Cap Coverage question

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Cap Coverage question

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> Cap Coverage question

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Cap Coverage question - 4/26/2006 4:53:52 AM

RUPD3658

Posts: 6922
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: East Brunswick, NJ
Status: offline

I had the KB escorting a surface TF off of Java when it was attacked by over 100 4E bombers and 40-50 fighters. There were 4-6 Cvs and 2-3 CVE/Ls (Can't give the exact number due to security reasons) and all had full compliments of Zeros set to 90% Cap.

The strike went after the surface TF (thankfully) and several ships were damaged.

The thing that is weird is that only 28 Zeros intercepted and most were shot down. In addition, it looks like most all of these were from a single CV.

Is this because the strike went after the other TF (in the same hex by the way) or do I need to shoot an officer or two to ensure that the Cap flys?

_____________________________

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits"- Darwin Awards 2003

"No plan survives contact with the enemy." - Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke

Post #: 1

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/26/2006 5:12:23 AM

KDonovan

Posts: 1157
Joined: 9/25/2005
From: New Jersey
Status: offline

looks like i got pretty lucky as even 60 zeros would've decimated my forces (and gutted the AVG for 2 months)

in regards to your question, i think you need to use LRCAP orders and not "cap 90%" orders to get the maximum effort of your CAP when you need to get coverage over more than 1 TF.

Personally i like to give my LR CAP squadrens specific orders like "LRCAP to TF 193"

btw.....one of you shot down Zero pilots was captured by ABDA forces, and spilled his guts on how many CV's you got operating in the area....so security measures are futile

< Message edited by KDonovan -- 4/26/2006 5:13:16 AM >

(in reply to RUPD3658)

Post #: 2

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/27/2006 12:06:41 AM

RUPD3658

Posts: 6922
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: East Brunswick, NJ
Status: offline

I am sure he fullfilled his mission by providing disinformation.

Maybe there were only 2 CVs in the TF that you bounced.........Where are the rest?

_____________________________

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits"- Darwin Awards 2003

"No plan survives contact with the enemy." - Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke

(in reply to KDonovan)

Post #: 3

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/27/2006 2:03:45 AM

JeffroK

Posts: 6391
Joined: 1/26/2005
Status: offline

For some reason many think that if you order a CAP/LRCAP it works 24hrs a day.

Read up on the Battles, it was far from perfect with gaps between mission, CAP not finding the TF/Base nominated, Attackers sneaking in the unexpected way, CAP at wrong height, weather etc etc etc.

So much of warfare becomes open to circumstances, call it luck, that you must expect that your carefully laid plans go to the doghouse on contact with the enemy.

Therefore, like in real lifem\, you provide 2-3 layers of cover and consider the worst. Probably why the real Admirals didnt swan around like we do in our games.

_____________________________

Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum

(in reply to RUPD3658)

Post #: 4

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/27/2006 4:00:08 AM

Belce

Posts: 130
Joined: 10/3/2004
From: Canada
Status: offline

I think that coordination would also apply to cap coverage as well. With that many carriers in a single task force it is possible that it failed its coordination roll and only a few fighters responded to the attack. You could divide your carrier task force into smaller units and have each task force coordinate successfully against an air attack. The way the game works is that cap in a hex is applied to any air attack in the hex, flak is based on the task force or base that is attacked. I think you would find more planes consistently involved with a couple of carrier task forces in the hex than just one big carrier force.

With lrcap the default is 100% effort and while you can cover a task force with this, it provides the cap to the hex that the task force is in. If I lrcap a task force in and that task forces enters a base hex, the cap will also intercept attacks to that base as well, but the task force will not provide falk support to the base attack.

This is what I think and if someone has reason to think otherwise I look forward to the discussion.

(in reply to JeffroK)

Post #: 5

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/27/2006 11:55:36 AM

saj42

Posts: 1125
Joined: 4/19/2005
From: Somerset, England
Status: offline

As I understand it (and i'm certainly no expert) only a portion of the CAP is airborne at any one time. When an incoming strike is detected a portion of the a/c on the ground are scrambled (the reason for the 'climbing to intercept' message during combat animation). Now the numbers that get scrambled are dependent on several factors, the major one being the presence of air-search radar in your base or TF. As Japan you are lacking in this device early in the game.

Anyway, right or wrong, thats my explanation

(in reply to RUPD3658)

Post #: 6

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/28/2006 3:56:01 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

Look at the settings for your Zero squadrons. If they are on escort with a destination or target specified they may not fly CAP at all...even if set at 90% CAP. Ive learned this painful lesson through prior experience. Also Ive read that if your air groups had more planes than pilots they may not fly.

< Message edited by AdmSpruance -- 4/28/2006 3:58:45 AM >

(in reply to RUPD3658)

Post #: 7

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/28/2006 4:38:58 AM

RUPD3658

Posts: 6922
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: East Brunswick, NJ
Status: offline

Yeah, I learned that the hard way. The only way to delete their objective is to stand them down then reassign them a CAP mission.

This was not the case and all had pilots.

_____________________________

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits"- Darwin Awards 2003

"No plan survives contact with the enemy." - Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 8

RE: Cap Coverage question - 4/28/2006 8:08:19 AM

dtravel

Posts: 4533
Joined: 7/7/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: RUPD3658

Yeah, I learned that the hard way. The only way to delete their objective is to stand them down then reassign them a CAP mission.

This was not the case and all had pilots.

There is another way. Click on "Select Target" and once the map shows, just right-click. That will set the Target back to 'Commander's Descretion'.

_____________________________

This game does not have a learning curve. It has a learning cliff.

"Bomb early, bomb often, bomb everything." - Niceguy

Any bugs I report are always straight stock games.