A Japanese Debacle - Sqz (J) vs. fcharton (A)

[SqzMyLemon]

Feb. 15/42:

The great Wagga Wagga turkey shoot. I'm stunned at these results, which have to be the worst Japanese sweeps I've ever seen this early in the war. I know I'm up against the best Allied pilots, but still. This round goes to the Allies and highlights just how brittle my air force is and how poorly it is performing against American pilots. The butcher's bill on the day was 18 Japanese aircraft lost to only 3 Allied. So much for trying to attrite Allied naval air. Ouch. AAR's follow:

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Morning Air attack on Wagga Wagga , at 85,167

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
F2A-3 Buffalo x 26
F4F-3A Wildcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 15 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 23000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 29400.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 8 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 23000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Wagga Wagga , at 85,167

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 28

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
F2A-3 Buffalo x 19
F4F-3A Wildcat x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 23000 , scrambling fighters between 23040 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 23000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes

I'm not sure if it's my high altitude that is causing the problems, but it seemed like the air battles were a sweep in reverse. Despite an overwhelming Japanese advantage in numbers to begin the engagements, the Allied planes were initiating the combat and some Japanese fighters didn't get a chance to shoot at all. A rough day over Wagga Wagga.

In happier news, Palembang falls easily to the first deliberate assault. The facilities are lightly damaged at Oil 891(4) and the refinery is 743(7). AAR follows:

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Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10346 troops, 79 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 396

Defending force 3144 troops, 61 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

Japanese adjusted assault: 385

Allied adjusted defense: 55

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palembang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1326 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 62 (61 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division

Defending units:
Lahat Cdo
Palembang Cdo
XI KNIL Bn /1
Malaya Army
Palembang ML Base Force
A-I-Ld AA Battalion
PBg-Ld AA Afd

In other news, KB targets LI at Townsville and scores 11 hits against the industry.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon
In happier news, Palembang falls easily to the first deliberate assault. The facilities are lightly damaged at Oil 891(4) and the refinery is 743(7).

Looks like your opponent did not even try to get more engineers to Palembang, heh.
Congratulations, this is a big "Phew!" moment for every JFB

[PaxMondo]

Yeah, well, this is where the low DUR of the early IJ fighters really shows up. And face it, Oscar 1c are just long range Nates ... very brittle.

I'm thinking weather was a big issue for you ... a lot of your damages converted to losses .... oh well.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yeah, well, this is where the low DUR of the early IJ fighters really shows up. And face it, Oscar 1c are just long range Nates ... very brittle.

I'm thinking weather was a big issue for you ... a lot of your damages converted to losses .... oh well.

Agree. You may want to try this option: Put the Oscars on Lr CAP. Use the Zeroes to sweep at their best maneuver band. Make sure the Oscars are over the Zeroes so they get to dive.

Always check plane fatigue prior to flying and always allocate some percentage to rest unless all planes and pilots have a 0 fatigue.

[SqzMyLemon]

Weather should affect both sides equally, no? I've been getting screwed by weather all game anyway whenever I perform offensive missions. Fatigue was not an issue. These aircraft had been performing light CAP duties over Sydney or training before the sweep.

Actually, the Oscar's performed better then the Zero. Damaged more Allied airframes and accounted for 2 of the 3 air kills. The Zero has performed awful against the Wildcat and Buffalo all game. Not impressed with it at all and definitely not what I am used to seeing in stock or Babes light before Symon's changes.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yeah, well, this is where the low DUR of the early IJ fighters really shows up. And face it, Oscar 1c are just long range Nates ... very brittle.

I'm thinking weather was a big issue for you ... a lot of your damages converted to losses .... oh well.

Agree. You may want to try this option: Put the Oscars on Lr CAP. Use the Zeroes to sweep at their best maneuver band. Make sure the Oscars are over the Zeroes so they get to dive.

Always check plane fatigue prior to flying and always allocate some percentage to rest unless all planes and pilots have a 0 fatigue.

My LRCAP didn't show up. I had Zero's set to LRCAP at 15k to draw the CAP down. It showed up in the combat reports, but actually didn't play a role in combat whatsoever in either sweep. I've had success with this tactic before, but when your LRCAP doesn't show up you get burned.

[SqzMyLemon]

I'm still not playing well and still haven't recovered from the changes in DBB. Everything from aircraft performance, reduced aviation and naval support and the extreme reduction in endurance of many classes of combat & patrol ships is taking its toll. I'm not liking having to mass so many support units at a base to have any combat capability. It feels artificial and contrived to me in comparison to 80% of my previous gaming experience with WitPAE. I know most of you love it, I still don't and can't buy into it for some reason. Too bad they didn't get it 'right' the first time with the stock version. I'm a product of too many stock scenario's to embrace this mod I guess.

[SqzMyLemon]

This is becoming ridiculous. The Zero is absolute shit in DBB. I can't get intercepts or kills against unescorted Allied bombers now. Really? I don't have any radar yet of course, but these kinds of raids against CAP should be getting decimated. Instead, the Zero can't penetrate the defensive fire. These Mitchell's are indestructible when I face them. AAR follows:

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Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 90,167 (Sydney)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Mitchell II bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

I don't get a single pass at the Dauntless bombers in the initial attack or a post bombing fire phase. What gives? AAR follows:

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Yosyu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

What a sucker I was to play Japan in DBB.

[SqzMyLemon]

I forgot this nugget. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at Praboemoelih (48,92)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 289 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

Defending force 2222 troops, 14 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /1

Defending units:
Lahat Cdo
Palembang Cdo
XI KNIL Bn /1
Palembang ML Base Force
Malaya Army
PBg-Ld AA Afd

WTF is wrong with this game now? This parachute unit was 100% prepped for the target and I get slapped with 80% disruption. The defenders had just been routed from Palembang, no forts, clear terrain base hex and I get 1:99 odds? This is a joke.

[Lokasenna]

I can immediately spy why:

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'm not sure if it's my high altitude that is causing the problems, but it seemed like the air battles were a sweep in reverse.

Scrolling up to your combat report...

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 23000 , scrambling fighters between 23040 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 23000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes

His planes were ordered to climb higher than yours to get the dive. This is why I always sweep as high as possible.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

In happier news, Palembang falls easily to the first deliberate assault. The facilities are lightly damaged at Oil 891(4) and the refinery is 743(7).

That's a very small refinery size, no? Did this scenario drop it?

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

Looks like your opponent did not even try to get more engineers to Palembang, heh.
Congratulations, this is a big "Phew!" moment for every JFB

My opponent moved lots more forces to Palembang. I captured it 100% intact. The "gospel" that more engineers = more stuff blows up is not very accurate, IMO. Maybe it happens, but more probably it doesn't. By contrast, against the same opponent Singapore was entirely blown up despite minimal engineers present.

I don't get a single pass at the Dauntless bombers in the initial attack or a post bombing fire phase. What gives? AAR follows:

Detection time. In both of the raids you are upset about, time to target is less than 10 minutes. It is 5 minutes in one, and 6 minutes in this one. That's exactly why.

[SqzMyLemon]

I mentioned having no radar, so yes the detection times matter, but are you telling me that 34 Zero fighters set to 50 CAP and 20 Rest have no chance of interdicting a raid of Dauntless DB's flying from Ambon? There was only a 5k difference in altitude so it wasn't like they were totally out of the picture. This is what I'm upset about. There should have been aircraft already airborne as indicated in the combat report with 4 fighters intercepting now...I didn't get a single pass at the bombers, including a post-air attack phase as I mentioned. That's not right.

We currently have a 25k max altitude HR. I make the same argument as you about warning times over Wagga Wagga on the 14th. The Allies had only 5 mins notice, yet I got my ass handed to me. I swept Wagga Wagga at 25k, with five minutes warning I should have been able to trounce his initial CAP until his standby aircraft reached the scene. Same situation and both end up badly for Japan. Again, that's not right.

This whole game just feels wrong to me now.

[SqzMyLemon]

I understand I'm the only one in this forum that seems to have a problem. I used to actually enjoy playing Japan, it was challenging and tense, but still fun. This mod is nothing short of an exercise in frustration for me now.

[SqzMyLemon]

I'm going to take a break from the AAR and forum for awhile. The stress of losing my job, the stress of playing this frustrating mod, the disappointment of yet another PBEM being dead in the water with my opponent (Chickenboy) completely AWOL, has me hating WitP at the moment. I don't need the aggravation. I'm sure Francois will keep things going, but I need a break from posting the complete frustration I have playing this game right now.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I mentioned having no radar, so yes the detection times matter, but are you telling me that 34 Zero fighters set to 50 CAP and 20 Rest have no chance of interdicting a raid of Dauntless DB's flying from Ambon? There was only a 5k difference in altitude so it wasn't like they were totally out of the picture. This is what I'm upset about. There should have been aircraft already airborne as indicated in the combat report with 4 fighters intercepting now...I didn't get a single pass at the bombers, including a post-air attack phase as I mentioned. That's not right.

We currently have a 25k max altitude HR. I make the same argument as you about warning times over Wagga Wagga on the 14th. The Allies had only 5 mins notice, yet I got my ass handed to me. I swept Wagga Wagga at 25k, with five minutes warning I should have been able to trounce his initial CAP until his standby aircraft reached the scene. Same situation and both end up badly for Japan. Again, that's not right.

This whole game just feels wrong to me now.

What number of hexes did you set the CAP to patrol? If those 34 aircraft had to go off several hexes in all directions very few would be available close to home base ...

[FeurerKrieg]

We currently have a 25k max altitude HR. I make the same argument as you about warning times over Wagga Wagga on the 14th. The Allies had only 5 mins notice, yet I got my ass handed to me. I swept Wagga Wagga at 25k, with five minutes warning I should have been able to trounce his initial CAP until his standby aircraft reached the scene. Same situation and both end up badly for Japan. Again, that's not right.

I was under the impression that the changes to the aircraft stats in DBB were partly done to avoid the need for altitude HRs. The difference between high and low mvr was increased so there is now a bit of cat and mouse with doing CAP low or high and using the right planes in the right roles.

Maybe its just me, but we have no HR for altitude and I haven't seen anything lopsided or unrealistic yet. If you CAP at 30,000+ feet, the bombers barely get touched, so you have to have a mix. BTW - I'm not saying you aren't doing this, just saying that without a HR you can't just set everything to max all the time. At least that's my experience with DBB.

Maybe you should consider scrapping this HR?

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'm still not playing well and still haven't recovered from the changes in DBB. Everything from aircraft performance, reduced aviation and naval support and the extreme reduction in endurance of many classes of combat & patrol ships is taking its toll. I'm not liking having to mass so many support units at a base to have any combat capability. It feels artificial and contrived to me in comparison to 80% of my previous gaming experience with WitPAE. I know most of you love it, I still don't and can't buy into it for some reason. Too bad they didn't get it 'right' the first time with the stock version. I'm a product of too many stock scenario's to embrace this mod I guess.

Don't feel bad. I don't play DBB for the same reasons. If it had been launched this way, maybe. But now, too difficult to shift and for the IJ early on VERY hard to get used to. The allied player has several years to get adjusted.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Weather should affect both sides equally, no? I've been getting screwed by weather all game anyway whenever I perform offensive missions. Fatigue was not an issue. These aircraft had been performing light CAP duties over Sydney or training before the sweep.

Weather will impact aircraft that have to fly further ... you are on attack, it impacts you far more.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

This is becoming ridiculous. The Zero is absolute shit in DBB. I can't get intercepts or kills against unescorted Allied bombers now. Really? I don't have any radar yet of course, but these kinds of raids against CAP should be getting decimated. Instead, the Zero can't penetrate the defensive fire. These Mitchell's are indestructible when I face them. AAR follows:

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Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 90,167 (Sydney)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Mitchell II bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

Well, here you only had 7 Zeros and 2 Oscar able to intercept prior to bomb run. All the others were tail chasing ... poor odds.
So at best you had 9 vs 8. But actually much worse. You had 3 v 8 followed by 3 v 8 followed by 1 v 8 followed by 2 v 8.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I mentioned having no radar, so yes the detection times matter, but are you telling me that 34 Zero fighters set to 50 CAP and 20 Rest

This means 17 set to CAP: 1/3 up, 1/3 standby, 1/3 ready on AVERAGE. So, that would be 6/6/6. BUT, that's an average. What you see is from 3 - 9 at any of the 3 slots because the planes rotate.
Gary handles this with his usual randomness.

So if you have 4 Zeros up and they are facing say 20 Db's, there is a chance they wont' attack as they are so out numbered. Leader skills of course impact this as well as pilot skills, but never forget the randomness.
Further, if there is any weather, odds drop as they may simply not find them (Random outcome).

So are you getting some tough rolls? yeah. But also, you simply don't have enough fighters allotted to stop the size of raids coming in.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I mentioned having no radar, so yes the detection times matter, but are you telling me that 34 Zero fighters set to 50 CAP and 20 Rest

This means 17 set to CAP: 1/3 up, 1/3 standby, 1/3 ready on AVERAGE. So, that would be 6/6/6. BUT, that's an average. What you see is from 3 - 9 at any of the 3 slots because the planes rotate.
Gary handles this with his usual randomness.

So if you have 4 Zeros up and they are facing say 20 Db's, there is a chance they wont' attack as they are so out numbered. Leader skills of course impact this as well as pilot skills, but never forget the randomness.
Further, if there is any weather, odds drop as they may simply not find them (Random outcome).

So are you getting some tough rolls? yeah. But also, you simply don't have enough fighters allotted to stop the size of raids coming in.

I appreciate you trying to explain things, but in this case I just don't buy it. Here's why. This is a combat report of the same unit based at Manado the day before flying LRCAP of an amphibious TF. It intercepts this raid at a range of 4 hexes and the time to target is 4 mins.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Loewoek at 73,102

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Meisho Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Midori Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-2 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead

Granted, I'm closer in altitude so is that the only reason I get an intercept? Four Zero's and three shot down Dauntless' is pretty damn good shooting considering it was LRCAP.

Now back to the original example.

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Yosyu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

Ok, I'm a little high for this one. This CAP was 50/20 as previously mentioned and set to a range of 0. I had two phases to intercept, the original bombing run and the post-air attack phase. OK, so the Dauntless' are in and out before I can intercept? I find it ridiculous that I have LRCAP over a TF that can intercept an enemy bombing raid at sea, but CAP assigned to patrol Ternate specifically can't interdict 6 unescorted bombers in two combat phases? And for DBB, having 34 Zero's available is a lot. This is my biggest complaint against the numbers argument. I simply can't have 50-75-100 fighters at every base in DBB. In any other situation, 34 fighters assigned to CAP a base is a decent defence, especially against such a small raid. I get the randomness, but as always, I'm a little tired of being on the short end. I have no control over how my CAP is committed. I'm staggering CAP (when I have the luxury of enough aviation support for more than one air unit) and my minimum settings for CAP when I expect an attack are 50 CAP 20 Rest. If it's so easy for six or eight unescorted bombers to exploit my CAP so be it. Why assign CAP at all then as Japan with no radar, because it's apparently a complete crapshoot if they'll even engage. I might as well stick to playing the lottery, I have as much chance to win that as I do to get some decent combat results in this game.

I no longer have the patience for this kind of inconsistency. The paratroop drop I mentioned earlier is a perfect example. I'm sure someone will point out, well your leadership roll failed and that's why. Well, I say why did it fail in the first place. Fully prepped for the target against disrupted and routed troops and because of a failed roll they get wiped out? Well, what shit luck for me I guess. I should be used to it by now and have no need to complain.