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I am trying to fly the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion into Wau but the six squadrons of C47s I have tasked for this job have done nothing for two weeks. Originally it was a combat operation but after my invasion at Lae captured that base Wau automatically switched to allied control. I left the battalion on "combat" for a few days, nothing happened. I switched the battalion to "strategic movement" and after several days still nothing has happened. What have I overlooked?

I usually have no trouble with this. I have the troops in the same hex as the planes. I select troop transport on the planes. I look through all units at the airfield, and I find the unit I want to send. I select them. I then set the drop off location. I do this from a reasonably sized airfield. The troops fly that day. And, they continue to fly until the entire unit is moved. But large pieces of equipment might not fly, such as artillery.

bradfordkay wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2024 10:12 pm I am trying to fly the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion into Wau but the six squadrons of C47s I have tasked for this job have done nothing for two weeks. Originally it was a combat operation but after my invasion at Lae captured that base Wau automatically switched to allied control. I left the battalion on "combat" for a few days, nothing happened. I switched the battalion to "strategic movement" and after several days still nothing has happened. What have I overlooked?

From what location are you trying to fly them to Wau? Pictures might help too.

Platoonist wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2024 11:40 pm

bradfordkay wrote: Mon Apr 29, 2024 10:12 pm I am trying to fly the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion into Wau but the six squadrons of C47s I have tasked for this job have done nothing for two weeks. Originally it was a combat operation but after my invasion at Lae captured that base Wau automatically switched to allied control. I left the battalion on "combat" for a few days, nothing happened. I switched the battalion to "strategic movement" and after several days still nothing has happened. What have I overlooked?

From what location are you trying to fly them to Wau? Pictures might help too.

Sorry, Cooktown - range of 11.

11 would extended range for the C-47. Maybe two-step them? Cooktown -> PM -> Wau?

In my current game I have a single C-47 squadron at Cooktown. I don't have the 1st Australian Para there, but I used an unrestricted Australian base force instead. They successfully made the air hop to Wau even at 11 hexes although most of the unit was left behind due to its size and devices.

I'm wondering if the range of 11 is being outside the normal operating range of the C-47 is the culprit of not transporting the unit?

Okay, I'm a bloody idiot. I had first set the destination and then chose the unit to be transported - not noticing that doing it in that order reset the destination to "select destination". Problem solved.

bradfordkay wrote: Tue Apr 30, 2024 1:33 am Okay, I'm a bloody idiot. I had first set the destination and then chose the unit to be transported - not noticing that doing it in that order reset the destination to "select destination". Problem solved.

Please don't take this personally. I have made similar errors.

Something that I learned long ago and working with computers has reinforced this, a person has to be smarter than what they are working with. Computers only do what you tell them to within the limits of their programming. Or as it is put in a rather large organization, the Head Space and Timing* of the operator may be the problem!

It is a useful learning experience for everybody to recheck to see just what the problem is.

*Those who know what this means, know what I am referring to!

But if we always did that we wouldn't be able to so easily amuse fellow forum members!

I have experienced something similar on an 11-hex C-47 flight but was warned that the distance was too far. On the other side «it» has accepted 13-hex flight with cargo, notably to a fully expanded Ledo.

Fred

There is also a difference if you own the base or if you are sending paratroopers to attack the base.

Additional question, can para drop actually be done at extended range?

Sardaukar wrote: Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:18 pm Additional question, can para drop actually be done at extended range?

I don't think so, probably just supply drops at half the usual rate.

bradfordkay wrote: Tue Apr 30, 2024 1:33 am Okay, I'm a bloody idiot. I had first set the destination and then chose the unit to be transported - not noticing that doing it in that order reset the destination to "select destination". Problem solved.

I hate when that happens

Sardaukar wrote: Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:18 pm Additional question, can para drop actually be done at extended range?

Para drop is upto the normal range of the ac while air landing (AF to AF) is half max range.

For some irritating reason the engineer element of the 1st para doesnt air lift so you always have a fragment that has to go the hard way - same for 50th Indian paras if I recall

Jellicoe wrote: Wed May 01, 2024 12:18 pm For some irritating reason the engineer element of the 1st para doesnt air lift so you always have a fragment that has to go the hard way - same for 50th Indian paras if I recall

The whole unit, including the para engineers, was airlifted into Wau once I realized my mistake. I would guess that if Wau had not auto-switched (can't call it the rowboat brigade since Wau is landlocked) I would have had to first move the unit to a closer base due to the range from Cooktown.

bradfordkay wrote: Wed May 01, 2024 5:20 pm

Jellicoe wrote: Wed May 01, 2024 12:18 pm For some irritating reason the engineer element of the 1st para doesnt air lift so you always have a fragment that has to go the hard way - same for 50th Indian paras if I recall

The whole unit, including the para engineers, was airlifted into Wau once I realized my mistake. I would guess that if Wau had not auto-switched (can't call it the rowboat brigade since Wau is landlocked) I would have had to first move the unit to a closer base due to the range from Cooktown.

Yes, only devices with a load cost <=9 canmot be loaded into an AC but for para drops the size i7.