Couple questions

[lordmaul13]

Hi,

I was playing around with the Pearl Harbor attack, trying to see what would give me the best results for Japan. I figured having everybody attack with torpedoes should give me more sunk ships so I set all Kates to port attack and all Vals to attack the airfields. But the Kates all used bombs in the attack. Why did they use bombs and not torpedoes?

I think my second question may have something to do with the answer to the first. What do you find to be the optimum altitude for the various types of planes to attack at, ie, what is the best altitude for dive bombers to attack a TF? or a base? What is the best altitude to send torpedo planes in at? Level bombers?

Thanks in advance.

lordmaul13

[freeboy]

Some Torp planes used a special heavy bomb.. and some should use torps.. that non trob bomb is a real ship killer.. I usually do not put all my dive bombers on airfield as the ships are much more criticle... how did you do?

Above 12k and around 5 k are my generic choices

[tsimmonds]

Re: altitude selection for dive bombers:

DB ordnance is always considered to be dropped at an altitude of 2000 feet regardless of the altitude selected. The altitude selection affects two things only:

• DBs take flak twice. Once at the approach altitude, and once at the drop altitude. Obviously, higher is better for the purposes of taking flak on the approach.
• DBs attack in groups of either 4 or 9. A group will all take flak together and will all drop on the same target together. The number of a/c in the attack group is determined by the approach altitude. Above 15000 feet they attack in groups of 9. Otherwise they attack in groups of 4.

So, a high altitude approach will tend to mitigate the effects of AAA, by flying above the ceiling of some of it, by making all of it shoot further, and by approaching in fewer, larger groups that will dilute the effects of AAA further. They will also concentrate more ordnance on fewer targets. Therefore, a high altitude approach should be used when attacking a target with lots of flak and a few, high-value targets (CVTFs). A low altitude approach should be used when attacking a target with relatively less flak and relatively more, low-value targets (transport TFs). An airfield, being a single target with relatively heavy AAA, should be approached by DB from high altitude, IMHO.

[lordmaul13]

Hi,

I usually do not put all my dive bombers on airfield as the ships are much more critical

I figured I’d stick around a couple days and continue to pound the ships at PH. And, if I’m going to stick around, I’d better do as much to the Allied air forces as I can so they have less of a chance of hitting back effectively.

... how did you do?

I didn’t look at the other side, I just looked at the combat report and saw it said they didn’t use one torpedo and I thought that was pretty odd so I’m not really sure how I did. I’ll run it again taking into consideration what I’ve learned here and we’ll see how it goes.

DBs take flak twice. Once at the approach altitude, and once at the drop altitude. Obviously, higher is better for the purposes of taking flak on the approach.

So, do Kates on an airfield attack take the flak twice?

Above 15000 feet they attack in groups of 9. Otherwise they attack in groups of 4.

I did not know that. That’s some pretty handy information. I suppose for PH, I’d go with the high altitude because I’d want them to focus on the big ships. Of course, those 250kg bombs don’t do nearly the damage to a BB that the Kate and the 800kg bombs do.


I’m still curious if anyone knows how the game decides if the torpedo bombers carry bombs or torpedoes?

lordmaul13

[hithere]

i have seen people that i think know what they are talking about say that if you put the kates at a lower alt, they will use more torps. i have absolutly no idea if that is right, though, because every game i have played as Japan has been PRY's so it starts DEC 8th

[tsimmonds]

So, do Kates on an airfield attack take the flak twice?

Yes, once at approach altitude and once at drop altitude.

Above 15000 feet they attack in groups of 9. Otherwise they attack in groups of 4.

I did not know that. That’s some pretty handy information. I suppose for PH, I’d go with the high altitude because I’d want them to focus on the big ships. Of course, those 250kg bombs don’t do nearly the damage to a BB that the Kate and the 800kg bombs do.

Send the Vals against the airbase. They'll do far more damage that way.

I’m still curious if anyone knows how the game decides if the torpedo bombers carry bombs or torpedoes?

It's a die roll. I don't believe there is any way the player can affect it.

[Tom Hunter]

As a matter of detail the Kates that carried the 800 KG bombs (which destroyed the Arizona) flew as high altitude level bombers on the Pearl Harbor raid. They did this so that the bombs could get enough velocity to peirce the deck armor.

I have no idea if the game models this or just sends them in as dive bombers with a really good bomb. If I had to guess I would guess the latter since its easier to code.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Tom Hunter

As a matter of detail the Kates that carried the 800 KG bombs (which destroyed the Arizona) flew as high altitude level bombers on the Pearl Harbor raid. They did this so that the bombs could get enough velocity to peirce the deck armor.

I have no idea if the game models this or just sends them in as dive bombers with a really good bomb. If I had to guess I would guess the latter since its easier to code.

IIRC - it just uses them as level bombers. It also uses torpedo bombers as level bombers once they exceed torpedo range, so this does not involve a lot of coding, i think.