dgaad
Posts: 864
Joined: 7/25/2001 From: Hockeytown Status: offline
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People LISTEN UP : [B]If you are looking for historical examples of B-17s being used against carrier TFs for low level raids, YOU WON'T FIND THEM BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAPPENED. This is NOT a sound basis for concluding the game should prevent them. [/B] It was theoretically possible for this kind of raid, and we do know that B-17s were used in low level raids against transport TFs at least several times. Air Corps doctrine thenceforward required only MEDIUM bombers to be used thereafter (Mitchells, Havocs, Marauders). Whether or not heavy or medium bombers can be used in low level attacks versus naval TFs is a matter for the player to decide. If you are willing to risk loss to B-17s in these types of attacks, that's up to you. I personally don't use B-17s this way unless I have NO medium bombers available, because I know the 17s only get 7 replacement crews and machines per MONTH. My own use parallels the historical doctrine quite nicely, and I arrived at this use for many of the same reasons that obtained historically : 17s are not as effective as Mediums in that role, 17s are too expensive, I have plenty of Mediums available, 17s are really effective airbase suppressors at high altitude so why waste them on something another craft can do much better. Your results against your opponents may vary. Other american commanders may choose a different doctrine. That's up to them. But nothing suggests that new rules or tweaks be introduced to lop off these options at the neck. If you are advocating this, it sounds like sour grapes to me. I should state for the record I have played Japanese in a scenario 17 and had a carrier group attacked by B-17s in much the same manner some people are complaining about. IIRC the American player said, after the turn processed, "Well, I won't be doing that again for some time". He lost more than half of his 17s to either AA or CAP, which reduced his effective numbers of 17s to about 10 in the entire theater. He gets NO replacements for 17s till October (that's 4 months from now).
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Last time I checked, the forums were messed up. ;)
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