BBO/RPO/PPO Air Group Change

[el cid again]

In keeping with the RHS philosophy of providing options, and in keeping with the nature of the BBO (Battleship Oriented)
scenario set, we will be changing the nature of USN heavy air groups from x.73 on. The USN will NOT buy the Liberator (PB4Y) version of the B-24, but will replace them with Coronado flying boats. Similarly, USN will NOT buy the Ventura (PV-1), but will replace them with Mariner flying boats. VB squadrons operating both types will be redesignated VP.
In general, the specialty loadout will remain the same, except where a PV carried torpedoes or AP weapons, the Mariner will become a GP platform.

The philosophy of BBO scenarios (RPO is the same with passive Russians; PPO is the same with more political points)
is to do the was as USN and IJN (and other services) planned it before the Battle of Midway changed things. It is probably considerably more historical than CVO (or mods based on stock and CHS) insofar as it represents a more likely war situation (institutional intertia being what it is). At that time it was not just battleships that were believed in - it was heavy flying boats.

BBO also offers alternate ideas about USN submarines (and IJN submarines) - with more medium sized and fewer fleet boats - and about USN DEs - with half as many but twice the horsepower installed in each in the case of several classes.


Since BBO scenarios will be played by those who do not mind alternatives to history as it really happened, we think this is the place to put the flying boat option. And also the float F4F - although just how to do that isn't yet worked out? We can reduce the number of F4F 1 for 1 to buy them - but what units will get them??? Working on it. Since we have an art delay situation - we have a moment to do this.