Matrix Games Forums

Community,

New AE player here vs. AI. What's the best altitude for ASW patrol? Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Nate

Got it in another thread. Thanks anyway.

Nate

--removed, already answered--

What was it?

Dr. Hal,

100 ft.

Thanks,
Nate

ORIGINAL: nate25

Dr. Hal,

100 ft.

Thanks,
Nate

I used to set my ASW at 100 ft. after reading that thread.

After seeing what horrendous OPs losses 100 ft. altitude buys for me, I moved my ASW to 1000 ft.

Once a little skill is gained I get just as many attack reports at 1000 ft. without the horrendous OPs losses.


No need to take my word for it though as I my claim is anecdotal without any empirical evidence.

Experiment a bit and see for yourselves.

I am curious to see what experiences others have.

Morale also seems to suffer when flying lower?

I use 2000ft quite effectively ... ops losses are rare ...

With experience pilot's I use 5000ft. I don't think that's to high to see a periscope wake, witih binoculars, and you cover much more area.

Thanks Nate....

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

I use 2000ft quite effectively ... ops losses are rare ...

+1

Good thoughts, everyone.

I'll experiment with 500 ft. and 1000 ft.

HB, I feel your pain from the ops losses. IMHO, they're way too high in this game, especially for airframes like the DC-3/C-47. DC-3s (at least two of the airframes I know of were WW II vets) were still flying regularly out of Hook Field here in Middletown as late as 2005.

Experienced squadrons with hundreds of missions per pilot with experience in the 80s, flying out of size 9 airfields with more than ample av support should not be losing 1-2 aircraft per week.

Ok, ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. . .

Thanks, Nate

Pax (or anyone, really),

What are the minimum exp. levels with which you will field a squadron with ASW duties?

Search, ASW, and Naval Attack.

Thanks,
Nate

ASW skill = +60 exp whatever it is.

AFAIK, ASW is the only skill used in the ASW mission, even though search and bombing are used IRL. Think of the skill as ASW Search and ASW bombing combined into one skill called ASW.

Wow.

I've been training squadrons slated for ASW duty in all 3 skills. Guess I overdid it.

Which is typical of this idiot.

OK, I'll try 1000 and 2000 ft. for ASW patrols.

Now
what are better planes to use for ASW patrol - float planes, torpedo bombers or dive bombers? I'll pull the TBs and DBs off for naval attack if I think I'll be getting into a fight with a carrier TF, but if I'm cruising to a site, are there better planes to use?

I'm using the smaller CVEs to provide ASW patrols and CAP for tankers/transports that they are escorting.

You might want to check this article out.
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep ... SW-13.html

It has a good description of search techniques

ORIGINAL: nate25

Wow.

I've been training squadrons slated for ASW duty in all 3 skills. Guess I overdid it.

Which is typical of this idiot.

Not at all. ASW was a wildly debated topic some time ago.

Personally, if I just need some fast ASW I train ASW, thats enough.
But I prefer to crosstrain my units, time given, to maximize my flexibility when cooping with different threats. So in my
opinion this is not overdoing it.

Also don´t forget that subs are spotted by NavS as well, and since ASW cuts mission range to 50% (rounded down),
it is not always the optimal choice, more so if your airborne ASW is to detect and you got ASW TFs to then take care
of the subs spotted.

I would not train NavB though, but LowN instead if you want to add this to your skills. Reason is not that its needed
for ASW, but that you usually set ASW to LowN altitudes and so potentially are able to cover two mission types
(ASW/LowN) with one squadron. In many PBEMs there is a HR though preventing heavies from being used below 10k
against naval targets, to obviousely this rule applies to mediums or smaller.

What about plane types? I have had good luck with using float planes (Kingfisher) when available, or the PBYs (but they are usually too valuable in long-range search or transport missions). At the start of the campaign, though, I usually assign some of my 2E (B18 Bolos, I have plenty), but I don't know if they are best suited for it or not?

LoBaron,

Thanks for the tips. I'll try them. I've been training Kingfishers for ASW (1000') and PBYs (6000') for NavS. It's too early to tell how that'll work out.

Interesting HR on the 4Es. IRL, weren't a good number of B-17s used for search early on?

Justus2,

I have considered using Bolos out of Alaska for search. Is that working? Op losses real bad or not?

Thanks,
Nate