Limiting Allied Naval Attack

[DJAndrews]

I'm pretty sure there isn't a good solution to the following but I thought I'd check with more experienced players. I'm playing scenario 15 (Japanese start with PM and Lunga for free). I've maintained all of the Oz bases and have medium range bombers set to Naval Attack/Rest (Hudsons, Mitchells and Maruaders) at Cooktown in the hopes of interdicting supply convoys and providing a minor deterent to invasion.

The bombers have not attacked a convoy in 3 months but every week or ten days they all fly off and attack a TF of CAs, CLs and DDs that is stationed at PM. The bombers are at the extreme edge of their range and not surprisingly, five or six 50-bomber attacks have failed to hit any ships. Unfortunately, the Japanese are better shots and I typically lose 10 planes per raid to flak and operational losses (there is no CAP which why the bombers attack).

I would like to be able to issue orders to attack convoys at sea only, avoid surface combat fleets, attack only in defense or even avoid attacking PM entirely, but I haven't been able to find any way of doing this. It doesn't seem unreasonable. I mean LBA won't attack a convoy with CAP. If they are smart enough to avoid these, why wouldn't they avoid "flak traps". The best I've been able to come up with is to base only very short range aircraft (A-24s, Beauforts, Havocs and fighter-bombers) at Cooktown. Its that or abandon the base until I'm ready to move in the heavies.

[Mr.Frag]

This you'll find your pilots skills in the 50's where they have trouble hitting a barn forget about a moving ship.

You'll notice that the Hudson's (skills in the 70's) have no problem hitting anything.

[AmiralLaurent]

Put all your bombers on naval search, ASW or training (if exp < 65), all at 50%, so they will gain exp without too much losses.

If you have 30 planes with naval search in Cooktown, you will certainly see every ship on NG coast and if a convoy is going in your direction, you can switch your long-range planes to naval attack.

And the reports of enemy movements will allow you to put your subs at the best places. You will certainly sink more ships with S-boats than with bad exp medium bombers.

Or you can group 15 cruisers and DD under Lee command and send them sink this IJN fleet in PM....

[estaban]

This is an even bigger problem for the Japanese because of the extreme long range of their Betty and Nell bombers. These bombers often fly long range missions to places you wish they wouldn't when set to naval attack.

I would like to see a "max range" command on the bomber squadrons, a range beyond which they will not attack, or only attack if they get confused (based on experience and squadron leadership)