Bomb/Bomber Information

[SAM13]

I will save you from reading below with adding cliff notes here at the top: If you have any advanced data on bombers and/or bombs in Aces High, I want to read it.

I have multiple questions that seem to be missing from the AH Help page and websites I've checked outside Hitech. I also did word searches of the forums and haven't been able to find anything. I would test these theories in the training arena, but with the obvious differences with fuel and such I feel the data wouldn't be accurate.

I have tried to answer most of these questions myself in the MA...unfortunately the AAA doesn't care you're trying to experiment and tears holes in your breeches all the same

1. What are SAP/AP bombs? I am assuming AP means armor piercing but the S is totally lost to me. Do the AP and SAP bombs do more damage to ships and hardened structures like shore batteries? I know there are normal values to destroying ships and SB just wondering if these bombs do more damage than a standard bomb. From my testing so far for these bombs have a much smaller blast radius/splash than standard bombs for soft targets like towns, which would make sense as they go into the ground so they blow up and out instead of above or just impact.

2. Blast radius/force data for the different standard bombs?

3. Left to Right spread of different formations of bombers? I'm trying to get better at not wasting ordinance on specific targets (hangers, strat buildings, etc.)

4. Does anyone have delay time from bomb bay to ground for different altitudes? I'm trying to get better at taking out ships but I just can't seem to get the stand off and timing correct. I've given up on torpedoes, if a half way decent gunner gets in a 5" gun you're not going to get close enough to even be effective before getting torn apart.

5. Does anyone have the formula for (a chart would be cool too) for determining how far apart bombs will impact with height-speed-delay? I'm trying to get better at using salvo/delay.

6.The city buildings take how much ord? (http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/81-tactics/bomber/1039-level-bombing-techniques) says 250lbs but I know that's not correct, because city buildings take more tank rounds than other strat buildings to drop.

7. Dropping a HQ does what exactly? I seem to get different data on this from different sources so I'm guessing this has changed over the years.


Thank you,

Sam

[JimmyD3]

I can tell  you the answer to the following

4. I try to lead the CV by 1 boat length, at 10,000 ft.

6. City buildings take 845 lbs. while the Town Buildings take 313 lbs. (note the other strats only take the same as Town buildings)

7. HQ down inhibits the entire Country's Radar.

Fugitives AH3 Help site has additional Ordnance information

[Lusche]

1. In lieu of armoured decks and penetration mechanisms, AP bombs just do 150% damage, but only have a 20% damage radius. SAP bombs do 125% damage, at 33% standard damage radius. Both types of bomb are absolutely not worth carrying in the MA. The HC/LC bombs (4000lbs cookie or 1800kg) do 75% damage at 133% damage radius.

2. To my knowledge, nobody has tested that yet.

6. You can always check the exact damage values of all objects, downtimes, range settings and more in the arena settings (options/arena setup/environment/arena settings on clipboard)

7. As Jimmy said, it takes down all radar. Basic downtime is only 10 minutes, but can be much longer (up to 130 minutes) depending on the status of the City.

[The Fugitive]

Dropping 16 250 lbs with the default .05 delay gives you the cluster in the first picture. At the same alt and speed changing to a 1.0 delay drops from one end of the runway to the other.



I have never bothered to try and figure out different settings for different drops as there are just too many variables. Speed is almost never the same, alt could be off by 10-100 feet or more each pass, angle across the town/field and so on. I just practice a couple runs a month to drop bombs one at a time. Timing is best guess, but I try to come in at full speed each time so that helps.

The left to right spread of bombers, I have never read/heard of any numbers. You could measure building using a know tank size and film a drop and measure out that way, but a 3 plane formation can white flag a town in two passes.

[Lazerr]

I'd suggest calibrating at a lower speed.. its easier to shed speed than gain it.. especially towards a bombers top end speed.  I usually go 10 to 20mph slower during calibrating.  I also suck.  At the end of the day you want your calibrated speed and alt to be as close as possible when you drop.  Keep in mind open bay doors add drag.