Land-based dive bombers?

Grotius · Post by **Grotius** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 7:43 pm

Hi all,

Are dive- and torpedo-bombers (e.g., Dauntlesses, Devastators, Avengers, Vals, Kates) less likely to fly "Naval Attack" missions if they are based on land (say, a size 8 or higher airfield with adequate air support and supply) than on a CV? That seems to be my experience, in several of my PBEM games and in tests against the AI. I would think the same squadron would be *more* likely to attack if based on land, since it knows its home airfield won't sink. But the opposite seems true. Is this the way the game is supposed to work? Is the idea that CV-based aircraft are always better "prepped" for combat? Or is it a bug?

Oleg Mastruko · Post by **Oleg Mastruko** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 8:00 pm

I noticed this as well, for both sides.

Maybe the "attacks from coastal hexes are halved" rule is (wrongly) applied to CV squadrons even when they fly from land bases?

Anyway, I doubt this, since my problem is them not flying at all, not with half strength.

But when they do fly, they seem to fly with full strength, so I don't believe this is the reason.

O.

Nasrullah · Post by **Nasrullah** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 9:19 pm

Land-based TBs and DBs do not have their usual accompaniment of float-plane searchers. The cause of the seeming shyness may be lack of spotting.

Snigbert · Post by **Snigbert** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 9:22 pm

Have you tried playing with the naval search percentage on the naval attack mode, or launching from bases with float search planes set on naval search missions?

Oleg Mastruko · Post by **Oleg Mastruko** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 9:39 pm

Originally posted by Nasrullah
Land-based TBs and DBs do not have their usual accompaniment of float-plane searchers. The cause of the seeming shyness may be lack of spotting.

Not so.

As IJN I always base CV airwings on landbases with abundance od Emilys, Jakes, Mavises etc.) (Read - I base them at Lunga

)

As USN I always leave scouting squadrons (VS) at 10-20% search, regardless be they on CV or on land, and they do work.

Here's what happened to me in one of the last turns as USN. I unloaded 3 fresh full sqdns of SBDs in Brisbane, as I noticed IJN CV group is nearby, and didn't want to risk carriers in open fight. It was clear day, and one of the scouting SBDs spotted CVs 5-6 hexes from Brisbane (B. is level 9 airbase). Both Birsbane and CV hex were clear to fly, escorts were available, yet no SBDs attacked that turn!

O.

Oleg Mastruko · Post by **Oleg Mastruko** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 9:43 pm

Originally posted by Oleg Mastruko
Not so.

As USN I always leave scouting squadrons (VS) at 10-20% search, regardless be they on CV or on land, and they do work.
O.

Just to make myself clear - I meant they work as scout-spoters (those 20%), but they are still reluctant to attack, even when the target is spotted by their own squadron (20% ordered to scout).

O.

pasternakski · Post by **pasternakski** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 11:07 pm

Presence and allocation of escort fighters figure in, as well. Unescorted LBA are most reticent about attacking air combat TFs.

Also, the usual LBA effects of supply, support, and HQs have an effect that is not present with CV-based attack groups.

Grotius · Post by **Grotius** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:28 am

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who's noticed a greater reluctance on the part of land-based torpedo- and dive-bombers to fly -- for both sides. In my various games, I've tried to address this as best I can with abundant air support, supply, escorts, search assets, and where possible Air HQs. Even with all that in place, the land-based crowd seems a bit less inclined to fly than equivalent squadrons (in terms of morale, fatigue, experience) based on aircraft carriers. Still seems a bit odd to me. <shrug>

Tanaka · Post by **Tanaka** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 7:42 am

Originally posted by Oleg Mastruko
Not so.

As IJN I always base CV airwings on landbases with abundance od Emilys, Jakes, Mavises etc.) (Read - I base them at Lunga )

As USN I always leave scouting squadrons (VS) at 10-20% search, regardless be they on CV or on land, and they do work.

Here's what happened to me in one of the last turns as USN. I unloaded 3 fresh full sqdns of SBDs in Brisbane, as I noticed IJN CV group is nearby, and didn't want to risk carriers in open fight. It was clear day, and one of the scouting SBDs spotted CVs 5-6 hexes from Brisbane (B. is level 9 airbase). Both Birsbane and CV hex were clear to fly, escorts were available, yet no SBDs attacked that turn!

O.

hehe yes well now to be fair my cv airgroups did not attack that turn either and for what reason i have know idea either hehe
but we both got what we wanted on the next turn though. but you seemed to have gotten the better of me in stopping my bombardment force.

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 8:31 am

Grotius,
In my game with Attack Condor he moved 2 carriers worth of SBDs and F4Fs into GG; at that time a lvl 2 base. I can unfortunately say the SBDs flew every possible mission they could have for 3 days.

He didn't need to have any on naval search as his PBYs found everything he could ask for.
Maybe I should cancel all my plans and let him build GG up. Maybe then the SBDs won't attack:D .

Quark

Grotius · Post by **Grotius** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 2:56 am

LoL, Quark! I've been following your game with interest, since you and I have a common enemy. <grin>

FWIW, Condor also built Gili to level 2 in my game against him, but he only had time to fly one or two air strikes from it before I took the base. Still, that's one or two more air strikes than my land-based Avengers and Dauntlesses are conducting from places like Townsville, Cooktown and Cairns in my game against SoulBlazer. LoL. Maybe you're right: the secret is to fly from a level 2 base!