Magic CAP

[IdahoNYer]

OK all...I'm scratching my head here...wasn't sure this was possible.

I set LRCAP to cover Babar Island at a range of 6 hexes. P-47s, P-40Ks and F6Fs were set to limit the range to 6 hexes.

So how did the LRCAP intercept strikes against Damar Island at a range of 8 hexes??? Thought limiting the squadrons max range prevented "wandering CAP"?

I can kinda accept CAP wandering...even beyond setting it to 6 hexes....


but......can someone please explain how P-40Ks can range the 8 hexes when their max range is 7 hexes extended?


Lastly, Japanese strikes hit both Damar and Babar, but the LRCAP focused on Damar. Both had escorting fighters.





Turned out well enough....but.....

[geofflambert]

Interesting question. I'm thinking if you set the target to Babar the minimum range is from Babar. Set the range to zero or one. If that's not right I would think the target of Babar would be rejected because it's too far.

[BBfanboy]

The P-40Ks may have used drop tanks on the squadron commander's orders because the range was going to be extreme for a LRCAP mission. Sort of like a TB squadron will automatically switch from torpedoes to bombs once the mission range is beyond the max torpedo carrying range.

[IdahoNYer]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

The P-40Ks may have used drop tanks on the squadron commander's orders because the range was going to be extreme for a LRCAP mission. Sort of like a TB squadron will automatically switch from torpedoes to bombs once the mission range is beyond the max torpedo carrying range.

BB - even with drop tanks, extended range for the P-40K is 7 hexes!

I'll buy the F6F and P-47 "wandering" out 8 hexes, but a P-40K??

[BBfanboy]

Surprised the range with DTs is only 7 hexes for the P-40K.
Could there be some FOW in ID of the allied aircraft that went to Damar?

[LargeSlowTarget]

Hey, I know that game, so let me chime in.

I was so shocked about the strong LRCAP at that distance and so miffed about the results that I did not even consider the range question - thanks Ed for bringing this up.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 31, 43
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Morning Air attack on Damar , at 75,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 33

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 12
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 31
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 3 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 16 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
No.78 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 15 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 16 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Damar , at 75,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 30

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 31
F6F-3 Hellcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 463 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 141 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 21932.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 100 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Damar , at 75,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 11 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 161 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 21796.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 306 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Damar , at 75,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 7
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on 1st USMC Parachute Battalion, at 75,115 (Damar)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 35
A6M5b Zero x 26
A6M5c Zero x 21
B6N2 Jill x 13
D4Y1 Judy x 34

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 23
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 17 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
7 x A6M5c Zero sweeping at 10000 feet *
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
8 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
11 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
5 x A6M5c Zero sweeping at 10000 feet *
12 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
No.78 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk III (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 28000.
Raid is overhead
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 1st USMC Parachute Battalion, at 75,115 (Damar)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 20
A6M5b Zero x 1
A6M5c Zero x 13
D4Y1 Judy x 22

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 5
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 10 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 198 minutes
No.78 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 86 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 13524.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 90 minutes

However, no LRCAP over Babar that day:

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Babar at 76,117

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 111 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 24
A6M5b Zero x 27
B6N1 Jill x 7
B6N2 Jill x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CM Terror, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
SC PC-579, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Second day had LRCAP over both Damar and Babar:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 01, 43

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Morning Air attack on Damar , at 75,115

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 17

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 14 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
No.78 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 15 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Damar , at 75,115

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 1
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
No.78 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 68 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Damar , at 75,115

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 1
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
No.78 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk III (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 15 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Babar , at 76,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Babar , at 76,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 32

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
29 x A6M5c Zero sweeping at 20000 feet *

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

[tarkalak]

When setting range for LRCAP, the value is the distance that will be patrolled around the target hex.

In all other cases range is the maximum distance your plane can operate.

May be the game considers LRCAP to be "based" on the target hex and doesn't calculate travel distance correctly.

This might be a exploit that allows you to effectively set up "leaky" cap up to twice your range.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: tarkalak

When setting range for LRCAP, the value is the distance that will be patrolled around the target hex.

In all other cases range is the maximum distance your plane can operate.

May be the game considers LRCAP to be "based" on the target hex and doesn't calculate travel distance correctly.

This might be a exploit that allows you to effectively set up "leaky" cap up to twice your range.

This is my take on what happened. Normally one expects LRCAP to be restricted to one hex, but with higher experienced pilots I am seeing it bleed out to adjacent hexes quite often in '44.

I'm also seeing more and more Night CAP intercepting in adjacent hexes and now in August '44 I have P61 squadrons intercepting two hexes out from targeted night CAP hex.

[Lowpe]

Tark is absolutely correct...range for interceptions is based off the target hex not the basing hex.

[IdahoNYer]

Thanks guys!

Learn something new almost every day in the game I've been playing since it came out! And very time I think, "Geeze! I SHOULD know that..."

So to keep LRCAP over a single intended target of Babar, should range be set to Zero? If I wanted it to be able to intercept over Damar, it should have been set to TWO?


So...would that also allow the P-40K to fly beyond its extended range??

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

So...would that also allow the P-40K to fly beyond its extended range??

Personally I have never seen that happen...but they do seem to use drop tanks when needed.

Warning times are important...and the further away you are fewer planes can physically intercept it seems.

[IdahoNYer]

Needless to say I was a bit surprised to see P-40Ks and KittyHawk IIIs engaging at 8 hexes! And the KittyHawks had 8 out of a 12 plane squadron engage in the initial combat.

As you said Lowpe - "have never seen that happen"!

Don't think I've ever seen a plane engage in combat beyond its extended range...ever. And almost just as surprising...they didn't fare too badly!

[Itdepends]

Does that effect for setting CAP range also apply when setting LRCAP on a TF? I.e. To get the most effective coverage of a TF game sing LBA the range should be set to zero?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Itdepends

Does that effect for setting CAP range also apply when setting LRCAP on a TF? I.e. To get the most effective coverage of a TF game sing LBA the range should be set to zero?

Yes, but it can be beneficial to have a 1-2 range leakage or more on some LRCAP in case there are damaged ships that form new task forces. Nothing worse than a battleship getting torpedoed and left behind with a single destroyer escort attracting all the air attacks.

[LargeSlowTarget]

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

Thanks guys!

Learn something new almost every day in the game I've been playing since it came out! And very time I think, "Geeze! I SHOULD know that..."

So to keep LRCAP over a single intended target of Babar, should range be set to Zero? If I wanted it to be able to intercept over Damar, it should have been set to TWO?


So...would that also allow the P-40K to fly beyond its extended range??

Same here, didn't know about the range setting governing the "leaking" of LRCAP outside the target hex.

However, this does not explain how the planes have been able to fly past their extended range. The avgas can only last this far and back. Plus the planes did dogfight in a hex beyond their extended range, and combat does increase fuel consumption many times. They should have run out of fuel on the return leg and crash. Maybe they were running on alcohol fumes exhaled by their pilots...

[RichardAckermann]

Flying past extended range must be the result of a wrong calculation.
I have this often when LRCAP protecting something at the very limit of my fighters range.
WITP AE combat setup calculations must be quite complicated. Does not surprise me that there is something odd now and then.

[Lowpe]

I just have never seen it from a Japanese perspective....but I have always noticed that Allied CAP always seems to be more robust than Japanese especially later in the game.

[PaxMondo]

I have always felt this was due to DUR ... IJ aircraft in general have lower DUR and hence the few the pass the check for the LR CAP, then fail due to aircraft fatigue ....

[rustysi]

However, this does not explain how the planes have been able to fly past their extended range.

Seems to me another limitation of the code. So as I've said before stop 'playing the code'. We know what the aircraft ranges are in the game... Let's adhere to them no matter what the code will allow us to do. In addition this means using drop tanks when necessary, along with their penalties. Oh, the base won't accommodate drop tanks... Then no mission. An aircraft with a max range of 7 with drop tanks can't operate at a range of 8 hexes. So set up your LRCAP accordingly.

C'mon guys (and gal). Let's play the game and stop gaming the play.[:'(]

[IdahoNYer]

rustysi - either you didn't read the entire thread or it was unclear.

The LRCAP was SUPPOSED to be over BABAR at 6 hex range - not 8 hexes over DAMAR. Both L_S_T and I were a bit surprised when fighters with max extended range of 7 were able to engage over Damar at 8 hexes.