[RERomine]

Here are some cold, hard numbers related to the US 40mm AA gun in some tests I ran in the game.

To begin with, the terrain was completely clear ground. Testing took place on a 100x100 map with visibility set to 80. The variables controlled were the experience of the AA unit and the target. Test conditions had four US 40mm AA guns set up to to engage the target coming in on a straight east-west approach. There were four test scenarios with 20 passes in each condition:

1. US experience 70, target Ju88P-2(size 5, speed 5).

Average engagement range: 10.9
Maximum engagement range: 15
Minimum engagement range: 7

2. US experience 70, target Fw190A-8(size 3, speed 8).

Average engagement range: 4.9
Maximum engagement range: 11
Minimum engagement range: 0

3. US experience 120, target Ju88P-2(size 5, speed 5).

Average engagement range: 17.7
Maximum engagement range: 20
Minimum engagement range: 8

4. US experience 120, target Fw190A-8(size 3, speed 8).

Average engagement range: 15.0
Maximum engagement range: 20
Minimum engagement range: 0

One general note is that only engagements of an incoming plane were counted. The objective of AAA is to protect friendly forces from enemy aircraft. If the enemy plane succeeds in dropping it's load, the gun has failed this mission.

Another note is only one pass was made on a given turn. No attempt was made to overwhelm the AA defense.

While the target hex was the same in each test, it was not spotted. As such, the target plane would sometimes deviate it's path three hexes north or south of the expected path to engage one of the AA units instead of the target in the hex. The target was the infantry HQ unit.

Here is some basic information I got out of these tests:

1. At no point did the AA guns engage a target beyond 20 hexes. There were four guns and a total of 80 air strikes, so for 320 possible instances, the range 46 US 40mm AA guns did not engage past 20 hexes.
2. Experience is a factor. This wasn't unexpected. At experience 70, the maximum range of an engagement was 15 and that happened once out of 160 possibilities. When experience was increased to 120, engagements at 20 hexes became more frequent. Experience could be a significant factor in single battle PBEM games where national average is used.
3. Speed/size of target is a factor. Again, this wasn't unexpected. When AA experience was 120, they failed to engage the Fw190 on two passes. At AA experience of 70, they failed to engage the Fw190 on 10 passes. In all cases, the Ju88 was attacked.

If anyone has any questions about this testing, let me know.