Escorting taskforces with my Zeros?

[d0mbo]

To get a bit into AE I am trying my hand on the Guadacanal scenario as the Japanese. The scale of this scenario befits this average strategygamer better (And it reminds me of TF1942 by microprose from the mid nineties... anyone remember that game?)

To cut a long story short, i want to supply my troops at tassaforongo (nort tip of Guadacanal). I form a TF with a few transports and a s much AA as i can put in it. After that, i order all my Zero airgroups to use droptanks, put them on "Sweep", set LRCAP to 100% and give as target the aforementioned Taskforce.

Result: the taskforce gets wiped out by enemy airforces with not a single zero around (grand total of 39 zeros, so there should be at least a handful of them nearby, no?).

So: what did i do wrong? I want just a few planes flying CAP over my TF. Should be possible, no? The Allied A.I. has no problems CAPping his taskforces. MY bombers DO run into waves of F4F's when attacking.

So basically, does anyone know how to say "Help!"in japanese?


Regards,

d0mbo.

[Barb]

Zeros mission should be LRCAP to CAP your TF. Sweep is offensive misson targeting enemy defensive missions like CAP and LRCAP.

[d0mbo]

Hmmmm....
so i put them on "escort"but put LRCAP to 100% (just as a test).
 
I sent out a few cruisers on a suicide mission to get to the invasion force.
 
They suicided alright versus endless streams of allied plans. Still no Japanese Zeros present.
 
My Taskforce is as far away as the extended-drop tank range of my planes. maybe LRCAPs don't work in this outer ring but only work inside the drop tank range or even clean range? Can anyone confoirm?
 
 

[tacfire]

LRCAP needs to stay within normal aircraft range if I remember. Also make sure the air group has decent moral and fatigue level (they may not fly if it is too low) Also, sometimes bad weather affect whether the airplanes fly or not.

For best results make sure the airfield is in good supply, and has enough aviation support for the planes, and the airgroups are not overstacking the airfield limit.

But LRCAP does work and it will follow the task forces around, I have seen it happen.

[dpstafford]

Yeah, it's too far for LRCAP. You need to study up on the fast transport mission!