Air Operations
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:08 pm
I was surprised to see that air units had such short movement and long loiter (fuel) capabilities. It was particularly disappointing when a Soviet B-10 armored
recon was able to out run my Stuka after I had just bombed it. As a general rule, even "short" range fighter interceptors are able to provide a combat radius
that can cover a typical Army level Area of Operations (AO: 100 km squared) in a single "bound/sortie". Fast moving mechanized forces used tactical bombers
as their "artillery" not so much because the artillery had a hard time keeping up but because "on call" close air support could be available in 20-30 minutes
while supporting field artillery had to deploy, register their position on a grid map, and adjust fire onto the target all of which took at least an 2 hours-
provided they were within range. I suggest you set the FUEL levels to fit the (Daily) sortie rates for the various A/C: i.e. 5 for single engine; 4 for twin;
and 3 for four or more engines. This should increase the movement to the normal combat radii for the A/C. As a point of comparison, a RAF fighter pilot
set the record for takeoffs in one day at 7 during the London blitz.
recon was able to out run my Stuka after I had just bombed it. As a general rule, even "short" range fighter interceptors are able to provide a combat radius
that can cover a typical Army level Area of Operations (AO: 100 km squared) in a single "bound/sortie". Fast moving mechanized forces used tactical bombers
as their "artillery" not so much because the artillery had a hard time keeping up but because "on call" close air support could be available in 20-30 minutes
while supporting field artillery had to deploy, register their position on a grid map, and adjust fire onto the target all of which took at least an 2 hours-
provided they were within range. I suggest you set the FUEL levels to fit the (Daily) sortie rates for the various A/C: i.e. 5 for single engine; 4 for twin;
and 3 for four or more engines. This should increase the movement to the normal combat radii for the A/C. As a point of comparison, a RAF fighter pilot
set the record for takeoffs in one day at 7 during the London blitz.