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I am flying my P-38Gs (load of 3200 ibs.) on airfield attacks and I am not getting any hits. My pilots are experienced and skilled, the base being targeted is well-detected. The planes are flying, just not causing any damage. I have tried changing the altitude (any and all from 1,000 to 9,000.) Medium bombers are okay, as are the heavies, but FB's result in the goose egg.

What's the range?

As close as 4 hexes and as far as 8 (flying with drop tanks).

Could it be that the drop tanks are mounted where the bombs would normally go? If so, that could explain you've had no results from your 'bomb' runs.

My two cents, the P-38 is too valuable as a fighter, and too limited in numbers, to try to use as a bomber.

ORIGINAL: towers58

I am flying my P-38Gs (load of 3200 ibs.) on airfield attacks and I am not getting any hits. My pilots are experienced and skilled, the base being targeted is well-detected. The planes are flying, just not causing any damage. I have tried changing the altitude (any and all from 1,000 to 9,000.) Medium bombers are okay, as are the heavies, but FB's result in the goose egg.

Screenshot of your pilots would be helpful. Also, screenshot of your squadron (with orders set as you would for airfield attacks) would be helpful too.

Don't pure fighter types (F) need to be at 100 ft. altitude (strafing) to make an attack on an airfield or a ship or a ground unit, regardless of whether or not they carry bombs?

It's my understanding that a fighter bomber type (FB) can bomb from varying altuitudes, but a fighter can only attack non air targets from an altitude of 100 ft.

Can anyone correct me, or do I have it right?

Pretty sure this is not correct; I am almost positive I have conducted ground attack missions with P-40Ks from several thousand feet.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

My two cents, the P-38 is too valuable as a fighter, and too limited in numbers, to try to use as a bomber.

+1

Stop using them as bombers! [X(]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

My two cents, the P-38 is too valuable as a fighter, and too limited in numbers, to try to use as a bomber.

+1

Stop using them as bombers! [X(]

I've seen some JFBs complaining about Allied 4E bombers being more lethal than the Allied fighters, so why not use the fighters as bombers? [:D]

ORIGINAL: DaveConn

Pretty sure this is not correct; I am almost positive I have conducted ground attack missions with P-40Ks from several thousand feet.

Are you sure they are bombing from the altitude you set or cruising to the target at that altitude and dropping to 100 feet to strafe when they reach the target just as torpedo bombers fly to the target at whatever altitude you set and then drop to torpedo delivery height when they reach the target?

ORIGINAL: DaveConn

Pretty sure this is not correct; I am almost positive I have conducted ground attack missions with P-40Ks from several thousand feet.




Are you sure they are bombing from the altitude you set or cruising to the target at that altitude and dropping to 100 feet to strafe when they reach the target just as torpedo bombers fly to the target at whatever altitude you set and then drop to torpedo delivery height when they reach the target?

The combat report showed them as bombing from higher altitude; see the example below.

Afternoon Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 68,105 (Kolaka)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 13
Kittyhawk III x 11
B-25C Mitchell x 12
P-40K Warhawk x 22


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
22 x P-40K Warhawk bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb


(Before anyone asks why on earth I am bombing with P-40s from 10K feet, I was trying to figure out whether the mission altitude affects the attack altitude for fighters; I think it does, but didn't try it enough to settle the issue.)

I don't know about the effects of a combined strike (as in DaveConn's case), but I've had some Hurricanes attacking Japanese ground units in Burma, and they transit at 6000', but the combat report has the attack coming at strafing height of 100'.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Don't pure fighter types (F) need to be at 100 ft. altitude (strafing) to make an attack on an airfield or a ship or a ground unit, regardless of whether or not they carry bombs?

It's my understanding that a fighter bomber type (FB) can bomb from varying altuitudes, but a fighter can only attack non air targets from an altitude of 100 ft.

Can anyone correct me, or do I have it right?

Not quite. You are confusing the mechanics of attacking barges and PT boats. Fighter bombers will attack these ships irrespective of their assigned altitude. Whereas fighters will only attack them if assigned to 100'.

Alfred

Do not select "Use drop tanks". That will prevent them using bombs.

Pretty logical, I think.

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

Do not select "Use drop tanks". That will prevent them using bombs.

Pretty logical, I think.

Further to Sardaukar's point, read michaelm's posts in this thread.

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Alfred

I was thinking the same way as Moose - by adding the drop tanks I thought I was able to burn extra supply to get the longer range and still carry ordinance. Sardaukar's comment makes sense now, though.

For those complaining about the use of the P-38 in a ground attack role - I seem to be very short-handed in terms of 2E bombers and the Lightning carries almost the same bomb load.

All you have to do is look at the aircraft display WHEN you have drop tanks selected and it shows what weapons it carries with the drop tanks. Some aircraft do still carry torpedoes, large bombs, etc. when also fitted with drop tanks, but other aircraft don't.

If you look at the display when you have selected no drop tanks then you see the weapons the plane carries when drop tanks are not fitted.

I learned that when my Wildebeasts would not do a Naval Attack on a TF one hex away. I had left drop tanks selected.

ORIGINAL: Cpt Sherwood

I learned that when my Wildebeasts would not do a Naval Attack on a TF one hex away. I had left drop tanks selected.

And I thought it was just me. [8D]