Author Topic: B5 'Kate' Bomber could have drones (Read 1034 times)

Martyn · « **on:** February 05, 2006, 06:31:26 AM »

I've got a slow PC at the moment, low frame rate, so I decided to take up a Kate (B5N2) with bombs from a carrier to lend a hand flattening a town some way away.

It's a nice gentle ride (chill out man!). On the way I came across an enemy carrier group and had the great satisfaction of reporting its position as well as hitting the CV (10k alt) and surviving too - no CAP to bother me, so I flew back to my carrier and re-loaded.

It occured to me that it's a pretty vulnerable plane with a small bomb load and would be ideal to fly with drones - but you can't. In fact, it'd a lot more useful if it could be flown with drones.

Is it only because it carrier launchable that it can't have the 'Formation' option selected?

Would a full flight of 3 planes with bombs be able to sink a CV using bombs?

Ghosth · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2006, 07:03:56 AM »

None of the carrier attack bombers have drones.

When formations first came out Hitech had enough problems getting planes up & down at runways. Suspect carriers would have been more problematic.

But I agree, both the TBM and the B5n Kate need formations.

SMIDSY · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2006, 09:36:22 AM »

yah, the drones can only go in the directions set by the runways. that is why all the airfields are in the same configuration. it would be next to impossible to code it in for a CV.

Saxman · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2006, 10:18:49 AM »

How so? Aren't drones already set up to follow the lead plane?

SMIDSY · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2006, 12:56:10 PM »

not on takeoff. on takeoff and landing they go in a strait line. have you ever veered off the runway durring a BUFF takeoff? the drones follow the runway untill you gain enough altitude.

mussie · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2006, 01:00:01 PM »

I have launched a boston with drones from the CV off line.

Only did it once and it worked fine (if I recall correctly)

Raptor · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2006, 12:50:07 AM »

Bombers with formations take off fine from a CV (not in MA)
But offline or in H2H it is possible to take off from a CV in a formation of fully loaded B17's or lancasters (just need to get wings to clear tower).
1 drone starts off on flight deck and the other in the water behind the CV, when taking off they follow and take no damage running into the CV, the one trailing the CV in the water goes through the ship and eventually lifts off undamaged.

Pooh21 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2006, 02:58:52 AM »

why give 2 extra kills?

SMIDSY · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2006, 01:45:29 PM »

i stand corrected.

Tilt · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2006, 09:10:08 AM »

If formations (available/not available) was a selectable setting under FIELDS in the arena set up tables then they could be simply disabled for carriers..................

Could even be disabled for small fields ..............all sorts of options start to come to play by removing the "switch" from hard COAD.

Martyn · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2006, 09:53:44 AM »

I've wondered how come large bombers can operate from small fields - surely they shouldn't be able to?

Saxman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2006, 11:20:46 AM »

I've seen photos of B-17s operating from Henderson field not long after the island was secured. Granted it wasn't as small as Fighter One or Two, but it wasn't exactly a large base, either.

Martyn · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2006, 11:29:06 AM »

My 'understanding' is that even the 'small' fields are actually quite large. They're paved and have fixed buildings - so bombers are OK.

However a lot of grass fields were used for fighter stations - we don't have these in AH.

Jester · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2006, 04:13:40 AM »

Would like to see them do formations on C-47's as well.

Martyn · « **Reply #14 on:** February 08, 2006, 04:41:49 AM »

Oh wow! Yeh - D-Day style airdrops, swamping the ground defences!

However HTC would have to restore the balance somehow by making it more difficult to take a field. They could do that by simply upping the number of troops required to take a field to, say, 25 or 28.

It'd be an impressive sight though - 3 flights of Dakotas would be dropping 90 trps!

BUT I think we should have the US, British and Polish troops all shouting something different when they jump.