What are Wirraways Useful For?
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
What are Wirraways Useful For?
I've got 3 squadrons of Wirraways based at Port Moresby flying ground attack missions at 1000' over Buna. Buna is recon'ed daily and I have 8000 troops battling for the airfield. The Wirraways are all 65+ experience, have under 15 fatigue, and are not encountering any Japanese fighters.
Here's the problem, the Wirraways NEVER do any damage to ground troops in Buna. When I switch them to Airfield Attack, again at 1000', the NEVER damage the airfield. The only thing the Wirraways do is get shot down by anemic flak or get damaged during the mission.
What are these crates for?
Here's the problem, the Wirraways NEVER do any damage to ground troops in Buna. When I switch them to Airfield Attack, again at 1000', the NEVER damage the airfield. The only thing the Wirraways do is get shot down by anemic flak or get damaged during the mission.
What are these crates for?
- HansBolter
- Posts: 7191
- Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:30 pm
- Location: United States
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
ASW close in defense of large ports....it's the only thing I ever use them for.
Hans
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
The RAAF only used the Wirracoffin at all because it was the only thing they had.
We are all dreams of the Giant Space Butterfly.
- Bullwinkle58
- Posts: 11297
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:47 pm
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
ORIGINAL: HansBolter
ASW close in defense of large ports....it's the only thing I ever use them for.
ASW and Recon mostly.
The Moose
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
Training and ASW
Life is tough. The sooner you realize that, the easier it will be.
Dez caught it
Dez caught it
- geofflambert
- Posts: 14887
- Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:18 pm
- Location: St. Louis
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
Training is mainly what they are good for. On average one third of your sqds should be dedicated to training. You might try lowN to begin with, because you might actually get some early opportunities to use that skill. Regular NB should be a high priority, GA after that. Don't bother with lowG because the planes these pilots will graduate to will have much better uses. Think about training them well on NB so that when the Beauforts show up, you can begin training them at NT with them already being proficient at NB which is important if your target turns out to be out of range for torpedo attack, or the base you're forced to use cannot support torpedo planes with inventory.
Keep in mind that the crews you train are more important than the planes, so don't waste them attacking well defended targets. You will have a huge surplus of them and if you're smart the vast majority will end up on the scrap heap.
You could use them for Naval search training or ASW training but I would counsel that you leave that to the US. Employ your Hudsons for search and search training.
The Aussies never get proper recon planes (IIRC) so leave the recon training to the US Army and Navy. Remember to begin training Navy/Marine pilots on recon early because they get some outstanding Liberator recon planes eventually.
Keep in mind that the crews you train are more important than the planes, so don't waste them attacking well defended targets. You will have a huge surplus of them and if you're smart the vast majority will end up on the scrap heap.
You could use them for Naval search training or ASW training but I would counsel that you leave that to the US. Employ your Hudsons for search and search training.
The Aussies never get proper recon planes (IIRC) so leave the recon training to the US Army and Navy. Remember to begin training Navy/Marine pilots on recon early because they get some outstanding Liberator recon planes eventually.
- geofflambert
- Posts: 14887
- Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:18 pm
- Location: St. Louis
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
You may also use some of your Wirraways to train future fighter pilots in strafing and lowG if you wish, but the Aussies never have a whale of a lot of fighters so limit yourself there.
To disagree with HansBolter a bit, the worst planes you have are better trainers than they could ever be doing anything else. They (the Wirraways) are also lousy at ASW because of their limited range. Train, train, train and train.
To disagree with HansBolter a bit, the worst planes you have are better trainers than they could ever be doing anything else. They (the Wirraways) are also lousy at ASW because of their limited range. Train, train, train and train.
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
Look at the Wirraway as being a brother of the SNJ Texan (actually a distant cousin)
It was a training aircraft, and the vast majority were used in that way.
A small detachment saw combat over Rabaul in Jan 41, disatrously.
Other detachments performed Army Co-operation roles, message and supply drops, showing Generals the terrain etc.
Nos 4 & 5 Sqns used them to mark targets for better equipped Fighter Bombers in New Guinea & Bouganville until replaced by the Boomerang.
Use them as trainers, see what aircraft the Sqns upgrade to and then train them in than role.
It was a training aircraft, and the vast majority were used in that way.
A small detachment saw combat over Rabaul in Jan 41, disatrously.
Other detachments performed Army Co-operation roles, message and supply drops, showing Generals the terrain etc.
Nos 4 & 5 Sqns used them to mark targets for better equipped Fighter Bombers in New Guinea & Bouganville until replaced by the Boomerang.
Use them as trainers, see what aircraft the Sqns upgrade to and then train them in than role.
Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
Trainers, yes, but also, as others have said, ASW. If well trained in the first couple of months, they can be usefull to protect Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth from the pesky jap subs.
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
I seem to have enough Hudson Sqn or Detachments for this.ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Trainers, yes, but also, as others have said, ASW. If well trained in the first couple of months, they can be usefull to protect Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth from the pesky jap subs.
A few more units can never hurt to keep the subs down.
Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum
- Jim Stevens
- Posts: 164
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:57 pm
- Location: Woodstock, Georgia USA
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
ORIGINAL: geofflambert
Training is mainly what they are good for. On average one third of your sqds should be dedicated to training. You might try lowN to begin with, because you might actually get some early opportunities to use that skill. Regular NB should be a high priority, GA after that. Don't bother with lowG because the planes these pilots will graduate to will have much better uses. Think about training them well on NB so that when the Beauforts show up, you can begin training them at NT with them already being proficient at NB which is important if your target turns out to be out of range for torpedo attack, or the base you're forced to use cannot support torpedo planes with inventory.
Keep in mind that the crews you train are more important than the planes, so don't waste them attacking well defended targets. You will have a huge surplus of them and if you're smart the vast majority will end up on the scrap heap.
You could use them for Naval search training or ASW training but I would counsel that you leave that to the US. Employ your Hudsons for search and search training.
The Aussies never get proper recon planes (IIRC) so leave the recon training to the US Army and Navy. Remember to begin training Navy/Marine pilots on recon early because they get some outstanding Liberator recon planes eventually.
Thanks for this post. I am sure it's full of good information but speaking as a freshman player the prolific use of abbreviations in the text made me give up trying to understand the post. Please give consideration to those folks who may not live and breath this game so we too can benefit from the wisdoms posted here. Thanks...
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
I wouldn't say they were "lousy" at ASW, as I think ASW really is a short range concept (close to the port in question) and thus this A/C is fine. But yes, training is important. But as it trains only OZ flyers that's of limited use.
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
Wirraway turned out to be quite good FAC/arty observer aircraft. Obviously during air superiority.
"To meaningless French Idealism, Liberty, Fraternity and Equality...we answer with German Realism, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery" -Prince von Bülov, 1870-
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
As a JFB, Wirraways are GREAT for target practice [;)]
[font="Tahoma"]Our lives may be more boring than those who lived in apocalyptic times,
but being bored is greatly preferable to being prematurely dead because of some ideological fantasy.[/font] - Michael Burleigh
but being bored is greatly preferable to being prematurely dead because of some ideological fantasy.[/font] - Michael Burleigh
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
They are good for making Japanese aces.
- Wirraway_Ace
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:28 pm
- Location: Austin / Brisbane
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
This is how I use them too...ORIGINAL: JeffK
Look at the Wirraway as being a brother of the SNJ Texan (actually a distant cousin)
It was a training aircraft, and the vast majority were used in that way.
A small detachment saw combat over Rabaul in Jan 41, disatrously.
Other detachments performed Army Co-operation roles, message and supply drops, showing Generals the terrain etc.
Nos 4 & 5 Sqns used them to mark targets for better equipped Fighter Bombers in New Guinea & Bouganville until replaced by the Boomerang.
Use them as trainers, see what aircraft the Sqns upgrade to and then train them in than role.
- Wirraway_Ace
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:28 pm
- Location: Austin / Brisbane
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
Hudson's in combo with the reasonably numerous depth charge equipped minesweepers the Aussies get are an effective ASW package. To my mind, the Wirraway is a very poor ASW platform. Short legs, light loadout.ORIGINAL: JeffK
I seem to have enough Hudson Sqn or Detachments for this.ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Trainers, yes, but also, as others have said, ASW. If well trained in the first couple of months, they can be usefull to protect Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth from the pesky jap subs.
A few more units can never hurt to keep the subs down.
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
ORIGINAL: Jim Stevens
ORIGINAL: geofflambert
Training is mainly what they are good for. On average one third of your sqds should be dedicated to training. You might try lowN to begin with, because you might actually get some early opportunities to use that skill. Regular NB should be a high priority, GA after that. Don't bother with lowG because the planes these pilots will graduate to will have much better uses. Think about training them well on NB so that when the Beauforts show up, you can begin training them at NT with them already being proficient at NB which is important if your target turns out to be out of range for torpedo attack, or the base you're forced to use cannot support torpedo planes with inventory.
Keep in mind that the crews you train are more important than the planes, so don't waste them attacking well defended targets. You will have a huge surplus of them and if you're smart the vast majority will end up on the scrap heap.
You could use them for Naval search training or ASW training but I would counsel that you leave that to the US. Employ your Hudsons for search and search training.
The Aussies never get proper recon planes (IIRC) so leave the recon training to the US Army and Navy. Remember to begin training Navy/Marine pilots on recon early because they get some outstanding Liberator recon planes eventually.
Thanks for this post. I am sure it's full of good information but speaking as a freshman player the prolific use of abbreviations in the text made me give up trying to understand the post. Please give consideration to those folks who may not live and breath this game so we too can benefit from the wisdoms posted here. Thanks...
Translation:
Training is mainly what they are good for. On average one third of your sqds should be dedicated to training. You might try [Low Naval attack; Naval attack, altitude 1000 ft] to begin with, because you might actually get some early opportunities to use that skill. Regular [Naval Bombardment; Naval attack, Altitude 5000 ft +] should be a high priority, [Ground attack; airfield, port, ground units, altitude 5000 ft +] after that. Don't bother with [Low ground attack training; airfield, port, ground units, altitude 1000 ft] because the planes these pilots will graduate to will have much better uses. Think about training them well on [Naval bombardment; alt 5000 ft +] so that when the Beauforts show up, you can begin training them at [Naval torpedo attack; naval attack, armed with torpedoes] with them already being proficient at [Naval bombardment] which is important if your target turns out to be out of range for torpedo attack, or the base you're forced to use cannot support torpedo planes with inventory.
RE: What are Wirraways Useful For?
All said and done..all planes are useful. Planes that should never be sent to the front line, but can't be upgraded becuase of the lack of planes should be set to 100% training. Any guy with a library card can hop in a Bolo in the game and perform a naval search regardless of his skill until something better comes along. It is better than nothing.
Would I send a 60exp pilot up in a Wirraway to bounce enemy fighters? I would have better luck marrying Diane Lane.
Would I send a 60exp pilot up in a Wirraway to bounce enemy fighters? I would have better luck marrying Diane Lane.
Life is tough. The sooner you realize that, the easier it will be.
Dez caught it
Dez caught it