S3 Series

I don't want to CO the frame, but figured it would be good for all squads to post their thoughts for their own first sorties and we can go from there. GCI might be smart to have.

The 23rd is thinking 3-4 of us are going to be in B17's, leaving 2-3 as escorts, at least the first sortie. Probably use the airstart and hit target 54 near F55, or target 50 near 72. Particulars are not hammered out yet but I have done some testing on Ballbearing and Aluminum factory objects. Seems that MOST types of factory related buildings need 1000 hit points to go down. I didn't seem any over 1000. That is supposedly less than 2 500# hits. A salvo of 3 worked fine it seemed, salvo of 1 with ai no work. Forgot to turn salvo on for the salvo of 2 run. I need to do a bit more testing and will report when I can.

Ohsix did a nice job on recon photos as well...posted in another thread.
Post your squads leanings...
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Suggested plan: The idea is to mass the max number of our fighters to inflict high losses on the LW fighters up front while denying them a shot at our bombers. Use a minimal number of bombers to attract LW out of the nearest field to the telegraph target. Allied fighters are to intercept LW before hitting the bomber group. Bombers will turn away from the LW and present tail gunners the best shot. Once the LW is reduced then larger bomber groups can be launched. Hitting targets is secondary at the beginning of the frame.

First Mission,
Use minimal number of B17s (5-6) capable of closing two targets launching out of F58 and climb towards target 20 to max altitude.
Max fighter effort out of F44, climbing to 6,6,5 area. One flight of fighters to stick with bombers just in case a few make it thru the ambush.
Deploy scouts north of the 7 line to find the interceptors and report course and angles.
Scouts may harass but stay alive and keep in contact with the main FG leaders and direct them into the LW gaggle.
If the LW is coming in strength from F67, bombers turn south and target 48, Avionics Factories, then turn SW, targeting 50 then get out.
Main fighter group is to intercept the LW force, bust them up and "Kill Them All" as Juice is found of saying.
Once main FG intercepts LW, the Scouts that have fuel and ammo head north to CAP F67 above Angels 25, harassing LW launching from F67

Second Mission,
Rinse and repeat toward target 20 if things worked out on the first mission

I'm thinking the first sortie we have an almost free run into target 54(ball bearing) near F55. Slight high speed climb or level and beat it to the target.

The target is around 55 miles away and on the return the blue no go zone for the LW is about 30 miles away.
If the Axis launch from an airstart field they won't make it to target in time, but could intercept otw back.
Waiting to see our target then launching puts them grabbing hard where they would be vulnerable to attack by our fighters. Of course these would have enough time to climb to alt if not engaged by a forward sweep.
You could try to split their forces with two groups of buffs one separating and continuing on to target 50 near L72. This would allow fighter cover of both groups at least to the L55 area.

Have to remember that for the second and later sorties if they want to use the airstart they have to rtb there, just like us. No teleporting I would imagine.
Just my 23rd¢


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split, lets take lead for first bombing sorte, beat feet direct speed run into target to minimize exposure. I would think with wingmen in a diamond formation within 100 ft of yourself that 1 bomb per 1000 pt target would be enough as the 500 lb bomb has a large enough radius for your wingmen's bombs to overlap blast radius, but perhaps 1 more test.
Also , if I may suggest for fighter escort, in old days, it was worth it to pursue to death and eliminate enemy fighter opposition for the night. With 3 lives however, and airstart, bouncing bad guys to split s otta the fight puts enemy fighters into a low and behind position that can be hard to catch up, instead of dead and respawn, with our own escort in a low and away from buff group. I imagine their big point gain is shooting down buffs, so.....escort ...food for thought.
I didn't look at the radar setup, do we have the kind fo coverage that we indeed need a designated GCI to direct fighter intercept?

Sleepy, last nite I took a single B17(no ai) and dropped 2 500# on 2 targets to see if 2 hits takes it down. Both had one direct hit and one near miss with neither going down. If I have enough time I'll try dropping one bomb with 3 ai and see what happens.

Wish the targets were reset at target 54 near F55 to make it a shorter test run.

4FG should have 14 ftrs available for buff escort. Just confirm target before we launch from 44. We'll start in Jugs and I will GCI for cover. bombr- <S>

The big objects will take 3000 hit points for ED (Bearing Factory 1) objects and 4000 hit points for EE (Bearing Factory 2) objects.
Ref: http://www.squadselectseries.com/archive/files/New%20Terrains%20Object%20List%201.1.pdf

It will take at least three (4 is better) human buffs, dropping a half load of 1K eggs, with max wingman to reduce a bearing/avionics factory target to 90% (one building standing) with a high confidence level. Bomber spread will have to be just right to do it on the first pass. The AL targets will take 6-8.

Bombers can reach target 54 unopposed but the LW will be on them before reaching target 50 I am thinking

I was hoping to get the LW committed to one field (67) for their first air launch by fainting target 20 so they are not coming at the bomber string in different directions which is harder for our fighter to defeat. Once the LW has committed, turn the bomber group away from them forcing a tail chase.

Let the fighters find and engage the LW in force before reaching the bombers. Encourage the LW into a bunch up then give them a Allied fighter wedgie in strenght.

Now we have two differing bomb and destroyed value tables.
Jabo originally said they were the same as in the Main, which is what I believe sleepy posted.

Which is right? I suspect the one ohshix posted.

I have never seen the EA, EC, ED, EE objects in any of the main arenas. I have plotted most of them.

To me, saying the values are the same as the main is not saying much.

PS, I have noticed the wing-men are slow to adjust formation so last minute course changes from the IP effect the bomb pattern.

Ill ouble check values nad post info before frame time