Japanese Air Strike Composition

[Primal Fury]

I'm hunting for new victims with KB on Dec 8 and I found some surface units. The following attacks were sent out:

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 89
B5N Kate x 87

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 10
B5N Kate x 21

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 24

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 79
B5N Kate x 122

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
D3A Val x 12

I've seen the same sort of compositions against carrier forces as well in another game. In that case, the unescorted bombers were beat up. Why do 4 of the 5 strikes go out unescorted? Why is the last strike over-escorted? All zeros in KB have 40% CAP, escort, range 11 (though may still have target Pearl Harbor, which hopefully doesn't matter). Any insights?

[shoevarek]

What can I say - unfortunately they did not improve AI. It behaved same way in UV and now in WiTP. I wish I could have the option of choosing my own targets and compose my airstrikes. When I was hunting near PH after Dec 7th my great AI commanders sent all escorts with bombers against some unprotected merchant TF and then the rest of bombers against TF in PH hex. It ended in over 30 of my planes beeing shot down and forced me to reload the game.
The AI when assigning the escorts should take into consideration possible enemy CAP in the hex but it does not seem to do that.

[slider1]

I have the same problem

[DoomedMantis]

If the escort target is set to Pearl Harbour, then that is where they will go

[Black Cat]

As US all my strikes go out with Escorts ( however few ) unless I`ve CAP set at 80-90.

I think DM gave the answer. CV Strikes work _much_ better in WITP.

[rogueusmc]

ORIGINAL: DoomedMantis

If the escort target is set to Pearl Harbour, then that is where they will go

But, but, but, ....


That makes too much sense!!![:D]

[Fallschirmjager]

Get in the habit of checking every detail before hitting end turn, I have made a checklist for every screen and what I need to check before closing it down.

[Primal Fury]

Perhaps you're right, but resetting the "destination" for the escort mission is not possible. I had to set the mission to long range CAP, set the desination to TF1 and then reset the mission to escort. Still not 100% this will work. Is there a better way to reset the destination to "commander descretion"?

[Fallschirmjager]

Select stand down and then give them new orders.

[MadDawg]

So let me get this straight...the target of an Escort air group makes a different to what that group will actually do during a turn (I didnt know this), yet you cant actually set a Escort group a target, you have to screw around doing it under a different order?! [&:]

If so I really hope someone goes through this program with a fine toothed comb and get stuff like this sorted out as this sort of thing is really causing unnecessary confusion in what is already a complicated game. Sure its easy enough for people who know the program to work around once you know what to do where and when, but that really shouldnt be necessary.

Dawg

[shoevarek]

So let me get this straight...the target of an Escort air group makes a different to what that group will actually do during a turn (I didnt know this), yet you cant actually set a Escort group a target, you have to screw around doing it under a different order

I don't think the target in this case is the escort mission target. What if bombers are set to naval attack. There are no target option for naval attack. I think the AI assigns the escort using GOD only knows algorithm and unfortunately it is far from perfect.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Primal Fury

Perhaps you're right, but resetting the "destination" for the escort mission is not possible. I had to set the mission to long range CAP, set the desination to TF1 and then reset the mission to escort. Still not 100% this will work. Is there a better way to reset the destination to "commander descretion"?

Yep.. Click target and hit escape.. Should cancel out anything there and reset to commander discretion.

Xargun

[DoomedMantis]

I very rarely set a target for my escorts. I let them sort it out themselves as they generally do a good job of it.

There are exceptions, but generally for exceptional circumstances.