S3 Series

In the Solomons terrain there are several groups of static ships representing fleets that are tied to different locations. Are there any groups like that in the NG terrain, or are all the ship icons representing AI shipping?

All the static ships are near ports/docks and not out to sea. The icons on the map represent areas where you can expect AI shipping. Do to the historical nature of the area you will expect to find not only convoys but individual ships making a run for it between harbours. There should be more of a range of smaller AI shipping targets with a few large and escorted ones thrown in. Again I would test the guns of the two strike a/c you have on ships in the MA to see what works best.

I wasn't aware the B25C had any forward firing guns....is there a new model I should have known about?

Sorry the B25C is the same as it has been for awhile. I would check out some of the bombloads and try them on shipping.
I am not sure but there was talk in Total Sims of the offline plane ship GV hardness being the same as the MA. Not sure if that was in the latest update.
If so its super easy to test then offline. Make a mbl routine and then attack it.