Beaufighter Experiences?

[spence]

I wasnt going to mention it, its only against the AI, but my Beaus' defend Darwin and I have 3 aces with 30+ kills, mostly bombers.

In my PBEM my Beaufighters haven't done very well at all against Japanese fighters and so far he hasn't done much bombing of N. Australia. My Beaufighters have done a bit better when they had the altitude advantage (against fighters). But why would they do any worse when they're AI controlled than not?(unescorted bombers)?

[JeffroK]

Basically, the Beau is a heavily armed 2E Fighter bomber, its not in the same class as a P38 let alone a current model SEF. Its maneuverable as any 2E light bomber such as the A20.

Try and play it like a P40-Hurri-F4F-4 and it will get trashed.

Play it like an attack bomber, at low level and in a low threat environment and it will shine.

But, in mid 42 it can be one of the few fighters available in Australia, lots of bases to defend so it get misused. If it gets to attack an unescorted raid it can make a real mess therefore the IJN player has to be a little careful.

[Technopiper]

ORIGINAL: spence
In my PBEM my Beaufighters haven't done very well at all against Japanese fighters and so far he hasn't done much bombing of N. Australia. My Beaufighters have done a bit better when they had the altitude advantage (against fighters). But why would they do any worse when they're AI controlled than not?(unescorted bombers)?

A guess. Perhaps the AI often neglects training?

[jdsrae]

ORIGINAL: spence

I wasnt going to mention it, its only against the AI, but my Beaus' defend Darwin and I have 3 aces with 30+ kills, mostly bombers.

In my PBEM my Beaufighters haven't done very well at all against Japanese fighters and so far he hasn't done much bombing of N. Australia. My Beaufighters have done a bit better when they had the altitude advantage (against fighters). But why would they do any worse when they're AI controlled than not?(unescorted bombers)?

AI sends many unescorted bombing raids. Beaus can chew them up.
Human opponent may have seen you have Beaus so may be trying to sweep them from the skies first before sending too many bombers.

[bradfordkay]

The AI rarely sweeps northern Oz, though it has often swept SE Indian airbases. the RAF squadron of Beaufighter VIc aircraft I have in that area has not done anywhere nearly as well (17 kills vs 9 losses), but the Beau does seem to be tough to kill. That is something it has going for it. I should mention that this game is only in March of '43 so it hasn't seen too many of the next generation of Japanese fighters yet.

In my last PBEM, which ended in mid April of '45 the Beaufighters did not have nearly the same rate of success. The two remaining Aussie squadrons show the following results: 8 kills vs 9 losses for one and 9 kills vs 11 losses for the other). The squadron remaining in Burma shows 3 kills for 27 losses.

[Technopiper]

How does the Beaufighter fare as a torpedo bomber?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Technopiper

How does the Beaufighter fare as a torpedo bomber?

As with strafing/bombing attacks, the Beaufighter is a very good TB ... IF you have the necessary fighter cover and the pilots have been trained over 60 skill in NavT.

EDIT: It doesn't have a great range carrying a torp, so it is best for coastal defence or where there is a cluster of islands being contested. I'm not sure, but it might be able to operate with a torp from a level 3 AF.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Technopiper
How does the Beaufighter fare as a torpedo bomber?

First one, Beaufighter TFX, arrives in Aug-43 in Stock 1 scenario. By that date there is hardly any need for Allied TB LBA because Allies are permanently on the offensive, so they need sweeps, longer range level bombing/escorts and CV air.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Technopiper
How does the Beaufighter fare as a torpedo bomber?

First one, Beaufighter TFX, arrives in Aug-43 in Stock 1 scenario. By that date there is hardly any need for Allied TB LBA because Allies are permanently on the offensive, so they need sweeps, longer range level bombing/escorts and CV air.

I think if an offensive was started in the DEI in 1943-44 the Japanese would be forced to bring in reinforcements and evacuate/redeploy troops from numerous places. A TB would be useful where the shipping had to be close to Allied bases.

[Mistmatz]

Thank you all for your advise and commentary. It's great to see this forum alive and kicking after so many years.

My opponent plays very smart and has secured a very defensible perimeter in Northern Australia and controls almost all of Burma. In both cases I have incredible problems bringing supply forward to do anything meaningful with my ground troops. Hence I was thinking about sweeping and bombing campaigns against his forward bases, but I just don't have enough long range fighters at them moment and I'm hesitant to take the OP losses on extended range (which in many cases is still not enough anyway...).

I will bide my time with the Beaufighters and maybe intesify my low level ground/naval attack training for future use.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
I think if an offensive was started in the DEI in 1943-44 the Japanese would be forced to bring in reinforcements and evacuate/redeploy troops from numerous places. A TB would be useful where the shipping had to be close to Allied bases.

Anything can be useful when nothing else is available - e.g. Beaus can be sweepers too if you don't have anything else. But Allies do have a lot in 43-44
Runway space is limited and you would certainly prefer fighters or dive bombers on your most forward bases in the DEI. Not to mention the hassle of activating torpedoes. Plus playing the not-so-rational JFB who would run his troopships w/o adequate cover close to your torp base instead of the usual APD/Floatplane transport.

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Ahh the Whispering Death - alongside the Avenger, probably the most beautiful of the Allied aircraft in WWII

Uh. That's one ugly aircraft.

The Spitfire is beautiful. The Mosquito is beautiful. The Mustang is beautiful. The Lightning is beautiful. The Beaufighter... Its one ugly duckling.[:'(]

Deadly, maybe. Beautiful, no

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Ahh the Whispering Death - alongside the Avenger, probably the most beautiful of the Allied aircraft in WWII

Uh. That's one ugly aircraft.

The Spitfire is beautiful. The Mosquito is beautiful. The Mustang is beautiful. The Lightning is beautiful. The Beaufighter... Its one ugly duckling.[:'(]

Deadly, maybe. Beautiful, no

warspite1

Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder as a wise man once said [:)]

The Spitfire is pretty, the mosquito and Mustang have elements of prettiness and beauty, but the Beaufighter is beautiful. She's got a tongue like an electric eel and she likes the taste of a man's tonsils. Oh yes, she's a lady with a past, she's been round the block a few times and knows where it's at. The Beaufighter is the aeroplane equivalent of HMS Warspite or USS Dakota

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

The Spitfire is pretty, the mosquito and Mustang have elements of prettiness and beauty, but the Beaufighter is beautiful. She's got a tongue like an electric eel and she likes the taste of a man's tonsils. Oh yes, she's a lady with a past, she's been round the block a few times and knows where it's at. The Beaufighter is the aeroplane equivalent of HMS Warspite or USS Dakota

Lord Flashheart makes his grand entrance. WOOF!

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Kull

ORIGINAL: warspite1

The Spitfire is pretty, the mosquito and Mustang have elements of prettiness and beauty, but the Beaufighter is beautiful. She's got a tongue like an electric eel and she likes the taste of a man's tonsils. Oh yes, she's a lady with a past, she's been round the block a few times and knows where it's at. The Beaufighter is the aeroplane equivalent of HMS Warspite or USS Dakota

Lord Flashheart makes his grand entrance. WOOF!

Lord Flashheart

Where have I been? Where haven't I been? WOOF!

[Buckrock]

It looks like a Bulldog that grew wings, which might partly explain Warspite1's affection for it.

[rustysi]

Bulldogs are ugly too. I like 'em, but they're still ugly.[:D]