Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: Shark7

Guys, I've been getting back into the game after a long break, playing an AI game ATM. And I've already done a forum search and haven't really found the answer I am looking for to a question, so maybe those of you with more play time can give some guidance.

Right now, I have several pilots in DB or TB squadrons with very high experience (>80), and an air combat skill of >65 to go along with their very good naval bombing and naval torpedo skills. Basically am I best served leaving these guys in their current DB and TB squadrons, or would it be better to move then to a fighter or fighter-bomber squadron?

Do you really get any benefit from pilots with high air combat skills in a bombing squadron?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shark7

Thanks for the responses. So they get no benefit at all from their air combat skill as bomber pilots.

What I was considering was to move those guys into a squadron that will turn into fighter-bombers where they might be able to utilize all their skills, but I think I may not now.

Currently I'm playing the AI and basically having to relearn everything, so its been interesting to say the least.

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shark7

Thanks for the responses. So they get no benefit at all from their air combat skill as bomber pilots.

What I was considering was to move those guys into a squadron that will turn into fighter-bombers where they might be able to utilize all their skills, but I think I may not now.

Currently I'm playing the AI and basically having to relearn everything, so its been interesting to say the least.

It is my memory that they gain no benefit from air skill as bomber pilots. My memory is not infallible, however, so trust it at your own peril (I am forced to trust it often in my daily life... you are not).

They would make pretty good pilots for Nicks or a similar type of FB. Unfortunately, they are naval pilots, and most Japanese FBs are IJA. Generally, though, I like low naval bombing skill- along with strafe- for FBs (especially Nicks and others with armor who can shrug off some of the light AA) for attacking ships. LowN skill applies to attacks below 5K in altitude.

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ORIGINAL: geofflambert

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

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ORIGINAL: Shark7

Thanks for the responses. So they get no benefit at all from their air combat skill as bomber pilots.

What I was considering was to move those guys into a squadron that will turn into fighter-bombers where they might be able to utilize all their skills, but I think I may not now.

Currently I'm playing the AI and basically having to relearn everything, so its been interesting to say the least.

It is my memory that they gain no benefit from air skill as bomber pilots. My memory is not infallible, however, so trust it at your own peril (I am forced to trust it often in my daily life... you are not).

They would make pretty good pilots for Nicks or a similar type of FB. Unfortunately, they are naval pilots, and most Japanese FBs are IJA. Generally, though, I like low naval bombing skill- along with strafe- for FBs (especially Nicks and others with armor who can shrug off some of the light AA) for attacking ships. LowN skill applies to attacks below 5K in altitude.

Are you claiming that your memory is less infallible than mine? Your arrogance is stunning to say the least. Certain bomber aircraft are capable in the sense of having CL MGs with which they may and often did fire on enemy aircraft including fighters. As an example IJN Jakes can be used to train fighter pilots. SBDs were sometimes sent up to battle fighters. They aren't designed for it nor were they accidentally well equipped for it but on occasion this occurred and I can certify the crews asked to do that were not happy about it, but they did their best and sometimes that was pretty flipping good enough.

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LowN

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LowG

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Staf

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ORIGINAL: jamesjohns

If I recall thought I read that when kamikaze attacks became more frequent, carriers would launch most planes and the bombers would also be used to try and engage kamikaze planes

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ORIGINAL: Shark7

Thanks for the responses. So they get no benefit at all from their air combat skill as bomber pilots.

What I was considering was to move those guys into a squadron that will turn into fighter-bombers where they might be able to utilize all their skills, but I think I may not now.

Currently I'm playing the AI and basically having to relearn everything, so its been interesting to say the least.

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ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shark7

Thanks for the responses. So they get no benefit at all from their air combat skill as bomber pilots.

What I was considering was to move those guys into a squadron that will turn into fighter-bombers where they might be able to utilize all their skills, but I think I may not now.

Currently I'm playing the AI and basically having to relearn everything, so its been interesting to say the least.

yes, bombers pilots do benefit from A2A skills in combat with intercepting fighters. In my current game I rarely lose a bomber at normal of below normal range in A2A with Japanese interceptors. high Exp keeps op losses down. That is my conclusion.

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ORIGINAL: Alpha77

IIRC even in the coral sea battle, there were some SBD flying low vs. Kates.

Also can someone clarify, for 100ft attacks is ONLY the strf skill important or also the low nav one ? Or is the low nav only for 1000ft? 2k and above is normal nav bomb. I guess at 100ft. the strf should work for gun hits and the low nav for bomb hits.