ASW aircraft patrols

[Feinder]

If it's at all consistant with UV (and it seems to be), the exp of the ASW sqdn has to be over 70 for it to really have a chance of actually prosecuting a contact. You'll see more consistant results if it's over 80 (which is precicely why the early-war Vals are great sub-chasers). If it's under 70, you'll observe the contact, but not much else. But esp if you're in the early game, it's not likely many of your sqdns have enough exp to prosecute.

I've got an infectious case of the "prowling subs" off the coast of Oz right now. It's too soon to tell, but for grins, I matched a sqdn of PBYs with each of my Hudson sqdns (they even have the same range, convenient!). The PBYs act as spotters (100% @ 1000'), and the Hudsons fly ASW (100% @ 1000').

Again, too soon to say if having the "spotter units" is actually useful. But I figured what the he11.

-F-

[Tristanjohn]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

If it's at all consistant with UV (and it seems to be), the exp of the ASW sqdn has to be over 70 for it to really have a chance of actually prosecuting a contact. You'll see more consistant results if it's over 80 (which is precicely why the early-war Vals are great sub-chasers). If it's under 70, you'll observe the contact, but not much else. But esp if you're in the early game, it's not likely many of your sqdns have enough exp to prosecute.

I've got an infectious case of the "prowling subs" off the coast of Oz right now. It's too soon to tell, but for grins, I matched a sqdn of PBYs with each of my Hudson sqdns (they even have the same range, convenient!). The PBYs act as spotters (100% @ 1000'), and the Hudsons fly ASW (100% @ 1000').

Again, too soon to say if having the "spotter units" is actually useful. But I figured what the he11.

-F-

I doubt you're correct re experience levels. I don't think I've ever had a PBY unit with 80+ experience yet they've hit and sunk many a Japanese boat. I've enjoyed much less success with Hudsons, and there experience probably is playing a role as these puppies usually sit somewhere in the 60s range. SBDs/Avengers are good sub hunters/killers, though I only use them when they can be spared (which is the case in my present UV game as I regroup after capturing Shortlands/Buin. "Problem" is now that I've sunk/damaged so many Jap boats it's been awhile since one of them dared show his face around my shipping lanes! [:D]

I keep my ASW air assets set to 50% @ 1000 feet in UV, 100% @ 1000 feet in WitP. Whether altitude plays a part in this routine I don't know, but 1000-3000 feet is just about where these subhunters would have historically patrolled. My guess is altitude doesn't mean squat (same as with other areas of the air model, which of course is broken [:)]).

[Chris21wen]

You don't need to reply to this as I posted it else where but I lost 18 allied subs it two months.

[vils]

ORIGINAL: Chris H

You don't need to reply to this as I posted it else where but I lost 18 allied subs it two months.

In that case i must be better than i thought, i have lost one single sub since the breakout of the war (am now in late feb 1942).

[Mr.Frag]

Whether altitude plays a part in this routine I don't know

Altitude plays a huge roll in whether a spotted xyz eats a bomb. The lower you go, the better the odds.

There is a reverse factor at play to counter this ... the lower you go, the more planes you will loose.

[matchwood]

How about level bombers - do they have reduced accuracy below 5000 feet? Would they be fantastic at 100 but extra fatigue?

[TEP]

ORIGINAL: moses

I've tested this extensively and ASW aircraft work fine. They do search to 1/2 the range you set.

So if I want ASW coverage 3 hexes out I have to set the search range to 6? [&:]

A tad confusing, no?

[Mr.Frag]

How about level bombers - do they have reduced accuracy below 5000 feet? Would they be fantastic at 100 but extra fatigue?

6000 feet for heavys, 1000 feet for tacticals ... morale of the story ... don't use heavy's on ASW.

[Twotribes]

The CVE the US gets in April 42 is nearly useless, it has no Air craft assigned to it and a to low a capacity to assign any fighters to it ( unless you rescued the 12 aircraft unit from Wake Island)

I have decided I am gonna put a group of Dive Bombers on it, assign them to ASW and see if anything besides getting my CVE sunk happens. )

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

How about level bombers - do they have reduced accuracy below 5000 feet? Would they be fantastic at 100 but extra fatigue?

6000 feet for heavys, 1000 feet for tacticals ... morale of the story ... don't use heavy's on ASW.

One problem with this, Frag. The B-24 proved one of the very best Long-ranged ASW
aircraft of the war..., and you could hardly call it light or tactical. Some adjustment
might be called for.

[Captain Cruft]

The heavies are fine on ASW even at 6,000+ ft. Especially PB4Y Liberators with their nice bomb loads ...

[Mr.Frag]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

How about level bombers - do they have reduced accuracy below 5000 feet? Would they be fantastic at 100 but extra fatigue?

6000 feet for heavys, 1000 feet for tacticals ... morale of the story ... don't use heavy's on ASW.

One problem with this, Frag. The B-24 proved one of the very best Long-ranged ASW
aircraft of the war..., and you could hardly call it light or tactical. Some adjustment
might be called for.

Not saying you can't use them, I just generally find better things to do with Allied heavy bombers then play with subs. You have so many other aircraft that don't have the range or the bombload to be terribly useful that it seems a shame to waste a heavy that can generally take on cap without an escort [;)]

[BartM]

but isn't asw 1/2 range ? so lets say the allied float plane (range 3), can search out to range 1 ? for asw, SBD's range 5 can search to range 2-3 (better), but b-17/pby/with ranges of greater then 10+ can search out 5-7 hexes, a much better chance to find and hopefully hit a sub ?

with some of the a/c I wouldn't think searching 1-2 hexes would be viable unless the AI or player plants their subs at the base hex or surrounding (like the begining of scenerio 15 around pearl), once those IJN subs leave, you loose sight of them, and trying to reaquire is very hard (this I do find realistic and really well modeled here)... I still believe asw contact is a bit high...

I did have one question though reguarding IJN subs which have float-planes.... if I am understanding the DL routine right, once an IJN sub's float plane is detected or makes a random attack either on a base, another sub or TF, doesn't that raise the IJN's sub DL level ? (perhaps removing the floatplanes of the IJNs subs, but, adding a routine for search where it doesn't effect the DL ?)

I have had really god success with the B-25s on asw, the B-17 simply take too much damage flying that mission, but when they do "attack" a sub (rare) they usually sink it. I have four IJN's subs sunk by 500lb bombs but will use B-17s early on for asw as IJN is ALL over the place with subs