Pilot Training Groups

[Lokasenna]

Yes, I would assume that XP helps reduce ops losses and the like, same with Transport skill. Why else would it exist as a skill?

For fighter pilots, I train 100% in Escort first. Once the group average is at/near 70, I either train in Strafe or fly CAP (either 80/20 Rest or some lower percentage while still training) so that they gain XP.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

pilots gain less exp/ skill in CAP than in full training.
And air training being the main, if not the only role for fighters, it is absolutely my 1st training priority.
Once they reach the desired 50 EXP, 70 AIR, then depending on the situation, they will fill combat squadrons or continue training on strafe

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

pilots gain less exp/ skill in CAP than in full training.
And air training being the main, if not the only role for fighters, it is absolutely my 1st training priority.
Once they reach the desired 50 EXP, 70 AIR, then depending on the situation, they will fill combat squadrons or continue training on strafe

This is true. However in my observations this is true to a point. Pilots definitely seem to gain a modicum of Experience when flying "combat" missions, even if it's just CAP over a backwater bunker, and this gain is faster than if they were on Training. This seems to be true once they've passed a value somewhere around upper-40s or low-50s Experience. Obviously, this sort of experience increase is nothing compared to actual combat, but also less risky to the pilot (again, obvious).

In my game with Bullwinkle, I've transferred a half dozen pilots into TRACOM from a unit flying front line CAP even when there hasn't been combat in between. I really doubt that if they'd been flying an identical percentage on Training: Escort that I'd have had them at 81+.

[Gaspote]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

pilots gain less exp/ skill in CAP than in full training.
And air training being the main, if not the only role for fighters, it is absolutely my 1st training priority.
Once they reach the desired 50 EXP, 70 AIR, then depending on the situation, they will fill combat squadrons or continue training on strafe

What is the defence level you try to have ? 70 too ?

I don't understand what you said. After exp 50 and when air and strafe are at 70, my pilots don't seems to gain exp from training.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Gaspote

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

pilots gain less exp/ skill in CAP than in full training.
And air training being the main, if not the only role for fighters, it is absolutely my 1st training priority.
Once they reach the desired 50 EXP, 70 AIR, then depending on the situation, they will fill combat squadrons or continue training on strafe

What is the defence level you try to have ? 70 too ?

I don't understand what you said. After exp 50 and when air and strafe are at 70, my pilots don't seems to gain exp from training.

They will gain experience from training, but it will be very slow. Best to put them on combat orders - flying CAP, searching ocean, performing recon, etc.

[IdahoNYer]

My fighter pilots seem to have little problem gaining experience by training them in sweep and then stafing. but my bomber training program increases their proficiency in search, ground and naval attacks - but experience is VERY slow to climb. Is that normal?

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

Training Japanese torpedo bombers for Naval attack--

What altitudes are best? I am not sure if I had a bad roll or not, but I had a swarm of 60+ Torpedo bombers (trained at 13k altitude with 50 experience/70 Nav T skill) not get any hits on a US CV fleet in October 1943. After the battle my opponent suggested that I train the torpedo bombers at 5-6k altitude, and that maybe Low Nav attack skill matters for torpedo bombers? Or is Low Nav skill only for skip bombing? I am not sure, as in the beginning of the game your KB pilots are rock stars with high stats across the board, but my pilots were the 2nd graduating class that were trained in just Nav Attack and Nav Search at 13k.

I've also had the same problem with Betty torpedo bombers that broke through and also scored zero hits. So my training must be off, but what is the right answer? Thanks very much!!

[richlove]

Lots of factors could have influenced your attack - weather, AA, leaders (on both sides), how much CAP you had to fight through all come to mind. HOWEVER, if your guys were torpedo armed they were using NavT skill, not NavB or LowN. In other words, they had the wrong skills.

To train NavT: train at 5000 ft, with a group that can be armed with torpedoes, ala:

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

thanks Richlove. So then training my torpedo bombers at 5k altitude on Naval Attack (zero range, about 70% training is what I think works)

To clarify my last post, my torpedo bombers were at approximately 50 experience and 70 NavT (Naval Attack torpedo), and the dive bombers on a side note were about 50 Xp and 70 NavB (divebombing) as well. The Hellcat CAP vs Zero Escort was about equal and I seemed to get a large number of fruitless attacks in. It was a game changing event as you can imagine- because the Allied counterstrike plastered the KB. At least it lasted till late 1943 I guess .

Here's the brief combat report on the attack, thunderstorms in hex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Biak at 90,107

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 65
B5N2 Kate x 7
B6N1 Jill x 26
D4Y1 Judy x 62



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 72


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B6N1 Jill: 13 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 24 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington
CV Essex, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CA Baltimore



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x B6N1 Jill bombing from 13000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
2 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x B6N1 Jill bombing from 13000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 14 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
VF-71 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Essex

[richlove]

Oh, I think I mis-read your first post. If you have 50 XP / 70 NavT, your skill level is not a problem. It looks like the thunderstorms were the decisive factor. It also looks like the Hellcats had the time to intercept your strike, which probably disrupted your attack somewhat. LoBaron will probably swoop in and provide more detail ([8D]).

[jmalter]

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer
My fighter pilots seem to have little problem gaining experience by training them in sweep and then stafing. but my bomber training program increases their proficiency in search, ground and naval attacks - but experience is VERY slow to climb. Is that normal?

It is normal in my experience. Bomber training seems to max EXP at the mid-50's, after that, only 'combat ops' will add to their experience. NavS, ASW, Recon & Transport ops will slowly gain EXP & add'l skill - Bomber ops are a bit faster. Have you tried training your bombers to Strafe?

note: even rear-area Fighters will gain EXP if set to CAP.
also: I often use Fighter airgroups to train pilots in GrdB, LowG, LowN & Sweep (at 100') for use as bomber pilots, b/c they gain EXP faster, & can reach high Defense skill.

[gRaider2001]

I just want to say thank you to everybody who commented in this thread. It has been very helpful in me understanding how to train my pilot:-)

[bobogoboom]

Are you always training at 100%?

[smpicciano]

I am playing this game for the first time as Japan (on turn 2) and trying to wrap my arms around this huge beast called pilot training. I have attached two flow charts based on input from the Japan set-up matrix and comments from the forum. Needless to say I have a few questions:

1. Why is there no Mavis training set-up for turn 2? Does it come later? What is training is required for Mavis pilots? NavS?

2. If it is recommended that in order to train on GrdB that the altitude be set at “over 6000," then why is the 61st Sentai (Ki21-1c Sally) set to Ground Attack at 6k?

3. Torpedo bomber pilots need training on NavT, NavB, NavS, and GrdB. How do I go about doing this? Right now, based on the set-up matrix, all the torpedo planes are set up to do training on Naval Attack. Do I divide units and train each on a separate task?

4. Five of the six torpedo plane units are training with Torpedoes. Will they only gain in NavT? One of these torpedo plane units (Yokosuka Ku K-2 Kates located in Yokosuka) has “Using TORPEDOES” in red. What will they get training in? NavT or NavB? How do I fix this? Will the one unit training in Naval Attack with bombs (CTF Det T-1 B5M1 Mabel in Shanghai) get training in NavB?

5. What units require training in LowN and LowG? I don’t see anything in the set-up matrix on this?

6. Below is what I am training for Japan Navy Pilot requirements:
Fighter – Train until they reach 65+ Air and 65+ Defn
ASW – Train until they reach ASW 60+ and 50+ Exp
MB (Nell/Betty) – Train until they reach 60+NavT and 60+ NavS
Patrol (Mavis) – How do I set-up training and what do they need to train on?
Float Planes – Train until they reach 60+ NavS, 60+ ASW, and 60+ Defn
Torpedo – Train until they reach 60+ NavT, 60+ NavB, 60+ NavS, and 60+ GrdB
Dive – Train until they reach 60+ NavB, 60+ ASW, & 60+ GrdB
Trans – Train until they reach 60+ Trans & 60+ Defn

7. Below is what I am training for Japan Army Pilot requirements:
Fighter – Train until they reach 65+ Air and 65+ Defn
ASW/Bomber – Train until they reach 60+ Exp, 60+ GrdB, 60+ASW, & 60+ Defn
Trans – Train until they reach 60+ Trans & 60+ Defn
Recon – Train until they reach 60+ Recon & 60+ Defn

Many thanks for any help and critique.