SBRs

@manincellv:

From Alpha +1

9. Strategic Bombing Raids procedure:
• Escorts fire @1, and interceptor casualties are immediately removed.
• Bombers fire @ 1 and interceptors fire @ 2. Remove bomber and interceptor casualties
• Surviving bombers are assigned a target
• The target fires its AA guns at the attacking aircraft - @1
• Surviving bombers attack their target, looking for the highest number possible

Trying to understand this…
1. Escorts fire, so the interceptor IF HIT, Cannot return fire and are removed immediately? Is that true?
2. Bombers fire (MY QUESTION IS WHOSE?)

1:  Yes.  The escorts are meant to protect the bombers, and the idea is that they immediately engage and destroy before the interceptors reach the bombing formation and have the initiative.  It’s not exactly “realistic” as escorts didn’t always have the advantage but it does provide us with another reason to use escorts (and perform SBRs).

2: The bombers (and tactical bombers) that are on the strategic bombing mission.  They now have some defensive fire, which makes sense, since bombers were generally bristling with guns & turrets.

Wait so. For how many rounds?

Is it like Escort-interceptors battle first until one side is dead?

Or does it transition into bomber part

@Benerfe:

Wait so. For how many rounds?

Is it like Escort-interceptors battle first until one side is dead?

Or does it transition into bomber part

one roll for each plane.

Phase 1:  Escorts roll one die each.  Hit Interceptors are removed and do not fire back.  Move onto battle between remaining Interceptors and Bombers.

Phase 2A:  Bombers fire, hit interceptors go to a “casualty” zone.
Phase 2B:  Interceptors fire, attacker selects which bomber (or tac bomber) is a casualty. Any interceptor hits that remain if all bombers were destroyed are assigned to escorts (This is the only way to hit an escort now).

Phase 3: assign remaining bombers to target
Phase 4: AA fire on bombers.
Phase 5: roll, damage, etc.

At any time can one side retreat?

No.

Here’s one of Larry’s responses on his site discussing it, in the A+.1 thread:

http://www.harrisgamedesign.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=4060&start=48

Specifically this line:  Should the interceptors roll more hits than there are bombers, the escorts assume the additional hits.

@manincellv:

Its unclear in Alpha +1 whether the interceptor hits are applied to bombers only and not to escorts? Where did this come from?

It came from the Powers that Be.  Specifically, Krieghund and Larry Harris.  Interceptor hits are assigned to bombers first, then escorts only if bomber are dead and hits remain to be assigned.