Frances against Betties

[GreyJoy]

I was comparing the two wondering if there was a pratical reason not to keep on flying the G4N1 untill 1944 (when the second generation of Betties is scheldued to arrive).

The frances are surely faster, but their range is pretty limited.

At the same time, if range becomes a factor, why should i keep the Betty when the G3N3 is so much better in terms of range (it also has the Radar and a MAD, which helps in a multitasking effort)?

I mean, IJNAF has 3 different lines of naval LBA bombers, The Nell, The Betty and the Frances.

Would you build the three of them or you do think one of them can be eliminated?

Maybe eliminating the betty, so to have 1 production line dedicated to the long range multi role bomber, and another line dedicated to a shorter range, very fast, and only for Naval attack role?

What do you folks think?

[Shark7]

Way I look at it:

No matter what plane I have I end up choking back their range since the IJNAF bombers get slaughtered if not escorted to target. So range really isn't an issue for me.

[CV 2]

Range is good if the allies send forces beyond their fighter cover. Dont look for that to happen often.

Another effect range has is it allows you to search further. This has advantages especially in late war. Thus the reason I keep the Nell in production (albeit in small numbers) throughout the war.

And finally, range can be VERY useful late war in night attacks. Forcing him to put a part of his fighter force on night defense and in otherwise secure areas.

By all means, upgrade to Francis (speed is the primary role in air to air combat), but dont change ALL of them.

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: Shark7



No matter what plane I have I end up choking back their range since the IJNAF bombers get slaughtered if not escorted to target. So range really isn't an issue for me.

This...

[Commander Stormwolf]

make Frances

use the model with the Ha-45 homare (the one with bad servicibility)

you need the armor to surive fighters (38/1 better than 36/0),
you need the speed to survive flak (340mph a lot better than 266 or 290mph)


you don't want to fight an attritional campaign,
you want to put all your torpedo planes in a giant mass with lot of escort

so bad service rating doesn't matter, most of them will not come back

normally i keep my outer perimeter empty and use frances in
*the decisive battle* at marianas or elsewhere

[obvert]

I'm about to get the Frances for the first time and I'm curious as well to see the difference. I'm hoping that speed and armor will get more to target than with Bettys and Nells. In naval attacks these two have been useful for a while now, while they are still useful for LR search and night missions. I'll keep all three lines going for some of the reasons stated and one other. I also want to see if the ohka is useful with the Bettys later in the war.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

ORIGINAL: Shark7



No matter what plane I have I end up choking back their range since the IJNAF bombers get slaughtered if not escorted to target. So range really isn't an issue for me.

This...

+1. The effective early-war range of the Betty/Nell is not 20+. It's 14, because that is the max extended range of the Zero.

I do agree to have a few long-range for Air Search, because they are useful for that function

[PaxMondo]

I like the Nell, produce it the whole war.  Betty, some, but not so much once the G3M3 Nell is available.  Cheap patrol and effective night bombing.  That's how they were used for most of the war after early '42, so ....
 
Day bombing is limited to your escort range after about 4/42, and by late war that is pretty short (Sam/Frank neither have a lot of range).  Some like to use Oscar/Zero as "ablative" armor.  I think that works, but only a few times.  Once you have "trained" up so many allied pilots it rapidly starts to fail as a viable tactic.  Kami's are pretty short range as well.