How many planes?

[Adseria]

I realise this is irrelevant to the game mechanics, I'm just being curious; are there 6 planes here, or 3 planes with shadows?

[akosjaccik]

Certainly the latter.

[ilyusin28]

It is definitely a shadow.

[williammiller]

Yes, 3 planes with shadows...its a new feature we are experimenting with to give the idea of height for aircraft...it is subject to adjustment as needed.

[Adseria]

Mar 3, 2019 10:14:30 GMT -6 williammiller said:

Yes, 3 planes with shadows...its a new feature we are experimenting with to give the idea of height for aircraft...it is subject to adjustment as needed.

So that means the height of an aircraft is simulated? What effects does it have?

[noshurviverse]

They mentioned that aircraft height would be simulated, I assume that it plays a simple role in determining what aircraft are capable of engaging one another. A newly launched CAP would be unlikely to intercept a dive-bombing in progress given the difference in height.

[oldpop2000]

Mar 3, 2019 10:41:36 GMT -6 noshurviverse said:

They mentioned that aircraft height would be simulated, I assume that it plays a simple role in determining what aircraft are capable of engaging one another. A newly launched CAP would be unlikely to intercept a dive-bombing in progress given the difference in height.

In the real world of Naval Aviation, there were only two times that fighters could intercept dive bombers. The first was to attack the formation before they went to line astern and began the dives. The second was after the dive as they pulled out and began to move to the rendezvous point to head back to the ship. It was almost impossible for fighters to attack dive bombers in a 60 degree dive. They could be attacked in a 30 degree glide bombing attack provided they stayed away from friendly fire, and that wasn't always possible.

Now how the game does it, I have no idea. But that is the facts of how it was done. The Japanese tended to stay away from SBD dive bomber formation due to the two .30 cal. machine guns in the rear seat. In a tight formation, the SBD's were deadly. My father told me the Zero's would wait until they had finished their dives, and would not attack the main formation. When they did, they generally payed a heavy price.

[corsair]

Mar 3, 2019 10:51:05 GMT -6 @oldpop2000 said:

The Japanese tended to stay away from SBD dive bomber formation due to the two .30 cal. machine guns in the rear seat. In a tight formation, the SBD's were deadly. My father told me the Zero's would wait until they had finished their dives, and would not attack the main formation. When they did, they generally payed a heavy price.

In terms of the Zero versus the Dauntless, there is the famous story of Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa who successfully won a dogfight against three Zeroes while flying his SBD. Due to the high-g maneuvers Vejtasa used during the fight, the rear gunner was a non-factor.

[oldpop2000]

Mar 3, 2019 16:09:22 GMT -6 corsair said:

Mar 3, 2019 10:51:05 GMT -6 @oldpop2000 said:

The Japanese tended to stay away from SBD dive bomber formation due to the two .30 cal. machine guns in the rear seat. In a tight formation, the SBD's were deadly. My father told me the Zero's would wait until they had finished their dives, and would not attack the main formation. When they did, they generally payed a heavy price.

In terms of the Zero versus the Dauntless, there is the famous story of Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa who successfully won a dogfight against three Zeroes while flying his SBD. Due to the high-g maneuvers Vejtasa used during the fight, the rear gunner was a non-factor.

Yes, Vejtasa later became a fighter pilot and an ace. During a mission to protect the Lex, he was jumped by seven Zero's. He got three kills, two by the forward .50 caliber guns and one by slicing off the Zero's wing.  He eventually was returned to the US after transferring to F4F Wildcats. He got a total of 10.25 kills. Great pilot,  died in 2013 at 98. Just a note: Japan's greatest ace, Saburo Sakai was badly injured when he jumped an SBD and the rear gunner exploded his cockpit. The Dauntless was one of the most lethal aircraft to tangle with. As I said, my dad told me the Zero's rarely jumped a formation of SBD's, it was entirely too dangerous.