4.13 development update discussion and feedback

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by RPS69

Actually, only fighters were flown by fours.
Bombers wings were a three plane formation.

There should be an option to have either 1, 2 or 3 plane "default" formations within the FMB, and possibly even the QMB.

From there, you could choose squadron or section formation based on base formation.

1-plane base formations: echelon left or right, line abreast, line astern, "loose deuce" ("rotte"), Vee ("Kette"), loose/modified Vee, gaggle (no formation).

2-plane base formations: echelon left or right, line abreast, line astern, "loose deuce" ("rotte").

3-plane base formations: Vee ("kette"), loose Vee/modified V, echelon left or right, line abreast, line astern, Shotei (rear 2 planes weaving behind leader), "Section and Stinger left" (2 plane line abreast, 1 plane stepped back and to the left and above), "Section and Stinger right".

Division/Squadron formations based on 2 plane sections: echelon left or right ("rotte"), "finger four" ("schwarm"), line abreast, line astern, diamond, square.

Division/Squadron formations based on 3 plane sections: echelon left or right, line abreast, line astern, diamond.

Options:

Step plane/section/division up (5 m increments)
Step plane/section/division down (5 m increments)
Step plane/section/division forward (5 m increments)
Step plane/section/division back (5 m increments),
Set plane/section/division as weaver - i.e., will weave back and forth at rear of formation to improve chances of spotting enemy AC).
Maneuver as: Plane/Section/Division/Squadron (i.e., planes will hold formation with formation leader as best they can rather than maneuvering on their own).
Fluid Fighter Tactics: Y/N (If this option is checked fighters within a section or division will use "fluid pair" or "fluid four" tactics, taking turns in attacking and switching lead as necessary.)

[Sita]

del ...

[stugumby]

Ever notice the low level attack behavior of the A20 series? When dropping regular bombs or para frags the ideal solution is to drop and get out quickly,no return to strafe etc. unfortunately both A20C,G drop and sometimes climb while dropping parafrags and then go every which way and return to strafe until all target destroyed or they get shot down. I think that the fm for these needs tweaked to reflect a more historical drop and keep going waypoint/ordnance driven fm. Also there is no way to set ai bomb fusing, try a 200/400 meter low level bomb run with b25C and watch your ai flights blow themselves up over enemy airfields and shipping. Perhaps a use of torpedo plane fm could be triggered by ordnance selected etc. parafrags drop puts planes into line astern and they have to climb to avoid plane in fronts bombs, or if using waypoint normfly put the formation to finger four or line abreast a waypoint before thru a waypoint after target. Also needed are A20C and B25C gunships for the PNG maps. For ground objects camouflaged junks and barges and Maru ships in varying paint schemes, last,lci, hospital ships etc. thanks TD for reading and for all you've done for us.

[Marabekm]

Originally Posted by stugumby

Ever notice the low level attack behavior of the A20 series? When dropping regular bombs or para frags the ideal solution is to drop and get out quickly,no return to strafe etc. unfortunately both A20C,G drop and sometimes climb while dropping parafrags and then go every which way and return to strafe until all target destroyed or they get shot down.

TBF's do the same thing. They will drop bombs, and get good hits, but then turn around and start strafing random targets until all are destroyed by enemy AAA.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by stugumby

When dropping regular bombs or para frags the ideal solution is to drop and get out quickly, no return to strafe etc. unfortunately both A20C,G drop and sometimes climb while dropping parafrags and then go every which way and return to strafe until all target destroyed or they get shot down.

Realistically, AI attack programming has to take degree of opposition into account. When opposition was weak (i.e., number of hostile AAA or fighters in the area are low), attackers historically did loiter over their target and make repeated attacks. Otherwise, they made "one and done" attack runs, like you describe.

[Pursuivant]

I notice that AI for certain medium bombers - A-20, B-25, maybe others - has them programmed to perform "belly checks" (i.e., 360 degree rolls).

The A-20 was NOT fully aerobatic, so it shouldn't perform this maneuver. Other bomber types probably shouldn't perform this maneuver unless all their crew members were properly strapped into seats. Otherwise, you risk injuring unsecured crewmen, or even ejecting them from the plane!

[RPS69]

That bomber behaviour, is there even before TD.

B25's also do that.

They are coded to behave like the IL-2. They perform as an assault aircraft (Sturm), not as a Bomber.

Changing that AI personality behaviour may be possible by making it an option. At least, as a simple solution.

Making them evaluate AA density, would be a whole different story.

[sniperton]

Originally Posted by stugumby

Ever notice the low level attack behavior of the A20 series? When dropping regular bombs or para frags the ideal solution is to drop and get out quickly,no return to strafe etc.

Even more annoying is when light bombers try to strafe with LMGs. The result is predictable...