This problem is also addressed in my suggested new perk agenda(Follow the link in the sig).
In my view, the reason for sucidal runs and lack of buffs are all linked with the planeset.
I am pretty sure not even the dweebiest of dweebs want to die on purpose. The real point which makes a 'suicidal dweeb' a 'dweeb', is his way of thinking concerning the risk he takes. A suicidal run, most likely, didn't start as one. It was probably a normal fighter/bomber strike as any other.
What drives them into dropping to the field like flies in a puff of RAID? Why are those globs of conga lines of Typhoons or P-51s preferred over "mighty" bombers such as the B-17?
Three main points are given as a reason:
1) Late war fighter bombers are vastly more efficient in MA than a formation of buffs - in accuracy and destructive qualities - thus, buffs, which main point lies in 'mass destruction', are actually likely to do less damage than fighter bombers. That is the reason why buffs are not used.
2) The reason for the fighter bombers being so more efficient, is that many of them carry overloaded ordnance in excess of 2000lbs. Three P-51Ds, P-47s, or Typhoons carry as much, or more ordnance than a single B-17. Their flight time to the target is shorter. They can immediately transfer to the vulch role after the bombing is done. Planes with uncommon, overloaded ordnance negate the very existence of bombers or dedicated JABO attack crafts.
3) Thus, when it comes to risk management, the typical 'suicidal' person is led to think that even if he dies, if he can just put 2k+ worth of ordnance to a target, the target will be considerably weakened. When four, five people - no matter how they are unskilled - commit themselves to about two suicidal runs, they will close a small airfield and deprive it of it's worthiness.
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So, it takes about 3k ordnance to kill a hangar. Late war planes carry 2k+ ordnance. What will a typical suicidal pilot think?
"I'm a newbie, and I'm not sure if I can do it right. But if I succeed, I can help my fellow countrymen to capture this territory. What do I do then?
I know! Take out a buff on a deck alt run, or carry bombs in a fighter and put it on target - NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!
There are risks - in the worst case I'll die. But as long as I put the bombs on target, it is worth it." ...
Then the solution, obviously lies with the need to make people think suicidal runs are not worth it, and only a barrage of bombs from fighter bombers with organized efficiency will ever do them good. It gives them the motive to actually practice bombing and ground attacks, and do better in it.
And at the same time, there is a need to give the specialized JABO planes and buffs their right of existence back.
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The solution I present, is lightly perking late war aircraft, and especially the planes that carry huge loads of ordnance. Under that situation, the most ordnance that unperked planes carry, is about 1000lbs total, or a single 500lb bomb with a few rockets.
One or two suicidal runs are not going to be sufficient. With a 500lb bomb, they'll have to either kill themselves six times straight to down one fighter hangar, or bring 6 frineds just to kill one hangar, provided that not a single of them miss their drop.
Will even the 'dweebs', be that willing to do so?
6 consecutive near-suicidal flights takes about an hour in typical MA field distances. Will they fly an hour, just to go head-on and auger to a field six times?
In those typical 10~20 man Typhoon/P-38 missions, half of them can miss their drop and auger, and still the rest 5~10 planes can kill all three FHs plus the VH.
But what if the late-war planes are perked? Will it be so easy to bring about eighteen planes armed with a single 500lb bomb to kill three FHs in a small airfield? All 18 of them must put their bomb on target to do so!
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Impressive display of numbers, is never the same thing as 'squandering your power in vain'. Under my suggested perk agenda, just scooping hoardes of people and pushing them down to a one way trip, will not kill a field. Suicidal runs will accomplish nothing.
Efficiency, will be achieved only when the planes that can carry enough bombs - such as the Fw190F-8, Mosquito, Bf110G-2, A-20s - are used. So if there's a twenty man mission, unlike as it is now, if it's gonna have any real effect, about 10 of them will have to be JABO aircraft, and the rest 10 will have to be escorts - since unlike those P-38Ls or Typhoons or P-51Ds, the dedicated JABO planes can't just dive and outrun, ignore every interceptor and go straight to the field.
Voila! JABO planes are given a role.
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What of buffs then?
It is undeniable that buffs are always gonna be less in numbers. But however, under my agenda, late war planes are perked.
Their ain't no free Bf109G-10s which soar to the stratosphere in mere minutes, with those harsh 30mm cannons. Their ain't no free super-fast three, four cannon planes. The best unperked climber is the Bf109G-2, the most powerfully armed unperked planes is the Fw190A-8.
With the late war planes lightly perked, many planes don't just soar above 10k alt in minutes - they need time and preparation. Unless the buff run is absolutely anticipated, a Bf109G-2 won't be narby with gondolas.. when incoming buffs are reported, it's gonna take a helluva effort to up a Fw190A-8 to the proper alt.
The survivability of the buffs, will be enhanced. And since you can't just take a free plane with no-risks, to go auger into a field to kill something quick, some people might consider more use of buffs, or buff oriented missions.
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