ORIGINAL: Alfred
For Kamikaze profile, look up my September 2018 and February 2019 comments in Mike Solli's and Obvert's AARs respectively.
Suffice to say, against any sort of Allied CAP, kamikaze float planes will probably generate a ROI commensurate with lottery buying IRL.
Alfred
That made for some good reading - thank you. I was reading that whole Nemo/MichaelM thread on the kamikaze too. Wow.
So I've ran into CAP several times with FP and you are right - they get shredded. Often tho, at least 1 or two make it through to get their attack in. I try to coordinate with Escort missions, and other attacks. My FP - I almost always run at 100ft.
So this is from the 19th:
I need to go back and look but I would swear I have the levels @ 100ft...
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 7 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Myngs
DD Zodiac
DD Zealous
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x E7K2 Alf flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
E8N2 Dave x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
E8N2 Dave: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Zest
DD Zenith
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x E8N2 Dave flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 30 kg GP Bomb
And Dive bombers @ 11k
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Zephyr
DD Zenith
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
But the fighters - as you point out in your reading assignment, they do much better.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Zenith
DD Zebra
DD Zambesi, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Zealous
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Hirosaki/Aomori at 116,54
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 35
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 19 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Zebra
DD Zephyr, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
DD Zealous
DD Zest, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Zodiac, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Myngs
DD Zenith, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
DD Zambesi, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
34 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Thinking back, my FP have done better VS merchant shipping - lol.
Still, the point I was trying to make is that I want FP, fighters, and 2E in my toolbox when I'm dealing with the endgame. Also, anything I can do to increase the detection level improves my opportunity to at least swing my bat.
In this game, Roger is not capping every TF he has within range of Japan. I suspect that, with his advantage of shipping and airpower, he is more than willing to accept a few losses. [:)]
I think the only thing I've got that seems to do well VS DD are fighter Kamikazi.