Another How Come...

[hbrsvl]

Hi-Playing US in 12/8/ scenario, date late March '42, v121. I have troops in Port Morseby & Gili Gili, Buna is very lightly held. I want to get more troops into Buna & cannot use sea transport. I have one unit a hex away from PM, marching to Buna, but that takes forever(They only go a few miles per day). I have 3 Aussie C-47 groups in Gili Gili & want to use them to move US troops & supply to Buna before the enemy gets there-they just took Rabaul. I have US & Aussie troops in Gili Gili. I've used the C-47s to get a few US troops into Buna. But, how come the Aussie C-47s now won't transfer US troops? In the last 3 (one day each) turns, I've clicked troop transfer, US unit & targeted Buna. Instead of troops, they fly in supplies. When I look at the C-47 settings in the new turn, Supply is highlighted.( I think that is the default) Any thoughts? Thanks, Hugh Browne

[Dereck]

Could you try flying one C-47 squadron to Buna and use the "pick up troops" option and see if it will pick troops up from Gili Gili?

[PeteG662]

Couple of things to check here.....enemy LRCAP over the base.....the troops you are trying to load cannot load due to the size limitation of 7 (in other words, you transported all the trrops you can from that unit, everything else is too heavy). Is the area human or computer controlled?

See if any of these are the problem.

[hbrsvl]

Hi-OK, I'll check the load out. But, how do I check enemy LRCAP ? The base is in Allied hands.Thanks, get to you later. Hugh

[hbrsvl]

Hi-Good idea, I'll check it out. Thanks, Hugh

[PeteG662]

In the upper right hand corner of the screen when you check out the base you should see an air superiority number. If it is significantly different than bases around it, there is a possibility of enemy LRCAP over the base.

[pfnognoff]

Are you sure they want fly if there is LRCAP over destination? I think they fly regardless and get shot down or break through. It was so back in UV and I tried it in WiTP with IJ transports on the 1st turn and I had the messages about transport vs. CAP engagements in the lower left part of the screen.

[hbrsvl]

Hi-Tried your suggestion-doesn't work. It wants to pick up LCU already in the hex. Thanks, Hugh

[hbrsvl]

Hi-I checked the unit I moved stats and they show 105mm cannon as among those pieces moved. I'd like to bother you again-How do I check for enemy LRCAP? The base is is Allied hands. Thanks, Hugh

[Feinder]

Check the "airbal" (Air Balance) in the upper right hand corner as you hover the mouse over the base. A positive number means you have local air superiority, and negative number means the bad-guys rule the skies. Any number less than 100 is tenuous. If your base has a large negative number at it (enemy fighters can come and go as they please), your transports are probably giving you the "He11 no! We won't go!".

AirBal technically is only "relative strength". It doesn't mean there actually -is- enemy LRCAP over your base. AirBal just means there's an awful lot badguys, that can steal your lunch money whenever they want.

But if you think there's LRCAP over your base (and you have no CAP there yourself), send "sweep" missions over the base to clear them out.

-F-

[MikeH1952]

Thanks for this explanation of the AirBal number, I could not find it in the manual at all.

[Feinder]

Also be aware that AirBal can be misleading. All aircraft types count towards AirBal. That squadron PBYs count towards it (altho marginally), even if they have no CAP ability. Same for bombers. If you pack 15 squadrons of B-17s onto your AF, you'll get a positive Airbal of around 9.7 gazillion-trillion. But obviously, with no fighters overhead, it means very little (then again, your opponent doesn't know there aren't any fighters there...)

-F-

[BraveHome]

ORIGINAL: Mike Hayday

Thanks for this explanation of the AirBal number, I could not find it in the manual at all.

Not much info in manual, but section 9.1 does touch on it.