Matrix Games Forums

A couple of questions about standoff fire from aircraft so flagged.

At what range does standoff fire occur, or is it not specified? I don't see an option to set that.

When an aircraft attacks a target with standoff weapons, does it avoid return SAM fire and not trigger an air superiority response from enemy air units?

Cheers

ORIGINAL: cathar1244
A couple of questions about standoff fire from aircraft so flagged.

At what range does standoff fire occur, or is it not specified? I don't see an option to set that.

When an aircraft attacks a target with standoff weapons, does it avoid return SAM fire and not trigger an air superiority response from enemy air units?

I'd like to know the answers to those questions as well. Maybe somebody ought to do some tests.
We can use the toaw_log file to follow the combat phase events and see what really happens.

Even with the log file, it is not completely clear what is happening.

In a lab scenario, 300 aircraft equipped with standoff attack a ground target. There is enemy air on air superiority missions in the area.

So, the enemy air superiority aircraft (total of 840) react in two waves, one of 600 and the other of 240.

Those attacking the ground target lose 20 aircraft destroyed and 54 damaged. The reacting air superiority aircraft have 9 destroyed and 17 damaged. Bombarding air unit is forced into reorganization because of losses.

Bombardment of the target unit takes place. Bombarded unit loses 5 of 100 rifle squads and 64 of 900 20mm AA guns.

Of the bombarding aircraft, 2 are destroyed and 2 damaged by 20mm AA guns (!! -- standoff weapons?).

All I can really see is that enemy air superiority fighters reacted to the bombardment mission AND enemy low altitude flak, which should not have had the range to engage aircraft on standoff missions, was also able to attack the bombarding aircraft. The last part of this really seems off-base for standoff fire. Some log quotes.

AIRCombat:B-17Gs Low targeted by Air Defenders anti-aircraft fire (3384/4434).
Combat :
Combat : Smite: Air Unit 1st Formation, B-17Gs Low, (anti-air low), attrition%= 8.
Combat : Air Defenders weapons firing on Air Unit B-17G Low Alt.
Combat : B-17G Low Alt(1) destroyed.
Combat : Air Defenders weapons firing on Air Unit B-17G Low Alt.
Combat : B-17G Low Alt(1) damaged, sent to replacement pool.
Combat : Air Defenders weapons firing on Air Unit B-17G Low Alt.
Combat : Air Defenders weapons firing on Air Unit B-17G Low Alt.
Combat : Air Defenders weapons firing on Air Unit B-17G Low Alt.
Combat : B-17G Low Alt(1) damaged, sent to replacement pool.
Combat : Air Defenders weapons firing on Air Unit B-17G Low Alt.
Combat : B-17G Low Alt(1) destroyed.
Combat : Air Defenders weapons firing on Air Unit B-17G Low Alt.
Combat : Weighted direct combat losses: 2%
Combat : Check morale: Air Unit 1st Formation, B-17Gs Low, ouch=26,ouch threshold=50.
Combat : Morale check passed (low casualties).
Combat : End smite...

(BTW, the "B-17G" aircraft in this lab have been flagged for standoff capability.)

Cheers

Bump.

Calling out to Bob Cross -- Bob, do you know if AA guns of a unit defending against a strike with standoff weapons should be able to inflict casualties on the attacking aircraft?

Cheers

Maybe the results will be different when using aircraft designed to use those weapons instead of a B-17? Don't know if that would make a difference.