Slitherine

quote:

From "Carrier Strike" by Eric Hammel - Zenith Press

At about 0940 ([October 25, 1942], a Patrol-91 PBY piloted by Lt(jg) Warren Matthew discovered Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abe's sizable Vanguard Group, which was sailing ahead of the carrier arm of Nagumo's striking force. While the patrol bomber's radioman reported the position to all friendly bases eavesdropping on the search frequency, Matthew circled around to get into position to attack a battleship he incorrectly identified as the (sic) HIJMS Haruna (it was either the (sic) HIJMS Hiei or the (sic) HIJMS Kirishima, but it was definitely a battleship). Matthew's aggressive move was largely quixotic, for PBY's on daylight searches did not carry aerial torpedoes, a policy aimed at increasing their productive search ranges as well, perhaps, as obviating an attack such as the one Mathew decided to carry out with the only weapons he did have, a pair of 500-pound depth charges.

The glide-bombing approach was flawlessly executed, though the projectiles were hurled well short of the target. As soon as the depth charges were released from their shackles, Matthew pivoted his surprisingly nimble parasol winged patrol bomber into a tight escape turn and ran from the area. Two nimble F1M Pete observation float biplanes launched from the Kirishima bounced the Catalina well before it go clear, but they were beaten off by the PBY's gunners, who claimed credit for downing at least one F1M and damaging the other. The PBY was shot full of holes during the encounter, and it's port engine was damaged, but it returned to base in due course. Matthew's initial sighting report had reached friendly ears when first transmitted, but follow up reports describing course changes by Abe's surface force - a reaction to the PBY's presence - were never heard.

quote:

How come I haven't seen this in WitP???

quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider

We've all seen the patrol planes attack if that is what the original poster was refering to...

I think he was refering to the Petes being launched as a CAP.

I'm in favor of removing the plane class or type from the equation.

For example why classify a B-17 as a bomber or any plane as a fighter for that matter.

They are all planes and they can all engage in A2A combat (ie the Pete attacking the catalina or B-17's attacking Emilies.

They are all planes they can all drop bombs in some form or fashion (just a B-29 can drop alot more than a P-40)

All that really matters is that certain planes are better suited to flying CAP or launching City Attack missions than others...let the player decide what he wants to bomb with or fly cap with.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider

We've all seen the patrol planes attack if that is what the original poster was refering to...

I think he was refering to the Petes being launched as a CAP.

I'm in favor of removing the plane class or type from the equation.

For example why classify a B-17 as a bomber or any plane as a fighter for that matter.

They are all planes and they can all engage in A2A combat (ie the Pete attacking the catalina or B-17's attacking Emilies.

They are all planes they can all drop bombs in some form or fashion (just a B-29 can drop alot more than a P-40)

All that really matters is that certain planes are better suited to flying CAP or launching City Attack missions than others...let the player decide what he wants to bomb with or fly cap with.

I really like this idea . fighter sweep with B17's anyone

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider

We've all seen the patrol planes attack if that is what the original poster was refering to...

I think he was refering to the Petes being launched as a CAP.

I'm in favor of removing the plane class or type from the equation.

For example why classify a B-17 as a bomber or any plane as a fighter for that matter.

They are all planes and they can all engage in A2A combat (ie the Pete attacking the catalina or B-17's attacking Emilies.

They are all planes they can all drop bombs in some form or fashion (just a B-29 can drop alot more than a P-40)

All that really matters is that certain planes are better suited to flying CAP or launching City Attack missions than others...let the player decide what he wants to bomb with or fly cap with.

I really like this idea . fighter sweep with B17's anyone

Artwork graciously provided by Dixie

quote:

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider

We've all seen the patrol planes attack if that is what the original poster was refering to...

I think he was refering to the Petes being launched as a CAP.

I'm in favor of removing the plane class or type from the equation.

For example why classify a B-17 as a bomber or any plane as a fighter for that matter.

They are all planes and they can all engage in A2A combat (ie the Pete attacking the catalina or B-17's attacking Emilies.

They are all planes they can all drop bombs in some form or fashion (just a B-29 can drop alot more than a P-40)

All that really matters is that certain planes are better suited to flying CAP or launching City Attack missions than others...let the player decide what he wants to bomb with or fly cap with.

I really like this idea . fighter sweep with B17's anyone

My thoughts exactly.

You thought the zeros were having trouble before, just wait until my LRCAP of 100 B-17s shows up.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Knavey

We all know ANYTHING is possible in WitP.

..................

quote:

We've all seen the patrol planes attack if that is what the original poster was refering to...

I think he was refering to the Petes being launched as a CAP.

I'm in favor of removing the plane class or type from the equation.

For example why classify a B-17 as a bomber or any plane as a fighter for that matter.

They are all planes and they can all engage in A2A combat (ie the Pete attacking the catalina or B-17's attacking Emilies.

They are all planes they can all drop bombs in some form or fashion (just a B-29 can drop alot more than a P-40)

All that really matters is that certain planes are better suited to flying CAP or launching City Attack missions than others...let the player decide what he wants to bomb with or fly cap with.

quote:

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

I'd like to know more about what that PBY pilot was thinking. How do you damage a BB with 500lbs of depth charge? The absolute best fantasy case I can imagine is you get a near miss near the rudder. Otherwise it's a futile exercise.

quote:

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005
My thoughts exactly.

You thought the zeros were having trouble before, just wait until my LRCAP of 100 B-17s shows up.