Airstrike: Do fighters escort?

[Captain Cruft]

I bought this yesterday, and what a beautiful creation it is!

The list of questions in my head is rather large, but for now I will ask only one:

On an Airstrike, do the Fighters in the air unit "escort" or do they act as bombers?

Thanks [:)]

[Vic]

@captain,
 
Hi there. They do both. If the strike is intercepted they will attack the enemy aircraft, if there is no intercept the fighters will join in the punishment of the land units in the hex.

[Captain Cruft]

I see, thanks.

I was confusing it with other games where you have to set a mission of "escort" otherwise the fighters suffer penalties from having to carry a bombload.

So essentially the only difference between class "Fighters" and class "non-Fighters" is that Fighters can perform intercepts. The actual combat parameters are separate, so you could theoretically have a type of bomber which is also an uber aerial combat machine.

Or at least I think ... Must learn to walk before attempting to run [;)]

[Twotribes]

The game as frontline and rear area types. I believe fighters are front line and bombers ( not sure on dive bomber) are rear area. This means that the enemy fighters must drive off breakthrough or kill the fighters before attacking the bombers.

[tweber]

Fighter and non-fighters perform the same way.  They can both drive off enemy air.  The split is for combat preference and combat effectiveness.  You can allow flak and fighters to concentrate on the non-fighters to avoid damage.  You can make fighters more effective against non - fighters. 

[wolflars]

Is there any advantage or disadvantage to having bombers and fighters in the same unit as opposed to creating a unit comprised of only one subformation?

[Artmiser]

Also if you use your fighters to do ground attacks they dont have the ap to intercept, so this does kind of reflect mission loading so to speak.
 

[tweber]

The more units, the more flexibility in that you can attack more targets.  However, the incremental unit counter is not free so there are tradeoffs.  Also as you get higher up the R&D tree, the range of fighters and tac bombers is different so it is better to have your fighters separate.  The intercept is based on readiness so this might not be impacted if the run the previous turn was not heavily contested.
 
A good mix might be:
 
- a couple of small fighter units for recon
- a large fighter unit for air superiority
- a couple of bomber groups for flexibility
 
Exact numbers and composition is scenario dependent.

[seille]

ORIGINAL: tweber
- a couple of small fighter units for recon
- a large fighter unit for air superiority
- a couple of bomber groups for flexibility

And i can tell you guy´s that works great [:D]

[wolflars]

ORIGINAL: tweber
  Also as you get higher up the R&D tree, the range of fighters and tac bombers is different so it is better to have your fighters separate. 

Ah, okay so for example in the Europe 39 scenario the German player starts out with 3 (?) air units whose subformations include fighters and bombers. Based on what you say here it might be best to separate them at some point. If I understand you correctly then, if I do so, a bombing mission will still receive escort in the same manner they would if they were in the same unit. No penalties or the like?

[JAMiAM]

ORIGINAL: Artmiser

Also if you use your fighters to do ground attacks they dont have the ap to intercept, so this does kind of reflect mission loading so to speak.

Correct me, if I'm wrong, but isn't interception based upon readiness, and not remaining AP?

[SlowHand]

I thought so too. In the Manual, and when you mouse-over the "Intercept Box" in the Unit View, the text says it's the Readiness Level below which your Force will no longer attempt intercepts.

[Willburn]

I have had interceptors with 0 ap left intercept so yes it is based on readiness. Its still risky if you have no clue what your enemy got of airplanes, if he hits you with 4 fighters vs your 1 your screwed..  (for example.)

[seille]

ORIGINAL: Willburn

I have had interceptors with 0 ap left intercept so yes it is based on readiness. Its still risky if you have no clue what your enemy got of airplanes, if he hits you with 4 fighters vs your 1 your screwed..  (for example.)

Exactly Willburn ! No knowing how many planes the opponent can use it´s very risky to set own fighters to intercept.
A clever opponent could use this and knock out most of your planes.