The recon planes can perform 2 missions.
a. Naval Search
b. Recon
It's not necessary to put the whole squadron on Recon, as 1 or 2 planes is more than adaquate to perform a recon mission. Therefore, put the squadron on Recon, but have 80% of the planes on Naval Search (which will put 2 planes on recon in a 10 plane squadron). At least with the rest of the squadron on Nav Search, they'll actually be doing you some good instead of drinking everyone else's beer at the O-Club.
Reconning a base, is somewhat useful. Obviously, you'll want to recon it before you invade it. You don't want to go dropping a Brigade of Light Infantry onto 3 Divisions of the South Seas Detachment. Reccing a base can also tell you the number (and maybe types) of planes that are based there. If he's got no fighters there, then you don't really need escorts do you...
Starting with the next patch, reccing a port will also tell you information about the ships in port, which can be VERY useful.
And that's about all they do. Hope this helps.
-F-
Edit : And while I think it's a very interesting question about bomber accuracy if a base has been recced, I -don't- think it helps you. At least Matrix has never indicated that it does. Interesting idea tho.
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
Occasionally, the F-5 on recon will draw fighters off the ground as well, contributing to their fatigue (and maybe an operational loss of a fighter as well <wouldn't that be great?>). I have yet to see a fighter down a F-5 on recon. Plus, those annoying camera clicks do help drive your opponent a little bit over the edge .
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
No, I don't think recon planes in themselves will draw fighters up. What they are telling you is that there is cap up in the air, not necessarily planes scrambling up to intercept. Remember, CAP is a constant thing with some planes in the air at all times during daylight hours. Your recon plane is just reporting back the CAP that is normally up in that air at that particular time. So I do not think recon overflights will cause the CAP units any more fatigue than they would already have.
No, I don't think recon planes in themselves will draw fighters up. What they are telling you is that there is cap up in the air, not necessarily planes scrambling up to intercept. Remember, CAP is a constant thing with some planes in the air at all times during daylight hours. Your recon plane is just reporting back the CAP that is normally up in that air at that particular time. So I do not think recon overflights will cause the CAP units any more fatigue than they would already have.
Probably true... I was just refering to the fact that occasionally I have seen CAP try to intercept the recon flights. I don't know if CAP fatigue increases if they actually try to intercept something, but I'll try to get every edge possible
Thanks for the info - maybe one of the folks "in-the-know" can provide more info.
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
I was kinda keeping quiet on the CAP issue, but it has been my observation that CAP does at least try to intercept both patrol and recon planes (I would think this might incur a marginal amout of extra fatigue, but nothing like a tangle with 20 opposing fighters on a sweep mission).
Patrol : I've gotten numerous "Capt Killer credited with kill #x" whenever a CV TF is in close proximity of a surface TF that has alot of float planes and using them for seach. These are on turns that my CV fighters were NOT actively engaged otherwise. I've also got several (3 actually) PBY pilots with kills to their credit in my PBEM game with Knavey. I can only presume that they managed to down a CAP that tried to intercept them.
Recons : I'm "fairly sure" that these guys also get shot down. Knavey also claims that I've also managed to shoot up one of his Irving squadrons. I'm sure he didn't lose 14 of them in a month due to operational losses and Flak.
-F-
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
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