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Is the search range for a carrier-based aircraft equal to the maximum attack range in UV. In theory, a lightly armed search plane would have greater range than an armed version of the same plane type. I am trying to impute the possible locations for enemy unspotted carriers from the activity of TBF search planes. Can I assume there must be a carrier within 10 hexes (maximum TBF attack range..Note, there are no airfields in the area)?

Originally posted by Cap Mandrake
Is the search range for a carrier-based aircraft equal to the maximum attack range in UV. In theory, a lightly armed search plane would have greater range than an armed version of the same plane type. I am trying to impute the possible locations for enemy unspotted carriers from the activity of TBF search planes. Can I assume there must be a carrier within 10 hexes (maximum TBF attack range..Note, there are no airfields in the area)?

Do a search in the UV forums. I believe Paul Vebber posted an excellent overview as to how the search missions work.

Consider a plane:

it has range of x with max fuel (transfer)
it has range of x/4 with max bombload (attack)
it has range of x/2 with reduced bombload/greater fuel (search/entended bomb)

Remember a transfer mission does not have to have enough fuel to return. Don't confuse maximum range with extended range. One implys the plane will return from the mission, the other is a one way trip.

UV doesn't exactly scale these to great detail as in reality, you could load up a bomber with 2,4,6,8,10,12 etc bombs, and pump in fuel till you hit the maximum takeoff weight for that particular air temp, humidity, altitude and runway length. The have just picked some general ranges and fixed them as the only choices. Part of the great "abstraction" choice. Airspeed also varies with altitude as do winds aloft, which can dramatically alter ranges and durations.