Escorting bombers

[Keez]

When escorting some bombrs, what would be the best way to protect them? Staying high and back, or in the front, or on the side and low or whatever position you can think of... I fly the P51, what do you think is the best way of escorting bombers?

[Rojo]

If it's only you, protecting one or two buffs, then I prefer high and back.  You can't stop a front hemisphere attack from there, but those are harder for the attackers to pull off as well.  It takes more skill and patience.  If the enemy is behind the buffs' 3-9 line, you'll be in a good position to bounce them.  If they're closing from the front or front quarters you probably won't stop them no matter where you position yourself, but from a high-6 perch you'll keep them from coming back for a second attack.  Keep speed up by weaving back and forth in shallow turns.  

If you have more than one escort, put a few high and back and throw the rest out front at high 10 and 2 o'clock positions.  If you have a couple left over, have them sweep a few miles ahead of the bomber stream.  Good wingman tactics should then allow you to "discourage" any single bandit that approaches from ahead.

Finally, and for the close in escorts, don't pursue the bandit (obvious, I know, but I like to hear myself talk   ).  Your job is to drive them off.  Once they break off, they will likely be behind the buffs and playing catch up.  If they try a second time to attack, you will still be in position to prevent it.

[ 10-18-2001: Message edited by: Rojo ]

[Lephturn]

The most effective escort is a combination of close escort and fighter sweeps.

Ideally, you want a few fighters for close support, higher and not far behind, that can get to the buffs in literally seconds.  Combine that with some fighers sweeping 1/2 a sector ahead of the buffs, and you have a really effective escort.  Ultimately, the only way to keep the buffs safe is to never let the bad guys find them.  That may mean sweeps, or it may mean advanced jabo attacks to take down field radar or HQ radar.

If there are not enough fighters for sweeps, you'll have to go with close escort as rojo suggests.

BTW, be sure to enroll in the next big scenario on the allied side if you want to have some big fun and experience escorting buffs.  It's great fun!

[funkedup]

A few things to remember when positioning escorts:

1.  Separation.  Imagine a bomber with a fighter on each side of him at 6.0k range.  With icon range of 6.0k it means the three aircraft can scan a piece of sky that is 6.0k x 4 = 24k wide.  That's 13.6 miles!  But you can only fly at this distance if the bombers have a good visual scan and they give accurate and timely course information.

2.  Relative speed.  If you are in front of the bombers, it's easier to get to the rear of the bombers than vice versa.  If you are behind the bombers and there is a frontal attack, you will have a hard time stopping it.  But if you are in front of the bombers and there is a rear attack, you can get back easily because the bombers are flying towards you.  So being in front is superior.  But again, it requires that the bombers give you timely and accurate course updates so you don't miss a turn and leave nobody in front of the bombers.  Also the separation rule applies here - if you are 6.0k in front of them you can get an icon on a bandit that is 6.8 miles from the bombers, which gives you a nice early warning.

3.  Altitude.  If you are below the bombers you can't protect them from a co-alt or higher bandit.  But if you are above the bombers you can defend against higher, co-alt, or lower bandits.  However if you go too high, you are too far from the bombers to see icons on bandits that are below them.  5k feet is about right.  10k is way too much and you are asking for a slaughter.

If you have just one plane I would go about 3.0k in front and 5k above.  This puts you in a position to intercept a very high percentage of the bandits, and gives you a decent early warning.  

If you get multiple planes, you can add some on each side, spread out.  You can also put some slightly behind the bombers as a back door guard.

If you start getting into multiple groups of escorts then you can assign some guys to stay with the bombers and some guys to be able to engage freely.  Always keep at least one group in a good position to defend an immediate attack on the bombers.  But you will get a benefit from allowing some of your groups to engage enemy fighters before they can climb to attack, or before they are even sure where the bombers are.  The more planes you have, the more you can spread out, and the more real estate you can cover visually.

If you are really interested in this stuff, check out this book:  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1855329077
That book is the real 8th AF fighter commanders telling how it was done in WW2.

[ 10-19-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

[Keez]

Thanks a lot guys, this is more than I could have asked for. Thanks again!