Repeat attack!

[greybeard1]

One desirable AI improvement IMHO would be to limit ground attacks to one single pass. While modern tactics repeat that never two or more passes must be made, honestly don't know about WWII. Actually, in game it happens that, if target is defended enough, the repeated passes makes most part, if not all, of flight shot down by AAA, escort included! I think AI has "scheduled" to not leave before having destroyed main target, but if this latter is a tank, e.g., and no more bombs are left, it's hard destroy it by machine guns...

[deadmeat313]

I heartily agree. I find I have to be the squadron leader any time I run an IL2 campaign as the squadron will take horrendous losses otherwise.

[Luno13]

I agree, but different air forces had different protocols. The Soviets made repeated attacks until all ammunition was expended, or the target was destroyed. The game was built to model the Il-2 only

It would be cool to see different tactics from different air forces, but that would require a huge library of AI routines.

[Ibis]

There is a mod for that but of course it's not for 4.11
cheers,

[IceFire]

Another good one for the suggestions thread.

What I've suggested is that the additional Waypoint editor tab that's been added for takeoff/landing be further modified to use the GATTACK waypoint and allow for specifications on types of attack depending on the aircraft involved.

So a Pe-2 might have the option of dive bombing or level bombing. A IL-2 would have the strafing option. Then in some of those cases the number of passes (or unlimited until target destroyed) is something that can be specified. If only a single pass is allowed then the AI should attempt to dump all ordinance in one pass and then fly away.

It'll take some additional AI programming but I think that would be very useful in the future.

[Luno13]

That's actually a good idea IceFire. I wonder if DT will consider it.

[DKoor]

Originally Posted by deadmeat313

I heartily agree. I find I have to be the squadron leader any time I run an IL2 campaign as the squadron will take horrendous losses otherwise.

Yes being the leader trick works.

But it is still far cry from being the real thing.
If I could I would usually arrange two attack groups one attacking AA and other primary targets.

6-8 IL-2s with right tactic can wipe most AA if not all in one pass on small local airfield. In game it works this way: 6 IL-2s attack airfield defended with 6x20mm AA guns + few 88mms (which in most cases just make loud noise and smoke without effect on low flying IL-2s).
Most IL-2s drop eggs/release rockets on same targets (2 AA), with luck only 2-3 small AA are out of action and by the time IL-2s turn around for second pass they now face 3 AA all firing on one or two aircraft (at most), as IL-2 are completely uncoordinated after first pass and they attack at will.

While they should all concentrate on different targets and always make a pass as a group and not in single aircraft attack pattern as that multiplies chance of being hit and killed. And it usually ends up that way.

[DKoor]

BTW just finished B-25 campaign in Pacific.
Terrible experience.

After level bombing, hit many targets and took absolutely no losses (no one was probably even hit), B-25s would actually descend down there TO STRAFE targets of opportunity in that mess just to be slowly shredded to bits by low calibre AA. Crazy stuff that would never ever happen IRL, at least not while I'm in command of that group, why attack with 12,7s and die when you can RTB reload and later just drop 1000lbers again without taking a scratch?

There should be some kind of LABEL in classes.ini that FORBIDS GROUND ATTACKers to attack with guns/cannons. Only level/skip/dive bombing runs allowed.
I think that should be made.

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by DKoor

BTW just finished B-25 campaign in Pacific.
Terrible experience.

After level bombing, hit many targets and took absolutely no losses (no one was probably even hit), B-25s would actually descend down there TO STRAFE targets of opportunity in that mess just to be slowly shredded to bits by low calibre AA. Crazy stuff that would never ever happen IRL, at least not while I'm in command of that group, why attack with 12,7s and die when you can RTB reload and later just drop 1000lbers again without taking a scratch?

There should be some kind of LABEL in classes.ini that FORBIDS GROUND ATTACKers to attack with guns/cannons. Only level/skip/dive bombing runs allowed.
I think that should be made.

Basically what I proposed above. You can specify a strafing attack or level bombing attack, etc. That way you don't have those kinds of incidents and you can actually use aircraft like the A-20 and B-25J on level bomb runs. At present you can't because the AI lines up to attack in the same way that an IL-2 would... Sometimes you might want them to operate in the strafing mode as they did use that technique as well. But it would be nice as mission designer to have control over what that method of attack is and what the mission calls for.

[TinyTim]

As a side-note: Soviet IL-2s made (repeated or not) attacks in such a manner that they've been crossing the frontline, turning around and attacking enemy from behind. Common misconception is that this is due to the tank rear armour is easiest to penetrate, while the primary reasoning behind it was that if during an attack a plane got hit badly and lost power, it could glide over towards friendly territory.

Would be nice to see this kind of AI behaviour too.