Oscar IIa and b

[geofflambert]

What do you think?

I’ve always thought that the Oscar IIa and IIb were awesome planes but I’m starting to think things like what do I need Sallys and Helens for if I can have Oscars? These Oscars have greater range and only use one engine. Yes, the Oscar only carries 2 250kg bombs as opposed to the 4 a Sally or Helen carry, but you can sink pretty much any ship with 2 250kg bombs. I’m thinking of turning bomber crews that are well trained in Naval Attack, ASW and Naval Search and training them to be fighter pilots. Am I crazy?

[geofflambert]

I should say that while I think bombing airfields and ports are sometimes essential, bombing LCUs as far as I am concerned is a joke. I think you can designate a few squadrons to specialize in ground attack while you prepare everything else for what is most important, sinking ships.

[DanSez]

The only note that I might add is that I need all my fighter squadrons to be fighters. It sucks that the IJA single engine bombers are as mediocre as they are. I haven't investigated how many 'bomber' sentais you can switch to single engine fighter or the possible cost in PPs to do so.

I thought about using Oscars III/IV as kamis also until reading some sage advice about the loss of fighter potential that represents and in 1944/45, there are a lot of pressing needs for your fighters, to just waste them in one shot bolts of dubious effect is a great loss of opportunity to defend and delay the weight of the Allied air assault on the homeland.

I haven't made it that far yet, but working on getting there --- so if you can flip bombers to Oscars at a reasonable cost, you might have an interesting strategy.

[Lowpe]

Fighters can't do ASW...and some other missions.

I am not sure why you don't need all the fighter squadrons to be fighters?

Oscars get shredded by flak...but if they live at least they repair super fast.

They do make good bombers used correctly.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Oscars get shredded by flak...but if they live at least they repair super fast.

This. You can happily bomb isolated tanks in the open. But as soon as you get over decent flak your Oscars are toast with their low durability.
Edit: been there, done that personally. Having a third of daitai consistently shot down from 7k feet by flak every run is no fun. And that was against AI units like divisions in the open field so built in AA only.

[LargeSlowTarget]

I have recently started using Oscar IV on low naval attack. They are not doing great but still better than IJA level bombers which are slower and also very vulnerable to CAP and AA. Being faster and more maneuverable, the Oscars seem to have better chances to get through. Plus IMO IJA bombers are more useful to prevent fort construction in enemy bases during the expansion phase, to pound the Chinese hordes and for ASW for the rest of the war. With their light weapon suite, Oscars are poor sweepers / CAP planes, even early in the war. Low naval attacks and serving as "ablative armor" (escort) seem to be the best use for them.

[MrKane]

Unit of Ki-43 escorted by 2-3 units of K-84 will delivery payload always to target. CAP reaction time is to short to intercept this kind of strike. If you send then over 15k, Frank's escort will decimate CAP. Problem is only for enforce such raid

[Leandros]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

What do you think? Am I crazy?

No more than usual, I should think....[;)]

Fred

[crsutton]

My opponent has used them very effectively for naval attack and as kamikazes. I would do the same, so your idea is not out of line. Go for it....Just bear in mind that they are more effective vs smaller ships. If they hit a capital ship-even with the bombs they just tend to bounce off and disintegrate.

[Lokasenna]

I hate Oscars. They're useful in the first 8 or so months of the war when the Allies are still using P-40E's, Hurricanes, and P-39/P-400s. Even Wildkittens beat Oscars.

The only good Oscar is Oscar the Grouch.

[MrKane]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I hate Oscars. They're useful in the first 8 or so months of the war when the Allies are still using P-40E's, Hurricanes, and P-39/P-400s. Even Wildkittens beat Oscars.

The only good Oscar is Oscar the Grouch.

I am using them only as kamikaze planes, usually escorted by Franks R. No other combination have chance get under dead-star CAP. Got 3 allied carriers once in single action + 40-60 Hellcats for only a few Franks and 49 Ki-43.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Fighters can't do ASW...and some other missions.

I am not sure why you don't need all the fighter squadrons to be fighters?

Oscars get shredded by flak...but if they live at least they repair super fast.

They do make good bombers used correctly.

Just checked, and you seem to be right, except Rufes can do ASW. Wonder why that is?

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I hate Oscars. They're useful in the first 8 or so months of the war when the Allies are still using P-40E's, Hurricanes, and P-39/P-400s. Even Wildkittens beat Oscars.

The only good Oscar is Oscar the Grouch.

My neighbors have a cat named Oscar. He can growl while being petted.

[PaxMondo]

This was already investigated in great depth. Look for the HIVE AAR ... back maybe 3 years?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

This was already investigated in great depth. Look for the HIVE AAR ... back maybe 3 years?

Captain Cruft's.....tm.asp?m=3043051

He put together 1,000 + Oscar Bombing raids. Excellent AAR for Japanese tactics outside of the mainstream.

[PaxMondo]

Yeah really sad it ended when it did. finally got to the point where the strategy would be tested and the AAR ended .... very sad ....

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yeah really sad it ended when it did. finally got to the point where the strategy would be tested and the AAR ended .... very sad ....

Might've ended specifically because the strategy failed the test, eh.
It is very hard to restrain yourself from reporting your strategical success

[Lowpe]

He was very close to losing by AV...I think only 7,000 points. He almost pulled off a game changing encirclement at Hong Kong....although I doubt he could have destroyed the Allied troops, it might have bought him a lot of time or perhaps not if the Allies would have pursed a night bombing campaign over Honshu from Luzon.

Still, he had a lot of toys left with to counter punch. His economy was in great shape.[;)]

[Yaab]

I know fighters jettison ordnance when attacked, but is there any in-game penalty for fighters carrying bombs per se? It is just, an Oscar with 2 x 250kg bombs should have its manuverability reduced by half at all times.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

I know fighters jettison ordnance when attacked, but is there any in-game penalty for fighters carrying bombs per se? It is just, an Oscar with 2 x 250kg bombs should have its manuverability reduced by half at all times.

Not to my knowledge.