Ground Support Fatal Bug

[Omnius]

I was enjoying the results of a ground support subphase with version 1.215 when after the completion of all the air combats and return of escorts then concluding each ground support addition the program just got lost. The F10 key trick didn't work. It just froze saying ground support attack. I tried it again and again it finished all air combats but before it did the additions it just crapped out again. I think on the third try it did the additions again before stopping without going to the next step. After three tries I just decided to call it a night as it's late and post a bug report.

I have done numerous ground support subphases, many with more ground support attempts and never have I had the program freeze on me right before I should be returning the bombers home. This is the first time I've flown strategic bombers on extended range to do ground support and I'm wondering if there's a bug that won't allow them to return to base although they could land closer within normal range easily. Does anyone know if this is a problem in version 1.215? If so I'll have to go back to the land combat declaration phase and redo them so I can redo ground support from scratch and leave out the long range bombers.

Omnius

[Omnius]

I tried one last time to get my saved game to work but it failed yet again when bombers should have returned to base. I went back and redid the ground support to not include any British strategic bombers from flying GS on extended range and the first attempt went through perfectly. So it sure seems like bombers flying ground support at extended range crash that routine when it comes time to fly back to base. I did fly strategic bombers at extended range in 1.207 for strategic bombing but not ground support.

Omnius

[Centuur]

I tried to load the saved game into the program, but I'm getting an error message. This save is damaged...

[warspite1]

I had some difficulty with the Soviet bombers recently. If a bomber flies using extended range to target, presumably it can re-base after the attack at extended range. If it does not use extended range - but is capable of doing so, can it use extended range to re-base?

Edit: 14.2 No - they can only rebase at extended range if they used extended range to reach the target. I will need to test that some more as I do not know if I was encountering a bug or just user incompetence....

[Omnius]

Centuur,
Try this new saved game file. It starts in the attacker interception phase and put the two Soviet fighters into the battle near them, otherwise it's set to go straight to air combat.

I was just finishing up a big set of ground support combats and thinking that in version 1.215 air combat seems less problematic than 1.201 as I only had to use the F10 trick once, with one air combat lasting 14 rounds and another about 12. I had a shot with a National Chinese AA unit so went for it and scored a hit. After reducing the 1 point Japanese tactical bomber I clicked okay and the program crashed and burned. Aargh! After a dinner break and short nap I decided to try it again but this time I would just say no to the AA. Once again I went through all of the air combats and this time I said no to the Chinese and American AA shots and then the program crapped out on my yet again, just as it gave me one of the addition screens. Double Aargh!!

This correlates with my first problem where I noticed it saying Ground Support: Attack at the top of the screen. I made certain to not include any bombers on extended range, I learned from the problem before.

Dang, now I have to go back to the land declaration if the ground support CAP autosave doesn't work properly.

Omnius

[Centuur]

I don't have to do so. It appears there's sometimes a problem with reloading games with the beta test version we beta testers are now using. Paul got your game loaded in an earlier version of MWIF and could confirm that there is a bug. Thanks anyway.

[Omnius]

Centuur,
I'm glad that Steve could get the last file working. I'm using the beta version of 1.215 and know that those using a newer version can have problems opening older version saved game.

Can you tell me what kind of bug it is that Steve is attempting to fix. Obviously this being my second time experiencing this bug I'm trying to figure out what is causing the fatal problem so I avoid doing it. I stopped running bombers on extended range for ground support so that didn't cause the problem this time. I got stopped right after an AA fire the first time with this new bug so on my second try I chose not to do AA fire and it bombed on me after the first ground support addition screen. I'm trying to figure out what to not do so I don't have to fear ground support in 1.215.

Thanks!

Omnius

[paulderynck]

I think you gave Steve an excellent lead in that it seems to be caused by Strat Bombers flying extended range to do a ground support mission and you proved it doesn't happen on a Strat bombing mission.

[Omnius]

paulderynck,
I'm glad that my first file and bug report gave Steve a lead on strategic bombers flying extended range on ground support. However I hope he will look at my second file which I made sure didn't have any bombers of any kind flying extended range. Now I'm baffled what is causing my new problem and am hesitant to go back to redo ground support from scratch. I am using some British strategic bombers to aid American attacks and have air units from both countries flying together.

I'm going to seriously dumb down my ground support on offense and defense. I had a few really huge air combats with well over a dozen planes involved on each side. I also wonder what effect AA might have on the problem, I have noticed it bombs after clicking through one before it will cycle to the second. I even tried skipping AA shots and it bombed after the first ground support addition screen showed.

Well as Shakespeare said, back into the breach to see if I can do ground support without the program crashing.

Omnius

[Omnius]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

I think you gave Steve an excellent lead in that it seems to be caused by Strat Bombers flying extended range to do a ground support mission and you proved it doesn't happen on a Strat bombing mission.

paulderynck,
I'm glad my first file will help Steve find the problem with strategic bombers flying ground support at extended range. Can you make sure that Steve looks at the second saved game file I attached here afterwards. It does not contain bombers on extended range and it does contain a new bug that prevents the ground support addition screens to cycle to the return to bomber phase.

I tried a whole bunch of different tests of ground support missions after reloading to the ground support CAP subphase. I tried each combat separately and some together. I couldn't find any problems with strategic bombers from any one country flying at normal range nor did the AA fire mess things up. My best guess is the sheer volume of aircraft flying in the second saved game.

After wasting three days on this problem I was able to overcome it by reducing the number of planes flying. Hence my suspicion that I was exceeding some kind of limit like memory registers for aircraft flying during a ground support subphase.

Now I get to see what happens when Italy surrenders as I have plenty of German units in Italian cities just to see if they maintain Axis control of hexes in their ZOC's. I read before that this is a bug so am glad I have 2 German mountain corps sitting in Austrian mountain hexes just south of Munich. Speaking of Munich I'll be visiting that beautiful city in two weeks and will enjoy seeing my first soccer match as Bayern Munich entertains SV Werder Bremen. I'll be seeing those mountain hexes in person soon as I visit with family there and in Austria.

Omnius

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Omnius

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

I think you gave Steve an excellent lead in that it seems to be caused by Strat Bombers flying extended range to do a ground support mission and you proved it doesn't happen on a Strat bombing mission.

paulderynck,
I'm glad my first file will help Steve find the problem with strategic bombers flying ground support at extended range. Can you make sure that Steve looks at the second saved game file I attached here afterwards. It does not contain bombers on extended range and it does contain a new bug that prevents the ground support addition screens to cycle to the return to bomber phase.

I tried a whole bunch of different tests of ground support missions after reloading to the ground support CAP subphase. I tried each combat separately and some together. I couldn't find any problems with strategic bombers from any one country flying at normal range nor did the AA fire mess things up. My best guess is the sheer volume of aircraft flying in the second saved game.

After wasting three days on this problem I was able to overcome it by reducing the number of planes flying. Hence my suspicion that I was exceeding some kind of limit like memory registers for aircraft flying during a ground support subphase.

Now I get to see what happens when Italy surrenders as I have plenty of German units in Italian cities just to see if they maintain Axis control of hexes in their ZOC's. I read before that this is a bug so am glad I have 2 German mountain corps sitting in Austrian mountain hexes just south of Munich. Speaking of Munich I'll be visiting that beautiful city in two weeks and will enjoy seeing my first soccer match as Bayern Munich entertains SV Werder Bremen. I'll be seeing those mountain hexes in person soon as I visit with family there and in Austria.

Omnius

Munich. That's a very nice city to visit. Don't forget to visit the Auer Dult (it's on when you are there, I believe). And try to find some left over Oktoberfestbeer, it's great beer.

[Omnius]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Munich. That's a very nice city to visit. Don't forget to visit the Auer Dult (it's on when you are there, I believe). And try to find some left over Oktoberfestbeer, it's great beer.

Centuur,
I leave my itinerary to my family as they know Munich much better than I do. They are the best tour guides. I will make mention of it to see what it is. I'm sure there'll be plenty of beer after Oktoberfest and lots less tourists.

Please make sure to suggest to Steve to look at my second saved game. There is a new and different bug in that save that wasn't in the first save where I showed the strategic bombers on extended range were causing that problem. Right now I have to hold my breath each time I do ground support as I worry about getting stuck again.

Omnius