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In scenario 17, the Japanese AI captured Lunga in October 1942. It built up the airbase and at one point stationed Bettys there. These Bettys initially made life hell in Noumea, Efate, etc. All of a sudden the Betty raids stopped and, I later learned, all Betty units were pulled back to Truk. Why would the AI do that?

My unescorted merchant ships in the south were getting popped by the Bettys. Now, early Feb 1943, the only Bettys I've seen are the odd recon flight from Truk.

Just wondering: why would the AI pull them back, particularly from Lunga?

Thanks,

John Noory

The AI moves in mysterious ways.

It may have run low on supply or had too few aviation support points at Lunga. Or it may have decided there was an imminent threat elsewhere. Or it may have decided you needed to be given a chance.

May have been that unit attrition was high, even making attacks against unescorted transports will cause combat losses and damage to planes.

Maybe the AI decided to pull them out for a while to let the squadrons rebuild and train up replacements.

In scenario 17, the Japanese AI captured Lunga in October 1942. It built up the airbase and at one point stationed Bettys there. These Bettys initially made life hell in Noumea, Efate, etc. All of a sudden the Betty raids stopped and, I later learned, all Betty units were pulled back to Truk. Why would the AI do that?

Mercy rule?

When the AI is kicking your butt, it is best to tell the story from a third person perspective...like 'The computer was beating up on this friend of mine, and then...'
Everyone knows it is you but you save face

Originally posted by Snigbert
[B...............
When the AI is kicking your butt, it is best to tell the story from a third person perspective...like 'The computer was beating up on this friend of mine, and then...'
Everyone knows it is you but you save face [/B]

He was trying to show that he (not the computer or his friend) was so powerful that he could banish the Bettys back from whence they came just by moving a few transports into their range. (Or he was honest about his strategic skills - nah couldn't be that.):D

In my own experience, a Betty squadron attacking a convoy with escorts on long range (Noumea from Lunga for example) will lose half its planes and crews due to AA damage and OP losses. Not something you can do for long. And as most attacks happen in Allied port hexes, ships are rather damaged than sunk. So I don't think it is a good deal.

It's far more useful to held Betties and their experienced crews in reserve, at Truk or Rabaul, and send a massive raid against an invasion fleet off PM or Solomons, where almost all torpedoed ships will sink before returning to a friendly port. And where transports are loaded with troops and not supplies.

In one of my current PBEM, I shot down 20 Betties and Nells in two raids. They scored many hits but I lost only one DD. One CA, two DD and two AK were damaged but all were saved and are repairing in PH. In both cases, I became confused while rotating CAP units or sending fighters reinforcements here and there, so opening a window for a Betty long range raid. But in the end IJN losses are heavier and more damaging than mine.

So for one time, AI did something that most IJN players may do. I wonder if these Betties will be sent south when need will arise.