An Observation, Total Aircraft numbers.

[JeffroK]

Gday, I'm a numbers man and in lieu of having a "Tracker" type program I capture the daily numbers from the Campaign Summary.

Firstly, I assume they are accurate and not subject to Fog of War.

Playing the latest patches through 50ish days I have found many occasions where the Total Aircraft available stat exactly the same for a run of days despite losses having been taken. There are also a number of days where the number only moves up and down by 1 or 2.

For example, from 2/10/43 to 5/10/43 (4 days) the Luftwaffe had a total (Available & Damaged) of 3687 aircraft, losses in those days were 23 (Its winter)
From 19/9/43 to 23/9/43 (5 days) the Luftwaffe had a total (Available & Damaged) of 3476 aircraft, losses in those days were 38.
The Allies have fewer examples, maybe due to reinforcements arriving regularly but:
From 17//8/43 to 27/8/43 (11 Days) The moved from 7899 to 7914 despite losing 288 aircraft.

It may be coincidental, but could there be something limiting numbers, Like all Units maxxed out so reos cant be taken??

[Orm]

Shouldn't the Axis number be exactly the same if no new units arrive, and the pilots and aircraft reserves are enough to replace the ones lost?

[simovitch]

I just checked and the routine for adding up the planes is pretty basic. Ready/not ready planes that are based somewhere are tallied whenever you open the summary tab or at the end of the turn.

Slots are getting filled with new replacements and repaired aircraft each turn so I'm not surprised that there is a surplus of planes filling the slots to max still. I think as you move into 1944 you will start seeing more disparity turn by turn.

Keep me posted.

[JeffroK]

Thanks Guys, I have been mulling over this for a few weeks, and as I typed the thread thought of the answer.

So now the plan is to kill aircraft in the air and on the ground!

[Orm]

Or you could:

1) Destroy Axis aircraft production so they do get limited replacement aircraft.
2) Remove Axis pilots from action faster than the replacement pilots arrive.

Another way to get less Axis fighters to fight is to hit Axis oil, and fuel, so that the Axis fighters gets grounded for a lack of fuel.

[JeffroK]

There are half a dozen options, but in Autumn, Winter 1943 you do not have enough long range fighters to achieve them.
So it plug away, try to create attrition and keep your points rising until the P51 & longer ranged P47 arrive, plus 15AF can start hitting those Southern Germany and Austrian Aircraft factories.