Sweep Situation

[foliveti]

I was not aware that altitude setting was a key to coordination.  Should torpedo bombers be set at the same altitude as the dive bombers if you want to try to coordinate attacks?  I have generally been leaving them at the default settings of 10k for DB and 5k for TB. 

[ChezDaJez]

P.S. You mean I have to pay attention to details in this game?

Damn, I hate it when I have to do that!!! [:D]

Chez

[ChezDaJez]

ORIGINAL: foliveti

I was not aware that altitude setting was a key to coordination.  Should torpedo bombers be set at the same altitude as the dive bombers if you want to try to coordinate attacks?  I have generally been leaving them at the default settings of 10k for DB and 5k for TB. 

For best results, yes. The torpedo bombers will drop down to deliver their torpedoes and then climb back up.

Chez

[Djordje]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Regarding comments about high altitude sweeps, I was just following the recommendations made by several players that Hurricanes on sweep missions at max altitude were having good success.

I have seen those recommendations too but I feel it is not realistic. If the altitude was the only variable then the one with higher ceiling would always win. At those extreme altitudes (43k feet) planes of WW2 era (those that can reach it) can hardly fly in the straight line, everything else resembling a dogfight would cause immediate stall. There should be severe penalties on chances for two forces (43k sweep against normal altitude CAP) to even find each other on anything but the clear sunny day. Maybe there are penalties but I have not seen them. Send sweep at 43k and you get free bounce.

There seem to be general opinion forming on this forum that higher is always better, so players keep setting their fighters higher and higher until we see both sides flying at their ceiling altitudes. If that was the case in real war then all airforces were led by stupid commanders that failed to realize that all you had to do is go up until you touch the sun and you would win. Airplanes did not fight at 43k altitudes for a simple reason - it was not possible.

Altitude does equals potential energy which translates into speed but there are limits to it caused by thin air at high altitudes.

[KenchiSulla]

On top of Djordje, try flying a early war plane to max level. It takes forever and once you are at 43k feet try engaging something at 15k. You would have to bleed all your energy to become effective.

Plus Hurricanes are not great in a dive.

[LoBaron]

Let´s not all run in the opposite direction now. [;)]

High altitude sweeps are still the way to go to weaken the defender if he has a high ammount of fighters defending the base.
Sure this takes time but if executed well it forces the opponent to either accept the losses and fight for it or
pull back and give the bombers that follow a couple of days later a free attack...

As a Japanese player some days of 30k feet Hurricane sweeps would give me a major headache. [8D]