How much of the front must one squadron patrol?

[Hauksbee 103]

I realize that this is a question that can only be answered in a vague manner since one squadron could patrol a large, if dormant, section of the front, while several might be massed to meet an offensive. The reason I raise the question is that I, the quintessential QC pilot, am feeling the itch to follow you lads into some campaign missions. To this end, I have enlisted Jasper Maltby in the 2nd AFC at Auchel because of its proximity to three major French rivers and the ocean. All good landmarks if I get lost. (plus being some really great scenery) In addition, I bought a Michelin road map and intend to razor out a section that covers what I'm about to fly so I have a paper map at my elbow. (I am hoping that the prop wash does not blow it out of the cockpit and into the kitchen.) Thus my question: "How much map might I need to cover my mission area? If I can guage the approximate area that my squadron will be responsible for, I want to recce the area so I can, hopefully, navigate by sight.. All surmises welcome.

Edited June 18, 2012 by Hauksbee

[Olham 164]

Well, if you would travel with 150 mph, and your patrol time would be 1 hour,

you could fly a distance of 150 miles.

That could be a line patrol with a triangle with 50 miles each side.

In a 1 1/2-hour patrol you could actually fly a triangle of 75 x 75 x 75 miles.

 

If you intrude into German terrain, it would rather be a polygon course.

I guess a British patrol would have been flying between 1 and 2 hours.

 

That's great that you will try campaign now. Actually, all the flying is the same;

but you will now feel much more like being a real life pilot.

It would be easier on the German side, as you wouldn't have to cross the line.

But with an S.E.5a you can make it. All you need to do is, to forget about victories.

Try to get there, and back again. Make only absolutely easy kills.

Stay with your fellow pilots. Run away, if you must, without shame.

That's about all I can give you for the way.

Edited June 18, 2012 by Olham

[Pips 5]

The average allocation of 'line responsibility' for a RFC fighter Squadron in Flanders (in 1917) was 20 miles. The RNAS worked on 25 miles. Depth of penetration varied quite a bit, depending on aircraft equipment and capability, mission goals and conditions at the time. But the patrol line was set, and had to be covered a minimum of three times daily.

 

In 1918, after amalgamation of the RFC and the RNAS into the RAF, the line responsibility was established at 25 miles. But an overlap of 5 miles at either end was built into the system by then, given the greater number of fighter squadrons available for service.

Edited June 18, 2012 by Pips

[Britisheh 0]

Hi there,

 

 

Good stuff Pips. Bletchley and I did extensive research into this as we wanted some parameters that may be what we considered more realistic for what we percideved OFF as, and of course, we don't have the operational constraints the DEV"S do :)

 

So, from my failing memory I can tell you that it was certainly based on who you flew for, Allied or Axis, when, what aircraft, etc. The Allied side always ventured farther than the Axis, save when the high altitude German observeration craft came out late 1927? If you're flying for the English, then the Scouts were told to go about 10 miles over the lines, and a patrol would last about 1.25 hours, with a range along the Front of some 30 miles or so. The Two Seaters went in about 50 miles, 1 1/2 hours across the lines, then back. Later when the SE 5's came along, they had a longer endurance and so the Camel's did the 10 mile across, and they went 20 miles across. The Germans went into No Mans Land to escort a Two Seater there, then left, while the high altitude reconn were left on their own. The Allies couldn't get up high enough to bother them. On an Offensive the Germans did cross No Mans Land and farther, especially to take out an Observation Balloon. These were generally stationed at 3 miles behing the Front, and 5 miles behind the Front. Many times the Germans,especially in the DR.I didn't take a full fuel load, so as to have a lighter craft, that would offer more manoeuvrabilty than the English, who had a full load on to ensure they could get back against the prevailing wind.

 

Cheers,

 

Britisheh

 

 

[Olham 164]

Great stuff, Pips and Britisheh!

[shredward 12]

P4 will reflect that

Cheers,

the shredder

[Hauksbee 103]

Good stuff Pips. Bletchley and I did extensive research into this as we wanted some parameters that may be what we considered more realistic

Thanks guys. Good info there. I'll print it out and keep it with my maps.

[Olham 164]

P4 will reflect that

Cheers,

the shredder

 

Raaaaaahhhhhhhh......!!!!!

 

I'm a donkey, I'm a donkey, I'm a donkey, I'm a donkey

Pull a cart, pull a cart, pull a cart, pull a cart

See the carrot, see the the carrot, see the the carrot, see the the carrot

on a stick, on a stick, on a stick, on a stick...

 

Raaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wayfarer 5]

The Two Seaters went in about 50 miles, 1 1/2 hours across the lines, then back.

 

Good grief ... I feel adventurous if my RE8 goes 10 miles behind enemy lines!

Very interesting info in this thread though.

[Von Paulus 8]

Raaaaaahhhhhhhh......!!!!!

 

I'm a donkey, I'm a donkey, I'm a donkey, I'm a donkey

Pull a cart, pull a cart, pull a cart, pull a cart

See the carrot, see the the carrot, see the the carrot, see the the carrot

on a stick, on a stick, on a stick, on a stick...

 

Raaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need the list, I don't mind if it's incomplete.

[OlPaint01 0]

Britisheh, is this the list that constitutes Bletchley Missions Mod (also know as Realistic War Years Mod) that is currently a part of the Great Bundle of Realism Mods in the CA Downloads?

 

OlPaint

Edited June 19, 2012 by OlPaint01

[Hauksbee 103]

After my first experience with Mission Builder, here's their picture of the front with airfields in white.Exactly how much of the front is your responsibility is something of a moot point.