Float planes as fighters?

[Erkki]

I see all Japanese float planes have at least 1 forward facing light MG. Japanese CS type ships can have quite a lot of F1M2s, each with 2 forward facing MGs, and they can catch both the SBD and the TBD, and could in theory draw away escorts or at least attrit them somewhat (through lack of ammunition mostly, but still).

The question goes, will it work? Both sweep and escort(as well as CAP and LRCAP) are allowed mission types for the float plane units. I've tried to set the fly CAP a couple of times but enemy attacks are yet to materialize, and they dont seem to actually fly the sorties. Could it work from a shore base?

[Archangel85]

They can actually fly CAP, but they suffer terribly against anything approaching a modern front line fighter. Not worth the airframes in my opinion, but I always upgrade them to Jakes as soon as I can anyway.

[crsutton]

The rufe is the best Japanese float plane and can be useful as a fighter in forward bases. But it is not as fast as the zero so will suffer accordingly.

[erstad]

Against a serious strike, as in a carrier v carrier battle, they won't do much. But against nuisance strikes, yes they can help. Particularly useful in the DEI early war, in my experience. For example, if your opponent is trying a naval strike with those long-legged dutch bombers beyond escort range.

[Erkki]

I was thinking about using them aboard my CSes before they are converted into CVLs. The CS ships never operate alone any way and their air units cant upgrade to A6M2-N or N1K1 - however they could operate 6 E13As and a full 12-plane squad of these F1M2 "fighter-patrols". They have a range of 4/3 so when it comes to actual naval search I want to get rid of them ASAP any way, only good for emergency CAP and ASW perhaps.

1 of these with each CV TF doing the ASW work is my idea, I'm upgrading all the other float plane units to E13A and E7K first.. If I can in a big carrier battle throw 12 to 22 of them in the fire, thats at least 6 escort Wildcats out of ammo. [:D]

[dr.hal]

Opposition fighters don't seem to run out of ammo fast enough... I put up Dutch float planes as cap, about ten and only one came home and the strike was not hurt at all....sigh. I lost some "eyes of the fleet" for not very much in return. So I agree, it is normally not worth the loss... But I guess there are always exceptions to that rule...

[Blackhorse]

They can also be useful as night-fighters. As far as I can tell, any night-cap will throw off the aim of unescorted bombers

[inqistor]

RUFE is now much better, than in WITP, where it could not survive any opposition.

I think, there are also 3 groups of special Japanese Float Fighters in-game, but I do not remember the model name.

There is also Japanese Float DB.

[Archangel85]

I don't think fighter ammo is actually modelled, at least in no other way than gun jamming and losing engine pressure are being modelled, in that going out of ammo is just a random combat event. I am sure we have all seen fighters making one pass and then being out of ammo, or firing and firing and firing, killing several planes. So the ammo attrition route is not something that actually works that way.

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: erstad

Against a serious strike, as in a carrier v carrier battle, they won't do much. But against nuisance strikes, yes they can help. Particularly useful in the DEI early war, in my experience. For example, if your opponent is trying a naval strike with those long-legged dutch bombers beyond escort range.

A great example and one that happened to me. I was careless with a small but important amphib force in about 3/42 and left it open to air attack from remnants of the Dutch Air Force and some RAF units. All I had at my disposal for a turn was to put all my CA float planes on CAP. The Petes and a few Jakes disrupted the attacks enough that they did no damage. In a pinch they are ok but not for use as a "real" CAP.