Matrix Games Forums

PaxMondo wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 3:44 pm

RangerJoe wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 2:34 pm

Mike Solli wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 12:51 pm

I haven't even started training any Kates on low naval. That's just not on my radar. I want a pool of torpedo bombing pilots. That'll come later for me.

I don't train them on Low Naval with bombs, I just set them to torpedoes and they are pretty good that way! Bettys and Nells will fly a full bomb load at 1k feet if their mission is set for naval attack with torpedoes and they will do that from a level 2 airbase. Those two aircraft, among others, are considered torpedo bombers which fly with no problems from a level 2 airbase. The key for having the bombs is not to have torpedoes available so they switch to bombs with no penalty.

So, it looks like you're suggesting that when the engine does the auto-swap from torps to bombs it ignores low-nav skill? I've never seen that, but I also have never tested that. It's a pretty big oops if true, I hope that the last update will close this hole if it exists ....

I have tested Kates/Netties at low nav attacks against low nav skill (1000 ft bombing), and not surprisingly the results are lousy until low nav gets above 50 .... ditto low ground skill. By lousy, I mean that if your nav skill is 70, then you will get a LOT more hits at 2000 ft compared to 1000 ft until your low nav skill gets above 50.

Since the computer surrenders on 1 January 1943 (both sides!) then I don't worry about training the torpedo bomber pilots on low naval until their other stats increase. I have never sand box tested anything although I should have the time to do so. But I have multiple mental health therapy sessions every day, if the cats can't lay on me they will walk all over the computer so then I will read a book with a cat on my chest. I have, however, had multiple attacks with Kates where I have had more bomb hits than bombers but those were usually against cargo and transport ships.

RangerJoe wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 6:18 pm ... But I have multiple mental health therapy sessions every day, if the cats can't lay on me they will walk all over the computer so then I will read a book with a cat on my chest. I have, however, had multiple attacks with Kates where I have had more bomb hits than bombers but those were usually against cargo and transport ships.

Well, your therapy sessions are a HECK of a lot better than mine ... although mine are PT sessions leaning into yoga and I have never been flexible, so it is pretty useless. I mean on a good day I can touch my knee caps, and they want/expect me to bend how? My shoulder to what? My knee where? Yeah, it's pretty jolly it is ...

I can say that I have seen similar things (Kates getting bomb hits and other bombers not so much), but it is all empirical, I haven't really tested it where I controlled things like NavBomb skill, altitude, etc.

27 Feb 42

Sub War

Well, I lost my first sub (of many) today. The I-10, who sank that big xAP off Noumea, got caught by some US DDs and sunk. Sad. It had to be a Glen sub.

5 Fleet

So, KB didn't move to where they were supposed to be (7 hexes from Adak and Dutch Harbor) but was 2 hexes shy of that. I mistakenly had set my Kates to 9 hexes. Fortunately, there weren't any fighters at Adak. 26 Kates went after a couple of DDs (10k feet) and missed. Yeah, DDs are fast, but these are the cream of the crop.

Eighteen Betties hit Pt. Moresby's port heavily damaging 2 ACMs. That tells me there are mines in port.

Later, 16 Vals caught a couple of DDs on ASW duty hitting DD Balch once and DD Gilmer twice leaving her heavily burning and heavily damaged. Later, I heard sinking sounds. Not sure what it was but I originally thought it was one of the ACMs. *Shrug* I'll find out eventually.

In the afternoon, 25 more Kates went after the DDs in Adak Harbor hitting one. Here's something interesting. They were set to use torpedoes but used bombs because they were at extended range, but they carried 2x 250 kg bombs each. Hmm...

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Two more (of 3) P-40Es shot down for no loss over Pt. Moresby. That's 67 on the month.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1191(+68) - 765(-4)

Philippines

Bataan - 914(+2) - 676(+2)

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Sumatra

Nothing to report.

Java

A couple of isolated Dutch units were killed today.

Djokjakarta was liberated with the infrastructure intact:

Manpower: 1(1)
Resources: 20(0)
LI: 20(0)

Burma

15 Army should reach Mandalay tomorrow.

China

The remainder of the Loyang assault force will reach Loyang tomorrow.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
15 Naval Construction Battalion - SE Fleet - headed to that AO
17 Naval Construction Battalion - SE Fleet - headed to that AO

PaxMondo wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:04 am

RangerJoe wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 6:18 pm ... But I have multiple mental health therapy sessions every day, if the cats can't lay on me they will walk all over the computer so then I will read a book with a cat on my chest. I have, however, had multiple attacks with Kates where I have had more bomb hits than bombers but those were usually against cargo and transport ships.

Well, your therapy sessions are a HECK of a lot better than mine ... although mine are PT sessions leaning into yoga and I have never been flexible, so it is pretty useless. I mean on a good day I can touch my knee caps, and they want/expect me to bend how? My shoulder to what? My knee where? Yeah, it's pretty jolly it is ...

I can say that I have seen similar things (Kates getting bomb hits and other bombers not so much), but it is all empirical, I haven't really tested it where I controlled things like NavBomb skill, altitude, etc.

Well then, sit down when they want you to touch something as low as or lower than your knee caps! Work smarter, not harder.

But I might just do some testing with the torpedo bombers, one day hopefully soon. But I have something rather urgent to take care of . . .

28 Feb 42

Sub War

The Dutch sub KXVI caught an xAK on her way back to Truk and sank her. I was lazy and let her travel along the route the computer will default to instead of moving the route over a few hexes.

5 Fleet

Sixteen Vals found a DD TF at Adak.....and missed. Yep, the vaunted KB at it again.

Then, 12 Kates found the DD Balch off Umnak and sank her with a torpedo. Finally!

A big force from KB (21 Zeros, 65 Vals, 36 Kates) hit Adak today. For a cost of 2 Vals to flak, they heavily damaged 2 DDs and also put a bomb into SS Gato. The airfield has 15 damage and there's a point of port damage too.

Then, two dozen Kates missed a big xAP and DD at Dutch Harbor.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Two more P-40Es shot down today over Pt. Moresby, rounding out the number of P-40Es shot down (no other causes in that number) for the month. Banzai!

The Betties hit Pt. Moresby's port again pounding 2 ACMs again. One was the same as yesterday's hit. Sinking sounds immediately after, so one of them probably sank.

Four B-17Es hit troops at Kokoda and 9 Banshees hit troops at Buna. I'm putting LRCAP Zeros in both hexes tomorrow to try and whittle them down.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1262(+71) - 771(+6)

Philippines

Bataan - 918(+4) - 681(+5)

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Sumatra

Nothing to report.

Java

Four B339Ds were intercepted by 4 Zeros over Soerabaja (trying to strafe?) and were all shot down for no loss. More MKB experience! Shoho's pilots did it.

A couple more isolated Dutch units were destroyed.

Finally, a deliberate attack at Soerabaja got 2:1 odds and reduced the forts to level 2. Not bad considering the force is composed of 1 division, an artillery unit and the 16 Army HQ. The rest of the army is scattered around Java killing off enemy units so they don't start retaking liberated bases. I'm bombarding with the artillery tomorrow to allow 38 Division to rest a bit.

Burma

15 Army is in Mandalay but I forgot to bombard with the artillery to see what opposes me. I'll do that tomorrow.

China

The Loyang assault goes in tomorrow.

Other Stuff

Interestingly, I had two IJA pilots wounded during training month 3. Don't think I ever saw that before. Something new?

Mike Solli wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:04 pm
Other Stuff

Interestingly, I had two IJA pilots wounded during training month 3. Don't think I ever saw that before. Something new?

I think so, might be in the release notes somewhere ....

PaxMondo wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:08 pm

Mike Solli wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:04 pm
Other Stuff

Interestingly, I had two IJA pilots wounded during training month 3. Don't think I ever saw that before. Something new?

I think so, might be in the release notes somewhere ....

If it is the 1128 beta, then that is WAD. You can also lose elite pilots there.

RangerJoe wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:24 pm

PaxMondo wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:08 pm

Mike Solli wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:04 pm
Other Stuff

Interestingly, I had two IJA pilots wounded during training month 3. Don't think I ever saw that before. Something new?

I think so, might be in the release notes somewhere ....

If it is the 1128 beta, then that is WAD. You can also lose elite pilots there.

Just returned the 1 Mar 42 turn. More weird stuff. Two wounded pilots are in TRACOM. And their experience is <81. Going to check to see if they were in TRACOM the day before.

Mike Solli wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:37 pm

RangerJoe wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:24 pm

PaxMondo wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:08 pm

I think so, might be in the release notes somewhere ....

If it is the 1128 beta, then that is WAD. You can also lose elite pilots there.

Just returned the 1 Mar 42 turn. More weird stuff. Two wounded pilots are in TRACOM. And their experience is <81. Going to check to see if they were in TRACOM the day before.

When pilots become wounded, they can lose experience. I think that it is about 10% but I am not sure of that number.

RangerJoe wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 1:06 am

Mike Solli wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:37 pm

RangerJoe wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:24 pm

If it is the 1128 beta, then that is WAD. You can also lose elite pilots there.

Just returned the 1 Mar 42 turn. More weird stuff. Two wounded pilots are in TRACOM. And their experience is <81. Going to check to see if they were in TRACOM the day before.

When pilots become wounded, they can lose experience. I think that it is about 10% but I am not sure of that number.

Mike,

How many total pilots do you have in TRACOM now?

PaxMondo wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 2:32 am

RangerJoe wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 1:06 am

Mike Solli wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:37 pm

Just returned the 1 Mar 42 turn. More weird stuff. Two wounded pilots are in TRACOM. And their experience is <81. Going to check to see if they were in TRACOM the day before.

When pilots become wounded, they can lose experience. I think that it is about 10% but I am not sure of that number.

Mike,

How many total pilots do you have in TRACOM now?

19 - 15 IJA and 4 IJN

It'll increase a lot at the end of March because 3 IJNAF fighter units will disband. They have only a few elite pilots that will all go into TRACOM, but they have over 60 pilots that will be available to replace a couple dozen or more that will transfer to TRACOM. In addition, I'm slowly replacing some elite IJAAF pilots with suitable replacements as well. I anticipate TRACOM increasing by 30-40 by the end of the month.

Mike Solli wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:04 pm 28 Feb 42

Sub War

The Dutch sub KXVI caught an xAK on her way back to Truk and sank her. I was lazy and let her travel along the route the computer will default to instead of moving the route over a few hexes.

We've ALL been guilty of this one, and me a repeat offender.

Mike Solli wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 12:53 pm

PaxMondo wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 2:32 am

RangerJoe wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 1:06 am

When pilots become wounded, they can lose experience. I think that it is about 10% but I am not sure of that number.

Mike,

How many total pilots do you have in TRACOM now?

19 - 15 IJA and 4 IJN

It'll increase a lot at the end of March because 3 IJNAF fighter units will disband. They have only a few elite pilots that will all go into TRACOM, but they have over 60 pilots that will be available to replace a couple dozen or more that will transfer to TRACOM. In addition, I'm slowly replacing some elite IJAAF pilots with suitable replacements as well. I anticipate TRACOM increasing by 30-40 by the end of the month.

Wow, so 2 of 19 got injured already? wow.

These are crack pilots, not newbs. Crack pilots have oopses like 1:10,000 flight hours ... this is like 1:100 flight hours (and an oops generally does NOT create an injury to the pilot, but it likely does injure the aircraft, prolly like 50:1). Even noobs wouldn't have this high of injury rate ... they would wash out completely and be in a foxhole the next day.

RJ: feel free to pass my observation along to the team. That is factual data from RW pilots, FW pilots would be even HIGHER.* If they want to validate it, I think the NTSB or FAA have it somewhere. All licensed carriers track and submit incident data monthly as part of their certificate requirements. Private pilots have to fly under whatever FBO they operate their plane out of, so the FBO would report that data. This is done whether you are flying under Part 135 or, 91, or 121.

Just my $0.02 ....


*RW=Rotor wing
FW = Fixed wing

PaxMondo wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 3:34 pm

Mike Solli wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 12:53 pm

PaxMondo wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 2:32 am

Mike,

How many total pilots do you have in TRACOM now?

19 - 15 IJA and 4 IJN

It'll increase a lot at the end of March because 3 IJNAF fighter units will disband. They have only a few elite pilots that will all go into TRACOM, but they have over 60 pilots that will be available to replace a couple dozen or more that will transfer to TRACOM. In addition, I'm slowly replacing some elite IJAAF pilots with suitable replacements as well. I anticipate TRACOM increasing by 30-40 by the end of the month.

Wow, so 2 of 19 got injured already? wow.

These are crack pilots, not newbs. Crack pilots have oopses like 1:10,000 flight hours ... this is like 1:100 flight hours (and an oops generally does NOT create an injury to the pilot, but it likely does injure the aircraft, prolly like 50:1). Even noobs wouldn't have this high of injury rate ... they would wash out completely and be in a foxhole the next day.

RJ: feel free to pass my observation along to the team. That is factual data from RW pilots, FW pilots would be even HIGHER.* If they want to validate it, I think the NTSB or FAA have it somewhere. All licensed carriers track and submit incident data monthly as part of their certificate requirements. Private pilots have to fly under whatever FBO they operate their plane out of, so the FBO would report that data. This is done whether you are flying under Part 135 or, 91, or 121.

Just my $0.02 ....


*RW=Rotor wing
FW = Fixed wing

Yeah, really weird. Two trainees wounded and 2 TRACOM pilots wounded in the same month. Never saw either of those in all the years I've been playing this.

That last paragraph made my head hurt, Pax.

Mike Solli wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 7:56 pm
That last paragraph made my head hurt, Pax.

Sorry, I got a little too factual. I'll try to avoid it in the future ...

Thanks for the TRACOM info!

That is a bold move sending KB all the way to the Aleutians in addition to the extra op losses you will face there. In my MP game when I sent KB too far from the DEI to invade Suva my opponent combined all British and American carriers at Christmas Island with oilers and tankers while having mined every exit to the Indian Ocean and just went to town in the DEI effectively ending my game by cutting off all oil even though I was doing so well everywhere else...that was a big lesson learned...I envy those Japanese players who face allied players that run away and turtle! This was Skyland a very good allied player! Have not seen him around in a long time...

Tanaka wrote: Tue Oct 07, 2025 5:08 am ...This was Skyland a very good allied player! Have not seen him around in a long time...

Wow, a really long time for him ....

Tanaka wrote: Tue Oct 07, 2025 5:08 am Thanks for the TRACOM info!

That is a bold move sending KB all the way to the Aleutians in addition to the extra op losses you will face there. In my MP game when I sent KB too far from the DEI to invade Suva my opponent combined all British and American carriers at Christmas Island with oilers and tankers while having mined every exit to the Indian Ocean and just went to town in the DEI effectively ending my game by cutting off all oil even though I was doing so well everywhere else...that was a big lesson learned...I envy those Japanese players who face allied players that run away and turtle! This was Skyland a very good allied player! Have not seen him around in a long time...

Yeah, I see in this game that Ted is focusing on the Aleutians in a big way. Last game I had taken everything up to Unmak and had invaded Dutch Harbor. It was a big drain on Ted's resources. I want to knock it back a little. I finished a turn yesterday that focused on Dutch Harbor and did a number there. I'll give the details soon. Another turn at Dutch Harbor to try and sink the damaged ships and then I'll give Adak a little love for a couple of turns, then back home.

I sent Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku there. I am keeping track of the losses to date:

Zeros: 1 plane, 1 pilot
Vals: 14 planes, 8 pilots
Kate: 1 plane, 1 pilot

I'm not worried about the planes. There are plenty of them. The pilots aren't really an issue either. Val pilots always take a beating. There are a LOT of them training.

I am keeping an eye out for the US carriers. I don't anticipate seeing them, but there is a sub screen out to the east and south, just in case.

PaxMondo wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 11:45 pm

Mike Solli wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 7:56 pm
That last paragraph made my head hurt, Pax.

Sorry, I got a little too factual. I'll try to avoid it in the future ...

No big deal, Pax. It's always interesting to find out little details about you guys.

Mike Solli wrote: Tue Oct 07, 2025 3:24 pm
No big deal, Pax. It's always interesting to find out little details about you guys.

Thanks for your patience.