Initiative

[The_Drill_SGT]

What is the basis for computing it in tactical Bombers?

I was formerly a Tanker. I can postulate that the following factors impact Tank initiative:
crew vision
equipment optics
ranging eqp
turret speed
reload speed
HP/Weight ratio
Ground pressure
tactical speed

What are the drivers for TAC aircraft Initiative. I'm now playing Allied Corps and look at the Wellington.

The Wellington, which was used as a strategic bomber, rates as a tactical AC. By strategic, I mean the Wellington was a level bomber and was 2/3 of Bomber Harris's first 1,000 plane raid on Berlin. Not exactly a Tac Bomber. Anyway, the Wellington rates 8 for initiative, while the US B26 Marauder rates a 3. The A-26 Invader has twice the horsepower, twice the speed, a far superior HP to weight ratio, in a plane that was IMHO a clearly superior Tac bomber get a 7. It was good enough to be flown in combat into the early 70's.

what are the TAC Bomber initiative drivers? What makes the Wellington so high?

[Dragoon.]

I have so found memories of the Wellingtion bombers from War in the Pacific. Wave after wave of Japaneses task forces turned away from Palembang by my Surabaya based Wellingtion's. What a wonderful plane.

[Rood]

Though I can't anwser your question about why the Wellington has a initiative of 8 (or even why it is a Tac instead of a Strategtic) I can say that for ground to air combat for Tactical Bombers the initiative for the defending (ground) unit is always set to 100, so the ground unit will always have a higher initiative. In air-vs-air when the Wellington is the defending unit then the initiative will be used to decide who will should first and how many units (if any) can return fire.

So maybe because the Wellington has good defenses it's got a high initiative.

[TJD]

So maybe because the Wellington has good defenses it's got a high initiative.

Doesn't seem that was the case. From Wikipedia:

... the aircraft's vulnerability to attacking fighters, having neither self-sealing fuel tanks nor sufficient defensive armament. In particular, while the aircraft's nose and tail turrets protected against attacks from the front and rear, the Wellington had no defences against attacks from the beam and above, as it had not been believed that such attacks were possible owing to the high speed of aircraft involved.[5] As a consequence, Wellingtons were switched to night operations ...

Best,

Tim

[The_Drill_SGT]

Tim,

strange, I think I wrote what got posted as your comment

[TJD]

Tim,

strange, I think I wrote what got posted as your comment

That is strange! But I did intend to post that comment .... if it's identical to yours all I can say is that we are literally on the same page on this question

Best,

Tim

[The_Drill_SGT]

True test of a persons intelligence and all that

I withdraw my observation, your language was just about mine, but I also did a compare of the Wellington to the B-26.

One is 50mph faster, equipped with self sealing tanks, lots of 50 cal machine guns and a slightly better hp/wgt ratio but gets a 3 for Initiative, the other has 30 cal mgs , fewer of them, slower, not self sealing tanks and gets an 8.

[Razz1]

Ja, I thought it was strange to have the British planes in most cases superior to the Americans, but then look at it that AC is more of a British campaign than American.