All-out attack

[landlubber]

How can I enforce an all-out attack of dive bombers, level bombers, escorting and strafing fighters etc. located at a base, nevertheless how strong the enemy is? (If the Japanese naval forces are pretty strong all my aircrafts are always hold back and are slaughtered on ground as sitting ducks.)

[topeverest]

Welcome to the forum. Dont think that is what is causing a lack of attack

things can cause this...low air unit moral, low supply, airfield damage, invalidated aviation support. Also weather, enemy air superiority can factor. Also check mission settings. Set units to only one mission, naval or CAP. ensure no other mission is allocated

[sprior]

You can not "enforce" an attack, only make the conditions for said attack to occur as good as possible.

[landlubber]

Many thanks for your reply.

In my annoying case there is large amount of supply available at the base (Batavia in February 1942) , sufficient aviation support, no or only weak airfield damage etc. However, multiple missions may cause such a frustrating behaviour - I have to check this issue.

[crsutton]

Also, use very aggressive commanders for you bombers.

[topeverest]

Experience of units has a impact, and Dutch air force is pretty poorly experienced.

[pmath]

Sometimes when my planes don't attack major Jap tagets early in the war, it is because they would get slaughtered and their commander overrides my optimistic and aggressive orders, (fortunately). In these instances the losses on the ground are much less than in the air. At this stage you have to pull your air assets back from concentrated overwhelming Japanese air/sea onslaughts. Since bombardment occurs prior to morning flights, he can take you out of action before you can respond if you are within range of surface forces. Look for opportunities to concentrate significant base forces and fighters at locations where he has to fly great distances to get to you. You will be inflicting op losses in addition to air to air losses and escort becomes problematic for him.

Notice, I am not suggesting you withdraw out of his air range, but rather move the battle deeper into your own lines and not try to defend the front where he has overwhelming numbers to go with his overwhelming quality advantage. The deeper into your lines he has to go to get to you, the more precious pilots he loses bailing out over hostile turf.

My 2 cents...

[The Gnome]

I still don't like the idea of units not flying because someone has a hangnail or some other mysterious reason the AI makes up behind the scenes. We shouldn't have to massage things indirectly to get it to get a raid to fly.

"If the leader is aggressive, and he had a good meal, and is an aries, with Mars in ascension, then look if the pilots aren't too depressed, and feel like flying that day, but if the enemy is especially scary they may not go anyway." Ugh.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: The Gnome

I still don't like the idea of units not flying because someone has a hangnail or some other mysterious reason the AI makes up behind the scenes. We shouldn't have to massage things indirectly to get it to get a raid to fly.

"If the leader is aggressive, and he had a good meal, and is an aries, with Mars in ascension, then look if the pilots aren't too depressed, and feel like flying that day, but if the enemy is especially scary they may not go anyway." Ugh.

You ever been in the military? Ever hear of a white mutiny?[:)]

[The Gnome]

I would go to the Roman solution: Every tenth man up against the wall. Anyone else not want to fly?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: The Gnome

I would go to the Roman solution: Every tenth man up against the wall. Anyone else not want to fly?

Ah, decimation! The good old days. (French army in WWI . . .)

As to your solution, remember that the brass don't have very many actual weapons. That's why the CO in wooden ship days had marines--to protect him from his own crew.

[LoBaron]

Often its wise not to use an all out attack (by which I mean an alpha strike on a specific target with all units available) but
to attack in smaller "packages" separated by altitude. You get better chances of coordination thsi way.
Also make sure that you do not fly other missions in the area at the same altitudes.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Experience of units has a impact, and Dutch air force is pretty poorly experienced.

This is still a key determinant no matter how "aggressive" the supreme commander (aka player) is. The Dutch have a lot of small units, coordination is difficult (due to high unit numbers and low exp), and low NavBomb skill. Good luck getting them to attack the KB, if that is your goal.