Need comments - Pilots Jap

[Lanconic]

I finally after much work etc etc

Have one Jap airgroup that actually is elite.(Bomber Betty)

36 pilots and every one of them is over 85 exp.
Some are over 95.

The question is simple:

In reality, I would disband the unit and force the pilots to go back to Japan, and train new pilots.
However, that doesnt seem to be an option.
If I leave it in front line combat, it can only degrade.

I dont see that the Japanese have human resource to waste.

What should be done with the unit?

Actually some of the pilots have very high Air skills. I assume they could switch out to fighter units easily.

[JuanG]

Move them to torpedo bomber groups on a CV.

Just a thought...

[crsutton]

Convert the whole unit to kamikaze. Just a thought....[X(]

[Cribtop]

Stash them in TRACOM until you REALLY need the A+ team or CV pilots, as suggested above.

[jmalter]

xfer to/from TRACOM in groups of 10, treat IJA/IJN as separate. IOW adding 5 IJA & 5 IJN pilots to TRACOM won't have any effect. these groups of 10 will give a modest benefit by accelerating training of pilots in the Replacement pipeline, and randomly add 1 or 2 points of EXP to some pilots as they graduate.

benefits to pipeline pilots will be minimal unless you commit to a long-term program of keeping a substantial # of 81+ pilots in TRACOM for a long period of time (years).

otherwise, TRACOM is just a reserve pool for 81+ pilots, from which they should be quickly xferred to other sqns. i like the idea of distributing them amongst CV strike sqns, alternatively they could go to rear-areas to slowly round out their skills w/ sqn's of newbs training in NavB, NavT, NavS, LowN or even GrdB.

you can't really use them as a fire-brigade, what w/ the inevitable random delay involved in the xfer. reinforcing particular sqns for future planned ops is a better option.

even if some have high AIR skill, they'll take an automatic decrease (dunno if it'll be in EXP or in the skills) if you xfer bomber guys to fighter sqns.

[viberpol]

ORIGINAL: Lanconic

I finally after much work etc etc

Have one Jap airgroup that actually is elite.(Bomber Betty)

36 pilots and every one of them is over 85 exp.
Some are over 95.

The question is simple:

In reality, I would disband the unit and force the pilots to go back to Japan, and train new pilots.
However, that doesnt seem to be an option.
If I leave it in front line combat, it can only degrade.

I dont see that the Japanese have human resource to waste.

What should be done with the unit?

Actually some of the pilots have very high Air skills. I assume they could switch out to fighter units easily.

If it's past half '42 don't waste then in Nells/Betties squadrons that are just a flying coffins to every pilot no matter how good.
Transfer to TRACOM to save them for Graces or at least armored fast Gingas. In the meantime, you can temporarily transfer part of it to restricted squadrons located at HI to speed up training of rookies. Train the defence skill and other. Remember that some of them can become great squadron leaders with high inspiration/leadership values!

[m10bob]

The Japanese really did have at least 2 "elite" Betty units, trained just for torpedo missions. They were employed against Prince Of Wales and Repulse, but both were later decimated in the Solomons.
Later in the war the Japanese developed a couple of (what they thought) were elite Betty units with special night training, but (as mentioned in the forum in past), I don't think they were all that successful?

[Barb]

Playing Japan I usually distribute those 70+ exp pilots to "training" units to provide a cadre of experienced pilots. Having 1/3 of these old hands pilots in group seem to make training of those out-of-pool-hombres faster. This I worked out from some maths and some old posts about training where it seems the chances that pilot gain skill is greater when his skill number is less than units average skill. I don't know if this is still valid in recent patches.

However some practice had revealed out that pilots skill actually goes up rapidly when his SKILL number is less then units average EXP which is a bit strange. This way I am able to get pilots out of "training" unit within 2 months with 2 skills in 60s (+defense skill). Another month of training and you have two skills at 70/70 + defense or third skill.

[Cap Mandrake]

Wow...I don't think "elite" quite does it justice. Those guys could hit an anchovy on purpose.

I think their best use is as Betty pilots. Keep them in reserve until the Allies go after something valuable but dont wait till '44. You dont want them wasted against 200 Corsairs. You might consider using them on the second day of a battle when Allied CAP is fatigued.

Give them a very large escort with the same command and chop the range down to match the fighters. They might be able to take out 3 or 4 carriers by themselves.

[Shark7]

Personally, I'd send them back to Japan, and save them for later...eventually you'll get a chance to utilize them...perhaps as Okha carriers. [;)]

[FatR]

Personally, I use early war elite bomber units during the initial expansion phase. Then send veterans from those units that were badly mauled to TRACOM, to serve as the carrier pilot reserve, and retrain those units from zero. Keep the rest in the areas when I expect an Allied counterattack. Don't see the point of saving pilots for the later, except for carriers. The disparity in numbers and quality of aircraft will only grow from early 1943. Moreover, sheer numbers of combatants will increase to the point where a handful of elites will stop being noticeable.

[DeriKuk]

Moreover, sheer numbers of combatants will increase to the point where a handful of elites will stop being noticeable.

 
This is, in fact, what happened in the PTO as well as the ETO.  The major Axis powers had some supremely skilled pilots - like Erich Hartmann http://acepilots.com/misc_hartmann.html - but they amounted to very little in the big scheme of things.  The "average" Allied pilot was far better trained and equiped than his Axis opponent.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: FatR

Personally, I use early war elite bomber units during the initial expansion phase. Then send veterans from those units that were badly mauled to TRACOM, to serve as the carrier pilot reserve, and retrain those units from zero. Keep the rest in the areas when I expect an Allied counterattack. Don't see the point of saving pilots for the later, except for carriers. The disparity in numbers and quality of aircraft will only grow from early 1943. Moreover, sheer numbers of combatants will increase to the point where a handful of elites will stop being noticeable.

A carrier sunk in 1942 is a heck of a lot more important than one sunk in 44. I would use the crack pilots when it matters. Don't forget that Allied pilots are getting much better over time as well.

Of course, I really don't know how the kamikaze factor will play out. Perhaps they might be best in elite kami units...especially considering how poor naval AA is.

[Rainer79]

As kamikazes use LowNav to attack, using the elite NavB/NavT pilots for that role is not recommended.