Nik Mod 2.0

[Nikademus]

It works. TBF's are much more resistant with it.

[Spooky]

The new v2.1 version of the Nik Mod is now available !

[ckk]

Nik Great Scenario[&o] But you didn't change the capacities of the ALLIED ships just the US or the APA's and AKA's[:'(]Been there, done that I guess that's why we have Beta testers[:D] Also I'm going with the 40 a month B17 rate rather than 16. I couldn't handle just 16. But this scenario on very hard should be an AI players best challenge

[kaiser73]

ORIGINAL: ckk

Nik Great Scenario[&o] But you didn't change the capacities of the ALLIED ships just the US or the APA's and AKA's[:'(]Been there, done that I guess that's why we have Beta testers[:D] Also I'm going with the 40 a month B17 rate rather than 16. I couldn't handle just 16. But this scenario on very hard should be an AI players best challenge

try that against a beta tester in a PBEM then tell me [;)]

Seriously, i don't think it is so unbalanced. Even the b-17 shortage (compared to stock scenario) doesn't really stop Allies from mounting air offensives when needed/wanted. But it makes you think twice before starting one since it takes some weeks to recover from big air losses.

the more pilots in pool is a good boost for Japan but doesn't really change things a lot. in my PBEMS as Japan i train squadrons and i end up with all squadrons in the 80s exp. it just makes Japan less careful on air batles in '42.

i'll see later in my PBEM with Nik how this will affect the war in late '42 early '43.

[ckk]

I think that this is the best combination of good ideas(pry's supply reduction and capacities+ Nik's expansion of the IJ pilot pool and asw etc.) and doing something about the SwaPac and SouPac 4 Engine 1942 and early 1943 capabilities. IRL they attacks were threes and fours at a time in the game you can mount a strategic bombing campaign and neutralize Truk and Rabaul without having to get in close and fight. The 40 is what the stock game appears to be going to. A nice compromise because 3, 4 and 5 plane attacks woiuld get slaughtered in the game. That and a house rule not to move DEI and PI baseforces should keep the game interesting. I'm waiting to play until Nik is happy with it. Can't take another start]over[8|]In the meantime I'll follow your great AAR.

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: ckk

Nik Great Scenario[&o] But you didn't change the capacities of the ALLIED ships just the US or the APA's and AKA's[:'(]Been there, done that I guess that's why we have Beta testers[:D] Also I'm going with the 40 a month B17 rate rather than 16. I couldn't handle just 16. But this scenario on very hard should be an AI players best challenge

well as Homer would say "DOH!!"

Thx for letting me know....i'll fix it as soon as i get a chance. Busy right now helping out with the UV patch and testing the new WitP executibles so I was rushed in getting 2.1 out with the critical AA change.

The 16 a month may be more justified than you think. I just finished researching all the B-17E's and F's that fought in the Pacific listed by Serial number from Fortress Against the Sky:

180 x B-17E
49 x B-17F

My mod @ 16 B-17E a month 12 months = 192 B-17E [:)]


It also appears SubChaser is correct. I can find no reference to a 39th BG fighting anywhere near the Pacific. Will probably remove it in the next release. Will make B-17 carpet bombing lovers be even more careful in how they deploy their precious assets. [;)]

[ckk]

But I love carpet bombing[:D]Alright you win[;)]I'll go with 16 which matches the real totals you show.[8D] Don't you just hate it when facts get in the way of your great strategy[:D]

[Nikademus]

lol [8D]

[Subchaser]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

It also appears SubChaser is correct.

somehow..[:'(]

I can find no reference to a 39th BG fighting anywhere near the Pacific. Will probably remove it in the next release. Will make B-17 carpet bombing lovers be even more careful in how they deploy their precious assets. [;)]

...from USAF Unit History

39th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 39th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Assigned to Second AF. Equipped with B-17's. Patrolled the northwest coast of the US after the nation entered the war. Equipped with B-24's in 1942. Served as an operational training and later as a replacement training unit. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944.

Redesignated 39th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Trained with B-29's. Moved to Guam early in 1945 for duty with Twentieth AF. Bombed enemy-held Maug early in Apr 1945. Conducted its first mission against the Japanese home islands by hitting the Hodagaya chemical plant at Koriyama on 12 Apr. Supported the Allied invasion of Okinawa, Apr-May 1945, by attacking airfields that served as bases for kamikaze pilots. Bombed military and industrial targets in Japan and participated in incendiary raids on urban areas from mid-May until the end of the war. Received a DUC for an attack against the Otake oil refinery and storage area on Honshu in May 1945. Received second DUC for bombing industrial and dock areas in Yokohama and manufacturing districts in Tokyo, 23-29 May 1945. Dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners and took part in show-of-force missions over Japan after V-J Day. Returned to the US, Nov-Dec 1945. Inactivated on 27 Dec 1945.

Squadrons.
60th: 1941-1944; 1944-1945.
61st: 1941-1944; 1944-1945.
62d: 1941-1944; 1944-1945.
402d: 1942-1944; 1944.

Stations.
Ft Douglas, Utah, 15 Jan 1941;
Geiger Field, Wash, 2 Jul 1941;
Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz, 5 Feb 1942-1 Apr 1944.
Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 1 Apr 1944-8 Jan 1945;
North Field, Guam, 18 Feb-17 Nov 1945;
Camp Anza, Calif, 15-27 Dec 1945.

Commanders.
Maj Newton Longfellow, 15 Jan 1941; Capt Maurice A Preston, 1 Feb 1941; Lt Col Elmer E Adler, 17 Mar 1941; Capt George W Hansen, 13 May 1941; Maj Charles B Overacker Jr, 12 Nov 1941; Lt Col George W Hansen, 25 Jan 1942; Col James H Wallace, 16 Feb 1942; Col Fay R Upthegrove, 12 Jul 1942; Lt Col Samuel C Mitchell, 13 Sep 1942; Maj Marden M Munn, 17 Dec 1942; Lt Col Horace D Aynesworth, 1 Mar 1943; Lt Col Charles A Watt, 1 Jul 1943; Lt Col Frank R Pancake, 25 Nov 1943; Col Clyde K Rich, 1 Dec 1943-1 Apr 1944. Capt Claude Hilton, 28 Apr 1944; Maj Gordon R Willis, 6 May 1944; Maj Campbell Weir, 11 May 1944; Lt Col Robert W Strong Jr, 10 Jun 1944; Col Potter B Paige, 15 Jun 1944; Col John G Fowler, 22 Feb 1945; Col George W Mundy, 16 Mar 1945; Col James E Roberts, 16 Aug 1945; Lt Col James C Thompson, 9 Oct 1945; Col Robert Mason, 13 Oct 1945-unkn.

Campaigns. American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Western Pacific.

Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citations:
Japan, 10 May 1945;
Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, 23-29 May 1945

[Nikademus]

in a way though, its almost a grey area. the BG existed, it had B-17's, later B-24's. The question I suppose would be, should the player be given the unit with the option of using it on West Coast or paying the PP's and making it a front line unit. (as it is right now in the stock scenerios)

[Subchaser]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

in a way though, its almost a grey area. the BG existed, it had B-17's, later B-24's. The question I suppose would be, should the player be given the unit with the option of using it on West Coast or paying the PP's and making it a front line unit. (as it is right now in the stock scenerios)

No. If player can transfer one training unit from the West coast to combat area, then why he should not be able to transfer other such units, and these are even not in the game. 39th BG until ‘44 was a non-combat unit, part of US air force training system, group was activated as a combat unit only in 1944. There are many units that arrive as reinforcements later in war but in fact should be on the West coast already in December 41, should they also be represented right from the start?

I’ve read somewhere that this group had only 9 B-24 in 1942… not a hard data though

[Nikademus]

Nik mod 2.2 submitted to Spooky.

Version 2.2 changes:

Version 2.2

Fixed Allied AP/AK/TK to match US and Japan reductions per Pry’s scenerio
Removed 39th BG from game (Training unit, never fought in Pacific)
Changed airgroups 1502/1472 to West Coast command
Modified some Allied aircraft production rates (mostly matches changes made in Pry’s scenerio)
LB-30 ceiling reduced to 20000 (no superchargers)

Database corrections:


Fixed facing issue of Nevada Class 12/41 secondary batteries 3/50 scenario 15 and 8
Changed Aircraft (051) KI-45 KA1a Nick to maximum load 300.
Changed device (294) Accuracy value to 50

Changed designations of the following Allied units
Unit (2638) is now 86th USA CD Battalion
Unit (2738) is now 144th USA CD Regiment
Unit (2961) is now 1st Australian Artillery CD Regiment

[Subchaser]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

Changed designations of the following Allied units
Unit (2638) is now 86th USA CD Battalion
Unit (2738) is now 144th USA CD Regiment
Unit (2961) is now 1st Australian Artillery CD Regiment

This should help I guess… there are only 3 of them, right?

[Nikademus]

not sure. They are part of Pry's OOB cleanup slated for the next patch.

[Spooky]

Nik Mod v2.2 now uploaded !!!

[ckk]

Nik
Sorry to be a PITA[:D] but did you leave the US APA's and AKA's at their original capacities for a reason? Like I've said I'm betting that this scenario will be the most challenging with the stock map when you are satisfied with your question's on the IJ pilot pool. And I am really looking forward to playing it.[&o]

[Nikademus]

I could have sworn I got them. Are they at their original capacity in 2.2?

Too many tasks.....to few hours in the day [:@]

-Pilots

If you are holding off trying the scn waiting for a full evaluation on the current pilot setting, i'd recommend not waiting. there are a number of changes in the mod that have not had as much testing as i would prefer but I also realized that if I waited to test each tweak to my satisfaction...then the damn mod would never get released. The more people who try it out, the quicker the testing I figure [:)] As mentioned, myself and Kaiser are in 4/42 at this point and the IJN pool currently stands at 55% of original capacity, IJA at 33% Overall "attrition" has not been that severe with 3/42 seeing the most intense action as very large 11th Airfleet battled an an entire reinforced USAAF FG over Port Morosby.

In short, dont expect a change anytime soon on that aspect of the mod as I simply need more data and feedback before i can justify a change. Kaiser has so far expressed satisfaction with the current pool setting and he's playing Allied! [;)] Like myself though, he has commented that we need to get deeper into 42 before we can say for sure whether or not the initial starting numbers are overgenerous or not.

[ckk]

Yep just went back and checked slots 1380-1384. They still have their original capacities[:(] And thanks for the advice I'll start a game as soon as one of us fixes the APA AKA problem.[:)]

[Bombur]

-Will Nik scenario work with v1.6 of WiTP? In that case, there is anyone willing to playtest it?

[Nikademus]

Yes.....latest version has Pry's latest changes including the DP gun fix for Japan.