Reaganomics: or how to use your PBYS

[seydlitz_slith]

Everyone knows that PBYS are great for naval search, especially since they can operate from remote areas with AV assistance.

However, there is another use for both US and Jap PBYs that have made them very important to me......

They are excellent troop transports.
They can also do one thing that C-47s and bombers can't do.
They can fly troops and supplies into locations that have no airfield to land at. As long as the hex is "friendly," that is, either has troops from your side, or is vacant but the "center dot" is in your color, then you can land there and drop stuff off.

While you can't transport tanks or large guns, you can indeed transport a good bit of supply and troops in to make an attack.

In one of my games, my forces were kicked out of a critical base by the enemy. I was able to extract some of the forces by emergency sea evac, but left some guys behind, living off the land, for a couple of months. Then, about three weeks ago, my opponent pulled out a lot of his assault strength from the base and used it to make an advance on another island, obviously figuring that 1. I was gone, and 2. his airpower would protect.

However, by concentrating several PBY units, I have been able to fly in a surplus of supply to the hex with my guerilla units, and even better, I have flown in a whole RCT. I am now flying in a second RCT, and hopefully I will soon have a nasty surprise for my opponent. Only the seaplanes have been able to do this. The dakotas can't because there is no airfield to land at.

Anyone else tried this?

Don

[madflava13]

As the Allies I use the PBYs to get some troops onto Gili Gili ASAP... I try to make the Japs fight for it at least... About 60% of the time, I can hold off the initial invasion and get more units/supply in.

On a related note, has anyone successfully employed PBYs in their historical "Black Cat" role? (Night anti-shipping) I've tried with a couple units that have high 70s experience, but no luck so far...

[seydlitz_slith]

I have tried to make night naval attacks with a variety of aircraft, including the black cats. I have also had no luck so far. This has included times where the enemy was camped out in the coastal hex where the airfield was located. This includes both enemy bombardment and enemy troop supply runs.

I mean, how hard can it be.
Imagine the briefing...
"OK men, your target is located in the bay 6000 yds past the end of the runway."

"When you take off, bank 10 degrees to port, stay on the deck, line up the target, and drop the fish at five-mississippi after the
end of the runway. Then bank hard right back into the landing pattern. No need to raise your gear"

(For you non-southern US types....five mississippi is five seconds...
as in one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi, four mississippi, five mississippi.....Drop)

Maybe this feature just plain doesn't work.

Don

[Toro]

(For you non-southern US types....five mississippi is five seconds...
as in one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi, four mississippi, five mississippi.....Drop)
[/B]

Hey now, we Northern boys learned this "mississippi" timing thing, too...

And, by the way, I didn't realize this (using PBYs this way), but will use it tonight. Thanks for the tip! (Watch out Bax...)

[Q-Ball]

On Night Naval Attacks, there have been a couple other threads on that topic, and the general consensus was that they are useless. I tried for awhile with a variety of AC, and only recorded one hit.

Maybe that's as it should be, since WWII had many successful night missions against stationary targets, but none that I can recall against any type of shipping.

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Night attacks against naval vessels work best with air groups of experience in excess of 85% and targets that have been very well spotted, during the previous day.

Bye...

Michael Wood

[madflava13]

Thanks for the clarification Mike...

Q-Ball, according to "Black Cat Raiders of WWII" by Richard C. Knott, PBYs flying night missions in the area and time frame encompassed by UV sank and damaged numerous Japanese vessels, many of which were underway at the time. Hard numbers are not easy to come by, due to the nature of the attacks, but there were definitely confirmed sinkings of mercahnt ships and warships...
The book's a great (and pretty quick) read, but I think its out of print now - I got mine at a used book store.

I'm off to train up some PBYs...

[Califvol]

Originally posted by seydlitz

[I mean, how hard can it be.
Imagine the briefing...
"OK men, your target is located in the bay 6000 yds past the end of the runway."

"When you take off, bank 10 degrees to port, stay on the deck, line up the target, and drop the fish at five-mississippi after the
end of the runway. Then bank hard right back into the landing pattern. No need to raise your gear"


Don [/B]

EXCELLENT point! However, turns out my pilots are like Beavis and Butthead


"What's this do? Hehe"

"I don't know Beavis, Whoa! That was a big ship we just flew over. Like maybe we should drop a bomb or something."

"Hehe, naw, that's what they'd expect us to do. Just land, hehehe, I'll tell the Admiral I am the Great Cornholleo, hehehe"

"Beavis look....."

US Losses:

1 PBY Destoryed

IJN Lossed:

None

[seydlitz_slith]

Outstanding point, Califvol.
I made the mistake of eating dinner while reading your post and darn near spit my food out I was laughing so hard.

I keep imagining Beavis and Butthead climbing up over the rail of a Jap DD, with water dripping off their noses, and doing the cornjulio number.

BTW,
I got those pilots in my air farce, for sure.
Also got some of those Wild Bill Kelso types (better known as the pilot that John Belushi played in "1941").

Don