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ps if I am right that going to be a PITA as I hate micro managing pilots - that why I play allies so I dont have to do this stuff !!!

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

I think I may have figured it out.

At least I have a suspicion

I think I have been blinded by the A2A and air defence skill levels and am ignoring the general xp level to much

on averge my pilots are 40 - 50 general xp and 60 - 70 A2A

I think for offensive ops especially general xp needs to higher and may actually be more important than A2A because its general XP that determines co ordination etc

A2A alone is fine for CAP fighters but for strike aircraft it needs both skill types.

Now thats all supposition and guess work as I have no inside info on this one - but its the only variable that wasnt set perfectly

So I will take a look around and see what I can see.

IIRC khyberbill told me in my AAR that he suffered the same things early in his game and it got better as the game was progressing, therefore he also thinks much is about exp. The problem though is that it takes a year of combat to get a pilot from 50 to 70 exp and I´m not sure he will live long enough to make it through all those failed attempts to fly a coordinated strike. [:D] What speaks against this theory too is the AVG, my pilots are all "high" exp (around 70) and still they never combine for a strike ("all" and "never" are exagarations).

New rule for me
 
No Sqn will be committed to action except at direst need unless all pilots are 50 general xp/50 A2A minimum and at least 50% of the pilots are 65/65
 
Andy

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

New rule for me

No Sqn will be committed to action except at direst need unless all pilots are 50 general xp/50 A2A minimum and at least 50% of the pilots are 65/65

Andy

I hope this works for you, like I´ve said, the AVG with average exp of 70 isn´t able to fly combined strikes in my game and it will take a loooong time until you will have a squadron that is overall higher experienced (not skilled) than the AVG... if you will ever reach that as exp itselve increases awfully slow, no matter if ongoing combat or not. Skill is no problem at all to reach 70 though, but the skill won´t help you if you come in with 10 of your comrades to face 100 fighters on Cap.[:D]

No Sqn will be committed to action except at direst need unless all pilots are 50 general xp/50 A2A minimum and at least 50% of the pilots are 65/65

That is a good rule and I have tried to do same. I seem to run into a lot of dire needs though! If I have the luxury of time, I sweep for several days before an attack. Hurricanes work best in early years. Corsairs work well once you start to get them. In fact, they can be quite a heart breaker to the foe.

Better day for the allies inthe air as my combined flak and fighters 34 enemy aircraft down today.....
 
Good o
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 08, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 6th Australian Division, at 29,48 (Colombo)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 7
      Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 2
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 2
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-39D Airacobra x 2
      P-400 Airacobra x 7
      P-40E Warhawk x 13
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
 
 
 
 
CAP engaged:
8th PG/36th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 29000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
AVG/2nd Sqn with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
58th PG/67th PS with P-400 Airacobra (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 6th Australian Division, at 29,48 (Colombo)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 19
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 12
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-39D Airacobra x 1
      P-40E Warhawk x 8
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
      Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
8th PG/36th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 29000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
AVG/2nd Sqn with P-40E Warhawk (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      5 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 29000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 85th British AT Gun Regiment, at 29,48 (Colombo)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 58 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-Ic Sally x 6
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 24
      Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 3
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-40E Warhawk x 2
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
      Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
 
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      11 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 28000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       3 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 19000 feet
       7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 28000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       6 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 25000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       6 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 28000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
AVG/2nd Sqn with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 29000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
 
Also attacking 1st RM Heavy AA Regiment ...
Also attacking 23rd Indian Div /13 ...
Also attacking 18th Australian Brigade ...
Also attacking 25th Australian Brigade ...
Also attacking Colombo Fortress ...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Colombo Fortress, at 29,48 (Colombo)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 68 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-Ic Sally x 12
      Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 1
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-40E Warhawk x 1
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-Ic Sally: 2 damaged
      Ki-48-Ib Lily: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
 
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      12 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 25000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
AVG/2nd Sqn with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 29000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
 
Also attacking Eastern Fleet  ...
Also attacking Colombo Fortress ...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 6th Australian Division, at 29,48 (Colombo)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 4
      Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 1
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 29
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
      Ki-48-Ib Lily: 13 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      5 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      12 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       6 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
      11 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       4 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 28000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on KNIL Army Command , at 49,101
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 20
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-48-Ib Lily: 4 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      6 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
      11 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on KNIL Army Command , at 49,101
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 10
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      5 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Trivandrum at 27,43
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G3M2 Nell x 8
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-39D Airacobra x 16
      P-40E Warhawk x 3
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed
 
 
 
 
CAP engaged:
50th PG/11th PS with P-40E Warhawk (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
8th PG/35th PS with P-39D Airacobra (5 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      5 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
8th PG/36th PS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/9th Field Regiment, at 31,41 (Trichinopoly)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 20
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       4 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
      10 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
       3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/9th Field Regiment, at 31,41 (Trichinopoly)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-48-Ib Lily x 7
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 damaged
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 23000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 107th RAF Base Force, at 59,42 (Kalemyo)
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 19
      Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      14 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Miri  at 64,87
 
Japanese Ships
      DD Tatsukaze
      PB Hozugawa Maru
      PB Fuji Maru #4
 
Allied Ships
      SS Saury
 
 
 
SS Saury launches 4 torpedoes at DD Tatsukaze
Saury bottoming out ....
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Miri  at 64,87
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Hozugawa Maru
      PB Fuji Maru #4
 
Allied Ships
      SS Snapper
 
 
 
SS Snapper is sighted by escort
Snapper bottoming out ....
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at San Jose
 
TF 131 troops unloading over beach at San Jose, 78,84
 
Japanese ground losses:
      10 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
 
 
81mm Mortar lost overboard during unload of 5th Amphibious Bde /3
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 5th Amphibious Bde /4
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 5th Amphibious Bde /5
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 5th Amphibious Bde /5
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 29,47
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 659 troops, 0 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 57
 
Defending force 26 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 104
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 104 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      24 casualties reported
         Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 58 (58 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
 
Assaulting units:
    1st Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    21st Australian Bde /1
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Malang (55,105)
 
Japanese Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 1851 troops, 154 guns, 125 vehicles, Assault Value = 1538
 
Defending force 25936 troops, 269 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 661
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      3 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
 
Assaulting units:
    23rd Tank Regiment
    9th Tank Regiment
    10th Tank Regiment
    48th Division
    65th Brigade
    3rd Tank Regiment
    21st Division
    2nd Tank Regiment
    11th Tank Regiment
    2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
    9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    14th Army
    1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
 
Defending units:
    2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
    1st KNIL Regiment
    Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
    Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
    Marinier Battalion
    3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
    1st Regt Cavalerie
    1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
    4th KNIL Regiment
    Van Altena Battalion
    Commandement Marine
    1 ML-KNIL Aviation
    Madion Base Force
    ABDA
    Soerabaja Base Force
    3rd KNIL AA Battalion
    Kalidjati Base Force
    North Java Base Force
    ML-KNIL
    Loemafjang Base Force
    MLD
    Batavia Base Force
    Tjilitap Base Force
    Bandoeng Base Force
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 87196 troops, 1076 guns, 583 vehicles, Assault Value = 2859
 
Defending force 45037 troops, 868 guns, 981 vehicles, Assault Value = 960
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 1063
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1701
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1977 casualties reported
         Squads: 7 destroyed, 89 disabled
         Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 202 disabled
         Engineers: 20 destroyed, 71 disabled
      Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      3553 casualties reported
         Squads: 44 destroyed, 96 disabled
         Non Combat: 110 destroyed, 461 disabled
         Engineers: 7 destroyed, 41 disabled
      Guns lost 26 (4 destroyed, 22 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 175 (54 destroyed, 121 disabled)
 
 
Assaulting units:
    12th Engineer Regiment
    41st Infantry Regiment
    112th Infantry Regiment
    14th Division
    33rd Division
    Imperial Guards Division
    5th Division
    113th Infantry Regiment
    148th Infantry Regiment
    6th Guards Division
    55th Engineer Regiment
    16th Guards Regiment
    3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    55th Mountain Gun Regiment
    1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
    6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
    3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
    56th Field Artillery Regiment
    2nd Mortar Battalion
    9th Ind.Hvy.Art. AT Gun Regiment
    15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
    20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
    25th Army
    1st RF Gun Battalion
    10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
    14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
    18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
    Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
    2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
    3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
    21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
 
Defending units:
    25th Australian Brigade
    99th Indian Brigade
    21st Australian Bde /2
    6th Australian Division
    2/3rd MG Battalion
    Colombo Fortress
    18th Australian Brigade
    NS KNIL Territory Regiment
    98th Indian Brigade
    100th Indian Brigade
    23rd Indian Div /13
    2nd Ceylon H AA Regiment
    222 Group RAF
    Addu RN Base Force
    Ceylon Command
    Eastern Fleet
    85th British AT Gun Regiment
    2/13th Field Regiment
    1st RM Heavy AA Regiment
    35th Light AA Regiment
    808th Engineer Aviation Battalion
    6th Heavy AA Regiment
    1/3 Ceylon Det
    22nd Light AA Regiment
    RAF 222 Group Wing
    23rd AA Bde
    48th Light AA Regiment
    IV Indian Corps /1
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Probolinggo (56,105)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 1655 troops, 4 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 90
 
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 70
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 70 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Probolinggo !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Attacker:
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    1st Recon Regiment
    4th Tank Regiment
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 49,101
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 3657 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 119
 
Defending force 1266 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 87
 
Allied adjusted defense: 7
 
Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
 experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      19 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      89 casualties reported
         Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    20th Infantry Regiment
 
Defending units:
    2nd KNIL Regiment
    KNIL Army Command
    1st KNIL AA Battalion
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Nias (42,79)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 76 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5
 
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 6
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Nias !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    2nd Raiding Rgt /2

OK we lost and it hurts as I didnt expect it to fall.
 
I lost over 100 aircraft between A2A and destroyed when the town fell
 
60,000 CW soldiers marched into captivity
 
Not a good day
 
I wasnt expecting it so its a bad loss in total 34th Indian Div, 6th Australian Div and a bde of 7th Australian Div are all in the bag.
 
Really not good.
 
Especially as 70th British Div, 7th Armoured Bde, 23rd Indian Div, 75th Indian Bde, 2 Medium Arty Regts and 4 Field Aryty Regts were en route and no more than 4 days out.....
 
I will do a full washup of my errors later but the main one was to defend at Colombo - I should have defended Tricomalee as Colombo's terrain is to favourible to Artillery.
 
Andy
 

Roughly how many division equivalents did your opponent use and how high were your fort levels?

He had about 7 Divs against my 3 ish
 
But he had an Arty Death star that was well nasty
 
   3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   55th Mountain Gun Regiment
   1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
   6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
   3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
   56th Field Artillery Regiment
   2nd Mortar Battalion
   9th Ind.Hvy.Art. AT Gun Regiment
   15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
   20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion 
   1st RF Gun Battalion
   10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
   14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
   18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
   Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
   2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
   3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
   21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

It was the Arty that made the difference as my forces were doing ok until they started pounding.
 
I dont know how much trouble the Arty was to keep supplied but the fact that he was even able to unload that lot over the beach or into a lvl 1 port was the issue.
 
Anyway my learning points.
 
1. The japanese can unload anything no matter how heavy over any size port untilt he amphib bonus goes.
2. I shouldnt have tried to defend Colombo - Trico would have neutralised a lot of that Arty's killing power.
3. Lvl 4 forts were actually ok at Trico my reinforcements would have made it in time.
4. Ceylon Command is NOT a corps HQ (I wrote the dammed Indian ORBAT and I forgot this little detail) - to get max HQ benefit you need a Corps HQ and a Command or Army HQ in range - I had 2 Command HQ's and it cost me. Thts why I was flying in IV Corps HQ when I realised the cock up.
5. DIVISIONS DIVISIONS DIVISIONS - number 1 lesson and I cannot say it strongly enough dont bring a knife to a gun fight. This kind of long drawn out killing match on defence or attack needs Division - to much of my AV was in Bn or Bde sized units 1 Div > 3 bdes > 9Bns - Divisions MUST fight Divisions att eh end my only unit that was fully combat effective was the Australian Div the 3 Indian Bdes were in ok shape but the mix and match of Bns etc of the rest of my forces was a wreck
 
Andy
 
 
 

Andy Mac,

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

5. DIVISIONS DIVISIONS DIVISIONS - number 1 lesson and I cannot say it strongly enough dont bring a knife to a gun fight. This kind of long drawn out killing match on defence or attack needs Division - to much of my AV was in Bn or Bde sized units 1 Div > 3 bdes > 9Bns - Divisions MUST fight Divisions att eh end my only unit that was fully combat effective was the Australian Div the 3 Indian Bdes were in ok shape but the mix and match of Bns etc of the rest of my forces was a wreck

Could you please elaborate a bit why this is the case ? At least for the Div vs Bde statement my *impression* (not based on solid knowledge) was that at least when naval bombardments come into play the larger formation would be a disadvantage, because it would be completely disrupted, whereas the chance that one or two Bde remain unaffected was leading to better overall combat ability.

Thanks

Hartwig

japanese love the super heavy Art pieces including 24cm (9.5" Howitzwer) compare that to the typical 4.5" and 5.5" CW Howitzers and maybe late war the odd 7.2"

Andy Mac,

I assume this is in response to me...

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

japanese love the super heavy Art pieces including 24cm (9.5" Howitzwer) compare that to the typical 4.5" and 5.5" CW Howitzers and maybe late war the odd 7.2"

If so, I was more after the reason for superiority of the Divisions over Bdes. Also due to a difference in the respective artillery embedded ?

Thanks

Hartwig

In a one off fight you might be right but in a long drawn out siege or killing fight like this a Div stands up better
 
Losing 10 Squads out a Div means the Div is at 97%
Losing 10 Squads out of a Bn means its at 67%
 
Smaller units suffer more.
 
You need Divs for big fights
 
Bdes at a pinch will do but Bns are a waste of space.
 
e.g. 6th Aus Div was at AV 360 the turn before Ceylon fell
34th Indian Div (made up of 98th 99th and 100th Indian Bdes) had about 170 AV
 
Its a big difference

No our posts crossed !!!
 
But yes its part of the answer
 
A Div has 3 Regts of medium arty and a regt of medium plus engineers to help it dig in and lots of support
 
Bdes typically dont have that support

Thanks for sharing the pain. This will help me in planning my defense in future knife/gun fights.

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

No our posts crossed !!!

But yes its part of the answer

A Div has 3 Regts of medium arty and a regt of medium plus engineers to help it dig in and lots of support

Bdes typically dont have that support

How much of this will be changed by the latest patch?

Not a lot as we wre under hotfix 3 anyway.
 
I dont actually have an issue with the result really.
 
I should not have defended the open hex

Andy Mac,

thanks for the info provided so far. Still, I want to know some more details [8D]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

In a one off fight you might be right but in a long drawn out siege or killing fight like this a Div stands up better

Losing 10 Squads out a Div means the Div is at 97%
Losing 10 Squads out of a Bn means its at 67%

Smaller units suffer more.

You need Divs for big fights

Bdes at a pinch will do but Bns are a waste of space.

e.g. 6th Aus Div was at AV 360 the turn before Ceylon fell
34th Indian Div (made up of 98th 99th and 100th Indian Bdes) had about 170 AV

Its a big difference

Interesting comment. If confronted with this type of difference, I would have *intuitively assumed* (without knowing) the difference here may be the experience of the respective units (the Australians are more seasoned at that point of time, are they not ?). Which would make sense, because the low exp units seem to be easily caught in a bad downward spiral that I frequently see and may actually be a reason why the long sieges of Singapore and Manila known from the past do no longer seem to occur (high[er] number of disabled squads/devices after the first attack, leading to high losses due to destruction in the next attack and replenishment of the disabled pool etc).

Your statement seems to imply that the %age of losses/disablements taken influences the combat power of a given unit beyond the removal of the assets. So it's not just the number of available squads (times the corresponding modifiers like exp etc ?) ?

Or is the effect behind your statement that the higher %age of losses taken will affect disruption/fatigue/morale more seriously and thus reduce the effective combat power more significantly ?

In other words, are 400 AV consisting of 10 100AV units with 40 AV remaining combat power each are going to do worse in ground combat than a single 400 AV divisison with 100% of its TOC ready to use, assuming that exp, morale, fatigue, disruption and commander's skills are all equal ?

Or is the difference in the result rather due to the fact that those run-down 40AV units just won't have as good a morale/fatigue/disruption value as the fresh division ?

Sorry that I am that inquisitive [;)], it's just a topic I am very interested in...

Hartwig

Andy Mac,

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Not a lot as we wre under hotfix 3 anyway.

I dont actually have an issue with the result really.

I should not have defended the open hex

well, I think you mentioned one issue that may in fact exist previously. Unloading all that heavy stuff through a lvl 1 port in the amount of time it was unloaded due to the invasion bonus. Perhaps one should define the DEI as a "core region of interest" to the Japanese inside of which it applies fully and tone down its relevance as a function of distance from the core region to make the deep deadly thrusts that are possible now a bit more difficult. If you want to make it less historical and more flexible, allow the Japan player to define the location of that core region of interest.

As an air threat to SLOCS is virtually non-existent in AE for Japan early on, somehow the deep thrust ability should be limited IMHO.

Hartwig

Its not that easy Hartwig there are a huge number of variables involved in the calcs
 
As a broad statement Divisions have more resisting power that 3 Bde Gps or 9 Bn Groups
 
Why is is this - well I think its probably partly to do with larger number of devices - typically 3 x Bde Groups don't have the same number of devices as Divs and certainly 9 Bn's even if grouped wouldnt have.
 
"In other words, are 400 AV consisting of 10 100AV units with 40 AV remaining combat power each are going to do worse in ground combat than a single 400 AV divisison with 100% of its TOC ready to use, assuming that exp, morale, fatigue, disruption and commander's skills are all equal ?"
 
The honest answer is probably not in a single fight - in actual fact because of the fact that its less all or nothing on some of therolls - i.e. 9 rolls means you will pass 4 or 5 of them on average rather than 0 or 1 then its probably better to be broken down for a single fight - it also restricts the ability of a singe air strike to disrupt your entire unit etc etc.
 
So with equal everything and all the devices shared actually in some ways 9 Bn Groups may have adevantages in a single fight.
 
In a long fight the reverse is true as Bns do become combat ineffective quicker in the kind of open filed artyu dominated slugging match I had at Colombo I would have been better to have 3 Full Divs all supported and with full integral engineers, arty etc rather than the mismatch of
 
1 x Div
3 x Bde Groups
plus odds and sods including the Colombo garrison that added up to another Div's worth of miscellaneous 'stuff'
 
In order of who stayed combat effective it was clearly the Div which was at about 75% the Bde Groups were at about 60% and the misc crap was at about 30% with several of the third force fully disabled.
 
Andy