Random Questions from a New Player

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: brian800000

Artillery...I get the point of all the other types of infantry units. I'm not sure what to do with artillery though. I'm kind of just trying to sprinkle them in with my other units. Some artillery should be with infantry and armor...but aside from that random observation, what does artillery actually do? Can it stand on its own to defend an island or base (i'm thinking not)?

If your guns have greater range, than enemy guns, they will suppress their fire. So it is wise to have artillery if you are expecting long siege.
Also, every gun tends to fire against unloading ships, but most guns have really low accuracy, and barely hits (that's why CD guns are better).

And every support squad in defence adds 1/10th point of AV. Not much, but may defeat air drop, especially with some forts. Generally, before calculating AV difference, every Device tries to hit enemy. So with enough guns, you can suppress whole enemy stack, and they will have no AV to fight.

[Yaab]

ORIGINAL: brian800000

New discussion point!

Artillery...I get the point of all the other types of infantry units. I'm not sure what to do with artillery though. I'm kind of just trying to sprinkle them in with my other units. Some artillery should be with infantry and armor...but aside from that random observation, what does artillery actually do? Can it stand on its own to defend an island or base (i'm thinking not)?

Don't miss the hidden potential of 37mm AT guns used by US divisions against enemy infantry
tm.asp?m=3814292&mpage=1&key=&#3814292

[wegman58]

As we have a discussion going - I'm playing against the computer, and Rangoon has survived. June 1943 and there has been more aviation carnage here than on the rest of the map combined I think. Rangoon is built to Fortifications 9 (I WISH the machine would assault) and the forces of Imperial Japan bombard every day. And take casualties between 5 to 1 or 10 to 1 in the favor of the allies.

I don't have any dedicated artillery, but I do have divisions with the divisional artillery - hundreds of guns (on both sides). When the Allies bombard, no casualties either side are listed. Now that I'm confident in my ability to keep Rangoon supplied, is it worth bombarding them with artillery as well as from the skies?

Even with no casualties are the bombardments doing anything?

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: wegman58

As we have a discussion going - I'm playing against the computer, and Rangoon has survived. June 1943 and there has been more aviation carnage here than on the rest of the map combined I think. Rangoon is built to Fortifications 9 (I WISH the machine would assault) and the forces of Imperial Japan bombard every day. And take casualties between 5 to 1 or 10 to 1 in the favor of the allies.

I don't have any dedicated artillery, but I do have divisions with the divisional artillery - hundreds of guns (on both sides). When the Allies bombard, no casualties either side are listed. Now that I'm confident in my ability to keep Rangoon supplied, is it worth bombarding them with artillery as well as from the skies?

Even with no casualties are the bombardments doing anything?

Yes, It effects disruption of the enemy. Casualties or not....GP

[BBfanboy]

And the enemy will use supply trying to counter-bombard. You can afford the supply - the IJA can't.

[brian800000]

A new question on LCU upgrades.

I've turned off automatic upgrades on my LCUs, so I can control myself. However, I note that the manual states:

"Upgrades occur automatically and cannot be stopped from happening as long as sufficient new items are in the pool and the unit has access to sufficient supplies."

Is the manual incorrect on this count? (I'm thinking so, having read the forums)

Also, how can I tell if an upgrade is available? Does this show in the tracker as "TOE up"? As in, if there is a number of 0 in the tracker, an upgrade is available; otherwise I need to wait the number of days showing in the tracker?

[inqistor]

There are two types of upgrades:

1. Devices (most notably - infantry squads). You have to check Devices list, at "upgrades" field, to see if upgrade will be available, and when. If you are using latest beta, there will be = sign, if Device can be upgraded. In case of Allies, production is small, so you have to be careful, and fill only one LCU at a time. In case of Japan, there are already better Tanks available at game start, but you don't have enough Vehicle Points, to fill all your LCUs.

2. TOE upgrade. Just check TOE link, under list of Devices in LCU. It will show you current TOE, and dates for upgrades.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

There are two types of upgrades:

1. Devices (most notably - infantry squads). You have to check Devices list, at "upgrades" field, to see if upgrade will be available, and when. If you are using latest beta, there will be = sign, if Device can be upgraded. In case of Allies, production is small, so you have to be careful, and fill only one LCU at a time. In case of Japan, there are already better Tanks available at game start, but you don't have enough Vehicle Points, to fill all your LCUs.

2. TOE upgrade. Just check TOE link, under list of Devices in LCU. It will show you current TOE, and dates for upgrades.

I checked a couple of LCUs using their individual TOE buttons and there is no date shown for TOE upgrades.
BUT, I looked at the list of all LCUs in the hex (red flag at bottom left of base screen, or click on the LCU icon on the map (only works for two or more LCUs). Then I clicked on the "Show Soft" button on the upper right of the LCU list, et voilà, the right had side of the list now shows the TOE updates in a column, and the % TOE of the unit in the next column.

[brian800000]

Awesome--huge help!!!

So it seems there are two types of upgrades:

-device upgrades, and
-TOE upgrades (rarer)

There is the "upgrades on/off" toggle--if I leave that on does that enable both, and if I leave it off it disables both?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: brian800000

Awesome--huge help!!!

So it seems there are two types of upgrades:

-device upgrades, and
-TOE upgrades (rarer)

There is the "upgrades on/off" toggle--if I leave that on does that enable both, and if I leave it off it disables both?

The TOE (Table of Establishment - an official document that authorities have approved, listing the organization, manpower and equipment the unit is entitled to hold) itself will upgrade regardless, but you need to put the unit in Rest mode before the TOE will change.

Leaving the Upgrades - OFF in place will inhibit actual device upgrades unless the pool for a given device is getting full. In that event, the game engine will start allocating the new device to the first eligible unit that has them in the TOE. I believe this is what the manual meant by saying you cannot prevent upgrades from happening.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: inqistor

There are two types of upgrades:

1. Devices (most notably - infantry squads). You have to check Devices list, at "upgrades" field, to see if upgrade will be available, and when. If you are using latest beta, there will be = sign, if Device can be upgraded. In case of Allies, production is small, so you have to be careful, and fill only one LCU at a time. In case of Japan, there are already better Tanks available at game start, but you don't have enough Vehicle Points, to fill all your LCUs.

2. TOE upgrade. Just check TOE link, under list of Devices in LCU. It will show you current TOE, and dates for upgrades.

I checked a couple of LCUs using their individual TOE buttons and there is no date shown for TOE upgrades.
BUT, I looked at the list of all LCUs in the hex (red flag at bottom left of base screen, or click on the LCU icon on the map (only works for two or more LCUs). Then I clicked on the "Show Soft" button on the upper right of the LCU list, et voilà, the right had side of the list now shows the TOE updates in a column, and the % TOE of the unit in the next column.

If "The TOE of this unit includes" is in yellow, it should be possible to click it, and date will appear. Unless, that is beta feature, but I don't think so:

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: inqistor

There are two types of upgrades:

1. Devices (most notably - infantry squads). You have to check Devices list, at "upgrades" field, to see if upgrade will be available, and when. If you are using latest beta, there will be = sign, if Device can be upgraded. In case of Allies, production is small, so you have to be careful, and fill only one LCU at a time. In case of Japan, there are already better Tanks available at game start, but you don't have enough Vehicle Points, to fill all your LCUs.

2. TOE upgrade. Just check TOE link, under list of Devices in LCU. It will show you current TOE, and dates for upgrades.

I checked a couple of LCUs using their individual TOE buttons and there is no date shown for TOE upgrades.
BUT, I looked at the list of all LCUs in the hex (red flag at bottom left of base screen, or click on the LCU icon on the map (only works for two or more LCUs). Then I clicked on the "Show Soft" button on the upper right of the LCU list, et voilà, the right had side of the list now shows the TOE updates in a column, and the % TOE of the unit in the next column.

If "The TOE of this unit includes" is in yellow, it should be possible to click it, and date will appear. Unless, that is beta feature, but I don't think so:

I do not use the Beta and I do not get that date info on the TOE button screen, so it must be a Beta or other mod feature.

[brian800000]

I'm back!

For the life of me, I can't figure out governs whether I can reinforce air groups. For example, I moved some bombers to Perth for ASW early in the war, and haven't checked them since. I have the right bombers in the pool, but can't reinforce. Fair enough, supply is about 5k, maybe that is the problem. However, then I check some bombers on Ambon which has a similar level of supply and I can reinforce!

The manual has the following, but it can't be right, because I can reinforce Hudsons on Ambon which is under 20k of supply - reading the rules it seems like that should not be possible.

"Air units will automatically gain replacements under certain circumstances if aircraft are available in the replacement pool and the air unit has been set to Accept Replacements. To get replacement aircraft to flow automatically into an air unit, there must be planes in the pool and one of the following cases must be true (the first true will take effect):

The air unit is located at a base with an airfield size of 1+ (or 0 if a float-equipped group and the base is in a coastal hex) and the base has over 20,000 supplies. Supplies will be expended at the base and the unit will receive damaged planes from the pool (they may repair before the next orders phase during the repair phase).

» The air unit is located at a base and the HQ that the group is assigned to is within transfer range of the air unit’s aircraft type, and the HQ is located at a base with an airfield size of 1+ and has over 20,000 supplies. Supplies will be expended at the HQ base and the unit will receive damaged planes from the pool.

» The air unit is located at a base and the Command level HQ that the group is assigned to is within transfer range of the air unit’s aircraft type, and the Command HQ is located at a base with over 20,000 supplies. Supplies will be expended at the HQ base and the unit will receive damaged planes from the pool.

» The air unit is located on a ship and a replenishment air unit is within normal range of the ship, the unit will receive planes from the replenishment unit instead of the pool.

» The air unit is located on a ship in the same hex as a base with an airfield size of 1+ (TF or at anchor) and the base has over 20000 supplies. Supplies will be expended at the base and the unit will receive damaged planes from the pool."

[BBfanboy]

It is confusing, but the upgrade can occur if the appropriate HQ is within the aircraft transfer range (around 36 for a Hudson?) and the HQ's base has the necessary supply. The HQ's base pays the supply cost for the aircraft and it automatically transfers to the air unit.

You haven't said if you have set the air unit to upgrade to the available aircraft. In several of the Australian units you have to pay PP to get the desired aircraft on the upgrade path. I leave many of my Australian units with their Wirraways rather than pay the PP to get them an aircraft with decent range and bomb load.
Some of these Wirraway units can upgrade without PP cost to the Vengeance dive bomber, but that is not available until much later in the game.

[brian800000]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

It is confusing, but the upgrade can occur if the appropriate HQ is within the aircraft transfer range (around 36 for a Hudson?) and the HQ's base has the necessary supply. The HQ's base pays the supply cost for the aircraft and it automatically transfers to the air unit.

You haven't said if you have set the air unit to upgrade to the available aircraft. In several of the Australian units you have to pay PP to get the desired aircraft on the upgrade path. I leave many of my Australian units with their Wirraways rather than pay the PP to get them an aircraft with decent range and bomb load.
Some of these Wirraway units can upgrade without PP cost to the Vengeance dive bomber, but that is not available until much later in the game.

I'm not talking about upgrades, but just replacements...perhaps they are the same?

What determines the appropriate HQ? Will any air HQ do?

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: brian800000

I'm not talking about upgrades, but just replacements...perhaps they are the same?

What determines the appropriate HQ? Will any air HQ do?

You can check, to which HQ Air Units belongs to, on its screen. CV units have independent there.
And remember, that transfer range can be over 50 hexes, so your Ambon Bombers can get replacements even from Singapore, if HQ is there.
One more thing, replacements can be drawn only once a week (IIRC), so if unit got some planes recently, you must wait few days for another go. And also check if there is arrow, for reserve planes. Your unit can be at maximum already, because of fragments somewhere else on map. So no extra planes as replacements, but you can draw some reserve manually.

[brian800000]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: brian800000

I'm not talking about upgrades, but just replacements...perhaps they are the same?

What determines the appropriate HQ? Will any air HQ do?

You can check, to which HQ Air Units belongs to, on its screen. CV units have independent there.
And remember, that transfer range can be over 50 hexes, so your Ambon Bombers can get replacements even from Singapore, if HQ is there.
One more thing, replacements can be drawn only once a week (IIRC), so if unit got some planes recently, you must wait few days for another go. And also check if there is arrow, for reserve planes. Your unit can be at maximum already, because of fragments somewhere else on map. So no extra planes as replacements, but you can draw some reserve manually.

Oops...so in theory, lets say I bought out the AVG to defend the skies of Burma...And attached them to the Hawaiian Air Command...I'll basically never be able to reinforce them without buying them out again, will I?

[Schorsch]

a base with 20k supply will do in that case

[HansBolter]

Replacement airframes also have quantity and time limitations.

You can only pull 12 airframes at a time per squadron every 7 days.

Hover the mouse pointer over the "replacement" text and it will show the number of days delay until that squadron can pull replacements.

It will also show reasons why a squadron can't pull replacements if that is the case.

There is a plethora of fly out highlight info available in the interface if you look for it.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: brian800000

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: brian800000

I'm not talking about upgrades, but just replacements...perhaps they are the same?

What determines the appropriate HQ? Will any air HQ do?

You can check, to which HQ Air Units belongs to, on its screen. CV units have independent there.
And remember, that transfer range can be over 50 hexes, so your Ambon Bombers can get replacements even from Singapore, if HQ is there.
One more thing, replacements can be drawn only once a week (IIRC), so if unit got some planes recently, you must wait few days for another go. And also check if there is arrow, for reserve planes. Your unit can be at maximum already, because of fragments somewhere else on map. So no extra planes as replacements, but you can draw some reserve manually.

Oops...so in theory, lets say I bought out the AVG to defend the skies of Burma...And attached them to the Hawaiian Air Command...I'll basically never be able to reinforce them without buying them out again, will I?

In theory that eliminates one of replacement possibilities. However, there is possibility to be in range of Command HQ (which is probably West Coast for Hawaii, so even farther (: ). First possibility is, to be in Base with 20k supply.
However, there is additional rule, and Air Unit can have fragment created in Home Base as replacement, but you have to move them to front manually. That is automatic, but I have seen this maybe twice, so far.