Turn back problem

[Philshaw]

Currently having a lot of turnbacks, seems worse for B17Gs, weirdly rather than B24Js although they have a problem.

This is with squadrons that are on quite high morale (some on 99) and experience in the mid to low 70s,

A raid on say Schweinfurt in Feb 44, with little or no Luftwaffe interference, can have some squadrons lose 50% of their aircraft, even Paris with B24Js can have a ridiculous number of turnbacks.

This is not in heavy weather, in fact, it can occur in 17% with clouds at 9-10k feet. It can be with 96 close escort fighters plus heavy high-level escort.

Anyone else gettinh the problem?

Also, Simovitch, can you check your mail please.

[simovitch]

I assume you are playing with the latest official patch 1.06.101? Are the turnbacks showing up all of a sudden?

Whatever causes the turn back issues (which by all accounts was thought to be fixed) has nothing to do with anything you can possibly imagine. It has stymied all programmers of this game including myself for many years. We have fixed at least five probable causes of the bug but apparently it still persists?

I sent you a PM.

[Orm]

Are you two talking about the same turnback bug?

[Philshaw]

I assume you are playing with the latest official patch 1.06.101? Are the turnbacks showing up all of a sudden?

Whatever causes the turn back issues (which by all accounts was thought to be fixed) has nothing to do with anything you can possibly imagine. It has stymied all programmers of this game including myself for many years. We have fixed at least five probable causes of the bug but apparently it still persists?

I sent you a PM.

I am thinking I might start a fresh campaign. I am using the latest version, but wondering if I might have switched to the latest version partway through.

[simovitch]

It turns out that Philshaw is referencing the tendency for individual bombers that are flying at very high altitudes to head back to base due to icing damage. Bad weather greatly amplifies this damage.

This effect has always been in the code, but after reading some sources (Masters of the Air for one) about the deadly effects of hypoxia and the bitter cold I upped it a bit. Another factor was our Allied play tester was getting remarkable results by spam-bombing targets at super high altitudes. Ever been in an unpressurized aircraft at 25,000 feet? You might be OK if your oxygen and heated suits are functioning but both systems were crude and subject to failure and short circuiting. The pilot would need to drop out of formation to below 10,000 feet to keep the crew from passing out or dying.

This is NOT the dreaded turnback bug, and I have no plans to change the damage algorithm.