Why does nearby LBA not attack CV task force?

[jnoory]

I've been playing the Yamamoto's Prophecy scenario as the U.S. and it is mid-November 1942. I have large numbers of LBA at Port Moresby, Buna, Cooktown and Cairns. During a recent series of turns, an IJN CV task force came down the east coast of New Guniea and wiped out my transport groups. NONE of my LBA responded to that IJN TF. The air groups in New Guinea just attacked unescorted IJN transports up north around Madang and Lae while the Australian-based units did nothing at all. Nearly all of my groups were set to "naval attack" or "escort." Most of my air units have morale in the 40s and fatigue in the 20s, which isn't great, I know, but why would they totally ignore a serious threat like an enemy CV group? Does morale and fatigue affect what types of naval targets (e.g., easy ones like unescorted transports) the air units attack?

Thanks,

John Noory

[Yamamoto]

The Japanese CV group was probably out of range of your fighters so there would have been no escort for your bombers. Bombers are not very likely to attack a target with CAP unless they have escort at least equal to 1/2 the expected CAP.

Yamamoto

[mogami]

Originally posted by jnoory
I've been playing the Yamamoto's Prophecy scenario as the U.S. and it is mid-November 1942. I have large numbers of LBA at Port Moresby, Buna, Cooktown and Cairns. During a recent series of turns, an IJN CV task force came down the east coast of New Guniea and wiped out my transport groups. NONE of my LBA responded to that IJN TF. The air groups in New Guinea just attacked unescorted IJN transports up north around Madang and Lae while the Australian-based units did nothing at all. Nearly all of my groups were set to "naval attack" or "escort." Most of my air units have morale in the 40s and fatigue in the 20s, which isn't great, I know, but why would they totally ignore a serious threat like an enemy CV group? Does morale and fatigue affect what types of naval targets (e.g., easy ones like unescorted transports) the air units attack?

Thanks,

John Noory

Hi, And the morale of 40 means they start with a good chance of not flying even against "soft" targets.

Start at the top.

Air HQ present. If answer is no 25 percent drop in ac flying mission
Proper size airfield. 2 and 4 engine bombers need a size 4 to fly normal missions. (they can't fly extended range missions from airfield size 3 or less and fly normal missions with extended range loads. PM begins as size 4 so this did not occur)
Base overload. 50xairfield size. If overloaded 25 percent reduction to aircraft flying mission.

CAP check
Morale check
Leadercheck (this check decides if group will fly other checks decide if pilots will fly)

[Mr.Frag]

Don't forget the Weather checks.

And the Detection Level checks.

And we musn't forget the range 10+ check or whatever you want to call it.

And the aircraft durability less then 60 check.

And the Idiotic Command check (not sure what to call this one, but you gotta know it's in there somewhere)

It's ... it's ... a conspiracy! Yea ... thats it! a conspiracy!