[Nisgeis]

Maybe the awards are based on largest single unit tonnage, not cumulative tonnage? Try setting a destoryer to 16,000 tons and sinking one and seeing what you get.

Then again, if that doesn't work, it might be unit type based. The unit type is in the cfg file? Why not try changing the destroyer type to be the same type as the CV and re-sinking the destroyer (at the same tonnage as the CV) - see if you get the same reward as the first time with the CV. Or, it could be unit type and single unit tonnage based - set a destroyer to be same tonnage and type as a CV.

There was a priority order for targets, with CV and AO being at the top of the list. DDs were at the bottom of priority. Perhaps a better award would be given for two heavy cruisers than one, the same as a CV, which is higher on the list? Oh yeah and the priority changed throughout the war, so if the game models it, you may get different results depending on the year.