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Are all this bombers only capable to carry 500lb bombs?

I think they should be able to use 1000lb or so at short range, it will very useful against ships!

Has anyone actually managed to get a B17 to attack a ship. Every attempt I have made just gives me a message TF Cannot be Targetted.

Simply set to naval attack...let them fly low under 2000.

Originally posted by Didz
Has anyone actually managed to get a B17 to attack a ship. Every attempt I have made just gives me a message TF Cannot be Targetted.

You cant target TFs yourself. That is a commnad that the leader of say your squadron will do. So you have to set planes to say a mission of naval attack.

Be assured I have even seen B17 strafe ships with their machine guns at very low level..

Originally posted by Odin
Simply set to naval attack...let them fly low under 2000.

I've had Naval Attack set as their primary mission ever since the start of the game two months ago and they have never attempted to do so despite having the IJN Carriers within strike range on several occassions.

So! is it necessary to change the altitude setting to under 2,000 before they will attempt a Naval Attack. Does it say that somewhere in the manual too!

Originally posted by Didz



I've had Naval Attack set as their primary mission ever since the start of the game two months ago and they have never attempted to do so despite having the IJN Carriers within strike range on several occassions.

So! is it necessary to change the altitude setting to under 2,000 before they will attempt a Naval Attack. Does it say that somewhere in the manual too!

I have had the same problem. My bombers even ignore task forces sailing just offshore with the all the Japanese crews mooning at the base.

Maybe it is the altitude...

I played the Coral Sea scenario the other day and transferred my 4 B17 groups to Cooktown. There they were able to reach all the way out past Gili Gili. They made several bomb runs and even scored a hit on a light Japanese carrier once (I think it was Rjuho). At that time their altitude was set at the default for the scenario (I don't recall what that was exactly). Later, out of curiosity, I set their altitude to 100 and they strafed a transport convoy. (Apparently this was a skip-bombing run but unless the crew experience is rather high these have a very low chance for hits.)

So I have seen B17s perform (and perform well) under a variety of circumstances. There are many variables which can hinder an air unit's ability to hit a target of opportunity (spotting, weather, fatigue, distance to target). Distance to target can be a significant variable. Its easy for a flight of SBD to find an enemy TF that is just a couple hexes away. Its quite another for a flight of B17s to find a TF that requires them to fly many hexes (even being slightly off course can put you far from your target area) and the time required allows the target TF to move from the target area.

It seems like, as in real life, these numerous variables need to all be in allignment for a successful attack. If any one (i.e. crew fatigue) is off then the chances of success are reduced dramatically.

-Scouters

Originally posted by Scouters
There are many variables which can hinder an air unit's ability to hit a target of opportunity (spotting, weather, fatigue, distance to target). Distance to target can be a significant variable.-Scouters

Whilst not terribly impressed I think I could live with the fact that the B17's couldn't find a IJN Task Force of twenty odd ships on a clear day in a known location.

What really 'pissing me off' is that they won't get out the bar and go and have a look.