Philippines Air Advice

[tverse]

Novice question:

Battle lines in the Philippines have constricted to Clark,Manila (shortly it will be Japanese held), and Bataan. I am trying to decide what to do with my air units. I will pull out those units that I can but what about the others. Should I disband units, should I pay the political points to move them, or should I fight to the bitter end? The polical point cost is rather high and I was saving up to move the two Australian LCUs out of Singapore. But on the other hand those fighter pilots have racked up lots of experience which I would love to keep.

[geofflambert]

You can withdraw the pilots without the squadron. Just send them to reserve. Don't replace them. Submarines will bring them home.

[Leandros]

My advice - do what MacArthur did. Keep them on Bataan or fly them out to a base in the southern Philippines - fly only recce or nothing (fighters, too). If you are able to withdraw most of your ground units to Bataan you shall soon have a very good AA defense and class 4+ airfields, and you can take your planes back there. Pour in supplies while you can.

Fred

[Mikawa]

Move the fighters to Davao and mess with the Japanese CVL

The good fighters, p-40 as I remember, are worth the political points. Eventually you can get them to Darwin with drop tanks. Worth it.

[pontiouspilot]

If I have spare points I would buy them out and stage them out to DEI via Cagayan and Balikpapan. They can be very handy there. That is certainly what I do with the B-17s. I'm assuming you playing AI. There seems to be fewer opportunities to catch unescorted bombers with AI than a real player...maybe my imagination.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Leandros
If you are able to withdraw most of your ground units to Bataan you shall soon have a very good AA defense and class 4+ airfields, and you can take your planes back there. Pour in supplies while you can.

Most of Allied players do not build up Bataan except forts. Repairing level 1 airfield is much faster hence you can continue building forts when under siege.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

If I have spare points I would buy them out and stage them out to DEI via Cagayan and Balikpapan. They can be very handy there. That is certainly what I do with the B-17s. I'm assuming you playing AI. There seems to be fewer opportunities to catch unescorted bombers with AI than a real player...maybe my imagination.

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

Most of Allied players do not build up Bataan except forts. Repairing level 1 airfield is much faster hence you can continue building forts when under siege.

+1 both posts.

This is one recommendation I have played.

Counterpoint / opinion

You get

i) P40's and a precious few P40Es as I recall

ii) Catalina's which can be surprisingly good on "Naval Attack" especially against Troop Transport ships

iii) Fortress - early versions - get them trained up in Ground attack 10K first few weeks. Range Zero.

Set them all on a short leash i.e. perhaps range 3 max. Perhaps a little more for the Catalina's the first couple of days / week - but soon after short leash

Build up Manila and Clark airbase with strong fortifications and shift / split your AA equally. I too ignore Bataan. I just leave the USMC there as a rear guard.

Engage in an early war of attrition with the Empire.

P40's CAP 80 % Rest 20%. Alt 10K for the P40 and 15K for the P40Es

Catalina - Naval Attack 80% Rest 20%

Fortress - Ground Attack 80% Rest 20% Alt 10K

In the end you cannot prevent the capture of the Philippines. Even the AI will "bring enough" and grind you out of supply. But strong air cover and an early war of attrition will handicap the AI in concurrent and future operations.

Interesting Observation on PBEM

While I would hardly say my reading AAR is an exhaustive study - I would say there is a persistent Empire trend now a days.

Seemingly the Empire Players like early and more massive Attacks / Bomb Manila with a focus on destroying a number of USN subs an support ships. A Yen invested today to minimize future USN issues when the Torps become better.

However AFTER the original onslaught - the Empire Players seem to 'just hold the line' - cutting of retreats allowing the Allies to dig in - daring the Allied Commander to try to resupply.

I presume they reallocate troops for a faster invasion conclusion elsewhere - especially for example Palembang, or further a field in North Australia , South Pacific, or India.

[Yaab]

They retreat to Bataan. That's where the food is, at least that's what MacArthur says.

[HansBolter]

Almost the entire PI air force can be bought out with PPs and relocated to Australia where they will provide a critical gap coverage of fighter strength.

Yes, they will be forced to withdraw eventually and the PPs spent may seem like a waste, but for the time period they are available they will provide CAP in Australia where none is available.


Australia starts with no fighters and this valuable asset from the PI can provide what is missing until other fighter squadrons can be transferred in from the US.

The B17s can be bought out as well.

Why leave this air force in the PI to go down in flames?

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Almost the entire PI air force can be bought out with PPs and relocated to Australia where they will provide a critical gap coverage of fighter strength.

Yes, they will be forced to withdraw eventually and the PPs spent may seem like a waste, but for the time period they are available they will provide CAP in Australia where none is available.


Australia starts with no fighters and this valuable asset from the PI can provide what is missing until other fighter squadrons can be transferred in from the US.

The B17s can be bought out as well.

Why leave this air force in the PI to go down in flames?

Good points.

Myself, I hate to buy out units that will withdraw anyway. Use them to train pilots where you can and as long as possible, or withdraw them early for the PP's. Of course that's JMHO. Hans may have given the better advice here. Who knows?

[tverse]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to pay to pull them out. Right now they are in stand down trying to get healthy before I transfer.