Andy Mac v PZB This time India will Stand !!!!

[jrlans]

How long and where do they come in at andy? Also are they understrengthed and with poor xp and morale?

[Monter_Trismegistos]

Andy, those militia replacements are historical units which would arrive later, or they are "fictional" - and as such you had give them fictional names?

[Andy Mac]

A mix they are all historic units but I picked ones that were quasi plausable for the likely time period
 
9th Aus Div is accelerated
44th British Div (would be rounding the cape en route to ME at present so its plausible it was diverted)
27th Rhodesian Bde was in SA prepping for Madagasker
7th South African Motorised Bde is alsoe prepping for Madagasker 
2nd British Para Bde was forming in the UK at around this time I could have called it composite para unit or somesuch and renamed it later but it was just easier to call it a name folks would recognise 

[Andy Mac]

Not at all 9th is elite
44th is green as are the others but they are not militia
 
They are an off map CW response to Japanese aggression into Australia
 
 

[Andy Mac]

If this is a raid its downright brilliant if its an invasion its madness is where todays view is.
 
I have 400 combat aircraft between Adeilade and Port Augusta/Broken Hill
 
I have another 500 in South Australia waiiting to get in the fight.
 
I have 5 Carriers with another 400 and a fleet of 7 BB's plus heavy screen waiting to pounce.
 
He will have 6 KB Carriers and maybe mini KB but I must have a 2:1 edge in pilots and planes and my secure bases are closer than his.
 
On land I have force of about 5 or 6 Div equivalents closing in on the likely landing sites - ok I am having to shorten my lines in the east and pull back from Rockhampton and will probably need to concede Alice Springs but if this is an invasion it looks barking mad
 
If i get his AO's and Tankers his whole fleet sinks from lack of fuel.
 
Maybe I am missing something but this is a long way from anywhere while I still hold Perth.
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 21, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Christmas Island
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      DD Wakatake
      PB Showa Maru #5
      xAK Ryoyo Maru
 
 
 
DD Wakatake firing at Christmas USN CPNAB
PB Showa Maru #5 firing at enemy troops
DD Wakatake firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Christmas Island
 
TF 50 troops unloading over beach at Christmas Island, 174,141
 
Japanese ground losses:
      147 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
 
 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Christmas Island
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Showa Maru #5
      xAK Ryoyo Maru
 
 
 
PB Showa Maru #5 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 9
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-400 Airacobra x 8
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
No Allied losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
20th PS (P) with P-400 Airacobra (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 9
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 3
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-400 Airacobra x 3
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
 
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet *
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
20th PS (P) with P-400 Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 19000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 31st Chinese Corps, at 72,55 (Nanning)
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-Ic Sally x 19
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      25 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      19 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 64th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 31st Chinese Corps ...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 8th Tank Regiment, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 3
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 9
      P-400 Airacobra x 9
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
      11 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
               Ground Attack:  3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det  with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
Also attacking 9th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 8th Tank Regiment ...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Adelaide at 74,163
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      B5N2 Kate x 13
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Kittyhawk IA x 2
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
 
 
Allied Ships
      CM Oglala
      DM Sicard
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 
CAP engaged:
No.76 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 12000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rockhampton at 95,152
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 14
      G3M2 Nell x 9
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G3M2 Nell: 5 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 1
      CL Concord
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rockhampton at 95,152
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 10
      G4M1 Betty x 6
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      DD Dunlap, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
      DD Russell
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Adelaide at 74,163
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 25
      B5N2 Kate x 22
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Kittyhawk IA x 2
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CM Oglala, Bomb hits 11, and is sunk
      DM Sicard, Bomb hits 5,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
       4 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 3000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
       5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
No.76 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 12000
      Raid is overhead
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CM Oglala
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DM Sicard
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Christmas Island
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Showa Maru #5
      xAK Ryoyo Maru
 
Japanese ground losses:
      4 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
PB Showa Maru #5 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Alice Springs (74,143)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 10265 troops, 120 guns, 386 vehicles, Assault Value = 414
 
Defending force 4684 troops, 41 guns, 126 vehicles, Assault Value = 128
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 259
 
Allied adjusted defense: 233
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
 
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      144 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      105 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 18 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 22 (16 destroyed, 6 disabled)
 
 
Assaulting units:
    8th Recon Regiment
    8th Tank Regiment
    26th Recon Regiment
    9th Infantry Regiment
    1st Recon Regiment
    48th Recon Regiment
    20th Recon Regiment
    Yokosuka Assault SNLF /18
    3rd Mortar Battalion
    8th RF Gun Battalion
 
Defending units:
    2nd Recce Battalion
    3rd Australian Brigade
    1st Fgtr RAAF Wing
    Tennant Creek RAAF Base Force
    Katherine RAAF Base Force
    107th RN Base Force
    24th NZ Pioneer Coy
    10th Patl RAAF Wing
    NW Aus Aviation Rgt /15
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Geraldton (49,141)
 
Japanese Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 7944 troops, 120 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 330
 
Defending force 4660 troops, 77 guns, 176 vehicles, Assault Value = 178
 
Japanese ground losses:
      Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    16th Recon Regiment
    65th Brigade
    20th Infantry Regiment
    2nd Tank Regiment
    1st Engineer Co
    40th Field AA Battalion
    2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
    18th Mountain Gun Regiment
 
Defending units:
    Geraldton Fortress
    10th Light Horse Battalion
    276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
    27th Infantry/C Division
    1st RAN Base Force
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Charters Towers (91,145)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 4328 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 150
 
Defending force 93 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 66
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 66 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      18 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      64 casualties reported
         Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
 
Assaulting units:
    144th Infantry Regiment
    2nd Mortar Battalion
    45th Road Const Co
    51st Const Co
    5th JNAF AF Unit
    15th JNAF AF Unit
 
Defending units:
    Port Moresby Brigade
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Geraldton (49,141)
 
Allied Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 577 troops, 15 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 178
 
Defending force 9826 troops, 143 guns, 153 vehicles, Assault Value = 330
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
    10th Light Horse Battalion
    Geraldton Fortress
    27th Infantry/C Division
    1st RAN Base Force
 
Defending units:
    2nd Tank Regiment
    20th Infantry Regiment
    65th Brigade
    16th Recon Regiment
    1st Engineer Co
    40th Field AA Battalion
    2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
    18th Mountain Gun Regiment
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Christmas Island (174,141)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 2620 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 86
 
Defending force 818 troops, 2 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 6
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 34
 
Allied adjusted defense: 8
 
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)
 
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      29 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      98 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
      Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)
 
 
Assaulting units:
    18th Nav Gd /17
    31st Infantry Rgt /6
    I/19th Nav Gd /17
 
Defending units:
    Christmas USN CPNAB
    E Det USN Port Svc
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Kalgoorlie (56,147)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 12 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3
 
Defending force 802 troops, 0 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 43
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 0
 
Allied adjusted defense: 67
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 3)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      12 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    Yokosuka Assault SNLF /5
 
Defending units:
    44th Australian Battalion
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Kalgoorlie by attrition!!!

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac
They are an off map CW response to Japanese aggression into Australia

Does that mean they appear in Captown or some other off map box, or are they gonna pop up in Australia?

Jim

[ckammp]

You still hold Perth, but for how long? You are badly outnumbered at Geraldton, and he has landed at Esperance. You are also badly outnumbered at Alice Springs, and Rockhampton is no longer save for your ships. And what if he goes for Port Augusta or Whyalla, instead of Adelaide? Those bases are north of Brisbane, so an attack there won't trigger any extra units, and would still cut the rail link to Perth.
Even if he does trigger the extra units, how are you going to get them to Australia in time? 
Are 6th and 7th Aus Divs already enroute from India?
Even with your LBA, do you think your carriers are a match for KB and mini-KB?
 
This looks more like brilliant planning by your opponent than "madness".
 
  
 
 
 

[Andy Mac]

maybe
 
but as things stand today I hold at Geraldtopn behind level 3 forts.
 
Esperance is a waste of time because it has no road to Kalgoorlie so I can get both regts of 27th Div there before him
 
At present 600 AV is at Port Augusta plus a lot of CD guns
 
The rail lines of Australia are in full flow moving my reserves to meet the threat.
 
In about 4 days I will have 6 Divs or Div equivalents on the line at Adeilade/PA so given the speed of unload I have a shot at stopping him
 
Maybe I am wrong but if this is a real invasion it feels a big risk

[Andy Mac]

off map

[Andy Mac]

Just to give a feel for my strength en route or in theatre
 
2nd Aus Army
 
I Aus Corps (Concentrating at Port Augusta)
 
5th and 8th Aus Div (both 300AV+)
5 x Aus Cav or Motor Bdes
3 x Tank Regts
4 Arty regts
 
Composite US Corps (Adeilade to Melbourne)
Amercal Div
40th US Inf Div
2nd Marine Regt
1 Indpt Regt
2 Tank Bns
2 Arty Regts
 
You add it all up and actually thats a fairly big force.
 
Adeilade is lvl 4 forts, PA is Lvl 3.
 
My situation is not ideal but this feels like a month to late.
 
By keeping most of my reserves in strat mode in the centre on the rail line I am able to deploy quickly - quickly enough maybe.
 
Just because I am convinced he is going for Melbourne to Port Augusta doesnt make it so this could all still be an attack on Tasmania (which would be nasty as thats where my fuel reserves are...)
 
 
 

[Andy Mac]

 Actually Tasmania is getting stronger as well May 42 is not Jan 42 I am a lot stronger now than I would have been in Jan
 
PP's are going to be my main problem
 
I spent most of my PP's to date on US LCU's but now I will need them to free up LCU's in India for the cross border attack

[wpurdom]

If you're right in guessing that he's about to attack S. Australia, it's the equivalent to an immediate PP influx. If you've brought enough to Austrailia already, then why can't they go to India? They could have a hard time getting to Austrailia anyway, but would have no difficulty getting to India.

[Andy Mac]

Oh if I can hold thats the plan
 
I have both the AIF Divs in India at present
 
With 18th Brit getting out intact and 17th Indian plus the Burma Div that gives me a nice core.
 
Only issue is I need more force for my complicated ops plan and the transport net wont take it.
 
So I need to take another look at my plan
 
If he really commits his big Divs to Australia then I am going for it forces are already marshalling at Ranchi

[Andy Mac]

The biggest issue I have is the shortage of support weapons I dont like operating without full strength Divs when I attack and my experience levels are still low my Army in India needs time to get stronger.
 
14th Indian Div needs arty as does 23rd and 26th Divs.
 
We shall see I am doing a complicated shuffle at present to pull units into Ranchi that are closest to being ready and I will then take a look and decide whether or not I should go for it

[kevini1000]

I've been reading both AAR. Very exciting [8D]. I only have the original WiTP not AE. What limitations are there to units being rail moved. How much stuff can be moved and do they suffer some combat penalties once moved and such and how long does it take to move certain distances.

Thanks

Sath

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

P400's do it again

In all honesty I am not sure HL sweeps are broken - I whined a fair bit about it but now that I am further on actually I realise it was just that my pilots were crap.

When I got my act together constant long range high level sweeps are what I hope for.

PZB in our game has been sweeping Alice Springs against 50 - 60 xp and A2A and defence P400's and losing with top of the line Zero pilots.

Training Armour and Firepower seem to be winning out and evening the odds.

The issue I potentially have is getting pilots to 60 Exp, 60 A2A and 60 Defensive where you would actually be willing to put them in a fight is a PITA and takes 4 months from pilots being drawn from the pool which means defact we are doing all operational training on map but it does work.

Allies in first 6 months are always short of good pilots and I think its this factor thats giving the whiners a field day yes there is a sweep bonus but I suspect its just not understanding the game we are playing now thats causing some of the grief. (me included)

Andy what are you doing in terms of training your pilots? My PBEM vs Rainer is one month ahead yours now and I´ve got HUNDREDS ! of 70 air skill fighter pilots in my reserve pool. Granted, they don´t have 60 or 70 exp as this is something you won´t ever reach it seems but for combat skill is enough. Every US fighter pilot shot down during the war will be replaced with an air skill 70 from my pool from now on. And this wasn´t any different a month ago. I guess I´ve reached the day when I had ample 70 skilled pilots in the pool sometime in March.

Me as one of the whiners you mention, has had his frontline squadrons equipped with 70 skilled pilots in February. So no, the high alt sweeps have not kicked my a$$ because I´ve forgot about training my pilots. From day one of my campaign on I´ve put hours and hours into training my pilots and moving them to the pool (every second turn I sure spend halve an hour for looking at my training squadrons). As I´ve got more than enough pilots now I will probably only look at the training squadrons every fourth turn as it´s time consuming and not worth doing anyway with my pool drowning in 70 skilled pilots. If an Allied player hasn´t reached a vast pilot surplus stock in May at the latest then he has been pretty lazy IMO. [:D] With the given number of sqadrons on the map and the given number of aircraft replacements throughout the years until mid 44 I can produce several 70 skilled pilots for every single ac that I get.

[Andy Mac]

I wasnt anal about training pilots until about Feb 42 when String hit me at Colombo and I realised just how shocking my pilots were most of my experience had been against the AI so I didnt really feel the shock of massed HL Sweeps by good pilots against my pilots until then
 
I play Allied so I dont need to deal with crap like that so it was a dose of cold water to realise I was going to have to be the great trainer.
 
But I knuckled down and started actively managing it - takes a long time to do it but all my sqns first gen of trained pilots are filling up the pools.
 
You do need all three xp levels at least at 60 to make a pilot survivable
 
Sath if he catches me in strat mode it will be a baaaaad thing
 

[WLockard]

I am not sure who knows this, but pilots will increase a skill above 70, just not experience.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: WLockard

I am not sure who knows this, but pilots will increase a skill above 70, just not experience.

yeah, pilots increase their skill above 70 using the training mission. I´ve just used the 70 as the skill that enables them to join a frontline squadron. Exp is a different affair, it hardly increases at all if you meet 50+.

[Andy Mac]

OK well next turn is decision time.

If its a raid (and thats still a possibility) then I let my LBA fight it out.

If its an invasion I have a decision to make.

I have 4 USN and 1 RN Carrier lying south of Melbourne and a powerfull surface fleet in Melbourne harbour.

Do I wait and let my LBA attrit him a little before going for it or do I try to weaken hit CAP 1st with my carriers then go for his transports with light SCTF's backed by LBA.

6 IJN CV's plus say most of mini KB v 4 USN and 1 RN CV is a tough battle for me to win on day 1

But if he has a few more unescorted strikes of if my P39's and P40's can chew him up a bit even if only to damage aircraft a day 2 strike by my Carriers could be devastating - but that assmes I let him land some forces....

Choices choices

Not helped by the fact that my entire Surface Fleet consists of old decrepit battlewagons

Ramilles, Revenge and Resoulution can only make 21 knots
Idaho, New Mexico and Mississippi have only got 14" guns

My best Battlewagon is HMS Warspite with Admiral Somervilles flag aboard and she aint no spring chicken