AQMB/QMB suggestions

[Stonehouse]

Recently I have had cause to look at QMB missions in the editor and in particular heavy flak guns. As a result, I have a few observations and suggestions for consideration for QMB missions:

• I'm often finding that the guns are not properly orientated towards the reasonably expected threat direction for the location. EG. Location on the German side of the front lines say defending an airfield. Frontlines are West and South West of the base however of the 2 heavy AAA guns neither are pointing anyway near that direction. Of the 4 light AAA only 1 is even close to pointing that general direction. 
• Flak battery compositions are very inaccurate. A heavy German flak battery was nearly always 4-6 heavy guns plus 2 light AAA guns for close in protection. Airfields typically had 3 such heavy batteries plus 2 light AAA batteries (often such a light AAA battery was 12 20mm guns plus 4 60cm searchlights). So, at the very least the airfield defense mentioned in the previous point should have had an additional 2-4 heavy AAA guns but probably only 2 light AAA close into the heavy guns as this would correctly represent a single heavy German AAA battery. 
• Flak at a location all have a common style of activation and deactivation trigger which seems to be set for 5000-6000 m for activation and 5500-6500 for deactivation. Ditto for the attack area MCU. This is regardless of the type of AAA. I'm guessing the 5000m is linked somehow to the targeting range in the flak and machine gun bot files. 
• The fact that guns are not pointing towards the expected direction of threat coupled with the small activation range usually means that by the time heavy flak guns can turn and face the incoming aircraft they are already overheard the position being defended.
• I've tested stock heavy AAA guns with a 10000m activation/11000m deactivation and 10000m attack area MCU. The guns will track a target and fire out to their max range quite happily despite the 5000m targeting range. This is a much more immersive experience for the player and more realistic as well. Additionally, even if the gun is not facing correctly, it has time to turn and engage before the enemy aircraft is overhead. 

 

Suggestions:

• Generally orientate at least the heavy guns towards the expected direction of threat.
• Use historically correct flak unit compositions. 
• Change the activation/deactivation trigger ranges and attack area MCU range for heavy AAA to align with their actual real engagement range.