Pacific War 3.0 (No Encircled please!)

[rader]

May 19, 1943

Port Moresby invaded! This is the largest Allied offensive action of the war so far.

After a third softening up by Allied battleships, the Americal division and 23rd Marine Rgt land at Port Moresby along with some other friends. I didn't see any APs or AKs -- is it possible all this came from a few LCIs and LSTs... we must be missing something. I guess he could have a lot more that wasn't spotted?

He's ashore in good order with probably just enough to defeat the Japanese defenders so we'll lose Port Moresby. It's hard to defend so far forward on the wrong side of New Guinea anyway, but this does help secure his LOC through the Torres Strait.

[rader]

Hmm just launched an Emily night attack from a lvl 4 airfield had an air HQ equipped with torpedoes. Group is set to use torpedoes but attacked using bombs. Only around 8 hexes out, so short range for Emilys. Any ideas why?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: rader

Hmm just launched an Emily night attack from a lvl 4 airfield had an air HQ equipped with torpedoes. Group is set to use torpedoes but attacked using bombs. Only around 8 hexes out, so short range for Emilys. Any ideas why?

I think you need around 70 skill for pilots to do a night naval attack.

[rader]

Well, they did attack but with bombs. And they're definitely over 70 skill for torpedoes.

The "using torpedoes" button was also yellow, not red.

[RangerJoe]

They also need experience above 50 for night work, the higher the better.

[rader]

Is that for every pilot, just the ones who would use torps, or the group average?

[RangerJoe]

The pilots who fly. The higher, the better.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: rader

Well, they did attack but with bombs. And they're definitely over 70 skill for torpedoes.

The "using torpedoes" button was also yellow, not red.

So, assuming that torps were available at the base (yellow does not guarantee that, only that if they are there, they can be used), then the important roll is what load out will be used by the group. Even though you prefer torps, the DL of the potential targets (not necessarily your preferred target) will influence the load out. In this case it appears that the torp alternative was chosen.

You can improve the odds of your choices happening by using high Leadership leaders and getting/maintaining high DL on your preferred target.

For me to get night torp attacks I need leader skill ~80, and pilot exp >75, and pilot skill > 75. With these and high target DL (day/night NavSearch on target) the units will launch 80% of the time. Moonlight does factor in here as well. Higher pilot exp/skill will get them to launch in lower moonlight.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: rader

May 14, 1943.

More waves of unstoppable night bombing, this time against Prome in Burma. At least Flak managed to get 4 of the 4E beasts. I'm almost thinking a 15:1 trade of Japanese fighters to Allied 4Es is worth it? Not totally kidding... [8|]

What is your opponent thinking about tactical night bombing? Does he think the results are ok? If so, discussion about it might be mood but not having a house rule about night bombing can make the game unplayable and I wonder if that is fun for your opponent in the end.

It's only the beginning of 43 and if you don't restrict TACTICAL night bombing then you will end up facing hundreds of 4Es each turn plastering every airfield in range at will at the end of 43 without any chance for you to do anything against it. It's like playing the AI and not giving up Singapore and breaking the routines, there are people who enjoy this.

[rader]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

What is your opponent thinking about tactical night bombing? Does he think the results are ok? If so, discussion about it might be mood but not having a house rule about night bombing can make the game unplayable and I wonder if that is fun for your opponent in the end.

It's only the beginning of 43 and if you don't restrict TACTICAL night bombing then you will end up facing hundreds of 4Es each turn plastering every airfield in range at will at the end of 43 without any chance for you to do anything against it. It's like playing the AI and not giving up Singapore and breaking the routines, there are people who enjoy this.

Well we have a few Japan-friendly HRs (like no strat bombing until July 1943, which is coming up) so I think he's of the opinion that what's good for the goose is good for the gander. So far it's fairly bad but if I station even crappy interceptors it does seem to disrupt the bomber if at a high but tolerable cost to the interceptors and no cost to the bombers. I can imagine it will get worse, but so far I can take it. And I am also hoping the Japanese night fighters when I eventually get them are able to do at least something.

[rader]

And the 4Es are even more brutal during the day (if easier to shoot down), so if he's using them at night at least he's not using them during the day... or so the theory goes?

[RangerJoe]

Some people save the highly experience Japanese fighter pilots in Tracom or training units, then use them in the night fighters where they seem to work better.

[rader]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Some people save the highly experience Japanese fighter pilots in Tracom or training units, then use them in the night fighters where they seem to work better.

Yeah, I might do that but right now I'm putting crappy inexperienced pilots in all my "night fighters" (day fighters) because they die in droves and I don't care that much about the airframe. I really just care about preserving pilots.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: rader

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Some people save the highly experience Japanese fighter pilots in Tracom or training units, then use them in the night fighters where they seem to work better.

Yeah, I might do that but right now I'm putting crappy inexperienced pilots in all my "night fighters" (day fighters) because they die in droves and I don't care that much about the airframe. I really just care about preserving pilots.

I meant the real night fighters, with Radar. But the pilots need to have experience above 50 to do decent work at night.

[rader]

Yeah makes sense and can't wait to try actual night fighters. But Japanese aircraft radar comes very late. I assume if you get the planes before you get the radar (based on device date), they start out with their radar greyed out?

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: rader

Yeah makes sense and can't wait to try actual night fighters. But Japanese aircraft radar comes very late. I assume if you get the planes before you get the radar (based on device date), they start out with their radar greyed out?

Yes.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: rader

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Some people save the highly experience Japanese fighter pilots in Tracom or training units, then use them in the night fighters where they seem to work better.

Yeah, I might do that but right now I'm putting crappy inexperienced pilots in all my "night fighters" (day fighters) because they die in droves and I don't care that much about the airframe. I really just care about preserving pilots.

Having high EXP pilots to do night CAP is a critical requirement IMO. Anyone less than 70 EXP just won't cut it, and with defence as high as possible to avoid getting blasted with return fire.

If pilot losses worry you then I'd try for a high DUR airframe with armour, if possible. The Nick and George tend to be the best for this role.

Throwing up poorer pilots will just make the problem worse, as they're more likely to fail rolls and suffer as a result (while enabling the 4E's to build their own EXP).

Having some chaff up to deter raids also helps a little, but I think you need the professionals up at night if you want to seriously make a dent (along with flak, balloons and all the other stuff).

[PaxMondo]

No idea on where you are with your AC RnD, but agree with MM on this.
IJN: George/Jack
IJA: Nick (preferred)

Large groups, not the small ones. The more AC up the better, and yes, not less than 70 exp/skill pilots. That will mitigate losses a lot. And all the rest (flak, blimps, etc). Don't try to defend everything, but what you defend make it costly for him to show up. You are still in '43, his 4E availability still isn't that good, you should be able to bleed him out if you work him.

Where is he bombing you? it matters ...

[rader]

I tried Nicks with good pilots and they still seemed to die just as fast without shooting down much more, but I will experiment with Georges...

[rader]

Does anyone know the supply cost to build fort levels? (Either cumulative or to build to the next level?)

Trying to decide if it's worth the extra supplies to fortify key bases. Considering the forts don't seem to last long, often I think it might be better to simply save the supplies?