Ok, so here's a big Combat Box formation I've put together in the FMB. I made it up myself. It counts 52 B-17s and is 800m wide and over 600m long. Now, how do I get those stupid AI pilots to turn of their navigationlights at night? Also, what would be a good skill level for the AI gunners? I've set them to veteran, but they don't seem to be very deadly against the luftwaffe...

Over at the *ahem* Dark side, there's a no navlights mod and a toned-down navlights mod. I can't get the no lights mod to work, but the toned-down version works great. Other than that the only way to turn off the AI lights is to make it day time.

try grabbing a Fw190 and attack the bombers...how many runs can you make before getting killed?
use that to adjust the skill level to what you like
Average is well good. Veteren are Elite Snipers, atleast against one plane

i do not understand why you do not find them effektive...52 bombers i would not want to attack that formation anything else than head on.

Oh, yes, that's another question. I make the AI luftwaffe fly head-on towards the bombers, but they don't attack head-on. Instead they climb and attack from behind.

Look at the 3rd picture. See how few B-17s are left? That was after an attack of 4 x 190 A6, 4 x 109 G6(mk 108 armed) and 110 G2. All veteran.

You may need to up the skill level of the fighters to Vet or Ace. Way back the AI always used the head-on and with great accuracy. To stop that they made AI avoid the head-on after a patch, unless they were a certain skill level.

You can start in the evening without the AI putting nav lights on and it will still be quite dark. So long as they don't make a turn I think they leave them off as it gets darker, but I could be mistaken there.

One thing you might do is to change the armament of the attacking fighters. Try using 109's with 20mm guns instead of 30mm guns. Have your 190A6's with 2xMG151/20only.

For the lights thing, without mods I've never found a way except for those mentioned. Perhaps for a night action though, you should use Lancasters.

B50

The effectiveness of AI gunners is influenced by the amount of light.
If you set up this mission as explained above (evening) they are more accurate all of a sudden...

quote:

Originally posted by Browning50cal:
One thing you might do is to change the armament of the attacking fighters. Try using 109's with 20mm guns instead of 30mm guns. Have your 190A6's with 2xMG151/20only.

For the lights thing, without mods I've never found a way except for those mentioned. Perhaps for a night action though, you should use Lancasters.

B50

We have the lancaster now? Its still a WIP as far as i know.

Think he means skinned outs B24s or Pe8s as the Lanc is still WIP from what I can see.
Equally - over at the "darkside" the AI mod changes the way in which the enemy use their nav lights.
V