Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Icedawg]

I'm joining this excellent AAR a bit late, so please excuse me for digging this up.

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

My main transport will be the Ki-57-I and eventually the Ki-57-II. I decided on larger capacity vs. the extra hex range. My reason for this is that if I need range, the Tina will do splendidly. The Ki-59 is garbage. There are 36 of them and they will all go to the 4 chutai in Manchuoko for training. That's about all they are good for. The Ki-56 and MC-21 are good aircraft and will be used until depleted.

The Thalia has a capacity of 2000 and a range of 12. The Topsy has a capacity of 2300 and a range of 11. Since the game treats these capacities as being identical (anything less than 8k = 1 supply point, 8k-11999 = 2 supply points, 12k-15999 = 3 supply points etc) why not use the Thalia?

Or am I mistaken on how capacity works?

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Topsy uses an outdated engine while Thalia demands your precious.

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

Topsy uses an outdated engine while Thalia demands your precious.

Very good point. I usually think only in terms of "which aircraft is better". But if the difference is only a matter of 1 hex on the range, maybe in this case it's smart to go with the relatively unused Nak-5 engine.

[Mike Solli]

That's it, GZ. Right now I'm building the Topsy I, which is using up the Ha-5 engine in the pool. That gives me those aircraft for half price in HI. I'll use up those engines and then shut off IJA transport production for a long time while they are being used. I'm also using up inventories of Ki-56 and MC-21. Those chutai will eventually upgrade to the Topsy when their numbers are depleted. The 36 Ki-59s are in the 4x chutai in Manchuoko training pilots. They'll last a long time. For me, it's all a matter of conserving HI. I'd also rather have the extra capacity. For range I use the Tina.

Icedawg, your comments may be accurate for supply, but not necessarily for transporting pax/equipment, which has varying sizes. I tend to move troops around a lot by air.

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

That's it, GZ. Right now I'm building the Topsy I, which is using up the Ha-5 engine in the pool. That gives me those aircraft for half price in HI. I'll use up those engines and then shut off IJA transport production for a long time while they are being used. I'm also using up inventories of Ki-56 and MC-21. Those chutai will eventually upgrade to the Topsy when their numbers are depleted. The 36 Ki-59s are in the 4x chutai in Manchuoko training pilots. They'll last a long time. For me, it's all a matter of conserving HI. I'd also rather have the extra capacity. For range I use the Tina.

Icedawg, your comments may be accurate for supply, but not necessarily for transporting pax/equipment, which has varying sizes. I tend to move troops around a lot by air.

I didn't realize it mattered for troops. I assumed it was just "one plane = one device". But you know what happens when you assume things ......

[Mike Solli]

I'm not sure if you can stick 2 like devices in one plane. But if the device is too big, you won't stick any on that plane.

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I'm not sure if you can stick 2 like devices in one plane. But if the device is too big, you won't stick any on that plane.

I just checked out section 7.2.4 (transporting troops) of the manual and it just says that a device having a load cost greater than 7 cannot be air dropped (onto enemy base) and a device having a load cost greater than 9 cannot be air transported (to a friendly airfield). It (the manual) doesn't say anything about the significance of the plane's capacity when transporting troops. (Although it would stand to reason that it should.)

[Mike Solli]

Interesting. I never looked that closely at air transportation/air drops. I do recall that recently I air transported the 4 Fleet HQ from Truk to Rabaul using Tinas. No more than 1 device was transported per plane per day.

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Interesting. I never looked that closely at air transportation/air drops. I do recall that recently I air transported the 4 Fleet HQ from Truk to Rabaul using Tinas. No more than 1 device was transported per plane per day.

Yeah, that's the pattern I've noted. From what I've seen, capacity doesn't really seem to matter. I'll try a test using aircraft of different capacity ratings and see if there's any difference in what they transport.

I don't think I'll have much time now. We've got company coming over for dinner and the wife is already a bit displeased that I'm here at my computer while she's working away in the kitchen. [:-] I'll try to get to it tomorrow morning and will report back.

If you don't hear from me tomorrow and you catch some headline along the lines of "Wife Kills Husband At Computer Station", you'll know I at least tried. [:D]

[Elladan]

From what limited experience I have with them at least the bigger ones, like Tabby or Emily do transport more than one device. I have seen Tabbys moving 1 infantry and 1 support squad per plane per turn. So perhaps there is a treshold at some load capacity value? Would be great if someone knows the formula.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Pax, I do too. To me subs are more an intel platform than an offensive platform. I like to see where the enemy ships are headed and if I can safely knock one off here and there, that much better.

I actually prefer that they don't. [;)] I'm about the silent service. I don't want to spook the "game". I prefer to send bigger 'dogs' into the party.

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
Whenever I do an op with KB, I like to place subs between the AO and the nearest enemy base, just for that reason. I have 8 subs pretty much dedicated to KB.

Yep. Or more. I also use the subs to retreive downed pilots.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

I read drowned pilots and thought wut ? O.o

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

I read drowned pilots and thought wut ? O.o

LOL

[:D][:D][:D]

<I had to re-read what I wrote ... was afraid I had spelt drowned! [;)]>

[Mike Solli]

Freudian slip. [:D] Do you guys (Edit: and ladies [:D]) think subs really rescue many pilots? I guess it can't hurt.

About the larger transports - I believe I read about different units having different load values. That might have been back in WitP or even farther back. Been playing some version of this game for a good number of years now. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

10 Jan 42

This was a "slow" turn even though there was a lot to do. I had 3 Oscars shot down over China but no pilots were lost. (Getting real lucky on those die rolls, plus it doesn't hurt to fight over your own territory.)

I landed at various places. I'll attack Macassar and Lae tomorrow.

I think KB snuck away from Rabaul successfully. Ted should have put subs north of Rabaul.

I moved subs to some other locations to see if they can see anything.

Definitely something brewing at San Francisco. Three ASW TFs out and two more TFs in port. I may send a couple more subs from the Hawaii area east to snoop around.

Ted isn't moving any of the ground units in the clear in China. I count a total of 42 units that may be cut off. [X(]

Other than that, just more of the same.

Edit: What am I thinking?! I took Lae this turn. I have 2x chutai of Zeros and a naval Babs chutai there.

[Mike Solli]

I was reading Cribtop's AAR and GZ made a comment about the uselessness of Lilys with the change in bombing effectiveness. A few days ago I shut off Lily production. I've decided (tentatively) not to restart it. Currently, I have 44 Lilys and 36 Sallys in the pool. I'm going to let the Lily pool deplete and then start converting Lily sentai into Sallys (or Helens if the Lily pool holds out a couple more months). I haven't converted the Lily factory yet. Still contemplating what to change it to. Suggestions are always welcome.

[vicberg]

I like the Lillie.&nbsp; I find myself replacing a lot less of them than Sallies.&nbsp; I want to keep my squadrons effective, especially in China, where they can have such a big impact.&nbsp; Single engine Jap Bombers are a waste. Don't want to increase Sallie production&nbsp;to 150 in order to convert, plus the engines, so the Lillie for me is a good step up from Sonia, Ida, Ann, Crap.&nbsp; Many of the single engine already upgrade to Lillie, so don't have to spend the major PP cost.&nbsp;
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Mike, you mentioned buying out the Hiyru squadron.&nbsp; What did you mean by that?&nbsp; Sorry to ask, but I'm starting to wonder if there's something I'm not aware of.&nbsp;

[Mike Solli]

Hi vicberg. If an air unit is destroyed, you can buy it back using PPs. I believe it is 5 PP per plane in capacity. The Hiryu's daitai were all 18 planes and each costs 90 PPs to buy back. All you get is the shell. No planes and obviously no pilots.

I'll have to check to see which CEA air units can upgrade to the Lily. You're right, the Lily is better than 1E planes (I think).

[Mike Solli]

I found the 45 Sentai (27 plane capacity) can upgrade to the Lily without paying the 75 PP penalty. Hmmm....

[vicberg]

Yea, don't need to spend 75pp to upgrade outside the chain of command it's definately a step up in range and payload.&nbsp;
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Wow, I've played this game for years and never knew that.&nbsp; Where do you find destroyed units?&nbsp; Tracker?&nbsp; Within the game?&nbsp; Geez, this game is fricken deep.
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Mandrake was joking about throwing out the contents of his fridge because the expiration dates were beyond his campaign date.&nbsp; LOL.&nbsp; I think I can relate.&nbsp;
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