Can I target individual ships?

[jrazz]

Can I order a squadron to hit an individual ship, like a specific carrier? Although I've only played the game a half dozen times,(and only the Midway scenario so far) it seems to me that when the Japanese attack they concentrate on the American carriers. But when the U.S. attacks the squadrons seem to concentrate on everything else "but" the Japanese carriers. [&:]

So it would seem the thing to do to gain an advantage from the getgo is for the American planes to hit the Japanese carriers first and hard. But I only see the option to strike at a sighting and not at individual ships. Am I wrong or did I miss something?

TIA for any help.

JRazz

[wworld7]

No, this is not an option.

[jrazz]

Hmm, I figured as much. But too bad, as I think that would make the game even more immersive and variable.
I don't mind the historical accuracy of having a more experienced Japanese airforce attack U.S. ships, but as it is now in the game, it seems impossible for the U.S. navy to do what it actually finally did at Midway  --  dive bomb and take out three Japanese carriers.

Anybody here succeed at doing that?

[paullus99]

All the time - a lot depends on your strike packages (cohesive strikes are better than individual squadrons going in alone). At Midway, you're going to lose lots of planes - but try to get a sequenced attack, first the Midway planes, then your strikes right after. It spreads out the CAP resources (they have to land to refuel and arm) and gives you a better chance at hitting the bulls-eye.

And hope you nail at least three of the carriers, otherwise, you're probably dead meat anyway. And also remember that Jap pilots were much more experienced at ship to ship attacks at this point as well.

[jrazz]

Thanks, that's about what I've been doing, i.e. starting out with strikes from Midway than following with strikes from the carriers. So I'll try harder.

JRazz

[random_rail]

It seems like the more experienced your pilots are, the less they do stupid stuff like drop torpedoes on destroyers when there are unharmed carriers around.  The US at the beginning of the war, and Japan at the end, had fairly inexperienced air crews.