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If air strikes had an opportunity of launching surprise attacks against TF's and bases, realism had been boosted a notch.

Currently in august 45 as Japan in a pbem game and absolutely every single plane I send against a base or CV TF is shot down.
This is probably how most of the strikes would have ended in real life....but if you remember the Princeton, it was sunk by a single Judy dive bomber that hid in low clouds.

How about implementing a random chance for achieving surprise, eg. beginning at 5% for 1-5 planes, 4% for 5-10 planes etc...?

Any comments?

Not sure what's really possible to do with PacWar but a few modifications would have made it even more interesting

Got a few comments on different aspects of the game:

Instructing bombers not to attack without fighter cover, and not beneath a given range x would certainly prevent a lot of stupid suicide mission.
Fighters not on CAP shouldn't intercept attacking bombers, would also be useful. In 45 as Japan, I can't station my best fighters there because they will all get shot down by the Mustangs escorting the B29's. The only solution is to put em on SA attacks, then they will only engage the CAP over CV TF's...which is what I want em to do.

The base target system is another problem: If I set base target as island X , you can be sure that 200 planes are slaughtered attacking base Y where there are 300 Hellcats on CAP, instead of the mauled TF outside island X! : p

I've never ever seen patrol aircraft attacking TF's or anything else than subs? They got the mission options, so is there something not working here?

The night kamikaze attacks carried out by 90+ exp airgroups is working perfectly! Usually only a few planes manages to find their targets, but when they do a single plane can blow up an Essex!
This is currently the only way to get to the massive US CV TF's harassing the home islands.

Lots of experiences here, really enjoying the game but as usual I always find a lot of stuff to comment

Finally, can damaged shipyards prevent ships from being delivered at all? Received all my Jap ships 100% on schedule until 11/44. In december bombing raids started to hit my shipyards and the Shinano has still not arrived in august 45 : (
Prolonging the game to 47 will most likely not give the Japs any additional ships at all if the Americans have captured the Marianas by late 44.

Originally posted by leknes

Instructing bombers not to attack without fighter cover, and not beneath a given range x would certainly prevent a lot of stupid suicide mission.

There were quite a few instances where the bomber group wouldn't hang around for their fighter escort if they got separated (VB-6 and VS-6 at Midway, for example), and there were times when there weren't fighter aircraft with the range. The way to overcome that is to only set the base target to one that is within range of fighter escort, or assign the bombers to Night Missions

The base target system is another problem: If I set base target as island X , you can be sure that 200 planes are slaughtered attacking base Y where there are 300 Hellcats on CAP, instead of the mauled TF outside island X! : p

Try setting your bombers to NI (Naval Interdiction) Missions and see what happens.

I've never ever seen patrol aircraft attacking TF's or anything else than subs? They got the mission options, so is there something not working here?

Patrol aircraft (PBY's et al) were generally ineffective attacking ships (although one stuck a fish into a transport at Midway). The game is programmed so that these craft function in long range patrol and ASW. BTW, Dive Bombers and Torp Bombers also are useful in this function when set to Day Combat

Finally, can damaged shipyards prevent ships from being delivered at all? Received all my Jap ships 100% on schedule until 11/44. In december bombing raids started to hit my shipyards and the Shinano has still not arrived in august 45 : (

You betcha! Once the bombers start knocking down your Shipyard and Supply Depot, you're all done with shipbuilding. Here's a blurb from the Manual page 52:

Ship reinforcements are scheduled to arrive at various times during the war. Reinforcements will arrive as they did historically as long as the Japanese and American shipyards remain supplied and undamaged. Reinforcements may be delayed if the shipyards are overloaded repairing damaged ships. Ship reinforcement units arrive according to the Allied and Japanese Ship Tables starting on page 121 of the Manual...

It then goes on to explain how the points are figured etc...

"Try setting your bombers to NI (Naval Interdiction) Missions and see what happens."

What I always do, but all to often the strike planes attack other targets than the base target.... In the last incident I had the CAP over 2 US CV TF's. When I hoped to deliver a crucial blow, the 200 strike planes got wasted because they all attaced 3-4 fresh CV TF's over another island :0

Hmmm... must be one of those "attack the highest threat" subroutines...

At Midway, IJN hit Yorktown twice, both times thinking her to be undamaged.