Feb 10, 2006

[forHIM]

Not a good night.  As expected we were slaughtered.  I took a peek at the raw logs and we were killed.  No kills, 3 to 5 assists (and some of those may have been ourselves), only 3 of us hit something at A10.  Got barked at by a couple of squads trying to henpeck us into a tight formation.   All in all I was thankful for a short night.  less than 30 minutes of having to fly that slow beast with no real self defense options.

BTW: this is not an attack on the CM or the design.  Just venting frustration at the game and in life. 

[skernsk]

Was the escort light?  I know that the Frame CO was using alot of Ju's which at 45 points per formation = alot of points for the Allied.  I had hoped for a more balanced turnout in numbers and some escorts for the JU's....

[forHIM]

There were a lot of escorts, but they all sat right above us.  So the la5's sceamed in from on high and were disciplined enough to kill the bombers first.  Then when the la5s were lower/slower, the p40s came in.  Not sure what could have been done to prevent this, but looking at the 45 points per formation versus sending a massive fighter raid, I think I'd send the large sweep first and make the JUs sit on the ground for 30 minutes or take the longest route there so the fighter sweep knocks most of the enemy out.  Then the bombers can roll in after T+60 and mop up.  The cannons on the la5 / yaks were just to much.  I hope the other areas of the battlefield did better.

I noticed the orders also sort of put all bombers (both us and vfs1000) under vfs1000's direction, but I don't think I heard anything from vs1000.  I do know they rolled into target 5-8 minutes after we did.  So this could have played a factor (splitting the escort somewhat).  Who knows, I'm doing a lot of monday morning quarterbacking and side line shooting, so I'll shut up now and go to bed.

[Sour]

I think the orders said it all:

The purpose of this attack is to not only to destroy these targets but to provoke an attack by enemy fighters.

This was a silly plan. Since when does anyone in AH ever need to be provoked to attack? How often does anyone worry about
cover fighters if they can blow through get to the bombers (and get their easy kills)?

The only way to have a successful attack in this game is to have one (or more) fighter sweeps ahead  to drag down cover and
then to bring buffs in high with additional cover. Better off having just a few buffs that have better chance going in then to have
many that have no chance.

Other option is to attack with heavy fighters. At least some will get in and cause some damage.
 
LOL - quite an armchair general, aren't I? OK, I am done. 
Sorry I missed it. I have been feeling under the weather last couple days and had to follow spousal orders.

<S>
Sour

[skernsk]

Heh, seems to me that the Allied used mainly fighters carrying eggs to do the damage.  We used 50+ Ju88's - I know you called it ahead of the Frame Sour so you can pat yerself on the back and go shine up that 'star'

I am waiting for a CO to actually clue in and use the 190 Jabo, the Stuka's complete with second life and a sky full of fighters to bring us on to glory.  You can waste the Stuka's and not lose the event, but at 45 points per bomber formation you seal a loss for your side.

Daddog, next Squad-Op when we pick sides, forget about Axis and Allied and just ask to be on the WINNING side!  LOL!

[HeavyH]

I'm wondering why we didn't fly northeast to the 12.10 sector, then east to the 14 line, then sw to the target?  By then, the lala's would have been re-fueling, and or growing anxious from the 1.5 hours of 25K orbiting.  I would have had 2 sets of bombers hold 30 mins, then go up the gut like we went while the rest of the group set up for the back door attack.  The escorts would have had their fun on our RTB.  There's no way in RL that a whole flight of bombers would have been sacrificed for a couple of flights of fighters.                     

Oh well, all in fun, right?  And to think... I was just settling down after last Sunday's Ref debacle.  <<<---   

[skernsk]

The rules state that you must attack your objectives by T+60.  So you could have spent time climbing as long as you get to target by T+60.  LA's would have likely run out of ammo before fuel as the multiplier was not MA standard.  I think they would have over 1 hour fuel if they were smart.

[daddog]

Ya the Ju-88's can't really defend themselves too well, at least not against 20mm cannons.

Sour pegged it.

If I was the Frame C.O. for the Axis for Frame 3 I would consider several things.

1 - Large fighter sweeps ahead of the Ju-88's (if I used them)
2 - Large fighter sweeps ahead fo the jabo fighters. Then maybe just a small squad or two of Ju-88's that would come in well after the first hour since the target would have already been attacked.

Sorry guys.. crossing my fingers for frame 3.