New player loving the game and have questions beyond the manual

[boneidol]

I'm a new player and started with the grand campaign foolishly but am loving it, I'm in Nov 1942 and finally landing at Guadalcanal and am save scumming a 4 USN CV vs 7 IJN CV battle north of Malaita but have several questions for things I couldn't find out from the manual or forum.

On a defensive air attack, what affects the duration of the attack on the raider's way out, sometimes it is very short when CAP should have loads of fuel to chase them.

Before I consider a Japanese campaign, what are the meanings of RGC Divisions in china? RTA divisions in Burma? Sendai or Ku-t in air operations?

Does having air support/ ground support over requirement repair or maintain vehicles or ground devices faster?

Why do some raid get called off early even with aggressive leaders but carrier attacks have huge casualties all the time? An 8 Betty raid at Darwin was called off with one kill but my un escorted Dauntlesses get 50% losses before turning back.

What altitude are balloons at? I assume they are an air defence device only available to Japan

Is the pre invasion ampibious task force bombardment meant to surpress the defensive guns or cause damage like a bombardment TF?

Why do Amphibious TF get casualties on landing even when the units have 100% prep different on the combat results screen seperate from the anti invasion defensive guns? Is this different when landing on a jungle tile like Guadalcanal or a dot atoll?

Is an optimal way to air raid to launch seperate squadrons on sweep & escort missions?

Thanks all

[Platoonist]

Welcome aboard. I'll field a few of these questions.

Before I consider a Japanese campaign, what are the meanings of RGC Divisions in china? RTA divisions in Burma? Sendai or Ku-t in air operations?

RGC means Reformed Government of China. These are Chinese collaborationist units of the puppet Wang Jingwei government based in Nanjing who fought on the Japanese side. RTA means Royal Thai Army. Basically, units of Japan's only regional ally Thailand. Air unit terms like Sentai, Kōkūtai, Chutai are just the Japanese organizational equivalents of air flotillas, air groups, air detachments, etc.

Why do some raid get called off early even with aggressive leaders but carrier attacks have huge casualties all the time? An 8 Betty raid at Darwin was called off with one kill but my un escorted Dauntlesses get 50% losses before turning back.

A lot depends on circumstances but a tired air group that has been taking heavy losses for a while often has brittle morale and will abort much quicker than a fresh untried one with high morale. Leadership plays a big role as well. Unfortunately, in the game you rarely get much information on which personality is commanding air units on the other side.

What altitude are balloons at? I assume they are an air defence device only available to Japan

These are barrage balloons, and both sides can have them present. Balloons are present in any base if the airfield + port values are greater than 6. The balloon value is the fort level of the hex. They take effect at 6,000 feet or lower.

Why do Amphibious TF get casualties on landing even when the units have 100% prep different on the combat results screen seperate from the anti invasion defensive guns? Is this different when landing on a jungle tile like Guadalcanal or a dot atoll?

Even at 100 percent preparation you will inevitably have causalities and mishaps in an amphibious operation. It's the nature of the beast. But they'll still be much less than they would be in a hastily launched operation. Yes, in terms of possible causalities atolls are a tougher proposition than larger islands or landmasses.

[Yaab]

Is an optimal way to air raid to launch seperate squadrons on sweep & escort missions?

Yes, there is.
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6#p3577886

[RangerJoe]

I'm a new player and started with the grand campaign foolishly but am loving it, I'm in Nov 1942 and finally landing at Guadalcanal and am save scumming a 4 USN CV vs 7 IJN CV battle north of Malaita but have several questions for things I couldn't find out from the manual or forum.
Welcome. I suggest that you read AARs for both sides to help you.

On a defensive air attack, what affects the duration of the attack on the raider's way out, sometimes it is very short when CAP should have loads of fuel to chase them.
CAP is for defense, once the enemy is chased away, the CAP reforms over the protected base, Task Force, or whatever CAP target is selected. They should not leave the target area undefended against another raid by chasing enemy aircraft that are no longer an immediate threat. Also, the stern chase is the longest chase.

Before I consider a Japanese campaign, what are the meanings of RGC Divisions in china? RTA divisions in Burma? Sendai or Ku-t in air operations?
You need to learn the economic system. Mike Solli has a couple of AARs that are good for this. There are also discussions on various aircraft to research as well.

Does having air support/ ground support over requirement repair or maintain vehicles or ground devices faster?
It should. You need more support to help keep the unit's devices maintained but the excess support from units such as HQs, base forces, as well as from other units only help out in a base.

Why do some raid get called off early even with aggressive leaders but carrier attacks have huge casualties all the time? An 8 Betty raid at Darwin was called off with one kill but my un escorted Dauntlesses get 50% losses before turning back.
The morale and fatigue of the unit determine things like this.

Is the pre invasion ampibious task force bombardment meant to surpress the defensive guns or cause damage like a bombardment TF?
The combat ships in the amphibious task force will fire at enemy CD guns as well as other devices firing at the invasion forces to protect them.

Why do Amphibious TF get casualties on landing even when the units have 100% prep different on the combat results screen seperate from the anti invasion defensive guns? Is this different when landing on a jungle tile like Guadalcanal or a dot atoll?
To put it very politely, SHIT HAPPENS! Now matter how well something is planned, something unexpected happens, or else some private/coxswain has a brain fart.

Thanks all

[Chris21wen]

Hava read of this, it'll most of your air war questions.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 3&t=396274