Supplying China via Air

[Dereck]

Could supplies be delivered and (most importantly) dispersed if i set up an air corridor between Srinagar, India (near Rawalpindi in the Himalayas) and Kashgar, China? There's only a secondary road leading to either Urumchi and Ansi where main roads pick up.

I'm looking at setting up an air corridor from Dimapur, India to Kunming or Tsuyung, China since I expect to eventually lose Burma. I'm just wondering about the Srinagar to Kashgar route in case I also lose Dimapur (or maybe have to send supplies to other Chinese forces away from Kunming).

[RangerJoe]

Yes

[dr.hal]

You can do this but keep in mind that this will be but a trickle in comparison to what will be needed....

[Panjack]

When I considered flying supplies into Kasgar, I was worried that supplies delivered to Kasgar would take a long time to travel south. Hitting 5 when (centered on Kasgar) shows the very slow pace of delivery to cities south. Ansi seems to be too far away (by secondary roads) to get deliveries at all...that is, if I understand the numbers generated by 5. Supplies would arrive slowly at Urumchi, and once they did they would move south much faster. But, overall, the quantity of supplies delivered from Kasgar to the south would possibly be low. Or so it seemed to my untutored mind.

[Sardaukar]

I fly quite a lot from Ledo to Chegtu, with 21 transport squadrons.

Monsoon sometimes cause supply to dry a bit, but otherwise it is lot of supply, considering.

[szmike]

2 supply per C47, 10 squadrons x25planes per... that's about 500 supply transported per turn (op losses and weather lower this a bit).... not nothing

[RangerJoe]

When flying supplies, keep an eye on both aircraft fatigue and pilot fatigue. Also, allow a percentage of rest for the units, 30% rest is good although that might have to be adjusted since the aircraft not being used can be repaired and the pilots can get some rest. This will help to decrease OPs losses. Also, allotting extra pilots and aircraft also gives the computer the option to rest pilots and aircraft as well although it is usually the better pilots that keep flying. If your pilot experience rating is below 50, then they are more likely to suffer an OPs loss so I would train the pilots to 50 before having them fly missions. I do believe but I do not know for certain that a higher defensive skill also helps lower the OPs losses. A less aggressive unit commander will also decrease OPs losses since they will be less likely to have planes fly in adverse conditions. All of those will help reduce your losses. Also remember that bombers can also fly supplies.

[BBfanboy]

Ranger Joe: I do believe but I do not know for certain that a higher defensive skill also helps lower the OPs losses.

I haven't noticed any correlation between Ops losses and Defensive skill, but Experience seems to be a major factor. Experience must include knowing your airplane and what to do when S&#! happens. That is not the same as dodging flak and fighters and barrage balloons.

Another factor in Ops losses - size of the airfield. It affects not only runway length and surface but landing aids like a control tower, wind sock, landing lights and electronic landing aids like a homing signal. I consider any AF size less than 4 as risky for air transport ops. Doesn't mean I won't fly to a 2 or 3 sized AF, but acceptable weather would have to be better then.

[Sardaukar]

Also extra pilots and planes in squadron helps with fatigue (both pilots and planes).

[bradfordkay]

Something I do to cut Ops losses is to check the forecast every day for each originating airbase and target base.
If the weather forecast is heavy rain or worse at the originating base, all transport aircraft are grounded that day. If the destination has bad weather, I look for another destination. If all are socked in by weather, the squadrons are grounded. I do the same for my bombers as well, unless desperation requires otherwise.