From: am66@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Alexander Maldutis)
Subject: Re: AOTP patch B notes
Keywords: AOTP
Reply-To: am66@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Alexander Maldutis)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 19:09:44 GMT

In article <1992Oct8.182628.24506@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> bprk_ss@troi.cc.rochester.edu (Brian park) writes:
>Well, I've been getting along fairly well in my illustrious USAAF career.
>I ran across a couple weird things, though, and wondered if anybody else had
>experienced the same:

			[stuff about splashes on ground deleted]


>2.)  Along those lines:  once when I reviewing my preflight options for a
>ground attack, my ordnance came up as only rockets.  (I was flying a P-38J
>Lightning.)  I cycled through to get all my options as usual, except that it
>never came back to that option.  Instead it bounced between bombs, or no
>bombs.  (Usually, if I get rockets, I also have bombs).  Along *those* lines,
>I wouldn't mind looking at all possible weapon configurations for every
>mission.  Okay, there could be shortages.  Never mind.

Agreed.  What would also be nice is being able to get bombs with rockets.  Many
times I get a strike mission, and can't get bombs, only rockets [I'm using
a late model P-51D here].  The availability of ordnance loads seems pretty 
random to me.  Sometimes I can get 6 rockets, other times 10 - note this
is for a normal strike, not an LR strike.  Rockets are not useful against 
merchant ships - the ships burn, but you don't get credit, and you can't get
bombs.

>   I wish you could have a little more control of your wingmen during the
>flight.  Changing the flight pattern at any point after takeoff would be
>especially keen.  If they could maintain their general flight path, hang on
>to their ordnance, *and* take a few shots at passing fighters who razz us on
>our way to a target, I would be tickled pink.  It would also be nice if they
>would use their rockets when they have them.  It would also be nice if they
>would let me know where they are in relation to me when they call for me to
>clear their tail (okay, this is pushing it).  But they could have the
>courtesy to scream into the radio when they get shot down, no?

I absolutely agree.  I recently got back into the game, and was amazed at
the stupidity of my wingies.  With bombs, they are ok, and trash the target
nicely; give them rockets however, and they just fly around randomly [see
merchant ship problem above] - I can't get them to attack the ships.  

Once I get out of autopilot, usually right above the target, I am obliged to
go into a screaming powerdive normal to the ground, and then pull up at the 
last moment.  Imagine my surprise when I did this and heard splashes.  At first
I thought these were just random sounds of flak hitting the water or
something, but having replayed the mission tape, I discovered where my wingies
had gone - for a swim!  They didn't even yell "Ditching" or anything.  It would
be nice if they could, a la F3, flash "Bailing out" or something.

>4.)  Do gun kills count as ground strikes?  On strike missions, I usually
>clean up all the fuel tanks, a few tents, and that little flag to boot.  They
>don't seem to count for anything.

I think it only counts if it's a fragged target.  On one mission, I decided
to trash the harbor fuel dumps after taking out some ships, and received zero
credit for them.

>5.)  Is anybody good at the Scramble mission?  I've only come away clean once,
>and that was against three level bombers coming in at about 4,000 feet.
>Bombs are usually falling past me by the time I struggle up to 4,000+ feet.
>Those dive bombers who come in at 8,000+ feet really kick the stuffing out of
>me.  I'm not *that* good head-to-head.  Any suggestions?

Never done it.

>
>Thanks,
>
>Brian Park
>bprk_ss@uhura.cc.rochester.edu

Regards,

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