Newbie questions

[dhuffjr]

I have been playing PW for some time and there are a few questions I have.

1) Air anti-sub ops, how do they happen? Does the air unit have to be set for NI or do they automatically perform these missions if they are eligible?

2) I have noticed that the air units I have set for NI do not seem to attack fleets within range that are with the proper range. Is this a bug or am I unlucky?

3) Is there any rhyme or reason to how air transport units distribute supplies?

4) I have noticed a cheat of splitting units and allowing them to build back up and then recombine them to have a "super" unit. Is this going to be fixed in the update?

5) I have read posts describing allied plane losses of ~100 with Japanese losses of ~400. How?! I have very rarely seen these kind of loss ratios. I'm sure that I am doing something wrong but what I don't know. I have sent 9+ carriers up against and island base and still take a beating in A/C.

Finally for the developers a huge thanks for all of there efforts. Everyone I know laughs when I tell them about this tiny little game with graphics that are a joke by todays standard that has given me so many hours of enjoyment. The diehard wargamer/history buff could care less about the frills its the game that counts.


Dennis Huff

[Rich Dionne]

Dennis,

Here are some comments on your questions 1) 2) and 5).

1) The effectiveness of sub searches has always bothered me too. I have spent a fair amount of time trying to make sense of it, here goes:

Only patrol aircraft, and USN, USMC, and IJN bombers of all types (dive, torpedo, tactical) search for subs. USAAF heavy bombers do not search for subs.

At any air base, it appears that "only one" patrol air group (PBY, etc.) plus "up to one additional" patrol capable bomber group will search for subs. These two searches are conducted independently and any damage is
inflicted separately. Any extra patrol capable air groups beyond the two listed above do not appear to search for enemy subs.

(That last one may explain our frustration with trying to send multiple search groups to one base. I looked into this a number of different ways, but the searching groups always seem to be limited to one patrol group plus one other bomber group.)

Patrol capable aircraft on training or naval interdiction missions do not search for subs.

The number of aircraft within the patrol air group plays a big role in determining if a sub is contacted and possibly in the determination of sub damage.

(Basically, big air groups do much better than small ones. I believe the formula given in the rule book for sub searches is probably correct.)

Only one sub in a pack can be damaged or sunk in each air group attack.

The experience of the patrol group does not appear to have any impact on the ability to find subs during the search phase.

The cannon and bomb factors on a patrol plane have no impact on potential damage to subs.

A patrol capable air group search radius extends out to 1/2 its listed Pacwar range factor (rounded down) when searching for submarines. (This rule severely limits shorter range aircraft.)

I think that some of this may change with the new patch release. We'll see.

2) Aircraft set to NI should attack TF's. Reasons they may not include:

a) TF is near limit of the subject aircraft range
b) Low airgroup experience
c) Little supply/fuel at airgroup base
d) Little patrol aircraft coverage

5) There is a big difference in enemy airgroup performance between computer and human players. The computer player receives a big advantage in air combat. If you've been playing against the computer, that would explain why you have had trouble getting 4 to 1 kill ratios. The updated patch will eliminate this computer advantage.

Regards,

Rich Dionne

[Dunedain]

In order for patrol aircraft to increase the chance of spotting enemy
TF's (so they can be attacked by air groups set to NI), do the patrol
aircraft have to be left without orders? In other words, not set to
train or NI, so that without any specific orders they will just
go about their normal patroling functions, thus enabling them to
spot enemy TF's?

[Rich Dionne]

That's absolutely correct.

Patrol aircraft set to training or naval interdiction will not search for TF's or subs. The same goes for patrol capable aircraft USN, USMC, and IJN bombers of all types (dive, torpedo, tactical).

Leave patrol aircraft without orders. For other patrol capable aircraft (like Betty's), you can set them to NI to avoid their destruction attacking enemy bases, but then they won't search for TF's. Of course, they will still attack them if spotted by another airgroup.

Keep in mind that some of this may change in the patch.

Regards,

Rich Dionne

[RCMP]

Is there anyway to use the Austrailian Inf and Arm divisions. I cannot seem to ship them out of Austrailia. Is this a bug, or are these units only for the defence of Austrailia?

Thanks

[Rich Dionne]

It's not a bug. Australian units in Australia under ANZAC control cannot be shipped. They are slated for the defense of Australia. They are also very expensive to activate and move.

Any Australian units under SW Pacific control are not restricted in movement.

It's also a good idea to periodically check the ANZAC units. I think some of these eventually switch to SW Pacific control.

Regards,

Rich Dionne

[Dragon]

Listed below is the ANZAC transfer schedule:

1) Apr 42 1st AUS Engr Sydney.
2) May 42 7th AUS Inf Div Sydney.
3) Sep 42 6th AUS Inf Div Sydney.
4) Nov 42 9th AUS Inf Div Sydney.
5) Jul 43 3rd NZ Inf Div New Zealand.
6) Aug 43 8th NZ Inf Bde New Zealand.
7) ???? 5th NZ Inf Bde Suva.

I believe these are right