Airsupport limitations

[wga8888]

Again, early 1942 as allies
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Given the limited number of avaiation support available, the australians are challenged to keep air groups operational. They are swamped with small airgroups, and the influx of US airgroups (64xB25/B26, 48xB17, 72xP39/P40). How are they suppose to keep any of these groups full strength? One can remove baseforces/aviation support units from some bases to make others more capable but reduces the number of operational bases.

[Capt]

Hi Bill;

You'll need to bring in support units from the US. If playing a human you should also bring in troops to defend Australia. Supply from either India or US will be essential.

Regards

[dr.hal]

You should have started moving those support units December 8th!

[engineer]

One more idea that verges on an exploit but you can add to your bag of tricks:

The number of political points needed to change HQ is proportional to the unit size. As your ABDA and USAFFE base forces get roughed up, it is cheaper to re-assign them to SWPAC. Since your torpedoes are nearly useless in early 1942, you can evacuate a cadre of the reassigned base forces with your subs (and possibly with your PBY's, too, using a "pick - up" transport mission so the sea planes are out of harm's way). When the Japanese kill the parent units in the DEI or the Philippines, then the fragment back in Australia will eventually rebuild to full strength. This is typically more of a mid-term solution since the rebuild will take some time, but you can always use another base force later on in the game. The other issue is that political points are golden in the early game. A

Extra tip: If you have a unit under West Coast command that you plan to move out, do not allow reinforcements until after you have changed the HQ. As the unit fills out to full strength, the cost in political points to change HQ goes up with the unit size/strength.