The "Official" scoop on LB30's, B24's, etc.

[m10bob]

Please see this site :[:D]

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research ... omber2.htm

[akdreemer]

ORIGINAL: m10bob

Please see this site :[:D]

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research ... omber2.htm

The US did use some of the LB-30's early on in the Pacific War, but the numbers were small. I have changed the LB-30 in the mod I am designing as a Patrol Plane, which appears to be one of its primary uses. This will give the US a great Long Range recon plane as opposed to ahistorical additional 4E bombers early which is currently the case.

[witpqs]

That's how I've used the few I have in CHS. There a great asset with that extra long range.

[el cid again]

I have gone a different way. 6 of the LB-30 and 31 of the LB-30A were modified as transports. I show them as C-87s - "C-87/LB-30" - or transport mods of the B-24 - a major USAAF heavy transport in the Pacific theater. [Note ALL heavy transports for the US are missing - there was also no C-54 nor its Navy R5D variation. I have added both of these as well.] The rest I added as B-24Ds - not as patrol planes - since this is what they were designed to be. But my B-24D has its range fixed - it is not fictionally shortened as in stock and the present CHS (although that is fixed in the next CHS).

The real LB-30 was used in a variety of ways - one of them we do not model - that of rescue. What is being called "patrol" is really S&R - and eventually US and Commonwealth services eventually had specialized versions of these bombers - and also of flying boats. We put not a single USAAF version of the Catalina in the game for example - the number was very large - so I assume that means S&R is not modeled.

[witpqs]

There are sometimes 'pilot rescued' type messages from air combat. Also, TF's rescuing men from the water after a transport sinks. As far as I know that the only S&R in the game.

[lucascuccia]

Excellent, finally a real approach. In the the CHS I have a bunch of squadrons with Lb-30's
and I am saying WTF!!!!.

Still would having a bomber version with no production be ok. B-24D will surely be available soon enough to replace the 3 squadrons that would be equipped with them

11 BS 7BG 12 LB-30
392 BS 30 BG 12 LB-30
25 BS 6BG 12 LB-30

have all upgrade to B-24D

Then later create your long range transport squadrons

[bradfordkay]

"so I assume that means S&R is not modeled."

This goes back to UV. I recall Mike explaining that all pilots have a chance of being rescued, but the allied ones had a much greater chance due to the emphasis put on search and rescue by the allied forces. I don't know for sure, but would expect that WITP continues this practice.


Here it is...

" Hello...

Yes, Allied pilots stand a significantly better chance of survival, when shot down. Pilots return immediately to the group and wait for a new plane.

Have Fun..." Mike Wood

[m10bob]

Speaking of S&R...I notice those "rescued" messages seem more common in a hex with friendly PT boats present. If this is not my imagination, this is an excellent detail !!!!
As for long range transport, yeah, I have wanted the C 54's for a long time, and provided a pic showing they were around in the old "meatball" insignia days.
Those 2 B 19's were also used for long-range transports, but, they were only TWO..[:D]

More on those wonderful B 24's.

http://www.b24bestweb.com/

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Yes. When plane goes down, the search and rescue routine looks at range to and presence of friendly and enemy bases, range to and number of friendly and enemy ships, terrain (water, forest, etc.), pilot skill and pilot wounds. Allied pilots gain bonus. Then determines if captured, rescued, missing in action or killed. If not rescued, some fog of war may be added. If rescued, wounds determine how long out of action. If not wounded, returns to action next day.

So, for instance, if flying long distance over water, you might try posting a few submarines along flight path to help recover pilots from aircraft which take damage and crash on way home.

Bye...

Michael Wood

ORIGINAL: m10bob
...I notice those "rescued" messages seem more common in a hex with friendly PT boats present...

[witpqs]

Wow - this is way more sophisticated than the impression I had. I think it likely that many routines are this way, just that we only see the results and wind up thinking they are simple routines.

[bradfordkay]

"So, for instance, if flying long distance over water, you might try posting a few submarines along flight path to help recover pilots from aircraft which take damage and crash on way home."


Mike, thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression (from that thread oh, so long ago...) that posting picket vessels did not make a difference. Now I know otherwise. I like it.

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Wow - this is way more sophisticated than the impression I had. I think it likely that many routines are this way, just that we only see the results and wind up thinking they are simple routines.

Yeah....And when we ask for a "fix" on something, we have no idea what 10 other things might be looped into the same routine, (and neither would the programmer till its' been done !)

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Mike Wood

Hello...

Yes. When plane goes down, the search and rescue routine looks at range to and presence of friendly and enemy bases, range to and number of friendly and enemy ships, terrain (water, forest, etc.), pilot skill and pilot wounds. Allied pilots gain bonus. Then determines if captured, rescued, missing in action or killed. If not rescued, some fog of war may be added. If rescued, wounds determine how long out of action. If not wounded, returns to action next day.

So, for instance, if flying long distance over water, you might try posting a few submarines along flight path to help recover pilots from aircraft which take damage and crash on way home.

Bye...

Michael Wood

ORIGINAL: m10bob
...I notice those "rescued" messages seem more common in a hex with friendly PT boats present...

I wonder how I kept losing pilots who got captured off Vancouver Island vs the AI. Absolutely no enemy (not even subs, too busy becoming part of a reef off Townsville) so I guess it is not flawless.[:D]

[m10bob]

I wonder how I kept losing pilots who got captured off Vancouver Island vs the AI. Absolutely no enemy (not even subs, too busy becoming part of a reef off Townsville) so I guess it is not flawless.

Maybe they were getting "lost" in the B&B's of Vancouver ??[:'(]
(No..I DON'T mean "bed and breakfast")

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

I wonder how I kept losing pilots who got captured off Vancouver Island vs the AI. Absolutely no enemy (not even subs, too busy becoming part of a reef off Townsville) so I guess it is not flawless.[:D]

Well Ron, if they were flying for you they probably defected!