recon problem

[greycat]

However many times I send a recon mission to an enemy base, I never get any intel about the aircraft stationed there. [&:]My PBEM opponent has the same problem.[:@] I've noticed this in the senarios Rising Sun (PBEM) and the Turning Point (Japanese AI). In the latter case, the intel was present at the start of the game but then disappeared. Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong? (I'm using version v1.8.0.6)

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: greycat

However many times I send a recon mission to an enemy base, I never get any intel about the aircraft stationed there. [&:]My PBEM opponent has the same problem.[:@] I've noticed this in the senarios Rising Sun (PBEM) and the Turning Point (Japanese AI). In the latter case, the intel was present at the start of the game but then disappeared. Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong? (I'm using version v1.8.0.6)

Different things can effect recon including (but not probably not limited to):
1) type of aircraft being used (dedicated ones give MUCH more information than regular bombers);
2) experience of the pilot;
3) altitude that the recon is flown at (lower the better - but get you more casualties;)
4) Number of recon missions flown (i.e. - more than one squadron or flight assigned will generally get more information.)

Weather will effect the results as well.

[Gem35]

Every turn enemy bases can lower their detection level based on what rtrapasso listed.
It's based on Fog of War and up to you to use the forces at your disposal effectively to get as much intel as possible.
Here are a few examples according to the manual.


10.1 DETECTION LEVELS (DLS)

When the Fog of War option is On, every ground unit, TF, and minefield on the map must be
spotted before it is visible for the enemy to see. If the Fog of War is Off then all these units are
always visible on the map to the enemy player, but the units in the game will not act as if they
have total knowledge of the enemy. In War in the Pacific - The Struggle Against Japan, 1941-
45™, each of these units, as well as each base, has a Detection Level (DL) and a Maximum
Detection Level (MDL), both between 0 and 10. The DL indicates very recent intelligence about
the enemy and it is the DL that has an impact on combat results. The MDL represents a general
awareness of the enemy based on both recent and less current information, and it is this level that
is used to determine which enemy units are placed on the map.

�� An MDL of zero indicates the unit has not been spotted by the enemy and is not shown
on the map (enemy bases are always shown on the map even if a base has an MDL of
zero nothing but the name of the base will be known by the enemy).

�� MDL’s above zero indicate the unit has been spotted by the enemy. When Fog of War is
Off, all units have a minimum MDL value of one.

�� The greater the MDL, the more is likely to be known about the unit by the enemy and
displayed on the screen.

�� The greater the DL the easier it is to inflict damage on the enemy in combat. Often even
when the DL is zero, friendly forces will take action due to an MDL value that is higher
(i.e. even though an enemy TF disappears at night, expectations of enemy movements
based on following the enemy closely the previous day can lead to friendly forces
anticipating the enemy’s next move).

�� The DL of every unit changes constantly during the resolution phase based on the unit’s
activities and enemy actions.




10.1.3 Recon Flights

Whenever a plane flying a recon Mission reaches its target hex, or an air unit bombs a target,
every enemy ground unit, TF or base (not minefield) in the hex has a possibility of having its DL
increased by 1, 2 or 4.

Each enemy unit is checked separately to see if the pilot has successfully spotted the unit:

�� If a recon aircraft type is flying a Recon Mission, the percentage chance that any given
unit will have its DL increased is equal to the Experience of the pilot. If the DL is
increased, it will increase by 4.

�� If a non-recon type plane is flying a Recon Mission, the percentage chance that any
given unit will have its DL increased is equal to the Experience of the pilot divided by 2. If
the DL is increased it will increase by 2.

�� If an air unit bombs any enemy target, the percentage chance that any given unit in the
target hex will have its DL increased is equal to the Experience of the one pilot chosen at
random to take reconnaissance photos divided by 2. If the DL is increased it will increase
by 1.

[greycat]

Thanks for both sets of tips. [:)] Intel about ships and ground units seem to be easier to come by than aircraft intel; I will keep trying and see what happens

[Gem35]

Welcome, hope you are enjoying yourself.
Have fun.[:)]