Aircraft Transport Question

[Rayfer]

Beginner player here...can't seem to transport aircraft from the USA west coast to Pearl Harbor. The manual is a bit vague of details. I created an air transport tf, docked it, put some planes in the same location on stand down but when I click the load on ships button the selection screen for ships come up blank. I'm obviously doing something wrong. thanks, Ray

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: Rayfer

Beginner player here...can't seem to transport aircraft from the USA west coast to Pearl Harbor. The manual is a bit vague of details. I created an air transport tf, docked it, put some planes in the same location on stand down but when I click the load on ships button the selection screen for ships come up blank. I'm obviously doing something wrong. thanks, Ray

Screenshot would be helpful. What ships did ya's put in the Air Transport TF?

Klink, Oberst

[jwolf]

Check the command HQ of the air units involved. If it is restricted, you can't move them outside of North America and you can't load them onto ships.

[Rayfer]

Thanks guys....I'll have to check as jwolf suggested. O_K....I saw in the manual that AKV's are for this purpose but I have none at all, anywhere. When I click to set up an Air Transport TF the allowable ships include regular AK's so I used those.

[GetAssista]

You can load airgroups on usual AKs in Transport TFs in disassembled state, they will arrive damaged and need some time to repair. That is all assuming airgroups belong to unrestricted HQ, that is wo any kind of [R] in the name of HQ

[kbfchicago]

xAKs or AKs work fine. Difference from a AKV is planes are "disassembled" and crated and will take a couple of days to re-assemble once unloaded.

Almost certainly a problem with being "restricted". Sounds like you are...but you also must be in a "transport" vs. "amphib" TF.

You will need to pay Political Points to release them, if possible (from restricted mode, click on the HQs name). A number of the Sqdns that start in the U.S. can not be changed from restricted status, they are fixed training units and do not deploy.

In the early game...watch your Politcal Points...seldom have extra to spend on AC units when ground/island defensive presence is a pressing need in early 42.

happy gaming...

Kevin

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Rayfer

Thanks guys....I'll have to check as jwolf suggested. O_K....I saw in the manual that AKV's are for this purpose but I have none at all, anywhere. When I click to set up an Air Transport TF the allowable ships include regular AK's so I used those.

On the chance the issue is switchology, to load Air Transport TFs you use the Load Troops button on the TF screen, not the Transfer to Ship on the air unit screen. That's for crane-loading aircraft onto a carrier.

[rustysi]

That's for crane-loading aircraft onto a carrier.

Or flying to one in range.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

That's for crane-loading aircraft onto a carrier.

Or flying to one in range.

Well, yeah, but he's in port in the OP.

[Itdepends]

The other problem with putting them back together after unloading from xAK's is figuring out what to do with the pile of spare bolts left over.

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: Itdepends

The other problem with putting them back together after unloading from xAK's is figuring out what to do with the pile of spare bolts left over.

Or as historically happened... Don't throw out a packet of critical bolts with the packing crate!!!! [X(] [X(] [X(]



Uncrating and erecting USAAF P-39 aircraft at RAAF Amberley Queensland, 1942

[Rayfer]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Rayfer

Thanks guys....I'll have to check as jwolf suggested. O_K....I saw in the manual that AKV's are for this purpose but I have none at all, anywhere. When I click to set up an Air Transport TF the allowable ships include regular AK's so I used those.

On the chance the issue is switchology, to load Air Transport TFs you use the Load Troops button on the TF screen, not the Transfer to Ship on the air unit screen. That's for crane-loading aircraft onto a carrier.

Now that I didn't know...! Give it a try now. Thanks.

[LCMS]

Rayfer: are you moving west coast air groups to Midway?

[Rayfer]

ORIGINAL: LCMS

Rayfer: are you moving west coast air groups to Midway?

Yes, but first moved some from the East to West coast. Now trying to move some to Pearl as a step toward getting them to Midway. Is this a mistake? I just finished the Dec 13th turn, lost Guam, Hong Kong and Wake is being pounded, as are the Philippines. Was hoping to save Midway.

[Alfred]

It is a mistake.
 
1.  The Midway airfield is small and isolated.  Means you can't amass sufficient mass to undertake significant operations.
 
2.  There is nothing worthwhile within range of any offensive air operations from Midway.
 
3.  Getting supply to Midway to pay for offensive operations is going to be very difficult.  You will basically have to employ the American carriers to provide cover.  That ties them down, makes their location known to the enemy and they will be very vulnerable to enemy torpedo equipped Netties.
 
4.  Midway is very vulnerable to enemy capture and its land defences cannot be realistically reinforced.  When, not if, you lose Midway you will lose the air units and aircraft.  Early on, the Allies simply cannot afford to be reckless in sustaining airframe losses, your aircraft production starts off at a very low level.
 
Always pay attention to what the historical leaders actually did in the war.  The most incompetent of them was still a better leader than an AE player who has never had to experience the real world conditions which those historical leaders faced.  There was a sound reason why they made the decisions they did.  In December 1941 Kimmel called back the ships steaming towards Midway.
 
Alfred

[Rayfer]

Thanks Alfred...hadn't looked at it that way but what you wrote makes good sense. The game plays unlike any other. I always saw the war in terms of the big battles but this game requires one to learn the complex logistics behind the scenes. I'm determined to learn it making your sort of input quite helpful. Thanks. Ray

[Dili]

And if you go to Japanese side you even have to be an industrialist.