P51D...best use?

[Rusty1961]

When you get it, do you use it as a sweeper or an escort for American bombers?

[Lokasenna]

Both. What does the situation call for? What opposition can I expect it to face (which planes)? Do my bombers need the escort? Etc.

[Lowpe]

Strafing trains and stuff. Don't use them as sweepers or escorts.[;)]

25 years ago I strafed trains with them in Flight Simulator. So, I know of what I speak.[:D]

[Rusty1961]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Both. What does the situation call for? What opposition can I expect it to face (which planes)? Do my bombers need the escort? Etc.

Attacking Japan. The P47D25 will be available for sweeps, so should I reserve the B and D models for Escort?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Both. What does the situation call for? What opposition can I expect it to face (which planes)? Do my bombers need the escort? Etc.

Attacking Japan. The P47D25 will be available for sweeps, so should I reserve the B and D models for Escort?

This game penalizes escort role so much that the late-war Japanese fighters will eat up the P-51s escorting. That will spare the B-29s somewhat (depending on numbers of IJA fighters), but it might be better to sweep with the P-51s to give your pilots a chance to dish out some hurt.

The sweeps might not come in before the bombers but the object is to destroy his fighters, not give them experience shooting down escorts. The bombers have defensive armament so they are not helpless.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Both. What does the situation call for? What opposition can I expect it to face (which planes)? Do my bombers need the escort? Etc.

Attacking Japan. The P47D25 will be available for sweeps, so should I reserve the B and D models for Escort?

This game penalizes escort role so much that the late-war Japanese fighters will eat up the P-51s escorting. That will spare the B-29s somewhat (depending on numbers of IJA fighters), but it might be better to sweep with the P-51s to give your pilots a chance to dish out some hurt.

The sweeps might not come in before the bombers but the object is to destroy his fighters, not give them experience shooting down escorts. The bombers have defensive armament so they are not helpless.

Sure, escorts are penalized... but I haven't found the P-51D to be a particularly good sweeper in any case, so the opportunity cost of using them as escorts instead isn't particularly high.

[Rusty1961]

Thanks, guys.

[Macclan5]

Of course the answer is 'it depends' as there are so many tools to deal with so many different tactical situations.

No one mentioned P51D LR CAP over Japanese Bases ?

Not Tokyo at end game where it seems to store up 1000's of fighters - but smaller base - edge targets at point of advance - where I am sending the Liberators and Superfortresses to hit.

Cannot say its perfect but situationally may be appropriate.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

Of course the answer is 'it depends' as there are so many tools to deal with so many different tactical situations.

No one mentioned P51D LR CAP over Japanese Bases ?

You are on to something here, when combined with sweeps to catch bleeding CAP or smaller CAP.

I think a great use is to LRCAP task forces that might draw a Japanese aerial strike.

[Rusty1961]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

Of course the answer is 'it depends' as there are so many tools to deal with so many different tactical situations.

No one mentioned P51D LR CAP over Japanese Bases ?

Not Tokyo at end game where it seems to store up 1000's of fighters - but smaller base - edge targets at point of advance - where I am sending the Liberators and Superfortresses to hit.

Cannot say its perfect but situationally may be appropriate.

You've had success with that?

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

Of course the answer is 'it depends' as there are so many tools to deal with so many different tactical situations.

No one mentioned P51D LR CAP over Japanese Bases ?

Not Tokyo at end game where it seems to store up 1000's of fighters - but smaller base - edge targets at point of advance - where I am sending the Liberators and Superfortresses to hit.

Cannot say its perfect but situationally may be appropriate.

You've had success with that?

Much. To the point that I never use any Allied fighter for escort. Better to set half my fighters as sweepers and half as LRCAP over the target. Hope that the sweeps go in first and one at a time. (Yes, uncoordinated) They will just eat up enemy fighter strength and the bombers, even if opposed, generally suffer very little. There is the risks that the sweeps will go in last or that the LRCAP won't show to protect the bombers but this is rare enough. I am in mid 1944 and my fighter pools are still very thin. I just can't imagine any Allied player who thinks they can waste good pilots on deadly escort missions.

[Macclan5]

+1

Sorry did not see the original response.

However that is indeed my 'tactic'. Perhaps I learned it from CRSutton in some obscure arcane thread I read over a year ago... or WITPQs or the usual cast of vets. [&o]

I am a poor subject to say 'success' as I have only been through the game 2 full times (Allied) and then only against the AI.

However

P51D on LRCAP (preferred) matched to the Bombers alt.

if possible and arranged correctly (the way I like it)

'Jugs' on Sweep 20K - closer than....
'F4U's' on Sweep 15K

I prefer the Jugs and F4U performance in sweeps albeit the my evidence is purely anecdotal.

[Anachro]

I like this idea and thanks for it as the penalties to fighters on escort are way too harsh in this game.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

Of course the answer is 'it depends' as there are so many tools to deal with so many different tactical situations.

No one mentioned P51D LR CAP over Japanese Bases ?

Not Tokyo at end game where it seems to store up 1000's of fighters - but smaller base - edge targets at point of advance - where I am sending the Liberators and Superfortresses to hit.

Cannot say its perfect but situationally may be appropriate.

You've had success with that?

Much. To the point that I never use any Allied fighter for escort. Better to set half my fighters as sweepers and half as LRCAP over the target. Hope that the sweeps go in first and one at a time. (Yes, uncoordinated) They will just eat up enemy fighter strength and the bombers, even if opposed, generally suffer very little. There is the risks that the sweeps will go in last or that the LRCAP won't show to protect the bombers but this is rare enough. I am in mid 1944 and my fighter pools are still very thin. I just can't imagine any Allied player who thinks they can waste good pilots on deadly escort missions.

Who said anything about good pilots? You should have plenty of 50 Exp/70 Air/50ish Defense pilots. They train quickly enough...

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961




You've had success with that?

Much. To the point that I never use any Allied fighter for escort. Better to set half my fighters as sweepers and half as LRCAP over the target. Hope that the sweeps go in first and one at a time. (Yes, uncoordinated) They will just eat up enemy fighter strength and the bombers, even if opposed, generally suffer very little. There is the risks that the sweeps will go in last or that the LRCAP won't show to protect the bombers but this is rare enough. I am in mid 1944 and my fighter pools are still very thin. I just can't imagine any Allied player who thinks they can waste good pilots on deadly escort missions.

Who said anything about good pilots? You should have plenty of 50 Exp/70 Air/50ish Defense pilots. They train quickly enough...

Well, just as important is the air frames. In 1944 the only significant fighter in my pool is the P47 with about 250. But they are out of production. My reserves are so scarce that I can't see wasting any on escort missions.

[Yaab]

Strafing! P51D should give the Japs a PTSD...