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ORIGINAL: wga8888

My WITP experience does not always translate to AE where my play is not challenging my PBEM opponent. Pilot group experience is a big factor; later in a campaign game USN ASW search can be more effective, actually hitting things while searching. But as playing AE Guadalcanal scenario (4+ months) not much improvement is expected.

1) The default for Naval Search and ASW for Patrol and level bombers appears to be 6000. I can often find the enemy submarines but they are rarely attacked. Is there any data on what is the best search/asw altitude? There likely is a too low or too high.

Search at 6000 feet, ASW at 1000 feet.

2) Divebombers default to 10000, I often use 12000 or 14000 from previous play. Historical accounts are often 10000-20000. About 3 months into the GC campaign, my Marine SBD and Army A24s have yet to hit a ship after 15+ squadron attempts. Only success so far is hitting a damaged sub in an enemy forward base and a few supply dump hits. All misses vs any transport, or any type combat ship. Experience typically in low 50s so perhaps not much should be expected. There likely is a too low or too high.

Naval attack skill is what counts against moving ships. Ground skills for base targets. Experience is not what determines hits.

3) Torpedo bombers default is 5000. In WITP I remember somewhere [perhaps a forum post] that no matter what altitude is assigned they drop to torpedo release height. In my few strikes in AE, when flying with F, DB, at height (say 14000), they stay at 14000 and drop bombs. May be necessary to fly lower than rest of strike and let computer allocate the fighters to whatever height. I understand have to stay in normal range to use torpedos (last strike was range 2).

Their starting location needs to have torpedoes in order for the planes to carry them.

4) If assign some FBs to a 100 foot strafing naval attach, do escorts have to fly at 100 at well? if the escorts are set to say 5000; was thinking they may not fly as escort. Un-escorted Beaufighters/P39s are not anticipated to survive enemy CAP without some help.

No, the escorts do not need to have the same altitude.

I searched the pdf rulebook for 'altitude' with very little information, none useful to the above.

Any insight is appreciated.

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Am sure I have gone over the WITP version in detail over the years but things differ.