A few newbie questions

[brian800000]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

I have now 2 huge convois for Perth (guess over 100000 fuel) is there danger of spoilage in Perth? Also send some of the AKs from Perth to Capetown, if they really should draw the fuel toPerth. But as you explained already the rail line isn´t the biggest one in reality, so probably is this transport problem in the game realistic.

I can help with this one: no danger of spoilage so long as the airfield + port sizes are greater than 10.

[Misconduct]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Very much so. You haven't played to the end yet, but by 1944 logistics will be 70+% of your job, not fighting. I don't know if you use Tracker, but if you do look ahead in the very bottom tab at total forces in the game for each side. You'll be managing several thousand ships.

A lot of Japanese players complain about how much work the economy is--and they're right--but the Allies have a lot more labor in total. Every base you take back has to be managed; after the first year the Japanese player's duties there get smaller and easier. And the number of LCUs, planes, and ships the Allied player gets dwarfs the total Japanese OOB. By mid-1945 you might have 300 merchants or more just sitting, waiting for someplace that needs servicing. Then, after VE Day, you have to haul all of the European theater troops and gear across 5000 miles of water. Moving a million tons of supplies will happen a couple of times a week. If 1945 is the major leagues, by comparison 1942 is single-A ball.

I am beginning to think that this "game" is so time consuming even now (I am now at the 1st of May 42) but if this is true what you write I probably cannot play this one very far.

Are there any more tipps (or a forum link) for logistics also in later stages ? I know the auto convoi system and CS, but there should be some more, or ?

Anyway, I just assembled most of my US fleet to make a stand finally in the Fiji/NG area. Maybe it will be a disaster all carriers sunk, then problem solved - guess I am not hard enough to see the rest of my fleet go down and the Japs conquer AU + India. However this also might be fun, maybe in a 2nd live I can restart the game with better experience as Allies. And in the 3rd live I can play the Japs [X(]

I have now 2 huge convois for Perth (guess over 100000 fuel) is there danger of spoilage in Perth? Also send some of the AKs from Perth to Capetown, if they really should draw the fuel toPerth. But as you explained already the rail line isn´t the biggest one in reality, so probably is this transport problem in the game realistic.

Spoilage is based on the port size, however Perth rails the excess fuel to melbourne, so you don't have spoilage there. Some places you would have Spoilage is for example islands with small port sizes, the Manual best describes the minimum size for supplies/fuel and the maximum amount you can have.

[Misconduct]

Fuel Over 1000 + ((port + airfield size) * (port + airfield size) *200 suffers spoilage.

Supplies over 5000 + ((port + airfield size) * ( port + airfield size) * 3000 ) suffers spoilage.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Misconduct

Fuel Over 1000 + ((port + airfield size) * (port + airfield size) *200 suffers spoilage.

Supplies over 5000 + ((port + airfield size) * ( port + airfield size) * 3000 ) suffers spoilage.

Also while the formula is great to help determine spoilage, you will note that some bases have a fuel and supply limit. These bases will suffer penalties if the supply or fuel level exceeds this limit.

[brian800000]

A question on moving troops around pre war--so many are restricted but are not helpful where they are. In many cases it is just about getting on a ship--the Australians and Kiwis have territory that needs to be defended, but can't go there by ship. The same problem exists in the DEI and Philippines. Do the more experienced players effect these moves by air transport, or just accept the starting positions?

[bradfordkay]

I definitely use air transport for those units that are in exposed locations and can't have their HQ changed to an unrestricted one. It's not going to save the DEI, but it might give your opponent a nasty surprise... 

[brian800000]

Two questions regarding air units:

1. Many of my squadrons are short of aircraft. I would like to disband my restricted units (which based on my reading of the manual means they come back in 120 days) to free up their airframes for the groups in combat. However, sometimes I get a message that I will lose the pilots and planes, while sometimes I'm told they will be returned to the pool. Does anyone know what makes the difference?

2. There are a lot of impossibly small units in the game. What is an airgroup of 3 torpedo bombers going to accomplish? I guess the only thing you can do is stack a bunch of the little units together to generate some combat competence?

[rockmedic109]

1.  Some of the units are slated for europe.  Those units will leave when disbanded or withdrawn.  Some of the restricted units have early withdrawal dates and are permanently restricted so that you cannot change their command.  I think that if they are too far from a command HQ then the planes are lost if the unit is withdrawn.
 
2.  Some of the smaller units are actually pieces of a larger unit.  Check the Unit OOB button {if there is one}.  If you get all the units together and they are of the same command HQ then a "Rebuild Unit" button will be displayed which will combine the smaller fragments into the larger parent formation. 
 
 

[brian800000]

ORIGINAL: rockmedic109

1.  Some of the units are slated for europe.  Those units will leave when disbanded or withdrawn.  Some of the restricted units have early withdrawal dates and are permanently restricted so that you cannot change their command.  I think that if they are too far from a command HQ then the planes are lost if the unit is withdrawn.

2.  Some of the smaller units are actually pieces of a larger unit.  Check the Unit OOB button {if there is one}.  If you get all the units together and they are of the same command HQ then a "Rebuild Unit" button will be displayed which will combine the smaller fragments into the larger parent formation. 

Thanks, that OOB answer worked.

I'll play around some with the disbanding/withdrawal portion, but after trying a few units out that seems to have something to do with it.

[brian800000]

Another question if anyone is around to help...

Airfield overstacking--I don't seem to be getting expected penalties. For example, Singapore is a size 6 airfield. I have an Air AQ with a command radius of 3 there, which in theory could add to the airfield size for a value of 9 which is free from stacking limits.

However, the Air HQ is of a different command, so according to the manual it should not apply. That leaves Singapore at a level 6. I have a lot more than 6 air groups there flying combat related missions, but I'm not getting any penalties. Am I missing something?

[witpqs]

What HQ it reports to should not have an impact. If the manual says it should then AFAIK the manual is wrong on that point.

[brian800000]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

What HQ it reports to should not have an impact. If the manual says it should then AFAIK the manual is wrong on that point.

It does--in any event, I assume the * next to overstacked airfields is accurate, and so long as that doesn't appear I am fine?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: brian800000

ORIGINAL: witpqs

What HQ it reports to should not have an impact. If the manual says it should then AFAIK the manual is wrong on that point.

It does--in any event, I assume the * next to overstacked airfields is accurate, and so long as that doesn't appear I am fine?

As far as I know...

[brian800000]

One more question....

Air transporting engineering and infantry units. How do you estimate how many aircraft you will need to transport these in a day?

(I've read that for supply the equation is "load divided by 2000").

[AZKGungHo]

I'm one of the guys who bought during the recent sale. And as recommended I'm playing Coral Sea.  I played it once and got a draw, in my second game now. Unless I'm totally missing something, there doesn't seem to be a way for me to plan and launch air strikes at the enemy. In both games my carriers attacked the Japanese and I knew nothing about it till the attack was actually in progress!

It seems strange to me that in a game famous for detail and micro-management, I seem to have zero control of how, when and where I attack the enemy!  Is this true or have I, like a true green horn, completely missed something here?  This seems to be the case for surface warfare as well, I put my guys in the way of the Japanese and they did clash, I did very well, but again no real control over what happened.

I'm also wondering about battle damage reports. I assume they are often wildly inaccurate?  Because otherwise I see no way those Japanese ships could still be a float!

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: AZ Gung Ho

Unless I'm totally missing something, there doesn't seem to be a way for me to plan and launch air strikes at the enemy. In both games my carriers attacked the Japanese and I knew nothing about it till the attack was actually in progress!

Correct, you cannot select a target for naval attacks. However, you can select the (maximum) number of planes flying, their range, ordinance, and altitude.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: AZ Gung Ho

I'm also wondering about battle damage reports. I assume they are often wildly inaccurate?  Because otherwise I see no way those Japanese ships could still be a float!

Ships rarely sink during the air attack itself. That doesn't mean that ships still afloat after the attack will survive the day.

[AZKGungHo]

Okay - their sinking later makes sense.  Too bad there's no way to verify that. 

I can set the number of planes and the altitude at which they fly/attack, but can't tell them when or where to attack?  I like the idea of automating this, as late in the game as the US player I'm sure you need it.  But I find it very, very strange in a game with this much detail that I can't launch attacks if I want too.

Color me surprised!

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: AZ Gung Ho

I can set the number of planes and the altitude at which they fly/attack, but can't tell them when or where to attack?  I like the idea of automating this, as late in the game as the US player I'm sure you need it.  But I find it very, very strange in a game with this much detail that I can't launch attacks if I want too.

TFs appear and disappear between turns. Do you really want to order your planes to attack enemy TF X, only to have that TF move out of range, while enemy TF Y moved into range and is not attacked?

A lot players want a way to prioritize naval target, i.e. "attack transports, not battleships", or "attack carriers only". It has been debated to death, and it is highly unlikely that a change like this will make it into AE.

[Banzan]

ORIGINAL: AZ Gung Ho

Okay - their sinking later makes sense.  Too bad there's no way to verify that. 

Instead you will see a lot of reports like "Previous reports of sinking of xxx incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at xx,xx" [;)]