Lessons Lost

[Andrea G]

Hi all,

I was playing the "Fox Two" scenario in the Northern Inferno Campaign.

I selected to use guns for opportunity targets before going RTB in the ROEs of the CAP missions.

The fighters tried to engage the bombers alright but always from the tail and got splashed many times by the rear gunners.

One of the lessons learned in WWII was never approach a bomber by the tail but go for a high speed run from the side or the nose.

Is it still so?
Has something changed in modern doctrines?
Or simply is the AI that goes for the simplest solution?

[wild_Willie2]

Yes, the AI is not the best in attacking armed bomber targets. It can not make the distinction between attack craft armed with rear firing guns and ones with forward facing weapon so AI controlled AC take unnecessary losses from such units. But this rear firing game mechanic is so seldom used that the devs never bothered to rewrite code for it.

On the other hand, you can order the bomber AI to attack other patrol AC or ASW helo's with it rear firing guns and it will actually maneuver to do it and score kills

[Dimitris]

Wild_Willie's answer is incorrect. The sim logic does indeed distinguish between aircraft with tailguns and other targets which are safe to attack from astern.

The difference this makes in AI decision is whether the stern attacker will match speed with the target and blast away (if no tailguns) or instead will do a high-speed run and overtake in order to minimize exposure to the tailguns.

According to our information, the presence of tailguns in bombers etc. did not eliminate stern attacks, it merely changed the manner they were performed. If you have sources that suggest otherwise, we are open to modifications.

Thanks.

[Dimitris]

Also: In this scenario, except for AIM-7s, all other available missiles are rear-aspect only. So the AI has no choice but to go for astern attacks.

The Bear is better able to defend itself than most bombers in this case, thanks to its high cruise speed which makes it harder to do a high-speed overtake from behind. (Fun fact: The Tornado ADV cannot physically run down a receding Tu-95 unless it uses afterburner).

[Andrea G]

Thank you Dimitris for the explanations.
Sorry if I sounded polemic but it was not my intention.
I have no source on bomber attack tecniques so my question was for information only; now I know how to manage a similar situation.