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My B-17 bombers continue to remain on strike. Despite all my efforts to get them to fly against the enemy. I am completely bemused at this point. I did get to witness my enemy move betties and sallys forward to a level 2 airbase that I was bombing to strike my warships who were maurading off guadalcanal. So goes my frustration. I now strongly wonder just how screwed our database is. We start our game in version one and two patches later....[8|] at any rate here is some pictures...there are more to follow, for I believe I also got to witness the old scout planes preventing my carrier birds from flying syndrome again.

Hi, Please send you game file to Mogami69bsa@aol.com

I feel for you rob. In my AI game, I devised a magnificent plan, and I built up Kiska Island into a 3 or 4 level airbase, maybe even a level 5 (2 SeaBees, 1 Av Rgt, 1 RCT, 1 CD emplacement). I stocked it with B-17s. *In Theory*, they should be able to bomb the furthermost islands in the Japanese island chain. However, not a single plane has taken off yet.

I have the same problems with B-17s flying out of Wake, which (again, in theory) can reach Marcus Island.

picture 2

Any particular reason you have no search planes flying? does setting the B-17's to 10% search and having them spot targets help?

Yes, I've had similar situations. It certainly seems from your details that we can rule out the usual suspects like low morale and low experience. I've noticed that my a/c based in NE Australian bases don't do a great deal either. They have launched the occasional raid, but not nearly as many as I had expected. Partly this may be because I move depleted/exhausted units back there from active bases like Port Moresby for "R&R", but there are intact units involved as well.

Cairns is a level 3 airbase according to the images, trying to fly offensive missions with an aircraft that requires? a size 4 and prefers a size 5. I am not suprised they aren't flying missions.

picture 3

my understanding is heavies will fly from a size 3, just not be efficient about it....I just watched a heavy strike from lunga which is reporting to me as a size 2.

Range is 9. Any escorts in range?

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

Any particular reason you have no search planes flying? does setting the B-17's to 10% search and having them spot targets help?

Originally I had PBYs operating out of the base...due to air support limitations I moved them once I established that the PM invasion force was in the area. I know search planes help, but it wasnt like I wasnt spotting him warships every day...(thus all the cool red icons ).

The odds of B-17's flying in an extended range roll against a CV which probably had cap flying without search and escort is pretty small. Thats a lot of negative mods to overcome.

Your best bet might be to put them 100% naval search. You get the DL bumped, and they might actually score.

Is there an Air HQ in Cairns? That would help too.

to add to my amusement this turn, I thought since my opponent has managed to group all his carriers west of PM in an effort to hunt down my british warships...might be a good time to take a poke at lunga. I had been patiently waiting for him to commit his naval air to one spot and had built up quite a little combat group south of lunga. I set my plan in motion and kept my brits in range of his carrier air to keep him interested. Well the marines have landed successfully, i might add. But along the way i couldnt help but notice that there was apparently a light cruiser off lunga which my navy boys want to take a poke at....so off the flight deck when 14 wildcats and ...they joined up with two scout planes from my only cruiser in the group...huh? I checked the cruiser after the turn ran. he is set for naval search...at this point I have no idea ... Im starting to seriously doubt my gaming abilty though [X(] Admittedly Im doing my turns in a rush due to the football season...so Im not as detailed as I usually am during the offseason...but come on!

More pictures!

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

The odds of B-17's flying in an extended range roll against a CV which probably had cap flying without search and escort is pretty small. Thats a lot of negative mods to overcome.

Is 9 hexes considered an extended range? He has been operating his naval forces within 10 hexes for at least 3 days now. I originally spotted him with scout planes from my illfated surface group.

ORIGINAL: rroberson

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

The odds of B-17's flying in an extended range roll against a CV which probably had cap flying without search and escort is pretty small. Thats a lot of negative mods to overcome.

Is 9 hexes considered an extended range? He has been operating his naval forces within 10 hexes for at least 3 days now. I originally spotted him with scout planes from my illfated surface group.

Any time a bomber flies from a less-than-preferred base, it is automatically flying under extended range rules and can only fly the normal range radius. I don't know, but it would make sense that the penalties would be worse the smaller the base is relative to the preferred base size.

Happily in all of this I finally got surface ships to go to PM. I divided the force and subtracted the two battlewagons and walla , into the breech they went. My undergunned cruiser force made for a nice sacrifice for his battleships at PM. It was insane. For 3 days they allowed naval air forces to bomb them. As soon as I removed the necessary battleships the surface forces had no problem going into PM. I really think our database is screwed from version 1. I cant explain this any other way. (except my own incompetance )

Are you sure the seagulls were off the task force? You could have the wildcats escorting a strike from elsewhere. I would check every land-based and ship-based Seagul squadron and look for one on Naval attack.

ORIGINAL: Oznoyng

Is there an Air HQ in Cairns? That would help too.

No, no HQ, its busy ducking japanese shells at PM [:'(]