naval airstrike

[Jusepe131]

Hi, I'm playing the game and enjoying it. One question: Playing in the Guadalcanal scenario as an ally, I encounter an enemy TF in the Coral Sea. The question is:

How can the B-17E planes in Townsville attack this TF? In the mission group, I choose Naval Attack, and they only attack them?
There are several TFs. Which one would I attack?

Or would it have to be other planes?

Thanks!!

[Bo Rearguard]

You can set B-17s to naval attack but whether they actually attack a task force is another thing altogether. It depends on weather conditions, leader aggressiveness, range, etc. Plus, B-17s aren't ideal naval strike craft. Their crews are usually pre-trained for ground bombardment so most of their bombs are likely to fall wide of the mark unless flying at unrealistic altitude.

[BBfanboy]

Yes, the unit commander will decide which TF he will attack, but the key to getting him to attack the one you want is Detection Level (See the section in the manual). If you can boost the DL of the target TF it is much more likely to be attacked. You need mainly naval search aircraft - both day and night. If the enemy TF includes carriers you need to tie up their fighters so your strikes can get through. Use your LBA on sweep from Port Moresby if they can reach the target hex.

For my money, the best intercepts that far from Townsville would be the S-boat subs the US has in that scenario. Their torps are small but they work.

[Chris21wen]

Hi, I'm playing the game and enjoying it. One question: Playing in the Guadalcanal scenario as an ally, I encounter an enemy TF in the Coral Sea. The question is:

How can the B-17E planes in Townsville attack this TF? In the mission group, I choose Naval Attack, and they only attack them?
There are several TFs. Which one would I attack?

Or would it have to be other planes?

Thanks!!

The only control over naval attacks you have is height and range. You have no control over when, where or what. As others have said many factors come into play for a naval attack to occur.

As to plane type, what others have said. The B-17 not ideal, in fact no level bomber is unless it's trained in naval attack. Use them as search but remember the longer the search range is the worse the results will be. I tend to limit searches to 10 hex or half the normal range.