Build-Up of Air Groups

[Manic Jester]

I noticed on a thread a few days back that someone was disgruntle about how the game builds-up the quantity of planes in an air group (B-29's). I have noticed this since v1.0, and it has gotten progressively worse in the v2's. In my current game, playing Allied side on even advantage, I have been paying close attention on how this works.

I could not get my 1 of my 4 B-17 squadrons to gain any more aircraft above four, so I pulled all of the air groups out of action and placed them somewhere safe. Since I pulled two of the of the squadrons out of an area where they were taking losses, the aircraft pool for B-17's started to rise. When the aircraft pool hit the magic number of 40 B-17's or slightly above the final B-17 air group started to aquire more air craft. The usual build-up began "4...14...22...36...40...etc...". Now your ready to redeploy your bomber groups.

I noticed that it also works this way with fighter and tac-bomber air groups. The assignment of replacements goes a bit like this (This may not be exactly right).

1.) U.S. Air Groups ABOVE quantity of 4 receive replacements

2.) Other Allied Air Groups ABOVE quantity of 4 receive replacements.

(Exception Note: An Allied Air Group with more planes in it than its U.S. counterpart will receive planes first. [sometimes?])

3.) U.S. Air Groups of quantity 4 receive
replacements.

4.) Other Allied Air Groups of quantity 4 receive replacements.

Note, that if you have a non-U.S. airgroup in a high attrition rate area that it may take a while to build-up if your using the same planes as the U.S.
It would also be a good idea to remove that air group out of the action, and place it at a well supplied base until it rebuilds. Remember the attrition rate of lost air craft effects the air craft pool and the ability to build-up the new and existing air groups.

Hope this helps!

MJ

[Blackhorse]

MJ,

Based on my experience, I think you have accurately described how reinforcements work for aircraft squadrons. Your recommendations are good advice.

However, nothing that the player does can fix the major problem with allied heavy bombers -- the production rate is way too low. If the only way you can get a few of your squadrons to fill out is by holding all of the squadrons out of combat, it rather defeats the purpose.