How to attack a seaplane base?

[SpiteWater]

Recon 10/10 on shortlands shows airfield size 0 but dozens of auxiliary so I think it should be a seaplane base.
I did a test using SBD-3s on CV and set group mission as 'airfield attack'/'port attack'/'ground attack'. But none of these worked. Mission 'airfield attack' not executed and 'port attack'/'ground attack' never attack a single seaplane.
Later I send a surface TF with 2 CAs and 6 DDs to bombardment, and they didn't bomb any seaplane either.

So how should I destroy a seaplane base in witp-ae?

[btd64]

Port attack should be the way to go. An invasion is also a good choice....GP

[RangerJoe]

Port attack should be the way to go. An invasion is also a good choice....GP

Actually the invasion is the only way to do it. Aircraft are only destroyed (as far as I know) when there is an airbase there, port strikes do not affect the float planes nor flying boats.

[btd64]

Port attack should be the way to go. An invasion is also a good choice....GP

Actually the invasion is the only way to do it. Aircraft are only destroyed (as far as I know) when there is an airbase there, port strikes do not affect the float planes nor flying boats.

Actually, port attack should hit the support ships....GP

[RangerJoe]

Port attack should be the way to go. An invasion is also a good choice....GP

Actually the invasion is the only way to do it. Aircraft are only destroyed (as far as I know) when there is an airbase there, port strikes do not affect the float planes nor flying boats.

Actually, port attack should hit the support ships....GP

Only if there are support ships and not AV squads. Also, there is a limited chance of hitting any ship on a port strike until there are 10+ ships at the port.

[CaptBeefheart]

There's a long discussion on this somewhere. The short answer is: "you can't."

Cheers,
CB

[BBfanboy]

I wonder if putting LRCAP over the seaplane base would get them taking off and landing ...?

[RangerJoe]

I wonder if putting LRCAP over the seaplane base would get them taking off and landing ...?

It should . . .

[JanSako]

How about a 100' strafing attack by fighters set to 'port strike'? It would be logical that it works, I just never tried it since none of my opponents set one up before, or at least not one without a bunch of flak.

Other than that an SF style invasion from subs might work if it is an otherwise empty Atoll, or an airdrop if in range. Even using your own float planes!

[RangerJoe]

How about a 100' strafing attack by fighters set to 'port strike'? It would be logical that it works, I just never tried it since none of my opponents set one up before, or at least not one without a bunch of flak.

Other than that an SF style invasion from subs might work if it is an otherwise empty Atoll, or an airdrop if in range. Even using your own float planes!

You can try the strafing attack on a port but if there are defenses you will lose a lot of you attackers. I have never seen any aircraft lost on a port strike so I doubt if it will work. You are welcome to try it and report back to the WITP:AE community on your results.

[BBfanboy]

I am positive a port strike will not work - the game engine associates aircraft with airfields even if the aircraft are parked in the lagoon.
And the inability to attack a port or AF that has not been built is a known bug. Anyone using that as a shield for their seaplanes is taking advantage of a loophole - not honest play IMO.

[JanSako]

I am positive a port strike will not work - the game engine associates aircraft with airfields even if the aircraft are parked in the lagoon.
And the inability to attack a port or AF that has not been built is a known bug. Anyone using that as a shield for their seaplanes is taking advantage of a loophole - not honest play IMO.

I am not following...
If seaplanes cannot be attacked because they are not on the airbase, and they do not get attacked in port (of any size), why is parking them in a dot base not honest play? I don't see a difference between port 9 or 0 if they do not get attacked in either.
I probably missed something there, to begin with Cats are routinely destroyed in T1 Pearl strikes and float planes are regularly damaged by naval bombardments. Is it that the planes are ONLY not attacked in dot bases but they are attacked by Airfield strikes if there is a size 1 or bigger airfield?

A ship parked in a dot base can most certainly be attacked from the air, I just lost an ACM a couple of turns ago that way.

[RangerJoe]

I am positive a port strike will not work - the game engine associates aircraft with airfields even if the aircraft are parked in the lagoon.
And the inability to attack a port or AF that has not been built is a known bug. Anyone using that as a shield for their seaplanes is taking advantage of a loophole - not honest play IMO.

I am not following...
If seaplanes cannot be attacked because they are not on the airbase, and they do not get attacked in port (of any size), why is parking them in a dot base not honest play? I don't see a difference between port 9 or 0 if they do not get attacked in either.
I probably missed something there, to begin with Cats are routinely destroyed in T1 Pearl strikes and float planes are regularly damaged by naval bombardments. Is it that the planes are ONLY not attacked in dot bases but they are attacked by Airfield strikes if there is a size 1 or bigger airfield?

A ship parked in a dot base can most certainly be attacked from the air, I just lost an ACM a couple of turns ago that way.

But Pearl Harbor also has an associated airbase with it plus the other airbases. I am sure that is the same for the other bases where your float planes and flying boats have been damaged/destroyed.

The port means piers and other items used by the ships, otherwise ships that are not in a task force that are not "docked" are at anchor.

[BBfanboy]

Attacks on airfields does not always result in damage or destruction to aircraft parked there. Terrain makes a difference (hiding the parked aircraft in the jungle) and weather might also shield them. Seaplanes are always a bit harder to hit because they can be anywhere in the water parts of the hex. But you do need an airfield strike to hit them. In my estimation about one in ten AF strikes where there are seaplanes reported will damage or destroy some of them, so your observation about not hitting them at all is just too small a sample.

[SpiteWater]

Attacks on airfields does not always result in damage or destruction to aircraft parked there. Terrain makes a difference (hiding the parked aircraft in the jungle) and weather might also shield them. Seaplanes are always a bit harder to hit because they can be anywhere in the water parts of the hex. But you do need an airfield strike to hit them. In my estimation about one in ten AF strikes where there are seaplanes reported will damage or destroy some of them, so your observation about not hitting them at all is just too small a sample.

I tested several times. As for airfield attack, the attack mission never really got executed and I think this is because the airfield size is 0.

[RangerJoe]

Attacks on airfields does not always result in damage or destruction to aircraft parked there. Terrain makes a difference (hiding the parked aircraft in the jungle) and weather might also shield them. Seaplanes are always a bit harder to hit because they can be anywhere in the water parts of the hex. But you do need an airfield strike to hit them. In my estimation about one in ten AF strikes where there are seaplanes reported will damage or destroy some of them, so your observation about not hitting them at all is just too small a sample.

I tested several times. As for airfield attack, the attack mission never really got executed and I think this is because the airfield size is 0.

That is probably because there is no airfield to attack.

[Chris21wen]

Carried out some test and the answer I've found is you can't. Airfield attaceks don't work, no runway etc. Port attaches rerely affect aircraft, although there is a random chance they might, sweeps, CAP, straffing never resulted in any hits.

The only way I've found is to attack the air units support, BF, supply or support ship. The later is likely to be the main target. Sink it and let the air wither on the vine.