1 reply to this topic

[Kevin Nielson]

Hi, are spotters able to be shot down with AA fire? It says it can in the book, but we are unable to find out what category the floatplane falls under, like dive-bombers, gliders and such.Can the FP defend it self against fighters. If I remember right, most of the floatplanes had a three-man crew, which included a gunner.I can’t find the aircraft data for the FP, what is its speed?Are there any more aircraft data cards for planes other than what is in the book?

[Cpt M]

Hi, are spotters able to be shot down with AA fire? It says it can in the book, but we are unable to find out what category the floatplane falls under, like dive-bombers, gliders and such.

The line to use on the 'Anti-Aircraft CRT' for airspot floatplanes is the 'DB-Kamikaze' line.

Can the FP defend it self against fighters. If I remember right, most of the floatplanes had a three-man crew, which included a gunner.

Yes, they are listed on the 'Aerial CRT' as 'Snooper and FP'. Generally, a FP will not survive long if any fighters are around. They can defend themselve but it would take a very lucky roll to hit anything (and a very unlucky fighter as a target).

I can’t find the aircraft data for the FP, what is its speed?

Floatplanes are listed in the 'Air Capacity' charts and in the aircraft cards. For the US, the gunnery spot floatplanes are the SOC Seagull and OS2U Kingfisher, for the RN the Walrus, for the IJN the FIM Pete. These are the nations that actually trained for air gunnery spotting. The other nations used their shipboard floatplanes primarily for scouting. Generally, by WWII, aerial gunnery spotting for surface combat had fallen out of favor due to the increasing strength of the AA and, in the case of the RN and USN, the increasing effectiveness of radar fire control. (Keep in mind, to call fire, a FP has to be within 4000 yds of the target ship while long range AA can reach out to 6000 yds. Short range AA can reach out to 2500 yds.) It still was used to good effect, however, for gunfire support of amphiious landings.

Are there any more aircraft data cards for planes other than what is in the book?

Not at this time since between the 'Aircraft Capacity' charts and the aircraft logs, most of the aircraft that are likely to be used in a naval setting are covered. (That's not say that more could be added if needed, of course.)