IJN Seaplane Operations - Midway campaign

[WPO_Jones]

When attempting to plot a seaplane flight in the MP I always get a message saying that the seaplanes can't fly because the lack an arrestor hook.

Anyone know the procedure to get these Jakes in the air to do recon like they are supposed to?

[IV/JG7_4Shades]

You are talking about the A6M2-N Rufe, a floatplane, right? They should be based at a seaplane base or at an off map supply point (for an air start). This aircraft may also be deployed from a seaplane tender ship, but not from an aircraft carrier.

Cheers,
4Shades

[WPO_Jones]

Well, I was actually talking about an Arrado stand-in for Jakes, but the same problem exists with the couple of Rufes that are in the main task force.

From what you are saying seaplanes should be able to take off at sea from a seaplane tender at sea. Perhaps the mission template loads them onto the carriers rather than a seaplane tender.

I'll check and come back if I can find a resolution.

[WPO_Jones]

Here are four rows out of the ObjMissionData table for the seaplanes:

Code: Select all

SE-Midway-194206040700.mis 	Kokutai 801, IJN Ch. 1, Sh. 1 	IJN_AG_801z00 	A6M2N 	IJN_AG_801z 	g 	Independent 	0 	47553.5 	132841.7 	360 	-99 	-99 	0 	0 	1 	1 	1 	1 	1 	3 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	default 	Midway

SE-Midway-194206040700.mis 	Kokutai 801, IJN Ch. 1, Sh. 2 	IJN_AG_801z01 	A6M2N 	IJN_AG_801z 	g 	Independent 	0 	51252.88 	135335.37 	360 	-99 	-99 	0 	0 	1 	1 	1 	1 	1 	3 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	default 	Midway

SE-Midway-194206040700.mis 	Kokutai 801, IJN Ch. 1, Sh. 3 	IJN_AG_801z02 	AR_196A3 	IJN_AG_801z 	g 	Independent 	0 	44153.82 	136837.11 	360 	-99 	-99 	0 	0 	1 	1 	1 	1 	1 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	default 	Midway

SE-Midway-194206040700.mis 	Kokutai 801, IJN Ch. 1, Sh. 4 	IJN_AG_801z03 	AR_196A3 	IJN_AG_801z 	g 	Independent 	0 	44153.82 	136837.11 	360 	-99 	-99 	0 	0 	2 	2 	2 	2 	2 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	default 	Midway

My guess is that the reason they can't be launched is that they are flagged as 'Independent' when they should be attached to the seaplane tender ship.

Can you confirm that assessment?

Thanks!

[IV/JG7_4Shades]

You are correct, the "Independent" flag means that they are not loaded onto any carrier or tender.

In terms of its internal coding, when you select a flight for tasking the MP tries to work out if there are any nearby airbases, carriers or tenders that the flight could draw fuel and take off from. If the MP finds something nearby, then it will check to see if that airframe is suitable to operate from that base/carrier/tender. The logic isn't perfect.

Floatplanes are special cases - if no such base/carrier/tender is found then the floatplane can take off from the sea (sea transit mode).

Maybe in your template the planes are close to a carrier, so the MP tries to make them take off from the carrier, and they don't qualify because of the lack of a tailhook.

Cheers,
4S

[WPO_Jones]

Maybe in your template the planes are close to a carrier, so the MP tries to make them take off from the carrier, and they don't qualify because of the lack of a tailhook.

Yes, they are all in a large task force that includes 4 CVs. I'll assign them to the seaplane tender ship and see how that works out.

Many thanks for your years of dedicated effort, 4Shades!

[IV/JG7_4Shades]

OK. Just take note that tewnders must be stationary to launch seaplanes, but carriers are best to be moving into the wind when launching their aircraft.

If all these ships are in a single task force, then you can't launch from tenders and carriers simultaneously (i.e. in the same mission)!

Cheers,
4S

[WPO_Jones]

Thanks for the tip.

However, what object_class should I be looking for to find a seaplane tender? I'm looking in the Object_Role table and I can't find an obvious one.

Can BBs, CAs and CLs tend seaplanes? Must the ship object be defined in the Object_Specifications table as having a Transport_Capacity > 0?

[IV/JG7_4Shades]

There is only one object that operates as a tender, and that is "SeaPlaneTender", classed as a carrier "SAC". Internal to HSFX is some code that places tasked floatplanes alongside it ready for takeoff. Recovery is executed by taxying alognside the tender, coming to rest and turning off and maybe with the Chocks On command as well.
The mod was intended to get floatplane launching directly from the deck of the Tirpitz, KGV etc, but it didn't work reliably.

SEOW knows how to handle all this for the campaign, but only for SeaPlaneTender.

Cheers,
4S

[WPO_Jones]

Thanks for the explanation. There are no "SeaPlaneTender" ships in the template so looks like I'll need to create one.