F-5A Lightning, What's the point?

[Mojo]

So these guys go out like clockwork with their Kodak Brownies and rip off a few snaps twice a day but what do they add to the intelligence I get about the enemy?

I don't recall ever seeing a report where they actually spotted anything like enemy TFs on the way to their photo shoot or on the way home.

For all I know they are taking "National Geographic" type pics of the native girls at Lunga and selling them to the Marines at Luganville if you know what I mean. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge;)

[strollen]

Short answer they add a lot of intelligence. The number and type of planes, damage to the base. The number of troops and type at a base etc. The also spot TFs docked at a base. But I don't think unless they are on naval search they spot TFs on there way.

Personally, I find the F5A squadron to be one of the most valuable squadrons in the came, especially against a PBEM opponent.

[Mojo]

Maybe I'm misusing them then. That's no surprise.

I just see them taking picture after picture and never really see anything specific get reported.

And not being a PBEM'er I haven't experienced that

[Possum]

Hello Mojo
Maybe it's my imagination, but Port, Airfield, and Ground attack missions seem to come off better if you have sent the recon boys in several days before, and every day, up and including the day of the Raid(s)

[strollen]

Mojo, I am not sure exactly what you are expecting. There aren't any recon report per se.

So try this experiement, station the F5A in Port Morsby set the mission as Recon and target Rabaul. Run flights for 2 or 3 days. Than click on Rabaul, note the #aircraft, details of grounds units etc. any damage about the base. Stop running the recon flights for several days at Rabaul. Each day continue clicking on Rabaul after a few days you will notice that the information you have about Rabaul is much less detailed. Eventually the only info you will have about the base is its size, the fact there are aircraft and ships stationed there. You probably will know the number of ground units and type stationed there but not number of troops, but after a while even that information disappears.

It may very well help make raids more accurate, I am not sure about that. The are very important for getting an idea about how much damage raids have been doing.

[Mojo]

I'll have to pay more attention then Possum.

I'd still rather have a squadron of "real" P-38s though:D But that's just me.

[Ron Saueracker]

They help alot, IMHO. My one query, and minor disappointment, is that recon squadrons set to "recon" missions under CO discretion only send ac over strike targets. You must order them to every enemy base, one per turn, to get them to do their real job....reconaisance of enemy bases. And considering there are usually around 10 ac in a squadron, the majority of the ac just sit on the tarmac saying, "Boy, its a good thing the Ops officer can only write one target on the board everyday, otherwise we'ed have to drop these brewskies and fly once in a while!":D

[Mojo]

Originally posted by strollen
Mojo, I am not sure exactly what you are expecting. There aren't any recon report per se.

....

What am I expecting? Beats me. Just trying to figure out how to best utilize these guys and the info they are collecting.

(That and work off the caffeine and beer buzz I have going after playing golf tonight so I can get some freaking sleep. Two beers over and about a gallon of iced tea. Gotta work tomorrow)

I figure the info they bring back is being used somehow I just don't know it figures into game play.

[Mojo]

It's good work if you can get it Ron;)

[GulfXray]

Another use is they'll give you an idea of the CAP level over a potential target before you send in strike a/c.