Originally posted by Stoney74
I thought it diluted the defense. Gives the offense a bit too much initiative possibly.
Well, and let me expound on this. The defenders at A32 and A34 were separated by almost two sectors. First, the other squad that was assigned to help us defend A32 didn't show, so we were already shorthanded. Once either A32 or A34 was attacked, the defenders over the clear base was to collapse back and help out the other. Once the attack came in we were quickly dispatched and the help arrived later on--they still saw action, but after the fact, so to speak.
Perhaps the CAP for both bases could have been combined into a CAP Station half-way between the bases, but reaction time would have been approximately 5 minutes to either base.
Another contributing factor was the fact that many of the targets on both sides were along the coast, with nothing but water east or west respectively. This meant that there were no base-flashing to help orient the defenders, nor were there gaps between bases through which potential avenues of approach could be covered.
I believe without some sort of "coast watchers" or radar assist, this type of configuration will deal the defense a handicap. They already suffer from a lack of initiative, as the attacker picks the route, altitude, timing, etc.
Of course, had we had more even odds against the attackers at A32 and been able to manage a more credible defense, my opinion may have been different.