I'd like to re-introduce a few points to the 88mm AAA game for thought. My last thread got a little out of hand, so I'd like to start fresh.
WWIIFrom the sources I've been reading, I've come to basic understanding that the German AAA defenses had two primary sections: target range/fire control and the artillery battery. Before the use of radar, the Germans had optical range finders that would estimate target data to gain a firing solution. Radar direction and ranging certainly would have improved the firing data. When the target data was determined, it was telephoned to the personnel manning the flak batteries. The flak batteries would then align their guns to match the coordinates provided to them before opening fire. The flak batteries would have required 9-11 soldiers per gun and I beleive the fire control required an additional 3. It was estimated that 3,300 shells fired were required to bring a buff down. I know we can't match the real life grand scale, but maybe we can proportionally bring this aspect to AH.
AHIIThe technicalities mounted by the use of so many instruments and advanced math/ballistics eludes my inferior brain. Real life obviously required scores of well-trained men to competently operate this system. For the game, I've thought of a few possible situations:
1) AAA defense could at least be a two player game: one to operate a range finder/fire control station, and one ore more players operating the gun batteries. The fire controller could estimate the target data and then submit it for the gunners to view. How exactly one should do this is debatable, but I envision a system similar to our manual bomb site. The gunner(s) would then align the gun to match the submitted targeting data. Again, this process is debatable,
but my idea is for a display in the corner of the gunner's monitor showing the elevation/vector data of the target and the elevation/vector orientation of the gun (similar to comparing calibrated and true air speed/altitude in the bomb site). When the measurements match, fire at will.
2) the availability of the targeting system could be tied to the status of the field radar for base flak defense, and to the HQ for strat/HQ defense. If radar is disabled, then the 88's can only follow the method in current use. Fields will only have one gun per player to operate due to AT reasons, but I'd like to see mannable guns at the strat and HQ as well. The strat/HQ guns could be on flak towers with four 88's operated by one player
. As a result, AI puffy ack lethality would need to be turned down to just provide supporting fire power mimicking the hundreds of guns defending these critical objectives.
To wrap it up, accuracy will only be as good as the target coordinator can submit and refine the data. With a 2-part process along with shell randomization and different gun positions, I don't think this will be a considered a laser beam. It will however bring an additional interesting dynamic to country defense as well as increase accuracy against high alt buffs in the 20-25k range.
My record so far I believe is a dozen level bomber kills within a range of 3.5 thousand yards (max altitude of my kills were around 13.5 thousand feet). Don't know what the record is on a ranged kill but that's all i've done with the current system and hundreds of shells fired. At the very least, I wish the 88's would have a display showing the azimuth and angle of the gun's orientation. If it was left off intentionally, the so be it.
Sources:
1)
http://www.lonesentry.com/manuals/88mm-antiaircraft-gun/german-artillery-fire-control-equipment.html2)
http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/air/eur/sbc/gd/flak.html3)
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/88mm-flak-series-flugabwehrkanone.htm<S> ShtGn
Edit: It just hit me. When the fire controller determined the vector and altitude of incoming buffs, they determined a point for the guns to fire at. Was it then intended for the buffs to fly through the ensuing flak barrage until they passed that aiming point? I don't think they would have been able to predict the precise location for the amount of lead necessary because, as said, there were many guns with differing perspectives. If so, then this won't change the concept of my wish. It would just be that the buffs will "eventually" fly through the point the fire coordinator submits based off of the data determined. The efficiency of the defensive fire will therefore be a variable of how well the the coordinator can track, refine and submit the target data. As far as scoring goes, the coordinator can land the summation of kills as a result of his/her efforts (no perks, just like a field gun). Not a problem, at least for me, as the incentive is not the points but the to ruin the other guy's flight
Edit: I'm sure lag will adversely affect the coordination between target, director and gunner. That will just serve to further reduce the accuracy, but it will still be more refined for engaging high-alt buffs than what we have now.
