Need clarification on escort altitudes

[infinitejest]

I need clarification on altitudes for escorts. I'd always assumed that if you set the altitude for 10K feet, then the escorts escort at 10K feet. If you're bombers are at 15K feet, that's too bad, you'll be flying 5K feet below them.

But according to the manual, "Flyers flying escort will automatically fly a few thousand feet above the bombers they are escorting." So it appears that the altitude for Escort missions is changed by the computer.

So, anyone know how escort altitude really works?

And what about multiple bomber groups? If there are multiple bomber groups in an attack (say SBDs at 10K feet and TBD at 5K), I'm guessing the computer picks an group to escort based on the player-set escort mission altitude. So if my escort altitude is 10K feet, they'll escort the SBDs. If it's 6K feet they'll escort the TBDs. And in any case, they'll fly a few thousand feet above the bomber group that's chosen.

Any insight would be much appreciated.

[Mr.Frag]

What you are asking for is a Sweep mission + an Escort mission both going to the same location. Try it, you'll like it. The Sweepers go up high to suck up the CAP then the Escort deals with the rest.

[infinitejest]

Try it, you'll like it.

I'll give it a shot, might be just what I need.

But I'm also asking if it's unnecessary to set your escorts 2-3K feet above the bombers for maximum effectiveness--the manual seems to say that it's taken care of automatically.

[bradfordkay]

When you set your fighter altitudes, this controls what altitude the CAP and any fighter sweeps or attacks those fighters make. Any fighters from that squadron/group that are escorting a bomber run will automatically fly a few thousand feet above the bombers they are escorting (so what happens when there are different squadrons of bombers in the attack at different altitudes?).

If your CAP is set at too low an altitude and an incoming attack is at a substantially higher altitude, you will likely intercept fewer bombers as your fighters have to spend time climbing to intercept. This is a nother trade off in setting bomber altitude: if you set it high enough, fewer fighters will intercept but your bombing accuracy will suffer. Set it closer to 5000 feet altitude and your bomber accuracy will improve, but you will suffer greater losses not only to AAA but also to enemy interceptors.

[infinitejest]

I see, looks like I mistook the altitude for the altitude at which the fighters escort. It's really the CAP altitude when I've selected an Escort mission for the fighters.

Thanks to you both for the help.