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these are CAP pilots, they fly two missions a day and if they don't die they accumulate quite a number of missions over the years [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 24, 44
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Sub attack near Ebadon at 129,113

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sennet


lol, that's the crippled DD that only moves a hex each day and the sub missed it...


SS Sennet launches 2 torpedoes


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Sub attack near Torishima at 110,66

Japanese Ships
E Inagi, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Ume

Allied Ships
SS Whale


shouldn't have laughed about it as the next sub attack kills an undamaged escort...

SS Whale launches 2 torpedoes at E Inagi
Whale diving deep ....
DD Ume fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ume attacking submerged sub ....
DD Ume fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ume fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ume fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub



progress on our aircraft industry as our Ha-43 engine pool has reached 500+ which means Shinden R&D is doubled from now on... we could have been increasing the pools faster but over 300 engines were going into monthly Sam production which was more important than further speeding up Shinden R&D... we're aiming at getting the Shinden in 1/45 but won't have much if any use for it at that date as the Shinden is a pure point defense fighter usually mostly for use in Japan against the Allied strategic bombing campaign... at the same time we will also see the Ki-94II going online which will replace the Frank in our IJAAF fighter squadrons and that one will be another big leap forward until Karyus arrive... in very late 45... [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 25, 44
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 75

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 8 damaged

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 38


the enemy flies a B-29 attack out of Northern Australia without much effect and I'm not sure it is more than just showing presence of the heavy bombers in the region...


Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 5

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 28, 44
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Submarine attack near Eniwetok at 125,109

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
SS Roncador


Kasumi is the crippled destroyer that was trying to limp towards Truk which was attacked an missed by another sub a couple of days ago... funnily enough the destroyer was not listed as heavily damaged as previously even though the ship is closer to being sunk than being afloat... but the highlight was SS Roncador also missing the dead destroyer...


DD Kasumi is sighted by SS Roncador
SS Roncador launches 2 torpedoes


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Submarine attack near Eniwetok at 125,109

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Roncador


of course there had to be a third attack on Kasumi finally finishing her... lost because of a collision with another destroyer...


DD Kasumi is sighted by SS Roncador
SS Roncador launches 2 torpedoes

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 02, 44
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 44

Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 5
F4U-1A Corsair x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed


Mitchells showing up with a Marine escort to attack some shipping at Kusai... the strike was coming from Roi-Namur... the Corsairs had no chance due to a never ending dive but guess what, the B-25 was the known killer again due to the heavy frontal armament... two Franks were shot down outright attacking from the front... against attack bombers one has to be lucky to get a 2:1 with advanced fighters as just too many attack from the front and either being directly shot down or damaged (guess the ratio is somewhere around 50/50)...


CAP engaged:
104th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (0 airborne, 30 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 33910.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
30 planes vectored on to bombers

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 06, 44
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 44

Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 2 destroyed


the Mitchells show up again and this time without escorts... one could think that would be a disadvantage for them but no, as they don't lose escorts that way and the super attack bombers down four Franks with their frontal armament... one of those things that just don't work in the game... 4 Franks and 4 Mitchells shot down...


CAP engaged:
104th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (14 airborne, 30 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 33910.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes

ORIGINAL: castor troy

the Mitchells show up again and this time without escorts... one could think that would be a disadvantage for them but no, as they don't lose escorts that way and the super attack bombers down four Franks with their frontal armament... one of those things that just don't work in the game... 4 Franks and 4 Mitchells shot down...

This one, I am totally in agreement with you. In modding, I have to be SO careful of AC armaments. And thankfully, these B25H's aren't mass produced like hotcakes, or the game would be really unbalanced. As you note, with high Air skill pilots, these aircraft are a one stop shopping spree: they can do every aircraft role really well.

Tell the IJA pilots not to attack these aircraft head on. [8|][;)]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: castor troy

the Mitchells show up again and this time without escorts... one could think that would be a disadvantage for them but no, as they don't lose escorts that way and the super attack bombers down four Franks with their frontal armament... one of those things that just don't work in the game... 4 Franks and 4 Mitchells shot down...

This one, I am totally in agreement with you. In modding, I have to be SO careful of AC armaments. And thankfully, these B25H's aren't mass produced like hotcakes, or the game would be really unbalanced. As you note, with high Air skill pilots, these aircraft are a one stop shopping spree: they can do every aircraft role really well.

with the "all around" defensive armament of 4E bombers I tend to lose a Frank or George for two enemy bombers shot down (probably worse against pure B-17 strikes) but the attack bombers get a clean 1:1 over time and the kills only depend on the number of frontal attacks of the figthers, the more frontal attacks, the more dead fighters as pretty much every frontal attack results in a damaged or destroyed fighter

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Tell the IJA pilots not to attack these aircraft head on. [8|][;)]

I would, if I could... [:D]

I would also tell my torpedo bombers not to waste 50% of their torpedos in attacks from impossible angles. In that case I am at least using dive bombers whenever possible but I can't tell my fighters how to attack bombers and unlike in real life, they don't learn how to do it.

I will say Head-on and Stern Torpedo attacks were part of the IJN Torpedo Bombing tactics and was used by the Japanese historically in order to force a enemy warship to expose its broadside from the other Torpedo bombers attacking from the aft and port side, realistically these "impossible" angles torpedoes would've wreck havoc on large fleets and Convoys but due to the limitations of this game its not modelled.

So there you have it, the answer for why your bombers keep attacking from those angles, however it seems that too many planes go for the head-on and Stern attacks, another reason we could explain for why they do that is AA fire being less intense or something, but its clearly obvious that their are still too much planes going to the head/Stern on attack thanks to coding.

I've seen a 2 TP bombers in a single strike going for stern only shots on a undefended Convoy for no absolute reason so its likely that the useless shots are coded to happen randomly in a Air attack and is split equally between an entire Air group.

ORIGINAL: 29000Kevin

I will say Head-on and Stern Torpedo attacks were part of the IJN Torpedo Bombing tactics and was used by the Japanese historically in order to force a enemy warship to expose its broadside from the other Torpedo bombers attacking from the aft and port side, realistically these "impossible" angles torpedoes would've wreck havoc on large fleets and Convoys but due to the limitations of this game its not modelled.

So there you have it, the answer for why your bombers keep attacking from those angles, however it seems that too many planes go for the head-on and Stern attacks, another reason we could explain for why they do that is AA fire being less intense or something, but its clearly obvious that their are still too much planes going to the head/Stern on attack thanks to coding.

I've seen a 2 TP bombers in a single strike going for stern only shots on a undefended Convoy for no absolute reason so its likely that the useless shots are coded to happen randomly in a Air attack and is split equally between an entire Air group.

You haven't taken into account the defensive maneuvers of the plane being attacked. What started out as an attack from an angle can turn into a head-on attack if the enemy turns that way. I think the game models that sort of thing with random die rolls for the attacker's direction of attack. It might even take into account the defensive skill of the enemy pilot. C'est la guerre - we just accept that IRL fighters made a lot of passes that were not ideal.

Anvil and Hammer attacks by torpedo planes:

Torpedo Attacks

Flying at a low altitude, a torpedo plane would approach a target. The preferred attack position was to be facing either the bow or stern of the ship, since any way the ship turned would leave it vulnerable to a hit. Ideal attack position was with one or more planes on either bow of target. A large vessel like a carrier cannot turn in a small circle, so whether she turn to port or starboard at least one hit might be expected. The ideal attack position was with one or more planes on either bow of target. A large vessel like a carrier cannot turn in a small circle, so whether she turn to port or starboard at least one hit might be expected. Having torpedo planes approach a ship from both sides of the bow was known as the Anvil Attack (smashing the target on the Anvil), but the coordination of timing required was difficult to achieve.

When the torpedo plane was within 1,000 yards or less of the target, the torpedo was released. A 45-knot torpedo launched 1000 yards away takes 40 seconds to reach target. In 40 seconds a ship traveling at 30 knots moves 2,000 feet.

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/navalwar/torpedo.htm

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Tell the IJA pilots not to attack these aircraft head on. [8|][;)]

In the WW2 context, head on attacks made the most sense.

The narrow firing window tends to favour the attacking fighter more than the gunners on the bombers, as the relative speed is that much higher (and the bomber will always be a bigger, slower target than the fighter). It also allows targeting of the pilot and engines directly, which are pretty key to a bombers success.

Probably not a good idea if the bomber has 20 .50cal strapped to the front, but then it's either risk that or try to be cute with a stern chase or sweeping attacks where more of the defensive armament can fire at you...

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Anvil and Hammer attacks by torpedo planes:

Torpedo Attacks

Flying at a low altitude, a torpedo plane would approach a target. The preferred attack position was to be facing either the bow or stern of the ship, since any way the ship turned would leave it vulnerable to a hit. Ideal attack position was with one or more planes on either bow of target. A large vessel like a carrier cannot turn in a small circle, so whether she turn to port or starboard at least one hit might be expected. The ideal attack position was with one or more planes on either bow of target. A large vessel like a carrier cannot turn in a small circle, so whether she turn to port or starboard at least one hit might be expected. Having torpedo planes approach a ship from both sides of the bow was known as the Anvil Attack (smashing the target on the Anvil), but the coordination of timing required was difficult to achieve.

When the torpedo plane was within 1,000 yards or less of the target, the torpedo was released. A 45-knot torpedo launched 1000 yards away takes 40 seconds to reach target. In 40 seconds a ship traveling at 30 knots moves 2,000 feet.

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/navalwar/torpedo.htm

I'm aware of this but in the game it doesn't matter which target is attacked, a 10kn freighter or a 28kn carrier. In the end you get roughly 40% of the torps being auto misses due to the attack angle. Makes sense for an attack on bigger warships but not so much against slow moving freighters. On the other hand the game achieves at least twice as many hits of all kind (with at best halve the damage and even less in Babes) so it probably doesn't care.

But then, just use dive instead of torpedo bombers.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 08, 44
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 41

Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 3
P-51B Mustang x 8
F4U-1A Corsair x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 1 destroyed
P-51B Mustang: 3 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 2 destroyed


another day, another strike on my amphibious shipping at Kusai that is unloading supplies at snails pace... the Franks having the dive, the enemy high quality fighters are torn to pieces and this time no bomber is attacked head on... result? Massacre...


CAP engaged:
104th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (0 airborne, 28 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers

ORIGINAL: castor troy

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 08, 44
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 41

Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 3
P-51B Mustang x 8
F4U-1A Corsair x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 1 destroyed
P-51B Mustang: 3 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 2 destroyed


another day, another strike on my amphibious shipping at Kusai that is unloading supplies at snails pace... the Franks having the dive, the enemy high quality fighters are torn to pieces and this time no bomber is attacked head on... result? Massacre...


CAP engaged:
104th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (0 airborne, 28 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers

They finally listed to someone about not attacking those bombers head on. [&o]

Just wait a couple of turns... [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 27, 44
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Sub attack near Rabaul at 106,127

Japanese Ships
PB Odatsuki Maru

Allied Ships
SS Albacore

SS Albacore launches 4 torpedoes
PB Odatsuki Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Odatsuki Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Odatsuki Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Odatsuki Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Odatsuki Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Kusaie Island at 124,117

Japanese Ships
xAK Yulin Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Trepang

SS Trepang attacking on the surface


I've saved quite a lot of ships from being sunk by getting them patched up at small islands but am totally unlucky getting them back to a bigger port months later as 90% end up being sunk right after leaving port due to the parked subs there which seem to be doing bullet prove blockades...



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Buna at 99,129



Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 75

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed


air combat has shifted towards New Guinea where we are pushing a small convoy into Buna... thought two Frank units would be easily enough to scare the enemy but guess what, we lose several Franks to the frontal armament of the Mitchells again today...


CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (9 airborne, 28 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
34 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (10 airborne, 28 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
26 planes vectored on to bombers



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 99,129

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 68

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
PB Katsuragisan Maru
PB Chokai Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

not only do we lose halve a dozen fighters they are also unable to keep the bombers from sinking one of the escorts...



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (9 airborne, 26 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
21 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (9 airborne, 24 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 33910.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
18 planes vectored on to bombers

while the Franks report to have downed no less than 9 enemy P-47 they also lose 4 of their own vs the medium bombers and another one against the escorts...