2 questions

[zamli]

Greetings everyone;

Long time passed since I played the DOS version, but old love never dies. Anyway; I have approached following problems with Matrix Edition:

1. I am playing Japan. I decline the historical start and use fell human controll. I try to launch attack against Pearl Harbour but my CV's are never able to reach PH. They stop 3-5 hexes away and only next turn I am able to direct them against PH which is useless. Do I do smth wrong?

2. I noticed statistics of almost every plane been re-wrtiien. I cannot find however the production cost of each plane. Can you help me with this?

thank you

[Capt. Harlock]

For question 1, I'm not certain. Are you using the same ships as were historically used? You might want to leave the battlecruisers behind, and see if the TF can move farther.

For question 2, I just happen to have a text file giving all the aircraft stats. Something to note: my experience is that when an aircraft's cost goes above 9, production drops off considerably. (In other words, the step from 10 to 9 is significantly bigger than the step from 9 to 8.) This, unfortunately, means all the British aircraft types.

[zamli]

First I would like to thank you for this fast answer.

Concerning my first question. I finally managed to send attack against Pearl Harbour but using only Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiryu, Soryu plus Tone, Chikuma. When adding anything else, even Akagi, I was finishing few hexes away unable to send anything but fighters against PH.
It must be that the route computer plots prohibits using anything slower.
It was less planes as a consequence, but at least something. I did not have such problem in the original game though.

For my 2nd I thank you a lot.

Now I just have to mobilise myself and get grip on units again before managing to complete the first turn again (while managing all units that is - it's been at least 8-10 years since I played it last)

[zamli]

I have just went through the Japanese planes costs and if they are correct then J1N Gekko is prohibitive with a cost of 10

I still have to figure out the use of fighters vs fighter/bombers. If I am correct when FB accompany bombing raids they are used as bombers themselves and suffer much more loses from flak

Still Ki-32 seems a better vhoice over Ki-51

and for ASW as I understand Patrol ships plus dive and torpedo-bombers should be used?

thanx in advance

[Capt. Harlock]

I still have to figure out the use of fighters vs fighter/bombers. If I am correct when FB accompany bombing raids they are used as bombers themselves and suffer much more loses from flak

That's part of the story. However, if the strike is intercepted by enemy fighters, the fighter-bombers will jettison their bombs and act just like regular fighters. Also, flak losses against most land targets tend to be low. Against TF's, it's definitely better to have fighter-bombers, since they can do much more damage with bombs than fighters can with strafing runs.

One other important point: squadrons of "pure" fighters near enemy airfields will often launch "fighter sweeps", in addition to escorting bomber raids. That is, they will fly a second mission without bombers in an attempt to shoot down more enemy fighters.

and for ASW as I understand Patrol ships plus dive and torpedo-bombers should be used?

That's generally true, and Patrol airplanes such as the magnificent H8K are the best of all. But any bombers in an IJN squadron (note the IJN has a number of land-based groups) can search for both surface ships and subs. This makes Nells a bit more useful.

Should you be playing the Allied side, note that heavy bombers such as the Fortress and Liberator can spot surface TF's but not submarines. (Annoying -- historically Liberators were used extensively for ASW work in the Atlantic.)

[zamli]

Against TF's, it's definitely better to have fighter-bombers, since they can do much more damage with bombs than fighters can with strafing runs.

Hmmm.... I was thinking allied TF's flak would decimate those A6M5 if they decide to get a go against american CV's. Insn't it better to have A6M2 for that purpose. Just a question.

[Rybka]

I´m a bit disappointed with japanese fighter-bombers. Mostly becouse F-B groups sent less aircrafts to fight, so that they are often worse in air combat. For the second, some of them use too small 60 kg bombs.

[zamli]

It seems I have yet to find the changes in the Matrix edition and see when A6M5 arrives - whether it is better used for CV's instead of A6M2 or not...

[Capt. Harlock]

Hmmm.... I was thinking allied TF's flak would decimate those A6M5 if they decide to get a go against american CV's. Insn't it better to have A6M2 for that purpose. Just a question.

Airplanes with higher durability have a chance of being damaged instead of destroyed by flak -- mind you, it means they'll miss, but they'll get a chance on subsequent turns.

Against the American CV's, fighter-bombers are of very little use, because once intercepted by the CV's CAP, they ditch their bombs and become pure fighters. They are, however, very useful against all other surface TF's, as long as those TF's are not under CAP from a nearby airfield.

Personally, I think it's important to preserve the A6M2's because they are the planes for long-range strike escorts. Later in the war, the American CV's become nearly invincible because of Hellcat CAP and also because the flak ratings of American TF's go up by huge amounts. (When they get 40mm guns and VT shells for their 5" guns.) Almost the only thing that has a chance of engaging effectively and surviving is a strike of Betties armed with Ohkas and escorted by A6M2's.

[Skipjack]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Against the American CV's, fighter-bombers are of very little use, because once intercepted by the CV's CAP, they ditch their bombs and become pure fighters.

They seem to do this even when on special attack - which makes them of little use as Kamikazes. So to get hits on U.S. CVs in 44-45, you need Dive/Torp/Tac bombers for the SA attack groups.

ORIGINAL: zamli

Still Ki-32 seems a better choice over Ki-51

Better range (3) - I find that a range factor of 2 is a real limitation on a squadron's options.

[zamli]

In my original question my intention behind a question was the usefullness of A6M2 after A6M5 becomes available.
From your oppinions it seems that the exchange of fighter type for never and better FB type is a must because although FB carry bombs, they do jettison it whenever they approach CAP and they always will. Thank you for that.

Now after playing few rounds and refreshing my memory it seems another change has been implemented or I am wrong. I have found myself with with armies and subordinate units spread though all of the Pacific and Indian. I think there was a possibility to change a HQ of LCU, but I dont see it any longer (maybe I am mistken)

Anyway, I decided to do my homework and plan all the actions with specific HQ's by designating them to certain theatres and not just grabbing whatever unit I have at hand. Quite painstalking atb but should be easier after I put all LCU's in place.

I have one more question though. - ENGINEERS.
I think there was more engineers in the prev version.
Question: to enlarge airfield/port you can use only Army Engr. or other units like SBF's?

thank you

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: zamli

Now after playing few rounds and refreshing my memory it seems another change has been implemented or I am wrong. I have found myself with with armies and subordinate units spread though all of the Pacific and Indian. I think there was a possibility to change a HQ of LCU, but I dont see it any longer (maybe I am mistken)

There is a way, but not through a menu option. Simply activate the LCU in a base belonging to a different HQ, and the LCU will automatically be re-assigned to the new HQ. Note this does not work for "restricted" HQ's such as on the Japanese Home Islands or in China. Be careful about getting your LCU's "stuck", because units belonging to a restricted HQ cannot leave.

I have one more question though. - ENGINEERS.
I think there was more engineers in the prev version.
Question: to enlarge airfield/port you can use only Army Engr. or other units like SBF's?

Yes. All units with "Engr" or "SBF" in their names function as engineer units, and can expand airfields and/or ports. The Japanese Navy insisted on as much independence from the Army as they could get, so they had to have their own engineer units.

[zamli]

Valuable information with LCU and SBF.

Now I am pretty sure that it is possible to attack Pearl Harbour on first turn with Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hryu, Soryu only (they manage with favourable rolls to kill 4 BB's though). The range that computer allows a player to move his TF is an equivalent of 1 speed unit per hex and Akagi & Kaga are too slow for that.

It is a pity, because as you decide not to play historic first move, you really have to play a-historically. It is also confirmed with *.doc files that say that computer is allowed to cheat and move his TF's twice the distance the human can.

As for other notices it is really difficult to make landing on Wake - I have failed myself as I was trying to get as much other gains as possible. Despite this on the very first turn Kongo and Haruna with a couple of CA's and DD's were able to sunk the whole British fleet of Singapore consisting of Prince of Wales, Repulse and others.

I think I should play it a little longer to get used to the tweaks in this version and also try Alled side.

And maybe I will be able to ask some of you for a match via PBEM (although I never tried to play PACWAR against a human opponent)? after I get used a little to the game again
(3-4 turns per week should be possible I think - excluding vacations of course - everyone is entitled to some rest from time to time )

[zamli]

question:
 
what do you use Japanese AV's for?

[Skipjack]

An interesting topic.  The fast AVs (Nisshin, Chitose, Chiyoda, 1 other) convert to CVLs in 43, so be careful not to lose them.  They can be used for fast transports - Engineers or other small units.   They also provide a small CAP value (4-8 fighters, usually A6Ms) that just magically appear over your transport TF - that can be very nice warding off attacks from enemy fighter-bombers (they will jettison their load if enemy fighters are present).

The slower AVs (Kamikawa-type) I've only used them as another AP.

Note you can use them to transport air groups - Zeke99 likes to do this to establish an air zone on a base he takes that turn, rather than staging in aircraft the beginning of the next turn.   I'm still not totally sure what the benefit is - possibly the base is considered in routine supply immediately?   I haven't made use of that tactic.

[zamli]

so that means that flying an airgroup to the base and unloading them from an AV makes a difference?

[Rybka]

Are all fast AV converted to CVL? In WWII, only Chitose and Chiyoda were converted. Mizuho was sunk in 1942 and Nisshin in 1943. Does game convert them in 1943 too, if they are still afloat?

Thanks for interesting info about their small CAP. I´ve never noticed it earlier. I rather keep them in port, because CVLs are much more important than fast transports.

Other AVs I´ve used mostly as AP too, only seldom for carrying small range aircrafts. Island hoping is safer and sometimes faster, but cost PPs and every move some planes get damaged.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: zamli

so that means that flying an airgroup to the base and unloading them from an AV makes a difference?

If I'm following Skipjack correctly, you can capture an airbase and have the AV unload planes on the same turn. This allows you to cancel enemy bomber zones of control (AZOC's) and the base can then be non-isolated and receive supply at the beginning of the next turn. Otherwise, newly captured bases are isolated for one turn, and cannot receive supply through the Routine Convoys.

One other point. Delivering aircraft squadrons through regular cargo ships means that a large number of the will be disabled the next turn. (Still in disassembled parts.) AV's can deliver aircraft ready to fly and fight immediately. This is very useful for your short-range aircraft which often can't transfer across the long island-to-island distances.

[zeke99]

re AV

loading a F/FB sqn provides a 4ac air cover for TTF during operation and instant action after a base is taken.

[Skipjack]

ORIGINAL: Rybka

Are all fast AV converted to CVL? In WWII, only Chitose and Chiyoda were converted. Mizuho was sunk in 1942 and Nisshin in 1943. Does game convert them in 1943 too, if they are still afloat?

Yes, all 4 will convert to CVLs as long as they aren't sunk.