Hansa Bradenburg anti-shipping issues

[WitchyWoman]

So we are talking about ROF here and the seaplanes. This probably covers the Felixstowe F2 as well,

 

Often I am tasked with anti-shipping and I encounter troopships,freighters, etc. I usually enter an orbit then pound away with the ring mounted cannon. I have tried using my gunner and also taking over.  Does anyone have any tips on this? Is there a trick to it? I usually target the waterline and bridge but you do not have much ammo.

 

I have read a few times in various historical reference books that the Brandenburg was a very successful plane in its role by the wars end and the crews loved it. I have yet to be successful in these kinds of missions as I have never sunken a ship.

Edited July 24, 2023 by WitchyWoman

[Avimimus]

I'd be quite interested in which books you are reading!  So far the only single engined German navy plane that carried a bombload that I've found is the FF-49B and maybe the Hansa-Brandenberg K (although there were a handful of well armed twin engined floatplane bombers)... most of the German naval two-seaters seem to have dropped bombs by hand. So I'm very interested in reading about anti-shipping operations!

 

I believe the ship damage model doesn't take into account waterline hits (a problem which persists to this day - and makes the Mosquito Tse-Tse's 57mm Molins and AP 25lb RP-3 rockets relatively ineffective)! Maybe in the next version?

 

It should be possible to create a mod which makes the ships less durable and reduces your frustration.

[WitchyWoman]

On 7/27/2023 at 2:09 PM, Avimimus said:

I'd be quite interested in which books you are reading!  So far the only single engined German navy plane that carried a bombload that I've found is the FF-49B and maybe the Hansa-Brandenberg K (although there were a handful of well armed twin engined floatplane bombers)... most of the German naval two-seaters seem to have dropped bombs by hand. So I'm very interested in reading about anti-shipping operations!

 

I believe the ship damage model doesn't take into account waterline hits (a problem which persists to this day - and makes the Mosquito Tse-Tse's 57mm Molins and AP 25lb RP-3 rockets relatively ineffective)! Maybe in the next version?

 

It should be possible to create a mod which makes the ships less durable and reduces your frustration.

 

What good is the damn plane and why did they model it in if it can't even complete the missions assigned in the game? ROFL ?

Edited July 29, 2023 by WitchyWoman

[Avimimus]

1 hour ago, WitchyWoman said:

 

What good is the damn plane and why did they model it in if it can't even complete the missions assigned in the game? ROFL ?

 

Well, it can - it is just better to use 60lb SAP RP-3 rockets and bombs to complete those missions (in my experience anyway)  It is nice to have the 57mm and RP-3 25lb AP modelled for overall historical accuracy - and they can be used effectively - just not as effectively as they were used in real life.

 

Also - to be fair - the RP-3 25lb AP rockets can travel underwater and still hit the ship (which is historically accurate to how they were used - they'd arc underwater to produce hits below the waterline) - which is pretty impressive. They never announced they were modelling this, but I just discovered it back when the Spit IX carried only a pair of them...

 

The only issue is that hits below (or at) the waterline don't do extra damage, as fires are modelled for ships, but flooding isn't. Maybe that will change someday.

[Cynic_Al]

I do not see the W12 as an anti-shipping plane, the rear gunner being purely defensive and barely capable of inconveniencing an enemy ship.  With several hits, the Davis cannon on the Felixstowe can destroy gunboats and submarines, but you'd be lucky to survive long enough to sink a cruiser with it alone.

[LukeFF]

On 7/28/2023 at 7:35 PM, WitchyWoman said:

What good is the damn plane and why did they model it in if it can't even complete the missions assigned in the game? ROFL ?

 

It's been a long time since I looked at any of the ROF career mode files, but I'll be very surprised if I gave them anti-shipping missions. 

[WitchyWoman]

Ive had several missions generated to scout convoys out at sea with no aircraft to fight. I guess thats realistic that most of the time there is zero action..

[Gooseh]

If you are using PWCG v16.3.1 please be aware that there's serious issues with the Channel map. In a nutshell, there's no activity there. For some reason none of the assigned squadrons show up in the air (there's a couple of exceptions.) They are not the map but that's it.

 

As far as I recall, you can choose to play any of the units, but the others won't show.

 

Try as I might, I have never seen any Brandenbergs ever, despite hanging around their base for ages. This is a pity as I did some nice skins for them and the Belgians...

 

 

[WitchyWoman]

Is there anyway to correct that? What a shame.

[Gooseh]

On 8/24/2023 at 5:18 AM, WitchyWoman said:

Is there anyway to correct that? What a shame.

 

Not unless someone with the knowledge and willingness gets under the hood of PWCG, and corrects the errors. Highly unlikely I'd say!

[Guest deleted@219798]

Really if you're supposed to be scouting for enemy ships in sea patrol missions, what are you supposed to do? There's no radio to call in land bombers or ships. Maybe you shoot down the occasional flying boat. In my last mission I spotted 3 Flying boats, by the time I caught up with them they disappeared because I was too far from the flight leader. Some bright boy thought up that rule that's for sure. Later I  spotted an RN light cruiser with another ship, useless to attack of course. The mission requirements for Sea Patrol missions which seem to be the majority, say to "Engage and destroy enemy aircraft and balloons on your patrol route". Yet to see one balloon floating above the sea.

Edited October 13, 2023 by kestrel444x500