Countering Japanese LBA in 42.

[corona]

I'm sure that everyone goes through the same thing as the allies in the early game, but Jap LBA seems to ALWAYS ruin my plans.

There are very few targets (Soerbaja being the only one I can think of off the top of my head) where Jap Bombers fly unescorted (a good opprotunity to shoot down a few planes and boost those exp. levels).

Obviously the allies are at an experience and tech disadvantage (especially factoring in the zero bonus till april 42). When should you start commiting planes to go head to head?

Do you keep your fighter squadrons grounded and training? The AVG in China seems to have decent experience levels, as do the USN pilots on the CV's.

Do you use your level bombers to attack airfields?

Any strategies or helpful tips would be great.

[Captain Cruft]

Well I would generally stand and fight. Yes you're going to get beaten 90% of the time, but consider every Zero or Nell shot down as a useful victory (attriting the very limited Japanese pilot pool). Also, even a CAP that gets its butt kicked will still be adding a little disruption to the bombers.

Plus, later on when the shoe is on the other foot, you will be doing 10 times worse in return ...

[UncleBuck]

Well, I try to keep my Carriers close to home and use them on Hit and run raids to build experience. Teh Land Based fighter groups I put up on Cap. Some sort of Cap is better than no CAP. That and even the Ugly Squirrell gets a nut now and again.

UB

[Hartley]

Actually, P-40s seem to do better against Zeroes than in UV.

And Oscars/Sallys/Anns get slaughtered by Hurricanes.

[BaitBoy]

My favorate is to use B-17s to bomb their airfields. A B-17 flying at 33000 feet flies too high to be attacked by the early Japanese fighters. I evacuated the PI B17s to India and have destroyed over 200 Japanese planes on the ground in Rangoon alone!

[tsimmonds]

Sorry to say there is a bug that makes bombers flying over 30,000 feet unreasonably effective. I believe it will be fixed in the next patch.

[esteban]

Yes, bombing from above 32000 feet is bugged, causing incredible accuracy. So that will be changed in upcoming patches

[corona]

Best tactic I have found so far is to group squadrons at single important bases to gain a numerical advantage (replacements set to on). Dangling some unloaded AK's or other ships in port will attract Japanese bombers - your consolidated air forces will gain experience and can then be dispersed.

[KPAX]

It is mid Dec 41 in my PBEM.

Had most of my bombers on 100 ft Naval attack. They typically get creamed, but do get some nice pops in on AKs / APs. They did get several in on a BB (not much daamge though causing 5 SYS damage takes time to fix), nice damage to a CA, and put a DD on fire. Experience needs to be 60+ for skip bombing.

Since I can not / will not get all my LBAs out of DEI (becuase of PP cost) I intent to use them to my fullest extent. I have moved out the recons some patrols and Buffalos (that convert to Huricanes II) out, the rest can stay and fight.

Since my foe went for Palambang, which they took easily since there are no troops stationed there, without going for Singapore, I intend to bomb Palambang airfiled until it is not usable. I think from there, with a dozen DDs I left in DEI to do some damage. I should be able to force him to make a big committement of LBA and hopefully his CV TF enough so that I can juggle some things around for a bit.

IMHO, use those figthers / bombers in DEI to their fullest extend.

[DrewMatrix]

I have managed to neutralize them a little with night bombing attacks on airfiellds. You need to find a place where you can do a decent night attack though. Burma with that LB-24 group vs Rangoon. B-17s from Port Moresby to Rabaul once PM is size 5 Airfield.

A couple of whacks at night with 40 4 engine level bombers, then mass your fighters and have the Japanese come into your air cover but in smaller, less organized groups.