How does range affect op losses?

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Accipiter
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How does range affect op losses?

Post by Accipiter »

Something I've been wondering about lately is how much flying missions at range cause op losses. I'd assume the further one flies the greater losses experienced, but are the losses based upon the number of hexes flown or a percentage of extended range? For example, I have a Zeke with a 10 hex range (this is RHS mod) but only fly it to 4 hexes but I also have a A5M4 (I think it has a 4 hex range). Would the op losses be the same because the range flown is the same or would the op losses for the Zekes be much less because of the longer flying range available?

Also does the mission flown make any difference. I often leave a few bomber groups with very long range on 90-100% naval search at max range to search for incoming enemy task forces. Will they experience more losses this way as opposed to if I limit their range to 1/2 their max?

Also does altitude flown, the airbase level, or presence of HQ make any difference as far as op losses? Finally, does the type of a/c fly affect op losses at range, i.e. bombers vs dedicated patrol a/c?
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KDonovan
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RE: How does range affect op losses?

Post by KDonovan »

Something I've been wondering about lately is how much flying missions at range cause op losses. I'd assume the further one flies the greater losses experienced, but are the losses based upon the number of hexes flown or a percentage of extended range? For example, I have a Zeke with a 10 hex range (this is RHS mod) but only fly it to 4 hexes but I also have a A5M4 (I think it has a 4 hex range). Would the op losses be the same because the range flown is the same or would the op losses for the Zekes be much less because of the longer flying range available?


the ops losses would be higher for the A5M4 in your example, because the A5M4 is flying at extened range and the A6M2 is flying at normal range. Flying missions at extended range greatly increases ops losses
Also does the mission flown make any difference. I often leave a few bomber groups with very long range on 90-100% naval search at max range to search for incoming enemy task forces. Will they experience more losses this way as opposed to if I limit their range to 1/2 their max?


the mission flown does make a difference in terms of range. For instance, you can't LRCAP at extended ranges....only normal ranges.
Also does altitude flown, the airbase level, or presence of HQ make any difference as far as op losses? Finally, does the type of a/c fly affect op losses at range, i.e. bombers vs dedicated patrol a/c?


i believe all those factors, factor into ops losses (especially airbase leve). From my game play, i've noticed that fighters experience more ops losses on ground attack missions, than fighter-bombers, so i believe the type of a/c does effect op losses.
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Nikademus
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RE: How does range affect op losses?

Post by Nikademus »

ORIGINAL: Accipiter

Something I've been wondering about lately is how much flying missions at range cause op losses. I'd assume the further one flies the greater losses experienced, but are the losses based upon the number of hexes flown or a percentage of extended range? For example, I have a Zeke with a 10 hex range (this is RHS mod) but only fly it to 4 hexes but I also have a A5M4 (I think it has a 4 hex range). Would the op losses be the same because the range flown is the same or would the op losses for the Zekes be much less because of the longer flying range available?

Range is not specifically tracked as a factor, but there is a greater chance if flying at extended range mission vs normal range. Fatigue also factors, as does weather and damage (if any) to the aircraft from combat. Other factors include runway damage and pilot experience.

Also does the mission flown make any difference. I often leave a few bomber groups with very long range on 90-100% naval search at max range to search for incoming enemy task forces. Will they experience more losses this way as opposed to if I limit their range to 1/2 their max?

Also does altitude flown, the airbase level, or presence of HQ make any difference as far as op losses? Finally, does the type of a/c fly affect op losses at range, i.e. bombers vs dedicated patrol a/c?
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AmiralLaurent
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RE: How does range affect op losses?

Post by AmiralLaurent »

In my own experience, fatigue is more important than range. So an unit flying on two successive days to a target in normal range will probably suffer more op losses than an units going to extended range once and resting the other day.

The size of the airfield also matters to reduce op losses.

For transfer flights, I have found that transferring to a big AF at max size is better than transfering twice at half-range by using smaller AF.

Naval search, CAP and training (training orders to be precise) are not big sources of op losses in WITP. Most of the op losses occured during the raids and LRCAP missions, that will only represent 10-20% of the daily sorties but often 80-90% of the op losses

Edited: by the way, it's not the op loss rate during raids that is too high, it's the op rate during routine mission that is too low... IRL op losses were between 40 and 60% of the total depending of the air force.
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Nikademus
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RE: How does range affect op losses?

Post by Nikademus »

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

Edited: by the way, it's not the op loss rate during raids that is too high, it's the op rate during routine mission that is too low... IRL op losses were between 40 and 60% of the total depending of the air force.

I know. Op losses were deliberately reduced because in the game they take the pilot away most of the time.
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