Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Lilly - dives into pockets
Sonia - takes pictures
Nell and Betty - ride torpedo

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

I will take a different tack than the others. I use Sonias, Lillies, Anns, Sallies, Helens... all of them... in front-line duties. You want to try to match payload and supply use to target. With 4 x 50 KG bombs, Sonias are effective against soft targets in open ground. As 1-engine light bombers, they also use half the supply of the level bombers. With 1 x 800 Kg bomb, Anns are very effective against hard targets, such as tanks, or as ASW platforms, since an 800 Kg bomb is often enough to sink a sub outright. The initial Lilly is not very helpful, because 4 x 100 KG bombs are only marginally better than the 4 x 50 KG for the Sonia at twice the supply. However, the Lilly is the first plane to upgrade to armor, in April 1942. The Lily IIa is a very helpful plane. As Japan, you will often encounter your opponent flying his planes, including CAP, very high. With armor, the Lilly IIa is less susceptible to light ground fire and can be used at low altitudes. A single raid at low altitude will often come in under high-flying CAP without being intercepted. Used appropriately, this can also force your opponent to drop his CAP down to altitudes that better suit Japanese early war aircraft. Sallies are your best all-purpose bomber. They are best used against soft targets in more difficult terrain and in areas of heavy flak, because of their higher durability. Helens are similar in every respect to Sallies.

Nells and Betties are all-purpose aircraft and can be used as torpedo bombers, ground attack aircraft, and search planes. They shine in airfield attacks because of their mixed payload that includes both 250 KG bombs and 50 Kg bombs. The larger number of bombs often will result in more damaged planes. Sometimes, especially when attacking ports, both Nells and Betties will change their payload to 800 KG bombs, which are effective against any ship, even heavy armor.

In short, use your bomber selection to make your payload fit your target.

With 1 x 800 Kg bomb, Anns are very effective against hard targets,

both Nells and Betties will change their payload to 800 KG bombs,

Not mention here is light bombers can use level 2 a/f with full effectiveness.

ORIGINAL: rustysi

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both Nells and Betties will change their payload to 800 KG bombs,

Never seen this either. Doesn't mean no, just never seen it. Maybe someone else could add.

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

ORIGINAL: rustysi

both Nells and Betties will change their payload to 800 KG bombs,

Never seen this either. Doesn't mean no, just never seen it. Maybe someone else could add.

They do that surprisingly sometimes within the first turns of a new game. Its rare and only a few do it.
Like there is a hidden stockpile somewhere.

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

So many years and I still dont know everything........

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Never seen this either. Doesn't mean no, just never seen it. Maybe someone else could add.

They do that surprisingly sometimes within the first turns of a new game. Its rare and only a few do it.
Like there is a hidden stockpile somewhere.

Pretty common for the first turn, and happens now and them with port attack mission and high xp pilots. Starting-level monster pilots (80+ xp) will use those very often on port bombing

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
From looking at the Editor and the device pools in the Intel Report area I know there are pools for the standard 250KG bombs as well as the others. I assume that the Nells and Bettys would only load the bigger bomb if they have used the pool of 250KG bombs - most likely to happen at game start when new production has not increased the pools yet.