LB attack against CVs

[Saso]

In my current PBEM game I made a mistake, I sent Betty and Zero over enemy CVs but they flew at extended range and low altitude.
The enemy fighter (F4F-4 Wildcat) are bouncing my fighters a lot.

In situations like this, is better make an air strike on two different altitude or to send some fighter in sweep mission? Or what?

Thanks in advance.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Saso

In my current PBEM game I made a mistake, I sent Betty and Zero over enemy CVs but they flew at extended range and low altitude.
The enemy fighter (F4F-4 Wildcat) are bouncing my fighters a lot.

In situations like this, is better make an air strike on two different altitude or to send some fighter in sweep mission? Or what?

Thanks in advance.

Not sure how you could "sweep" a moving TF since the mission is assigned to a hex (iirc) ... some players like the different altitudes to try to split up the defenses, but this may result in uncoordinated strikes... it is all a tradeoff, i think.

[Saso]

Not sure how you could "sweep" a moving TF since the mission is assigned to a hex (iirc)

Right, I'm still several gaps about WitP knowledge...

Thanks rtrapasso

[Feinder]

Correct, you can't "sweep" a CV TF in WitP.
 
Yes, I'd try staggering the heights of your bombers.  Going in at several altitudes will help to spread out the CAP (the strike where CAP is closes to altitude will suffer most, but the others alts will benefit).  And dive and torpedo bombers don't suffer an accuracy penalty for altitude, since they alway attack at 2000' and 200' anyway.  Also, putting stuff high, will also reduce your Flak losses (again, no decrease in accuracy). 
 
You can also create a lead strike and secondary strikes by
a.  Lead strike is set for NavAtk (no secondary mission). It will launch in the AM, and bear the brunt of the CAP (and stagger it's alts etc).
b.  Secondary strike is set for NavAtk-Port/AF Atk (with a target specified).  Unless you've sunk everything, your naval target will still be there in the PM pulse (no movement occurs between AM and PM).  This "encourages" you strikes launch in the PM pulse.  The naval target is still there, so it attacks the naval target instead of it's specified Port/AF target.  Hitting in the PM means that CAP has been reduced by the AM strikes, and you've got a better shot at getting thru.
 
THIS IS NOT ROCK-SOLID.  There are quite a few things that can go wrong, but it's about 60% effective once you get the feel for it.
a.  Weather is checked in AM and PM.  So your airfield(s) and target might be socked in for one of the strikes, in which case you'll only strike in the AM or PM. 
b.  It's actually advisable to only use the AM/PM strikes if you're using multiple AFs.  Reason being, generaly in WitP airstrikes, you either want very large or very small strikes.  The small strikes can creep the CAP anyway.  And the very large strikes are  better at getting thru.  So if you're launching form the same base, more planes is generally better.  But if you've got multiple AFs that your launching from, attempting to trigger AM/PM strikes to can help.
c.  You PM strike might just decide to bomb the Port/AF instead of the fleet, in which case you've bombed a bunch of dirt and not ships.
d.  You could make the argument that setting everything on NavAtk only will cause several strikes in the AM, that wears down CAP.  So why use AM-PM strikes?  You have no control over the strike order of everythign is AM.  I haven't solved that yet, but I'm working on it [;)] (altho I think it's tied to range and the phsical ID # of the base).  But anway.  In the case where you have "good bombers" and "bad bombers".  Say a collection of B-17s and some Hudsons (I know you're Japan, but this is just an example).  You -want- the B-17s to go in first, becaus they're the most survivable and can help break up the CAP.  But if the Hudsons go in first (no control over this if only NavAtk), they'll be slaughtered.  So you deliberately set the B-17s to NavAtk only (go first), and then the Hudsons ast NavAtk-PortAtk, and they'll go in in the PM, after the B-17s have weakened the CAP a little.
 
For that being said, I don't actually like the way srikes work in WitP.  But the engine is what it is, and it helps considerably to actually understand what it's trying to do.
 
-F-

[Saso]

[X(] Thanks Feinder, a very interesting lesson!

This is the report of my first strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
G4M1 Betty x 29

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 18 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Wasp

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Follow the hints I made an air strike with two different altitude selected (all aircraft in the same base):

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G4M1 Betty x 39
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 91
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 20 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 19 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 16 destroyed, 8 damaged
 
Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CV Wasp
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Another slaughter but if we compare with the first strike it seems works better.

Of course the air strike don't have hit the transports but the CVs with their strong CAP [:(]

[Shark7]

Part of the problem is that the game puts a higher priority on carriers, so they will draw airstrikes like moths to a lamp. You'd be much better off if you could designate your bombers to attack my transports only, but there is no mechanism to do so currently (that I am aware of, maybe someone here knows a way).

[okami]

ORIGINAL: Saso

[X(] Thanks Feinder, a very interesting lesson!

This is the report of my first strike:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
G4M1 Betty x 29

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 18 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Wasp

Follow the hints I made an air strike with two different altitude selected (all aircraft in the same base):

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G4M1 Betty x 39

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 91

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 20 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 19 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 16 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CV Wasp



Another slaughter but if we compare with the first strike it seems works better.

Of course the air strike don't have hit the transports but the CVs with their strong CAP [:(]

In both these cases you are flying aganst Ubercap. You need to outnumber the CAP of the hex to achieve any reasonable results. Your loses have been light, given the amount of CAP you faced. If he can place 91 F4F4's over his carriers, you need at least 150 Zero's to attain the result you are looking for.

[Feinder]

With 90 Wildcats, you're going to have a tough time breaking thru with only 30 escorts.
 
Also, you did get nearly 40 Bettys past CAP, to launch their fish.  With 40 chances to hit (even with disruption from the CAP and Flak), I'm surprised you didn't hit anything.

What is the exp of your pilots?
 
-F-

[Shark7]

Here's a good question as well. With 3 carriers and the cap set to 50%, I really shouldn't have 90 defenders should I? I set the cap myself to 50%, so there shouldn't even be 90 Wildcats intercepting, as that is just about all of them 36 x 3 = 108, so 90 would be about 90% of them flying cap.

I will recheck the cap level next turn Saso, something might have bugged.

Edit: I did just recheck the last turn I saved, and they are set to 50%. 90 is actually more fighters than I have left. [X(] FoW perhaps?

[anarchyintheuk]

Early warning (radar) allows cap to scramble.

[Saso]

If he can place 91 F4F4's over his carriers, you need at least 150 Zero's to attain the result you are looking for.

Ahi...this is a big problem because is very hard for me concetrated so much fighters.
 

What is the exp of your pilots? 

Somewhere around 75/80 for all pilots
 

Early warning (radar) allows cap to scramble.

 
Is it as effective?
 

I will recheck the cap level next turn Saso, something might have bugged.

Edit: I did just recheck the last turn I saved, and they are set to 50%. 90 is actually more fighters than I have left. [X(] FoW perhaps?  

 
No problem Shark7, no one complaint [:)]

[Zebedee]

ORIGINAL: Saso

Early warning (radar) allows cap to scramble.

Is it as effective?

It can be - although you'll note that the planes joining late don't seem to get much of a chance to attack your escort and bombers. That's probably why your losses weren't worse.

[PzB74]

Welcome to the rest of your WitP life...

Radar usually scrambles 90% of all Allied CV fighters and the size of the Uber CAP will grow
with the number of carriers and size of their air groups.

By 1944 you will find yourself constantly facing 2-300 Hellcats and Corsairs on CAP and it's next to impossible
to get through. If your opponents 'stacks' more cv's the number can be 3 times has hight [8|]

Since Jap radar doesn't work very well the advantage is almost entirely one sided.
Your fighters will usually be bounced all the time - unless the enemy attacks you over your own soil enough hexes away
from his own radar equipped base or ship.

Being bounced by 2-300 Hellcats and Corsairs is a very thrilling experience [:'(]
Advice you to enjoy the Happy times of 1943 [:D]

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

Early warning (radar) allows cap to scramble.

Well that explains it. I've never played as the allies before, so this is a learning experience. [:D]

[Feinder]

Look on the bright side, it used to be that every kill scrolled across the window during the combat. 
PO Izuki is credited with kill number 12
Ens Michael is credited with kill number 1
Ens Michael is creaded with kill number 2
 
and so on, and so on, and so on, thru 400 - 500 losses, it took FOREVER to run a turn.  Bleh.  I don't miss that!
 
-F-

[Gem35]

Ok, excuse me if I am not understanding this, but even if you set cap to 0 percent for the carrier based fighters,, a Carrier with decent radar will allow up to 90% of them to engage incoming enenmy attacks?
I normlly have all of my fighters on carriers set to 90% cap as it is so I have never seen this.

[Nikademus]

radar is supposed to allow much larger CAP launches even if you set your standing CAP patrol to low %. Thats one of it's perks. It also improves DL's allowing the CAP to be more effective in general (get more attack rounds)

[Gem35]

unchanged in AE?
where is my notepad...

[Nikademus]

enhanced.

[Gem35]

elaborate? please?