Role For Seaplanes

[Vudu15]

lvt's already do that

so...

and what about the pete?

[BaldEagl]

I thought I remembered PBY's being able to carry small ord loads (bombs and torps) so there'd be a use for them.

[muzik]

There could easily be roles for any float planes including PBYs. There is no reason not to have them.

One of the best reasons for having them is simply that they required an altogether different skill take of and land and were an important part of the war.

But plenty of other good reasons have been suggested. Pilot rescue would take no extra modeling other than the A/C. You land next to a downed pilot and stop within 50 yards, done. Pilot is rescued. Bomber perks should be awarded the pilot.

Recon. It could be arranged so that anyone flying a PBY over an enemy cv as if it was on a recon mission could be awarded perks for entering the dar circle of the enemy cv.

Role-Reward

And from what I hear about the cost of the B29 there should be more ways for players to increase their bomber perks.

[muzik]

Can't really agree with you on that one, Dan.  I don't see any real scenario use for flying boats, so I think MA viability has to play a major role in unit selection and both the H8K2 'Emily' and a later mark Sunderland would be much, much better for the MA.  In addition both the Sunderland and Emily also saw heavy use.

Scenario use could be the same as it was during the war. Since in many scenarios defending fighters arent allowed to take off until some time after the attackers, PBYs could be an exception since in war time there were constant recon flights going on anyhow. So the defending team has a small chance of sighting the attackers before the fighters go up.

[fullmetalbullet]

Scenario use could be the same as it was during the war. Since in many scenarios defending fighters arent allowed to take off until some time after the attackers, PBYs could be an exception since in war time there were constant recon flights going on anyhow. So the defending team has a small chance of sighting the attackers before the fighters go up.

could be used for midway scenario too. i believe the japanese fleet was spotted by PBYs.

[ScottyK]

 add the PBY give it a small dar ring to make enemy CVs  visible.  flame on.

[DemonFox]

I agree with Scotty. PBY should be added and with a mini radar ring as a recon plane but only able to spot CV. The PBY could also be used at a medium bomber it could carry 4000lb and I think it should be able to carry 10 troops but only be able to land to relese troops.
<S> I'm the PBY version of Bar and his M-18 

[Ack-Ack]

I think it should be able to carry 10 troops 

Why should it carry 10 troops when the PBY was not used as a troop transport other than for specialized operations?

ack-ack

[AWwrgwy]

I agree with Scotty. PBY should be added and with a mini radar ring as a recon plane but only able to spot CV. The PBY could also be used at a medium bomber it could carry 4000lb and I think it should be able to carry 10 troops but only be able to land to relese troops.
<S> I'm the PBY version of Bar and his M-18 

PBY used Mk2 eyeballs, not radar for spotting ships.

CVs don't show up on radar now anyhow. Fix that.



wrongway

[Bino]

Why should it carry 10 troops when the PBY was not used as a troop transport other than for specialized operations?

ack-ack

I've read that there were troop transport versions of the Kawanishi H6K "Mavis"...

[Ack-Ack]

I've read that there were troop transport versions of the Kawanishi H6K "Mavis"...

(Image removed from quote.)

Three transport versions of the Emily.

H6K2-L (Naval Transport Flying Boat Type 97)
H6K3 Model 21 (Transport for VIP and high ranking officers) *2 built
H6K4-L

All transport versions were also unarmed.

ack-ack

[Pigslilspaz]

PBY used Mk2 eyeballs, not radar for spotting ships.

CVs don't show up on radar now anyhow. Fix that.



wrongway

I sorta see what Demon was saying, basically the radar ring would be what you can actually see in the game, so the ring would be about 6-8k radius. (about 1/5-1/7 sector length)

[Bino]

One more use I just came across: placing anti-ship mines.  

For example: during several nights in late April 1943, RAAF 11 Squadron used their PBYs to lay mines in both Silver Sound and Ysabel Passage between New Ireland and New Hannover (near Kavieng) to counter Japanese supply ships headed for Rabaul.  This was likely the earliest use by the RAAF of the PBY for mine-laying.*

In-game, mines might possibly delay CV respawns, actively sink ships that hit mines, delay supply barge respawns, etc.




* see "Australia in the War of 1939-1945: Air War against Japan 1943-1945" by George Odgers