Slitherine

I cannot see on unit info tab a air defence value for recon air units, but there is a air attack value.

I purchase a H8K emily recon plane, went to look at air defence value but could not see it, was interested because that plane bristled with defensive weapons.

Any ideas why this is ?

Many thanks.

Still have not had a reply to my question, would especially appreciate if any developer would respond.

Further to my question regarding recon air defence, I think that the H8K plane is not modelled at all accurately in the game.

It was the best flying boat of the war, armed with 5 20mm cannons & 5 7.7 machine guns with armoured crew protection.

Yet they are easily shot down by US wildcat planes with consistent 5-0 results!

They are modelled as though they are little better than the Aichi seaplane.

From what I understood, the stats are not what you would expect, because it's not 10 H8K's against 10 Wildcats, it's 10 Wildcats against only a very few flying boats. In Panzer Corps you would possibly have better stats for the H8K, but the unit would be only 3 strong, or something like that.

Thanks for your reply.

But where does it say that a recon unit has only a few flying boats.

Does this also apply to other aircraft types ? like bomber units, because that would not be consistent for the combat results I have seen for bombers

If my Zeros attack b17 units, the combat results are in the bombers favour.

Normally a recon mission would actually include just one plane. You don't need a squadron searching a specific path/area.
Some cruisers and battleships include normally 1-3 float-planes. They would launch one of these for a search.
That's the idea behind the low defense value of the recon unit. it is 1 plane vs 1 squadron.
The recon unit does not need to refuel, that's the main advantage in addition to low cost, low command points and of course greater recon ability.

Personally, I think it should need to refuel. A historical naval scenario would usually have too many recon units in the air at one time. This means too little fog of war.

Hope that helps.

OK thanks for that, agree with you that it should have to refuel.

But still can't see where the air defence value is for the unit, it only shows the attack value on the display.

Just checked the units.csv.
The Catalina has an air def = 5. The air sml att = 4
Check this against the values in-game.

Do you have the 'Summarised Unit Stats' checked under Options?
Maybe this combines the att and def values in-game.

Yes thanks for that, it now shows when I unticked that option.

The value is 7 for air defence, I know unit stats are always controversial, but I would of expected it to be higher than that.

From I have read, Allied pilots found it the hardest Japanese plane to shoot down.

Note that there is a diminishing return on strength points destroyed as the defender loses strength.
So the last few strength points is harder to kill.
Also, recon units (land & air) are prone to withdrawals when attacked, they suffer less kills than other units.

Speaking from a realistic standpoint, it must be pretty easy to smoke out a single scout plane.. But then again- It's like several wolves hunting a single deer.

Then again, recon planes tended to stay high and at a proper distance. Then they would high-tail it back home if any fighters approached.
For me they work OK, I only wish they had to refuel like other air units.