Is reconnaissance part of the strat?

[buhdman]

(still wondering)

Hi,

I was wondering if your strategic functionality included the use of reconnaissance aircraft?  It would be an easy thing to implement (relatively speaking of course).  You could have a part of your ops center (or whatever you call the "place" you go when you're planning your flights) dedicated to showing the "latest" photo-reconn of each base and major target.  A cameras could be added as new load-out options.  Reconn pilots could then fly over targets of interest and update take pictures of them.  If they successfully RTB, then they could "deliver" their pictures to photo-analysis which would update the ops center photos.  Pilots planning a mission would be able to "drill down" on their planned target area and see what targets are still available, which need more work, and which have been destroyed.

This could be an interesting addition to the strat and would give us one more mission option to choose from.  Ideal for "loners" or people whose squads aren't their that night or whatever.

Just a thought.

buhdman, out

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Walt (buhdman) Barrow
(formerly lt-buhd-lite)

[This message has been edited by buhdman (edited 08-20-1999).]

[buhdman]

still wondering ...

[Crapgame]

Good post and a relevant question Buhd.

<punt>

HARCrapgame <<+
Kommandeur
Hell's Aces Sqdn.

[MrHanky]

Very interesting.  Sounds like a great idea.  But you would have to limit the planes that could carry the camera, let only the A/C that had recon varients use the camera.  I agree that RTB for photo update should be manditory.  Maybe ad an advanced instruments factory to the strat model.  We could bomb this factory and take away the enemy's recon equipment and maybe their reflector sight so they'd have to use ring sights.

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MrHanky
http://members.xoom.com/jms546
The Pale Horses Squadron
"...and the rider's name was death."

[Pyro]

We're not planning on photo-recon as part of the system.  It would be kinda neat but most people would prefer to blow something up rather than take a picture of it.



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Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations

[Aussie]

Also, because of the fast nature of the action in the arena, by the time you got back with the photos, the situation would have changed and the photos would be no good to you.

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aussie
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Any ship can be a minesweeper... once.

[Downtown]

In the "Flying Tigers" book they talked about stripping the guns, and other items from a P-40 to make it lighter and faster,  I believe they cut a hole through the floor, and fitted plexiglass.

Eric SHilling flew this plane on recon missions.

Would be a cool option, stripped down plane, camera only loadout.

But I'm willing to wait on this one.

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"I could feel the 20MM Cannon impacting behind me so I made myself small behind the pilot armor" Charlie Bond AVG

[Batmann]

We must be able to scout off-line.  If on-line reconnaissance is needed, there should be Army --- tank, trench mortar or troops, etc. They may be operated host computer and becomes threatening in the capturing game.

Projecting at airfields in recon photo that somebody took, everybody can see it. It must be very useful strategic infomation. Isn't it nice idea ?

[leonid]

Pyro:
Hmm.  In the interests of making it simpler yet somewhat realistic, how about this:

A recon loadout would strip your guns, giving one a bit more performance, but it would also give one a 'bombsight-like' ability.  Depending on how various aircraft were actually fitted with cameras, a pilot would have specific 'views' from which to see through a zoom-lens, much like a bombsight with various magnifications.  For example, a Spitfire might have down-view and port-view alignments when looking through the camera along with the ability to zoom in for a better view.  Any information could then be radioed to whomever needed it.

[Bugjam]

 

Also, because of the fast nature of the action in the arena, by the time you got back with the photos, the situation would have changed and the photos would be no good to you.

Just like in RL  

Action may be fast in arena but the time frame is much shorter than in RL.

E.g. Fly to Ruhr from England, take the picts, bring em back. After getting the picts to right hands, planning the raid and actually getting the planes over the target must have taken something like 24hrs. Alot can happen in 24 hrs and if the recon plane was spotted (as it usually was i suspect) the enemy was probably waiting for the attack and being prepared for it.

Photo recon would be neat   Other question is who would actually fly photo recon a/c, there should be other advantage but only the picts. Also if clouds are not implemented taking picts will be alot easier than in RL.

Bug