biplanes as level bomber?
 

I`ve noticed that quite a few biplanes in the game are used as level bombers (class 62). For example the Soviet Union has 4 units (2 Po-2 and 2 R-Z with different loadouts; #414-417).

The main thing that seems strange to me is, that the AAA can`t shoot at level bomber. That`s allright, when it comes to medium and heavy bombers like the B-17, because it`s only light to medium AAA (the 40mm Bofors has got the biggest caliber in the Flak class).

But those light to medium AAA (20 to 40mm) can actually shoot up to 3800m (the German 2cm Flak 38) while for the 40mm Bofors I`ve found 6800m (not max. firing range but max shot height).

The Po-2 had a service ceiling of 3000m and I really doubt that there was a single instance where a pilot climbed up to that height to drop 4x 50kg bombs without any bomb-sight on a given target. And even on that height it would have been fired at by AAA.

Also not every plane that is in the Fighter-bomber class 44 or in the ground-attack class 243 was supposed to strafe targets with machine guns on a low level attack. A lot of medium bombers flew at 1000m to 3000m and attacked only with bombs. Of course they could be shot at by light to medium AAA.

So my proposal is to open up the classes fighter-bomber and ground attack to such planes that DO NOT attack with MG`s but only with bombs at medium height. These should not be affected by the restrictions of the level bomber class (bombing coordinates and being immune to AAA).
Actually this would only mean changing the class of some planes from level bomber to fighter bomber. They should have NO MG`s or cannons.

I don`t know if it`s possible but the best solution would be to have three classes:
- the planes that actually flew low level attacks. These are able to strafe and bomb. They can be shot at by any AAA (also small caliber MG`s with warhead size 1)
- planes that flew between 1000 and 3000m. These can only attack with bombs but are able to select their target on their own (like fighter-bombers now). They can not be shot at by small caliber AAA (warhead size 1)
- real level bombers that only attack coordinates and can not be attacked by AAA (like it is now.)

Cheers

Re: biplanes as level bomber?
 

I think this is mostly a non-issue as the level bombers in this game rarely hit anything, at best conduct recon by indiscriminate blasting and frankly just are not practical for anything outside of scenarios. While I agree that it is an oversight, its not really one worth getting worked up over I feel.

Re: biplanes as level bomber?
 

I only wanted to point at the fact that biplanes (and maybe some other planes) should better be shifted to fighter-bomber class.

They are not flying at 6000m+ and should not be immune to AAA.

Re: biplanes as level bomber?
 

Yeah, I agree with you on that. But still an easy correction using Mobhack if it bothers you that much.

Re: biplanes as level bomber?
 

They are flying high enough to avoid light AA - which is all that your land forces have. Even biplanes can fly that high.

It would be totally pointless to have a medium FLAK class to fire at level bombers, since they are encountered so rarely and if so, come over in one pass.

All that level bombers ever were intended to do was to provide carpet bombing for a Normandy Breakout type of scenario or Vietnam was "arc-light" strikes. Goto X,Y and offload bombs and go home. They aren't really much use for anything else. Though some OOB designers in the past seemed to have a love affair with the things and provided a whole flock of them.

Aircraft will be staying as-is.

cheers
Andy