Question on aircraft

[Weasel]

I notice at the bottom of an aircraft data page you see the plane symbol and then beside two numbers: for example IL2 12(2). What does the 12 and the 2 mean?

[Cross]

Durability 12
Armour 2

The IL2 is a pretty tough bird.

I believe 'durability' is how much damage the plane can take.

cheers,
Cross

[Weasel]

Ok, not sure about durability in game terms as it seems that as soon as any a/c is hit at least once it leaves the battle. So the 12 is how much before it crashes, and I guess the 2 is like normal armour but still wonder about a/c leaving at just a hit with 1 point of damage. I have never tried the IL2 so I guess I can run a test to see if they bugger off too after a single hit.

thanks.

[Cross]

I think you're right that durability is how much damage before crash (and loss of points). But most planes will (realistically) abandon attack and RTB if damaged. If on attack run I think they may still attack though.

I don't think the armour always applies, may depend where the aircraft is hit, but not certain about this.

[Weasel]

ok,so buying based on the 12(2) is really a nil point.

thanks.

[seabolt]

I'm 99% sure that every airplane quits the battle after a single point of damage, with durability simply determining whether it fireballs (and provides your opponent with victory points) or retires (no points).

Armor rating 0 will take damage from small arms, which usually do the hitting only because there's a bunch more of them than dedicated AA on the field until radar guidance and SAMs change things up. Armor 1 will on average bounce a few small arms hits before it lets a hit through. You rarely see armor 2 take damage from small arms, which is what makes the Il-2 and such worth the cost of purchase, whereas anything with armor 1 is iffy and you should only expect 1 pass from armor 0 planes unless their ECM rating is through the roof.

-- 30 --

[seabolt]

ok,so buying based on the 12(2) is really a nil point.

I'd suggest that the first number is nigh meaningless, the second almost all-important in a WWII scenario.

-- 30 --

[Weasel]

thanks Seabolt

[RERomine]

The first number has some worth. While any damage results in an RTB, as long as it isn't shot down victory points equate to the damage inflicted. If it's shot down, you are looking at the full value of the plane as victory points. The long and short of is, if the high the first number, the better chance you have of only suffering damage victory points as opposed to full value victory points. Another thing to consider is if it doesn't get shot down, it may well complete its attack run, even if damaged.

[Vesku]

Can't remember an IL-2 ever been damaged by light arms, very rarely by 12.7 and a bit more frequently by heavier AA. The armour is the most important stat for a plane followed by speed and fire control. Speed is the hexes aircraft moves between opportunity fire. Speed 3 passing over an AA gives 13 opportunities while a 5 gives only 8 ... out of which the bloody AA will probably take two or three if you're lucky.