Bomber escorts

[AW1Steve]

If this has been answered before , I apologize , but I've not seen it. Does an escort need to go all the way to the target in order to get the "escort benefit" on the bomber die roll? If I have fighters with a range of , say 7 , tasked to escort bombers to a target thats say 11 hexes away , does it do the bombers any good? [&:]

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

If this has been answered before , I apologize , but I've not seen it. Does an escort need to go all the way to the target in order to get the "escort benefit" on the bomber die roll? If I have fighters with a range of , say 7 , tasked to escort bombers to a target thats say 11 hexes away , does it do the bombers any good? [&:]

No, i don't think so... essentially, all interceptions generally take place in the "target" hex... sometimes CAP bleeds over from adjacent bases, but interceptions are represented again taking place in the target hex.

[AW1Steve]

Right , I understand that , but my question was more related to trying to get the bombers to fly at all. In other words, when the escort die roll occurs , is it enough to have an escort part way to the target ,to "fool" the die roll into thinking the bombers are getting escorted, or must they be escorted all the way to the target?

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Right , I understand that , but my question was more related to trying to get the bombers to fly at all. In other words, when the escort die roll occurs , is it enough to have an escort part way to the target ,to "fool" the die roll into thinking the bombers are getting escorted, or must they be escorted all the way to the target?

i've never seen anyone try to do that... i suspect that what determines "fly/no fly" is the AirBal in the target hex... since the fighters don't have the range to effect that number, then i would think it won't work to assign fighters to escort part of the way.

However, i could be wrong, and someone else can chime in if this analysis is incorrect.

[AW1Steve]

I've been using my wirraways for that purpose, but as I've never really understood how "the die roll" concept works, I've never been sure if they help, or it's just coincidence that makes the bombers fly. Outside of attacking barges, I've yet to find a good role for wirraways. [:(]

[gladiatt]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

I've been using my wirraways for that purpose, but as I've never really understood how "the die roll" concept works, I've never been sure if they help, or it's just coincidence that makes the bombers fly. Outside of attacking barges, I've yet to find a good role for wirraways. [:(]

I've managed to disrupt 9 japanese in Rabaul with straffing....2 days later Rabaul was lost....well, may be we should find another role [8|]

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

I've been using my wirraways for that purpose, but as I've never really understood how "the die roll" concept works, I've never been sure if they help, or it's just coincidence that makes the bombers fly. Outside of attacking barges, I've yet to find a good role for wirraways. [:(]

Divebombing is ok, but they are not great at it... they are classified as fighter/bombers, iirc (at least in CHS).

[Misconduct]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Right , I understand that , but my question was more related to trying to get the bombers to fly at all. In other words, when the escort die roll occurs , is it enough to have an escort part way to the target ,to "fool" the die roll into thinking the bombers are getting escorted, or must they be escorted all the way to the target?

answer is no, escorts will not fly half way, your bombers might not even fly period since it does not have escorts and its experience is low. I would honestly say make sure the bombers are over 60 experience before attempting to fly them without escorts or you will end up with a handful out of the entire group that flies and that can be a disaster if you have no escorts.

Best thing I did in my game was at Port moresby and Lae, I would have my P40s and P39s escort to Lae and get the bombers experience pounding it for 2 weeks, then send the buffs back to Australia for resting, when they came back the bombers had over 75 experience and 90 moral, and I was able to send them to rabaul unescorted with at least 75 bombers to pound the airfield.

[AW1Steve]

So if I understand correctly , the bombers must be esorted all the way , to gain "the escort benefit" on the die roll. I can build up my bombers to a 60+ experince , and must keep them happy , otherwise they won't go out unescorted? I really wish that I had a "shoot the CO" or "decimate to motivate" selection. What if I transfer the group to Nome and leave them there for a turn or two? Will their morale rise when I return them to the tropics? [:D]

[bobogoboom]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

If this has been answered before , I apologize , but I've not seen it. Does an escort need to go all the way to the target in order to get the "escort benefit" on the bomber die roll? If I have fighters with a range of , say 7 , tasked to escort bombers to a target thats say 11 hexes away , does it do the bombers any good? [&:]

getting sick of losses at port moresby[:'(]

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: bobogoboom

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

If this has been answered before , I apologize , but I've not seen it. Does an escort need to go all the way to the target in order to get the "escort benefit" on the bomber die roll? If I have fighters with a range of , say 7 , tasked to escort bombers to a target thats say 11 hexes away , does it do the bombers any good? [&:]

getting sick of losses at port moresby[:'(]

No actually I was referring to another game. In our game I have a less then conventional strategy (largely because of the no PDU , I figure I'm screwed anyway) to make you bleed,suffer, agonize and to drive you completely nuts! [:D] Have a nice day Derrick![:D][:D][:D]

[Dili]

Cheater! [:'(]

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Dili

Cheater! [:'(]

Who? Me? Bobo is the one who forgot to turn PDU's on. I'm just trying to survive with the worlds largest collection of wirraways! [:D] At least I finally traded up the P-26's! Now I've got P-400's! Fear me Bobo! Fear the mighty B-17c! [:D]

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Who? Me? Bobo is the one who forgot to turn PDU's on. I'm just trying to survive with the worlds largest collection of Wirraways! [:D] At least I finally traded up the P-26's! Now I've got P-400's! Fear me Bobo! Fear the mighty B-17c! [:D]

As much as PDU can be abused, it is does give the flexibility to correct those gross distortions of reality that the game engine can churn out. Overall I think its introduction was a great step forward (if you have a sensible opponent).

[Dili]

Who? Me? Bobo is the one who forgot to turn PDU's on. I'm just trying to survive with the worlds largest collection of wirraways! At least I finally traded up the P-26's! Now I've got P-400's! Fear me Bobo! Fear the mighty B-17c!

You are only allowed to do it once. Bomber boys are not happy. [:D]