Search Arcs

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Unless it has been changed in the latest patch, search planes out on a random setting do not daily adjust their search area to eventually cover (over a period of time) all 360 degrees. A random setting starts off at 0 degrees and subject to having sufficient aircraft assigned proceeds in clock direction. If only sufficient planes have been assigned to cover 90 degrees, then that was the only coverage area (0-90 degrees) one ever had searched.

Alfred

Alfred, I don't know if this is correct or not. Don't know enough to say for sure but I have never set my carrier search planes to anything but random. Generally, in a large TF I have my TBFs set to 20% search and my DBs set to 10%. I can't recall ever not detecting an enemy TF in range no matter what the direction. If what you say is correct then as I understand it all of my planes would only be searching into the northeast quadrant and leaving all other sectors unsearched. But this has not been my experience.

I'm hoping Michael might join this and clarify. I know what Alfred wrote was correct, but I thought that it had been changed when the whole search was "fixed". I have Michael's point about the 4 hex circle, regardles of plane range saved. So, maybe I just unconciously extrapolated that to the random arcs ... [&:]

[Jim Stevens]

ORIGINAL: SuluSea

Hi Alan, blue and green are morning and afternoon search phases. You can also see all black with is the designated search area covered in both phases. It all depends on how many planes you have patrolling.

The light blue is ASW and that is why the sector is cut in half.

ASW search is half the distance of naval search.

So if I set an air group to do ASW patrol at a range of 10, they will only patrol a range of 5?

[LoBaron]

Yes.

[Cap Mandrake]

Alan;

The search assignment percentages are intuitive, simple and they are in the game because they were historically important.


Suppose you are an SBD squadron commander on a USN carrier and the boss tells you he wants a 90 degree search arc from your squadron. 10 degree per search arc x 9 = 90.

You need to send half the squadron. They take off at or just before dawn with a reduced bomb load and they fly away from the ship for several hrs on different headings. They are physically dedicated to their task for many hours. Meanwhile, the rest of the squadron is waiting on deck (or hangar) ready for a naval attack mission. The planes out on search missions are essentially used up for the day. They can't all return to the ship, rearm, refuel, get briefed and find a target in a cohesive fashion.

ASW search missions are very similar but the search altitude needs to be much shallower to see periscopes compared to entire warships and the search is probably done in a box pattern instead of a radial pattern. Plus, the search does not need to extend as far because a wwii sub was no thereat from 200 miles away.

So, yes, the search missions take priority and deplete the aircraft available for strike missions. It is really common sense when you look it from the individual aircraft level.

Most players use 10-20% naval search assignments for carrier ops.

[BlitzimX]

I didn't see this topic and i'm happy to have found it since it answers a questions i asked in my AAR.

Though an other question bothers me, about the mission altitude.

From what i read here, it means that, for example in the case of a TB set to Naval Search, it's better to have it on Primary Mission Naval Search Altitude 6000, then switch to Naval attack 1000, instead of for example Naval attack with a 20% Naval Search at 1000?

To have things more clear, when you set a % on Search, what compromise do you take for the altitude? In my example above, 1000 would be quite low for Naval Search, but setting 6000 would be too hight for a Torpedoe attack. So in this case, i would say that the first option is the good one (switch missions when needed).

What do you think?

[Panjack]

When I reset the arcs for a search plane group, it says "current arcs random" and the "show arcs" button disappears. And when I exit out and hit Z, nothing appears as a search arc for the group. Am I missing something?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Panjack

When I reset the arcs for a search plane group, it says "current arcs random" and the "show arcs" button disappears. And when I exit out and hit Z, nothing appears as a search arc for the group. Am I missing something?

I think the point is it is "picked" by the "AI" during turn execution.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BlitzX

I didn't see this topic and i'm happy to have found it since it answers a questions i asked in my AAR.

Though an other question bothers me, about the mission altitude.

From what i read here, it means that, for example in the case of a TB set to Naval Search, it's better to have it on Primary Mission Naval Search Altitude 6000, then switch to Naval attack 1000, instead of for example Naval attack with a 20% Naval Search at 1000?

To have things more clear, when you set a % on Search, what compromise do you take for the altitude? In my example above, 1000 would be quite low for Naval Search, but setting 6000 would be too hight for a Torpedoe attack. So in this case, i would say that the first option is the good one (switch missions when needed).

What do you think?

A naval attack mission armed with torpedoes drops to the final attack altitude automatically. Not sure if the assigned mission altitude is considered for the purposes of strike coordination or escort fighter cover (I think the latter is true).

Mission altitude for dedicated torpedo bombers armed with bombs DOES matter because it determines glide bombing vs level bombing.

[BlitzimX]

A naval attack mission armed with torpedoes drops to the final attack altitude automatically. Not sure if the assigned mission altitude is considered for the purposes of strike coordination or escort fighter cover (I think the latter is true).

Mission altitude for dedicated torpedo bombers armed with bombs DOES matter because it determines glide bombing vs level bombing.

So from what i understand, when you use Torpedoes, the altitude doesn't matter and can be set to the patrol altitude, but when switching to bombs you should use the Dive bombing altitude? (for example)

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BlitzX

A naval attack mission armed with torpedoes drops to the final attack altitude automatically. Not sure if the assigned mission altitude is considered for the purposes of strike coordination or escort fighter cover (I think the latter is true).

Mission altitude for dedicated torpedo bombers armed with bombs DOES matter because it determines glide bombing vs level bombing.

So from what i understand, when you use Torpedoes, the altitude doesn't matter and can be set to the patrol altitude, but when switching to bombs you should use the Dive bombing altitude? (for example)

Yes and no. Patrol altitude setting only sets those planes of the squadron assigned patrol duties. Mission altitude for torpedo attack might still be important for mission coordination (i.e., joint mission package with fighter cover and dive bombers). If there is an enemy CAP, the attack might well be intercepted. If part of the attack is at 10,000 feet and part at 5,000 feet, the escort fighters have to split their attention. My recollection is the AI automatically assigns them to 1000 ft above the lowest flight element but I might be making that up. Mission cohesion and good use of fighter escort is very important in carrier battles as the first attack of the morning will usually face a heavy CAP. A well coordinated attack where all the bombers arrive together with fighter escort is super important and difficult to achieve for the Allies, especially early in the war.

The torpedo bombers are not purpose-designed for dive bombing and are relatively more vulnerable to AA fire. If you are attacking shipping and have torpedoes, you should use them. If you are operating them from a forward base without an air HQ they can be set to naval attack with bombs. They will hit things but they don't carry the 1000 lb., ship-killers the SBD's carry. For a ground attack they can be set to 15,000 ft. They will level bomb and take much less ground fire, but they aren't B-17's.

[rustysi]

Never mind.