Fightee Escort, CAP, etc.

[snuffl]

Hi guys!

I just bought Uncommon Valor and I have to say that I am proud to own such a masterpiece of wargaming!

But still I have some questions. I only played on Japanese side cause I always found the japanese military much more interesting and I was wondering about some things.
First of all my zero fighter escorts were quite in trouble fighting those P-39, P-400 and Wirraways over Port Moresby. I always read about the zeros gained the comlete advantage over the allied fighters in the early war but I am facing many problems due to having troubles getting the optimal hight for my escorts and CAP. Perhaps you could give me some hints in wich heigh I should place my zero's when flying escort with Betty's and Nell's at 6000 and on carrier strikes where my Zero's weren't really useful as escorts.

Perhaps you could also tell me at which high CAP, espesially over my carrier task forces and over enemy airbases is most effective and how weather takes effect on this. Which hight is most effective for naval patrols and when do they lunch their attack with torpedoes (H6K Mavis) or bombs (any other seaplane).
I also read something about strafing in the manual, but when I put my zero CAP to heigh 100 they don't strafe any planes on the ground where there should be plenty of them (Port Moresby).
Also, what other effects has recon to naval patrol?
When I am going into battlezone with my carriers, the enemy always has the first strike(s). So what can I do to change this?

I know this is already boring to answer for you, but for my gameplaying it's essential. So please take a look and let me know your experiances about this. If you have any other useful information on the game, please let me know too.

Many thanks, Chris!

[Pkunzipper]

Altitude doesn't affect CAP/Escort performances.

[snuffl]

So there is nothing for me to do in the altitude settings? But why are my Zero's performing so badly?

[Antonius]

Your zeroes probably come from a long-away base, like Rabaul, and your pilots are much more tired than the allied ones they meet over Port Moresby.

Also if your zeroes are flown by new pilots they may have a very low experience and would need some training before being sent to meet the enemy.

[Pkunzipper]

P-39 performs badly over 10000 ft.

Try to do fighter sweep missions over Port Moresby at 15000 ft. for 2 turns, and then launch an attack with all your bombers escorted by a fresh fighter squadron.

[snuffl]

Okay, but I've already tried fighter sweep for some turns flying between 15.000 and 20.000 feet but the air to air combat didn't bring any results (wether zeros nor allied fighters were damaged or destroyed). Also my strafing zero fighter sweep (at 100 feet) which should strafe didn't came up with any result, althoug 30 zero's were included in the sweep.

[Pkunzipper]

Because maybe 15kft. it's a little too high, and so only few CAP planes can climb so fast and intercept you....

Maybe 11/13 kft. work better.