Is it possible for a fighter/fighter bomber to be an attack bomber?

[Strike Eagle]

I know that attack bombers will strafe when set to altitudes of 5000 or lower, while fighters can only strafe at 100 feet, but if you were to open the editor, select a fighter such as the P-47N Thunderbolt, and check the "attack bomber" box, will that enable the P-47 to strafe at altitudes as high as 5000 feet as well?

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Strike Eagle

I know that attack bombers will strafe when set to altitudes of 5000 or lower, while fighters can only strafe at 100 feet, but if you were to open the editor, select a fighter such as the P-47N Thunderbolt, and check the "attack bomber" box, will that enable the P-47 to strafe at altitudes as high as 5000 feet as well?

Your understanding is incorrect. Any fighter attacking at that altitude will, after delivering its bombs, drop down to 100 feet to strafe. I don't think that even depends on the pilot but is automatic. So, don't worry about it.

First, I am too frequently wrong, so watch this thread, someone will jump in to correct me.

Second, I don't remember what the maximum altitude is for fighters to both bomb and strafe. I think it is 1000'.

[rustysi]

I think the difference is that for non-attack bombers there is a payload penalty below 6k altitude. So, if you changed an A/C to an attack bomber you would avoid this penalty. I guess this could be done in the editor, but I have no experience with this.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I think the difference is that for non-attack bombers there is a payload penalty below 6k altitude. So, if you changed an A/C to an attack bomber you would avoid this penalty. I guess this could be done in the editor, but I have no experience with this.

My advice is stay out of the editor unless absolutely necessary and with a plurality of support from the forumites.

Things like changing the artwork is fine.

[rustysi]

If he just wants to play around with the AI there's no foul.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

If he just wants to play around with the AI there's no foul.

I agree, but he didn't restrict it to that.

But you're right in another way. He couldn't do that as the Allied player in a PBEM in any case, so you think faster than me. I'm only a gorn.

[BillBrown]

You should look at Andys Macs scenario in Burma. Here is a link. tm.asp?m=3493528

I think he made some of the Fighter Bombers Attack Bombers.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

You should look at Andys Macs scenario in Burma. Here is a link. tm.asp?m=3493528

I think he made some of the Fighter Bombers Attack Bombers.

Oh how I miss JWE. What a poet!

[Strike Eagle]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Your understanding is incorrect. Any fighter attacking at that altitude will, after delivering its bombs, drop down to 100 feet to strafe. I don't think that even depends on the pilot but is automatic. So, don't worry about it.

Second, I don't remember what the maximum altitude is for fighters to both bomb and strafe. I think it is 1000'.

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I think the difference is that for non-attack bombers there is a payload penalty below 6k altitude. So, if you changed an A/C to an attack bomber you would avoid this penalty. I guess this could be done in the editor, but I have no experience with this.

Even with the "attack bomber" box checked, would the fighter still be able perform escort and CAP missions as long as it wasn't changed into a "level bomber," because what I'm intending is for fighters to be able to both strafe and bomb at 5000' rather than 100-1000, while still able to perform fighter missions as mentioned above. But is that possible or not?

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

My advice is stay out of the editor unless absolutely necessary and with a plurality of support from the forumites.

Things like changing the artwork is fine.

ORIGINAL: rustysi

If he just wants to play around with the AI there's no foul.

This modified scenario is just for playing against the AI, and not for PBEM, I'm not a PBEM person in general anyways.

[geofflambert]

Alfred !

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Alfred !

Don't you mean Sgt. Joe (just the facts) Friday? [:)]

[jmalter]

I'd assume that after editing an aircraft model from F or FB to AB, that the plane's available Mission types would change. It would lose the ability to perform Escort missions.

[crsutton]

In stock, (I make no representations about mods) fighters set to 1,000 feet or lower will drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. As far as I know they do not suffer any reduction in bomb strength when used this way. Any other altitude they will just level bomb. Simple as that. Fighters are not attack bombers and will not suppress flak on ships or bases. In the game this only works with attack bombers. Attack bombers set below 6,000 feet will always drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. Higher than that, they level bomb with no penalties. Non attack bombers bombing below 6,000 feet suffer a reduced payload. That is pretty much it.

Suppression seems to only work when attacking bases or ships. So if you are thinking of attacking an infantry unit sitting in the open with one of those New Zealand flak brigades as company, you might want to reconsider..[:-]

[Strike Eagle]

ORIGINAL: jmalter

I'd assume that after editing an aircraft model from F or FB to AB, that the plane's available Mission types would change. It would lose the ability to perform Escort missions.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

In stock, (I make no representations about mods) fighters set to 1,000 feet or lower will drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. As far as I know they do not suffer any reduction in bomb strength when used this way. Any other altitude they will just level bomb. Simple as that. Fighters are not attack bombers and will not suppress flak on ships or bases. In the game this only works with attack bombers. Attack bombers set below 6,000 feet will always drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. Higher than that, they level bomb with no penalties. Non attack bombers bombing below 6,000 feet suffer a reduced payload. That is pretty much it.

Suppression seems to only work when attacking bases or ships. So if you are thinking of attacking an infantry unit sitting in the open with one of those New Zealand flak brigades as company, you might want to reconsider.[:-]

Alright then, thanks for the responses all, I guess I'll just drop this idea then.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

In stock, (I make no representations about mods) fighters set to 1,000 feet or lower will drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. As far as I know they do not suffer any reduction in bomb strength when used this way. Any other altitude they will just level bomb. Simple as that. Fighters are not attack bombers and will not suppress flak on ships or bases. In the game this only works with attack bombers. Attack bombers set below 6,000 feet will always drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. Higher than that, they level bomb with no penalties. Non attack bombers bombing below 6,000 feet suffer a reduced payload. That is pretty much it.

Suppression seems to only work when attacking bases or ships. So if you are thinking of attacking an infantry unit sitting in the open with one of those New Zealand flak brigades as company, you might want to reconsider..[:-]

A recent change to the settings made the level bombing of land targets from 2000 feet up rather than the previous 6000 feet. Not sure why. Anything below 2000 is still in the low level category.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: crsutton

In stock, (I make no representations about mods) fighters set to 1,000 feet or lower will drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. As far as I know they do not suffer any reduction in bomb strength when used this way. Any other altitude they will just level bomb. Simple as that. Fighters are not attack bombers and will not suppress flak on ships or bases. In the game this only works with attack bombers. Attack bombers set below 6,000 feet will always drop down to 100 feet to strafe and bomb. Higher than that, they level bomb with no penalties. Non attack bombers bombing below 6,000 feet suffer a reduced payload. That is pretty much it.

Suppression seems to only work when attacking bases or ships. So if you are thinking of attacking an infantry unit sitting in the open with one of those New Zealand flak brigades as company, you might want to reconsider..[:-]

A recent change to the settings made the level bombing of land targets from 2000 feet up rather than the previous 6000 feet. Not sure why. Anything below 2000 is still in the low level category.

I missed this one. I ran a lot (lot) of tests on this but it was well over six years ago and a lot has changed. Most important is that flak is much more deadly now-even for the Japanese. I don't go in low if I know there is flak there in any numbers. It did not pay much back then to attack at low altitude is more dangerous now. I don't bother with training in the strafing skill. My tests on low altitude attacks showed it (strafing) to be pitifully weak. It is the bombs that do the job.