Japan Base Construction - Day 2 Orders

[Cuprite]

Thanks Gents - Interesting working through shipbuilding and airframe/engine issues even in PDU off. After lurking for 8 years and playing small scenarios against the AI the campaign game is an interesting challenge, and we Brits are very understated. Hopefully soon in a position to get the ball rolling.......
Again - I wouldn't have even contemplated without Kull's starter sheet - good job the AI doesn't know the moves!

[Ian R]

ORIGINAL: Kull


....

2) When "Auto-Select Commander:" is "On" (selectable), the TF commander will be chosen from the pool of Naval Commanders (not one of the ship captains). I tried a few different TFs (playing as Japan) and wound up with Rear Admirals leading Surface Combat TFs (probably good) AND Cargo TFs (really??!!)

.... I guess there's a chance you'll wind up with somebody who is superior to the ship captain, but there's no guarantee.

One of the first things I do as the allies is form some SC TFs with BBs & DMS in them and get the exe to select the leaders. I then remove the BBs from the TF, switch it to MSW, and replace the DMS with YMS. Alternately it becomes a PT boat TF. Admirals Pye, etc perform sterling service patrolling San Fransisco Bay and Puget Sound. There is some really aggressive rear admiral with poor other skills whose name escapes me, I like him in charge of my base-protection PTS at PH. He'll charge the IJN line of battle and at least run them out of ammo[8D]

[Cuprite]

Next Snafu - Amending Industry production
I read from the Interface addendum 8.2.4 that it should be possible to modify production adding/decreasing by (1) or (10) or (to max) using the six buttons on the Expand level.
Running Version 1_7_11_25_11 I am unable to see this menu - what am I missing guys please?

[RangerJoe]

Go to the top of the screen and click on industry management. Click on the specific industry that you want and you will see the buttons.

You can also just look at manpower, resources, and refineries to turn off repairs.

[Cuprite]

Thanks Ranger Joe
I call up Industry Management Screen and Select Engines as below
e.g. I left click Gifu - Mitsubishi Ha-31 (green for Base, Type Upgd/Repair/Prod all Yes) and I get the message
"Click to activate change menu for Engine Factory (245 in pool)"
I get no further menu allowing choice of size of increase/decrease in capacity as I would expect from interface addendum
Should there be a pop up or something I should now see?
thanks

[RangerJoe]

Click on the "Mitsubishi Ha-31" and you will see what you want to the right of "Size-producing."

[Cuprite]

Hi Ranger Joe
This is what I'm offered - no size choice as far as I can see

[RangerJoe]

You need to have enough supply there to even try to expand it. It takes 200 supply to increase it plus another 1000 to repair it. Try it at Tokyo and see what changes.

You will have to go to each base and increase the supply request. You need to have 10,000 supply at a base to make the repairs to the industry.

[Cuprite]

Brilliant - understood - many thanks

[RangerJoe]

You are welcome.

[Cuprite]

Missing Pilots and Unknown Groups
I am "losing" pilots in reassigning, mainly from training groups to front line groups, and note some data in Tracker I don't fully understand, re attachment.
e.g. The pilots "missing" in Unknown Group 1051 are, using their pilot ID, originally members of the 50th Sentai. The tracker data suggests their re-entry into the good fight is delayed until 42/01 to 43/12. If this is correct - why?
Similarly pilots originally from Zuiho-1 show as Unknown Goup 523 with re-entry 42/07 to 44/06.
The eight IJN TB pilots I thought had been transferred into reserve last move show as delay 1 day, but as unknown group 508, and were transferred from several units - maybe the unknown group is simply a mechanism to allow a reasonable delay in transfer?
Any guidance ratefully received.

[GetAssista]

Look what is happening in the actual game, not tracker. I never lose pilots in transfers, they always end up where they are supposed to be, sometimes with delay.

You can permanently lose pilots in combat, both in the air and on the ground. You can temporarily lose pilots in combat via MIA or wounded. Also it might take some time to get pilots from the disbanded/withdrawn airgroups. But transfers work flawlessly

[scout1]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Cuprite

First campaign game newby question as Japanese player part way through Day 2 orders.
I note Kull's advice in his set-up spreadsheet suggests advancing selected port / airfield / fort facilities which are noted by base.
I note also the status quo at many more bases other than those itemised by Kull would be to continue constructing port / airfield / fort facilities?
I guess resource constraints - engineers and supply in particular, will probably dictate the trade-offs in deferring construction, but have no feel for what is viable in the context of the campaign game economy.
Should I imply the advice is to defer construction of ports / airfields / forts unless specifically noted otherwise?
Feedback appreciated, thanks

In my view, best practice is to reserve the bulk of your engineers for the "core" for much of the early game. For much of the early conquests, Japan can make do with already existing facilities, or capture them from the Allies.

Priority for building is then:

1. Development of ports to enable resource/oil/fuel imports and exports. These are key bases in the Home Islands, Korea, China and Sakhalin that start the war at a smaller size than optimal and will be used the entire war.
2. Airbases at major cities. Want these ready ASAP.
3. Airbases at hexes with static aviation support - useful for pilot training and frees up mobile aviation support units.
4. Forts at coastal hexes with open terrain.
5. Forts at coastal hexes with non-open terrain.

Outwith the core areas, I'd just make a list, organised by region, of bases you'd want developed (and to what level).

After the first six months, you should have upwards of a year to get the work done, and a handful of engineer units can do quite a lot of work if given the time to do so.

Is there an easy way to ID the airbases with static AV support, rather than searching all of them, one at a time ?