BeauBrummie
November 12th, 2011, 13:41
Why should I want to do this? Well to recreate the large number of instances where Coastal Command heavies fought the Luftwaffe Sea Eagles. I have read many accounts where Libs, Sunderlands, Halifax's, Fortress's, Wellingtons etc took on attacking Fw 200's, He 177's, He 111's, Ju88A's (you get the picture). I need AI versions to attack player formations. Is it a simple case of changing the XDP to re-classify the aircraft as 'fighter bomber' and include bomber intercept in the mission types?
Here's the latest example I've come across:
"...another equally-remarkable battle was being fought out in the vicinity of the main body of ships. Pilot Officer A. Wilson and his crew, on board Consolidated Liberator 'K' of No. 224 Squadron, Royal Air Force Coastal Command, had been engaged in providing anti-submarine cover. Since their duty was to do everything possible to ensure the 'safe and timely arrival of the convoy', they decided this could include air-to-air combat. As the heavily-laden Heinkels started on their straight-and-level attack runs with the glider-bombs, the British crew was able to cause consternation. The first He 177 they attacked broke away, trailing smoke. The second jettisoned its glider-bombs and made off. Pilot Officer Wilson followed and his front gunner managed to get in a good burst which caused the enemy's starboard engine to smoke. In the event, the German bomber escaped into a patch of low cloud. The Liberator then returned to the convoy, where two more He 177s were engaged.
All-in-all, it had been a remarkable series of combats, the large heavy bombers cavorting across the sky in lumbering imitation of their single-engined counterparts. Wilson's aggressiveness undoubtedly contributed to the fact that the German bombers did not succeed in scoring any hits with their glider-bombs on ships in the main body of the convoy; nor did his Liberator suffer any damage from the return fire."
Here's the latest example I've come across:
"...another equally-remarkable battle was being fought out in the vicinity of the main body of ships. Pilot Officer A. Wilson and his crew, on board Consolidated Liberator 'K' of No. 224 Squadron, Royal Air Force Coastal Command, had been engaged in providing anti-submarine cover. Since their duty was to do everything possible to ensure the 'safe and timely arrival of the convoy', they decided this could include air-to-air combat. As the heavily-laden Heinkels started on their straight-and-level attack runs with the glider-bombs, the British crew was able to cause consternation. The first He 177 they attacked broke away, trailing smoke. The second jettisoned its glider-bombs and made off. Pilot Officer Wilson followed and his front gunner managed to get in a good burst which caused the enemy's starboard engine to smoke. In the event, the German bomber escaped into a patch of low cloud. The Liberator then returned to the convoy, where two more He 177s were engaged.
All-in-all, it had been a remarkable series of combats, the large heavy bombers cavorting across the sky in lumbering imitation of their single-engined counterparts. Wilson's aggressiveness undoubtedly contributed to the fact that the German bombers did not succeed in scoring any hits with their glider-bombs on ships in the main body of the convoy; nor did his Liberator suffer any damage from the return fire."