a little less attractive.
Just projecting here but its pretty close on this.
"That's right son, join the navy. Get behind a bloody big gun and knock the hell out of somebody"
"We went out, got our arses kicked, then came back again"