Naval Attack Altitude for two engine bombers

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Ian R

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Well, it just seems strange to fly a twin-engine bomber with just one bomb. The standard bomb for 139WH is a 300kg (600lb) bomb. Would make more sense to fly with i.e two 150kg (300lb) bombs when the code halves uneven load of bombs. Accounts of skip bombing mention releasing a stick of two to four bombs. It just feels like 139WH is a retarded dive-bomber.

The code halves the bombload of not-attack bombers bombing ships at low level. It looks like it rounds fractions down.

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Um, not sure what you're referring to here...

I am referring to IJ players demanding a house rule that there should be no level bombing of ships at all from aircraft below 10k ft, they don't think the built in penalty is sufficient.

I mean... I guess I should say this is the only house rule I don't care about it.

I'd agree to it instantly because I'd never do it - not because it's too effective, but because it's the very opposite.

[RangerJoe]

2E medium Torpedo bombers that bomb low carry the full bomb load if there setting is for "Torpedo" and not "Bombs" so the Japanese have an advantage there early. Think of Betties and Nells dropping six bombs at low level, with the long legged Nell (ain't she a beauty with those lovely, long legs?) going out to 21 hexes? Think of the Thundering Heard trying to escape from Manila getting hit by those. Plus, those 2Es can fly with a full load of bombs that way from even a level 2 airfield.

Note: those 60 kg bombs are over twice as heavy as a 5"/38 caliber shell so they will do a lot of damage to soft skinned targets.

[witpqs]

Concur on 'low' being 1,000 feet; easy to see when you train pilots.

I've noticed that Attack Bombers, even when set to 5,000 feet, drop down to low altitude for ground attack. I don't see many opportunities for Attack Bombers against naval targets, so I don't know if the same thing happens during naval attacks. Something to watch out for.

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Concur on 'low' being 1,000 feet; easy to see when you train pilots.

I've noticed that Attack Bombers, even when set to 5,000 feet, drop down to low altitude for ground attack. I don't see many opportunities for Attack Bombers against naval targets, so I don't know if the same thing happens during naval attacks. Something to watch out for.

If you set attack bombers to 6000ft or higher, they level bomb, lower than that and they do their "attack bomber stuff". [8D]

[Sardaukar]

I use my personal "house rule" vs. AI that 2-E bombers can use 1000ft but not 100ft and 4-E 6000ft lowest before 1943, then 1000ft.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I mean... I guess I should say this is the only house rule I don't care about it.

I'd agree to it instantly because I'd never do it - not because it's too effective, but because it's the very opposite.

At game start as Allies, low level naval bombing does seem pretty ineffective, but if you train the pilots in LowN they can be pretty good against merchies. Japanese merchies have little or no AA to deter the bombers and their escorts don't seem to be able to do deflection shots (leading the target accurately).

[rustysi]

a house rule that there should be no level bombing of ships at all from aircraft below 10k ft

Not all. That's only in relation to the 4E's, and usually excludes the naval 4E's.

[rustysi]

Think of Betties and Nells dropping six bombs at low level,

Yeah, those 60Kg bombs aren't going to impact any warship above a DD, and try to get a hit on a DD from a level bomber.

BTW, no Japanese air unit has lowNav training at the start of the game.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I mean... I guess I should say this is the only house rule I don't care about it.

I'd agree to it instantly because I'd never do it - not because it's too effective, but because it's the very opposite.

At game start as Allies, low level naval bombing does seem pretty ineffective, but if you train the pilots in LowN they can be pretty good against merchies. Japanese merchies have little or no AA to deter the bombers and their escorts don't seem to be able to do deflection shots (leading the target accurately).

I stand by my statement, even assuming they were ace naval bombers. This is a poor use of the 4E assets.

[rustysi]

I mean... I guess I should say this is the only house rule I don't care about it.

I'd agree to it instantly because I'd never do it - not because it's too effective, but because it's the very opposite.

Coming from someone I consider a good player that plays the Allies this could make the whole discussion moot. And AFAIK he doesn't care for HR's.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I mean... I guess I should say this is the only house rule I don't care about it.

I'd agree to it instantly because I'd never do it - not because it's too effective, but because it's the very opposite.

At game start as Allies, low level naval bombing does seem pretty ineffective, but if you train the pilots in LowN they can be pretty good against merchies. Japanese merchies have little or no AA to deter the bombers and their escorts don't seem to be able to do deflection shots (leading the target accurately).

I stand by my statement, even assuming they were ace naval bombers. This is a poor use of the 4E assets.

I wasn't thinking of 4Es, as the conversation had drifted to include "Attack bombers" and 2E bombers that are not attack bombers. Heck, I even used Luzon P-40E fighters in LowN in the fighters to attack Japanese landings and they sank CA Chokai with 18 bomb hits - very lucky die rolls. Usually they just knock off a few merchants.

[rustysi]

Heck, I even used Luzon P-40E fighters in LowN in the fighters to attack Japanese landings and they sank CA Chokai with 18 bomb hits

Where are the Japanese fighters? Who are you playing? The AI?

I would think fighters would shred P-40's in that role.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Heck, I even used Luzon P-40E fighters in LowN in the fighters to attack Japanese landings and they sank CA Chokai with 18 bomb hits

Where are the Japanese fighters? Who are you playing? The AI?

I would think fighters would shred P-40's in that role.

The AI - and the IJ fighters were all up at 10-15K level supporting their bomber raids. The AI doesn't sweep nor LRCAP as far as I can tell.

[RangerJoe]

The difference in altitude and no radar meant no interception.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Concur on 'low' being 1,000 feet; easy to see when you train pilots.

I've noticed that Attack Bombers, even when set to 5,000 feet, drop down to low altitude for ground attack. I don't see many opportunities for Attack Bombers against naval targets, so I don't know if the same thing happens during naval attacks. Something to watch out for.

If you set attack bombers to 6000ft or higher, they level bomb, lower than that and they do their "attack bomber stuff". [8D]

Thanks.