New Stupid Newbie Questions

[Klahn]

Are the parts I produce used to repair damaged airframes, or just build new ones?

Since the Axis isn't performing any night attacks currently, is there a way to force my night fighters to alert for daylight raids?

The manual says I can operate my fighters out of Bomber and Coastal Command airfields. The Axis gets no points for attacking these fields. Is there any drawback to me transferring my aircraft to these fields?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Hard Sarge]

ORIGINAL: Ryvan

Are the parts I produce used to repair damaged airframes, or just build new ones?
new ones

Since the Axis isn't performing any night attacks currently, is there a way to force my night fighters to alert for daylight raids?
they react as night fighters, you can use them for patrolling

The manual says I can operate my fighters out of Bomber and Coastal Command airfields. The Axis gets no points for attacking these fields. Is there any drawback to me transferring my aircraft to these fields?
there may be some slowdown on reaction, since they are not linked to the commanding sector field, but, pretty much, nope, part of the flaw of the attack plan

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Klahn]

Thanks!

Got 1 more for you. Is there any way to reassign interceptors after they've taken off?

What I mean is this. I detect 2 raids out over the channel. I launch my interceptors at both of them. After crossing into England, the raids are identified and 1 is a fighter sweep. My interceptors haven't reached them yet. I've found I can recall my interceptors, but once they are rtb, I cannot order them to do anything else. Is there a way to tell my interceptors to leave their current target and attempt to intercept a new target?

[Wayn Reinbold]

1 note the raid numbers you want to no longer intercept
2 go into the Intercept list
3 a list of raids will appear

4 select the raid that you no longer want to intercept

5 the buttons <intercept>, <recall>, <recall all> are present on this window
6 selecting the <recall> displays all the air units current engaging this raid (this is the real list, rather than the numbers displayed in the intercept list) ie the intercept list may say 30 aircraft, but when you look at this "recall" this there is only one aircraft engaging, the rest are on their way back to base.




7 a list of your air units assigned to this raid will appear. select the patrol button (Note: this is a toggle switch ie select /deselect), not the recall button. you will notice that the characters PAT (short for patrol) will appear against the deselected unit on the right hand side of the list.
8 these units are now in partol mode
9 you can either:
back out to the raid list and select the raid you want to intercept (this is a good way of a fast disengagement of the current raid and maybe forcing your fighters to climb to a high altitude away from the disengaged unit) and assign the currently patroling aircraft to intercept
OR
use the partol move command to move the now patrolling aircraft closer to the enemy unit

when intercepting I don't assign the intercept from the ground, I try to move my fighters by patrol to within say 10 -15 miles of the target raid before ordering the interceptors to attack. (Note you should set the interceptor patrol height to say 5000ft higher that the raid they are going to intercept, this helps the get the initial bounce). This allow you to change you mind if other raids appear, as time goes by.

PS The reason i try to get close before attacking is that once your interceptor are within 50miles of their target AND they are in attack mode their fuel consumption doubles because they have changed from cruise speed to max speed, until they have to disingage and return to base. The 50mile thing is based on my experience with the old BtR game and i assume this has not been changed, Hard Sarge would be able to shed some light on this.

[Klahn]

Wow, thanks for all that. Helps a ton!

[Wayn Reinbold]

no problem

correction the 50 mile range going to combat speed was not something I deciphered, but was stated in the manual or maybe in this forum somewhere [:)].

A further note.
Retargeting a raid (say a recon plane at 40,000ft and 100 miles away inland) is a good way of forceably disengaging a current dogfight, by climbing out and heading east or southeast. Otherwise you will notice, if you put the fighters into patrol mode they will just reingage what ever is closest.

This tactic of forceable disengaging seems to draw the fighters away from the bombers. Then I will send my heavy fighters into the bombers, and undo the forced disingagement, to continue the dogfight against the escort fight but away from the bomber formations. I hardly ever send my Fw 190s or Me109 against bombers, thy seem too fragile.

Although I have read that the Fw190F and Fw190G are good against bombers, so I will try them out because the cuurent game does not let you reequip these units (SG, and SKG) with normal fighters, as per the old BtR game.

[Hard Sarge]

you will be able to change the Jabo/Trainer type aircraft, down the road, based on time and stockpile levels

[Hard Sarge]

also, remember you can make your 109 and 190's into "heavy" fighters, if you want them to hit the bombers, try to keep them away from the allied fighters though

(A-5, is as is, the A-6 and on, can add extra cannons, most German fighters can also add rockets)

[Wayn Reinbold]

Re my 11/3/2009 1:16:44 AM
step missing
"- select the raid that you no longer want to intercept"

- the buttons <intercept>, <recall>, <recall all> are present on this window
- selecting the <recall> displays all the air units current engaging this raid (this is the real list, rather than the numbers displayed in the intercept list) ie the intercept list may say 30 aircraft, but when you look at this "recall" this there is only one aircraft engaging, the rest are on their way back to base.

"- a list of your air units assigned to this raid will appear."


I will add this to my first response

[Wayn Reinbold]

thx for that info [:)]

[Klahn]

Couple more questions:

If I move a squadron to a different airfield, and that squadron has aircraft that are in a non-flyable state, are those aircraft still transferred or are they lost?

Do WIA pilots ever return to action?

[Hard Sarge]

ORIGINAL: Ryvan

Couple more questions:

If I move a squadron to a different airfield, and that squadron has aircraft that are in a non-flyable state, are those aircraft still transferred or are they lost?
they will be in repair (magic wings)

Do WIA pilots ever return to action?
yes, you should see a message saying they were wounded, if it happened during a crash, and it will say for how long

in the unit page, you can look at the honor rolls, it will also list the pilots who were WIA, and the date when (hassle is, it does not have how much longer they will be WIA, but over all 99 should be the longest they are out)

[vimconfused]

Glad I found this thread as it sums up what I'm going to ask!

Am very much a newbie to this game, and have the online purchase version. Either I can't find information that is in the manual (or accessible from the game), or perhaps some extra info comes with the physical version, or perhaps it just isn't there. Anyway, would appreciate comments on the following. NB, my comments are based on being on playing to all of turn 7 as German in the long campaign, so I have a lot still to see.

1. Is it a good idea to have balloons at airfields? Although I've only just started, the only aircraft that have run into them have been my own. Clearly this could be random at this early stage, but are they going to give my own planes more probs than the enemy? (Came from a classic combat morning when the only thing that happened was two of my own planes ran into my own balloons and two were shot down by my own flak.)

2. Do all German units grow to a certain size if replacements are available, or are some units hard coded with a smaller maximum? I've noticed some gruppen (for example those called ISS) that only have four aircraft and haven't thus far grown.

3. I've noticed that you can put Italian pilots in the better German planes when upgrading, but certain groups for upgrade have a much smaller choice of models I know very little about. I'm thinking these are Romanians, Czechs etc. So is there a way of getting them the best a/c, or if they are stuck with these lesser models, which is the best of the bunch? Is the 109Ga model specifically for these allies?

4. Massive failure to intercept night raids - managed about two kills in three big raids. Any ideas with 1943 technology? Saw a thread about finding them over fires that are already burning... any other suggestions?

I really appreciate experienced players helping me out here. Sorry if the answers are already in the manual but I couldn't find them. Incidentally I'm new to this game but spent more hours (days!) than I'd care to mention on USAAF on my old C64.

[Hard Sarge]

ORIGINAL: vimconfused

Glad I found this thread as it sums up what I'm going to ask!

Am very much a newbie to this game, and have the online purchase version. Either I can't find information that is in the manual (or accessible from the game), or perhaps some extra info comes with the physical version, or perhaps it just isn't there. Anyway, would appreciate comments on the following. NB, my comments are based on being on playing to all of turn 7 as German in the long campaign, so I have a lot still to see.

ask away, someone is normally around and can answer most questions

1. Is it a good idea to have balloons at airfields? Although I've only just started, the only aircraft that have run into them have been my own. Clearly this could be random at this early stage, but are they going to give my own planes more probs than the enemy? (Came from a classic combat morning when the only thing that happened was two of my own planes ran into my own balloons and two were shot down by my own flak.)

it could be a good idea, but really, if it is a field you plan on using, I would keep them away, pilots will be stupid, now if you want to bait a trap or two, then balloons would come in handy, just don't forget about them

2. Do all German units grow to a certain size if replacements are available, or are some units hard coded with a smaller maximum? I've noticed some gruppen (for example those called ISS) that only have four aircraft and haven't thus far grown.

it will depend on unit type (the ISS are not Gruppen, they are Stabs size)(they are test pilots, working pilots at some of the factories, Kurt Tank was even known to take off every once in a while when a raid was thought to be coming close)

but, for the Germans, it is Gruppen, Staffel, Stab (Group, Squadron, Flight) for sizes

in the unit page, it should show the unit name and type of unit at the top

3. I've noticed that you can put Italian pilots in the better German planes when upgrading, but certain groups for upgrade have a much smaller choice of models I know very little about. I'm thinking these are Romanians, Czechs etc. So is there a way of getting them the best a/c, or if they are stuck with these lesser models, which is the best of the bunch? Is the 109Ga model specifically for these allies?

there are plane types, we call trainers, trainers will only upgrade to other trainer types, once to the end of the trainer line, then it can break off into normal plane types

also, in the code, is settings for allowing this to be broken, when certin goals are met

the Ga models are Axis Allied made aircraft, that are basicly the same as the German made ones, but, for the Axis Allies

4. Massive failure to intercept night raids - managed about two kills in three big raids. Any ideas with 1943 technology? Saw a thread about finding them over fires that are already burning... any other suggestions?

Window is still in effect, the LW is learning new tricks and getting new gear to try and combat it, overall, the best chance will be the Wild Pig idea, until the better radar starts coming into play (the FuG 202 will be all but usless, the FuG 212 will better, but still not the greatest, the FuG 220 will be the keeper) (but of course, by the time that is standard, the Allies will be gearing up to counter it)

I really appreciate experienced players helping me out here. Sorry if the answers are already in the manual but I couldn't find them. Incidentally I'm new to this game but spent more hours (days!) than I'd care to mention on USAAF on my old C64.

that was a great game, in it's day, to be honest though, I think to most people it is what they remember more then what they had, I was able to get the old manual and look at the old screens, it is really shocking how far we have come since then (but, a great game, is working from inside of your mind, not what you see on the screen)

[vimconfused]

Hard Sarge, many thanks for your prompt and very helpful reply.

One question though to clarify what you said about "trainers" and when they get to the "end of the trainer line". Can you explain this a bit more? For example can you upgrade to another trainer, then upgrade again to a "standard" aircraft?

... and my most important question (also asked in a different thread, but it is my most important after all)....

How do I know on which dates various aircraft types are available. I've found lots of stuff on research and production now, but knowing that I can advance the availability date means little if I don't know when I'm advancing it from! Moreover, I'm changing some production options, and clearly some of the types are for long term research, but there are others I have no idea are initially available or not, or when they will become available. I don't want to convert large parts of my current production to better aircraft if they are actually not going to produce for ages.

Thanks again in advance for your response.

[Hard Sarge]

a little info for the 43/44 campaign, LW side

5 Bf 109G-2
6 Bf 109G-5
7 Bf 109G-5/AS ..... 1/44 High
8 Bf 109G-6
9 Bf 109G-6/R6
11 Bf 109G-10 ..... 11/44
12 Bf 109G-10/R6
13 Bf 109G-14 ..... 7/44
14 Bf 109G-14/R6
15 Bf 109H-2 ..... 6/44 very good high
16 Bf 109K-4 ..... 9/44
17 Bf 109K-6
18 Bf 109T-2
20 Bf 109Z-3 ..... 4/45 High good
30 Do 335A-0 ..... 9/44
31 Do 335A ..... 2/45
32 Do 335B ..... 2/45
33 Do 335A-6 ..... 3/45
36 Fw 190A-5
38 Fw 190A-6
39 Fw 190A-6/R1
40 Fw 190A-8 ..... 1/44
41 Fw 190A-8/R1
42 Fw 190A-8/R7
43 Fw 190A-8/R8
46 Fw 190D-9 ..... 9/44 high
52 G.55/I Centauro
53 G.56 Centauro II .....1/45
62 Ju 88C-6a
64 MC.200 Saetta
65 MC.202 Folgore
66 MC.205 Veltro
71 Dar-11 Ljastuvka
72 Avia B.534
73 G.50bis Freccia
74 D.520
75 He 112B-2
76 IAR 81M
77 MS 406
78 Bf 109Ga-2 ..... 9/43
79 Bf 109Ga-6 ..... 11/43
81 Fw 190F
84 Fw 190G
89 Re.2001 Falco II
90 Re.2002 Ariete
91 Re.2005 Sagittario
94 RO 57bis
96 SAI.207
109 Ta 152C .....1/45 High
110 Ta 152H .....12/44 very good High
121 Bf 110G-2
122 Bf 110G-2/R3
123 Me 210Ca-1
124 Me 410A-1
125 Me 410A-1/U2
126 Me 410B-2/R3 .....4/44
127 Me 410B-2/R5
128 Me 410B-2/U2
129 Me 410B-2/U4
131 Bf 109G-6/U4N
133 Fw 190A-5/U2
145 Bf 110G-4
146 Bf 110G-4/M1
148 Bf 110G-4/R7 .....1/44
149 Bf 110G-4/R8
152 CV F.5
153 Do 217J-2
154 Do 217N-2
158 He 219A-0/R2
159 He 219A-2/R1 .....12/43
160 He 219A-5/R4 .....4/44
164 Ju 88C-6
166 Ju 88G .....6/44
168 Ju 388 .....3/44
169 Me 262B .....12/44
170 Re.2001CN
173 Ta 154 .....7/44
176 He 162A .....1/45
177 Me 163B .....5/44
178 Me 262A .....9/44
179 Me 262A-1a/U4
180 Me 262A-0 .....3/44
182 Ta 183 .....10/45
183 Go 229 .....9/45
184 BV 155 .....2/45 Very good High

[Hard Sarge]

overall, from what I remember, you need to get to the 109Ga 6, and then you meet some of the goals in the code (date or numbers in stock) then you can upgrade out

but, remember, part of the idea is, there is going to be a drain on LW fighters, so the units that can use the Trainers, should

(with in reason, the drain for the player is not going to be as bad as it is on the AI)

[vimconfused]

Many thanks, very very helpful.

Mind you, a few things stand out... for example you get Ju388 before Ju88. Is this right as 388 *seems* like a better a/c.

[Klahn]

The 388 is a better aircraft. I've never played BtR campaign but I would imagine you get far fewer 388s than 88Gs. The Germans had serious difficulty with 388 production. Total production according to wikipedia: (I can't vouch for the numbers)

47 388L (photo recon)
15 388K (pure bomber)
3 388J (fighter)

By comparison over 2800 Ju 88Gs were built.

The 388 was designed due to German fear of the B-29. When all of the B-29 aircraft were sent to the Pacific theater the priority for high-altitude heavy fighters dropped off.

[vimconfused]

My best guess is that Ju388 stated availability of 3/44 should be 3/45.