Post by magnifiscent on Nov 5, 2013 14:21:56 GMT -8
A continued series on Boelcke's Dicta.
When over the enemy's lines, always remember your own line of retreat
This seems like a minor rule, but it is, again, something you want to keep in mind because it will creep up on you and ruin your day. No matter how well you're flying there will come a time when you have to retreat. Often it'll be during HBs when you're low on ammo or you've taken some damage and can't stay in the fight.
Knowing where you are, which way your friendly airbase is and what you're going to fly over in between is vital to getting an empty or wounded plane home safely. You don't want to take a plane you're barely keeping in the air and fly over an enemy airbase or concentration of AAA. That'll be the end of that plane more often than not. You certainly don't want to fly an empty plane or a wounded plane through a heavily contested area - you'll pick up enemy fighters looking for the easy kill. And you'll certainly be an easy kill.
Retreating is a necessary part of the historical battle - if you plane to survive the round at least. A wounded plane or one that is out of ammunition is almost defenseless. A few handy rules of thumb:
1. Do not expend all of your ammunition before retreating.
In my HB games at least half my deaths have been at my own airfield. Enemy fighters love to camp the airfield waiting for planes to return, empty or wounded, and land. Having some ammunition left to fight with might be the difference between being a target and fighting off an attacker.
2. Do not wait until your plane is falling apart to turn for home.
If you're struggling just to keep the plane in the air, there is little chance you'll be able to fight off an attacker. If you can help it, don't wait until your control surfaces are destroyed and the wing is hanging off in taters. Not only will it be very unlikely you'll land at all, you are a sitting duck for anyone looking to pick off wounded planes limping home.
3. Engage as a group and DISENGAGE as a group.
It might suck for the guys who aren't wounded or have ammunition still, but winners fly together. When it is time for a plane to go home, it is time for the formation to go home. It is really stupid for the group to be down a fighter because someone went back and everyone else stayed. At lot of the risk associated with the first two points on this list can be reduced by having undamaged friends flying with you.
Remember - Knowing when and how to retreat is just as important as knowing when and how to attack. It is very stupid to win a fight and then die anyway because you made a mistake when it came time to head home for hookers and beer.
When over the enemy's lines, always remember your own line of retreat
This seems like a minor rule, but it is, again, something you want to keep in mind because it will creep up on you and ruin your day. No matter how well you're flying there will come a time when you have to retreat. Often it'll be during HBs when you're low on ammo or you've taken some damage and can't stay in the fight.
Knowing where you are, which way your friendly airbase is and what you're going to fly over in between is vital to getting an empty or wounded plane home safely. You don't want to take a plane you're barely keeping in the air and fly over an enemy airbase or concentration of AAA. That'll be the end of that plane more often than not. You certainly don't want to fly an empty plane or a wounded plane through a heavily contested area - you'll pick up enemy fighters looking for the easy kill. And you'll certainly be an easy kill.
Retreating is a necessary part of the historical battle - if you plane to survive the round at least. A wounded plane or one that is out of ammunition is almost defenseless. A few handy rules of thumb:
1. Do not expend all of your ammunition before retreating.
In my HB games at least half my deaths have been at my own airfield. Enemy fighters love to camp the airfield waiting for planes to return, empty or wounded, and land. Having some ammunition left to fight with might be the difference between being a target and fighting off an attacker.
2. Do not wait until your plane is falling apart to turn for home.
If you're struggling just to keep the plane in the air, there is little chance you'll be able to fight off an attacker. If you can help it, don't wait until your control surfaces are destroyed and the wing is hanging off in taters. Not only will it be very unlikely you'll land at all, you are a sitting duck for anyone looking to pick off wounded planes limping home.
3. Engage as a group and DISENGAGE as a group.
It might suck for the guys who aren't wounded or have ammunition still, but winners fly together. When it is time for a plane to go home, it is time for the formation to go home. It is really stupid for the group to be down a fighter because someone went back and everyone else stayed. At lot of the risk associated with the first two points on this list can be reduced by having undamaged friends flying with you.
Remember - Knowing when and how to retreat is just as important as knowing when and how to attack. It is very stupid to win a fight and then die anyway because you made a mistake when it came time to head home for hookers and beer.
