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HMSWarspite -> (6/26/2002 4:30:09 AM)
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The subject of bombardment raids has been discussed ad infinitum. There are several people who think it is completely broken, some (like me) who think it is slightly unfortunate that you can 'guarantee' to get out of range before air attack, but not really broken as such.
As far as I am aware, 2by3/Matrix are aware of the issue, and have not given any news of changes. Most of the suggestions put by people to 'fix' it would probably make things worse.
BTW you don't need to do 60kts to bombard and get out again, 30 kts will do fine. Do a search on 'Bombard' - or actually, don't I just tried it and got 200 threads! Qualify it a bit!
An BTW, here is a reply I gave the last time we discussed whether it is impossible to get in and out without air attack (sorry for the length)
(Quote) All I was pointing out was that in the bombardment case, the true sequence is:
- Bombarding force aims to cruise to get to sprint range to target, with a ToT of say midnight, by say 1 hour prior to dusk (although you can sprint in
from further out than this, and lessen the window for spotting). For a 30 kts
TF, that means 7hrs flat out from 5pm(to simplify the example - I know dusk
isn't always at 6pm!). This places the TF at 210miles out at 5pm. Even if
spotted here, too late for a strike before dark. (you're welcome to try a
night raid in RL, but not effective usually)
- The TF sprints in, and duly arrives at midnight. Say 1hr bombardment,
leaves at 1am, sprints out.
- At dawn (6am), is 150miles out, steaming hard. Say the base isn't
knocked out, and gets a search plane off on the dot of 6am (5 hrs after 8"
or 14" bricks were going bang in the neighbourhood, and no, I wouldn't take
off in the dark on a freshly ploughed airfield!). Flight time, even if it goes
directly to the TF, at say 150kts (v fast for a search cruise), =approx 1 1/4
hrs(the TF is still steaming). Sends contact report at say 7:10 (sees enemy
in distance).
- Base is really on the ball and gets strike off as soon as message recieved
(say 10mins to get off and form up, which is impossibly fast). Flight time to
TF (again at say 150kts - loaded bombers remember), now about 1 1/2 hrs.
So the earliest a strike could occur is say 8:50. The ships are now nearly 8
hrs steaming from the target, ie 240miles.
- This means that the TF has covered 210+240, i.e. 450miles (BTW all miles
are nautical miles - I presume UV hexes are nm?), in 16hrs, and is the
subject of an air strike at 240 miles out, about when it reverts to cruise
speed. (Incurably optimistic best case for the base).
If you put half realistic delays in, you could easily not spot the TF until
9:00, and then you are then trying a strike at range 240 miles.
From where I am looking, in the game there should be a small chance of
catching the bombardment force at extreme range in the morning, rather
then apparently none as at present. A poor commander bombarding for too
long (or not finding the target straight away), or having to enage surface
forces first, would increase the chance of an air stike from roughly zero, to
some (but not a lot, unless he really fouls up). There should also be some
chance of spotting him as he cruises up to sprint start point, which there is,
although at too long a range at present.
As I have said before, the 600-700 miles case in the game is a little
extreme, but has no real effect on the average case, which is that a
bombarding TF WILL get in and out without significant risk of air attack.
YOU may know he's coming, but the target is a little busy! I would love the
bombardment to be 'not a sure thing' but it doesn't keep me awake nights!
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