Question about airpower

[lupine91602]

Ok, first off, I love this game! One of the things I enjoy the most is how you get to exercise different portions of your thought processes depending on which nations chair you take over.

I have a couple of questions which I have hunted for answers to in this forum, without success. If I have missed them, I appologize for the redundancy.

1). With regards to researching air power. What is the difference/and or advantage - of researching either surface ship attack or torpedo attack, and does it make more sense to research based on the unit (i.e. research torpedo attack for carrier group and surface fleet attack for HB or TB? Is one style more effective against carriers or heavy fleets?

2). When conducting an attack on either airfields or ground units, is a TB with the same ground attack rating more effective then a HB with equal rating? Historically speaking, it would make sense that a TB in direct support of an attack can better pick its targets but would be more vulnerable to ground fire, where as a HB carries more destructive power and is less vulnerable to ground fire but is less accurate in pinpointing units.

Sincerely,

-Michael

[rjh1971]

For your first question I always research torpedos opposed to surface attack, iirc the BB armor is not taken into account when attacked by torpedoes, so you have better chances to score a hit with torpedoes than with bombs.

As for the 2nd question I think there are modifiers in Global Glory and AWD Deluxe scenarios, you should check their documentation and also the manual for combat modifiers.

Hope it helps, also I'm speaking by memory haven't read the manual in a long time.

[lupine91602]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post.

I usually play Global Glory, so I'll check out the combat mods.

[SGT Rice]

1) I agree with Rafael that torpedoes are a better purchase. Usually the only case where this research makes sense is for the Japanese and WA CAGs to make them more effective against each others BBs.

With that said, an enterprising German player making provisions for commerce raiding might consider investing in surface attack along with extra speed (i.e., range) for one of his aircraft types ... if the intended targets are transports then torpedoes don't really help.

2) Page 82, Section 8.7.1 of the manual spells out the dice roll modifiers for aircraft attacking ground targets; in the particular case you cite, there's no differentiation between HBs and TBs.

[lupine91602]

Thank you SGT Rice!  I didn't realize surface attack was more effective against transports.  It sounds like a good call for one of Germany's aircraft.  If I succeed in invading or weakening the UK, I like to try and sweep combat ships in the Med. to slow down the attack on Italy.