Bombing question.

[stormbringer3]

The rule of thumb is that over 100 on attacks and defense can lead to penalties. In attacking a target with 100 bombers and 50 fighters as an escort will the bombers attack without a penalty or, since the fighters are in the stack, will there be an bombing atttack penalty?
Thanks.

[LiquidSky]

I am not sure if there is a penalty to the bombing if you overstack air. However, the more planes you bring, the more chances of flak taking out some of the units, and I notice a fair number of times, my fighters get hit by flak.

So I try to 'escort' by sweeping. I hit areas behind the lines with my fighters only, to try and 'use up' the Russian fighters. If he has too many fighters to use up, then I don't bomb in that area, and I transfer more fighters to deal with the problem.

I find the only way I can blow bridges over the major rivers, is to use around 200-300 stacking points of bombers. So more is better.

[stormbringer3]

When you reference fighter sweeping I'm not sure how to do this. Please advise how to do this. What I've done is use fighters on recon missions to try and draw enemy fighters.
Thanks.

[LiquidSky]

Just pick a hex...any hex. As long as it is behind the enemy lines, and in range of your fighter. Click the air attack button....choose one fighter squadron, and let it fight. Even if the hex is empty, enemy fighters may intercept. If lots of them intercept, then do it again in the same area (or even pick a city/airfield) and do it with two squadrons. I never use more then two.

If none intercept there still may be one or possibly two Russians fighters about, but probably not, so I bomb the front line in that area. If my bombers are ever intercepted, then I go back to flying fighter strikes behind the lines until I see in the combat display all the enemy planes are shot down or suppressed.

[stormbringer3]

Thanks, that's really going to help.

[Vic]

Air suffers penalties when having more than 100 stacking points in the hex of combat, but only for air <> land/sea or land/sea <> air battle calculations.

best,
Vic