Escort fighters bombing TFs?

This new stand alone release based on the legendary War in the Pacific from 2 by 3 Games adds significant improvements and changes to enhance game play, improve realism, and increase historical accuracy. With dozens of new features, new art, and engine improvements, War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition brings you the most realistic and immersive WWII Pacific Theater wargame ever!

Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition

Post Reply
User avatar
Yaab
Posts: 5041
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:09 pm
Location: Poland

Escort fighters bombing TFs?

Post by Yaab »


Here is what I have found in a Coral Sea test.

Two groups of 9 x Zero, moved from Rabaul to CV Shokaku and Zuikaku were set on Naval Attack at 10,000 feet, same altitude as the TBs and DBs.

Once the Allied CVs were detected both units joined the Japanese raid as escorts. But after they have shrugged off the Allied CAP , they started dropping bombs on Allied ships!

Here is the combat report:

------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 103,138

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
B5N1 Kate x 3
B5N2 Kate x 17
D3A1 Val x 25

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires
CA Chicago
DD Perkins
CA Chester
DD Anderson
CA Portland, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown

--------------------------------------------------

So, not only the Zeros fought as escorts, but they also bombed ships. Granted, 60kg GP bombs won't dent the capital ships, but in 1944 Allies get CV fighters that carry 2 x 1000 lb bombs, and Japs get CV fighters in 1945 that can carry 2 x 250kg bombs. With some training they may hit something in late war...
User avatar
HansBolter
Posts: 7191
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:30 pm
Location: United States

RE: Escort fighters bombing TFs?

Post by HansBolter »

You're very fortunate your bomb laden escorts managed to "shrug off" the CAP.

Most of the time count on them getting shredded by the CAP even worse than usual.

Escorts are already hampered enough just serving in the escort role, why handicap them even more just to deliver a few oversized grenades.
Hans

User avatar
Yaab
Posts: 5041
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:09 pm
Location: Poland

RE: Escort fighters bombing TFs?

Post by Yaab »

You are right about the grenades, but what surprised me is that those "bomber" Zeros haven't formed a separate bombing group along with Vals and Kates, but joined the escort group, so they contributed to both the fight against CAP as well as the bombing phase. I just haven't noticed this before. Damn, this game is deep.
Dili
Posts: 4713
Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:33 pm

RE: Escort fighters bombing TFs?

Post by Dili »

Yeah. Deep and great are the words.
I think it says the first section only 3 bombed, one dropped the bombs before, so probably entered air combat. In second section only one of four bombed, and in 3rd section all 3 bombed.
Post Reply

Return to “War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition”