Anyone have thoughts on how to use antisubmarine patrol aircraft, such as a P3 or a Nimrod, in Civ3?

I'd prefer not to have them just be bombers, and have the AI attacking land targets with them. Suggestions on how to make them useful?

Make them Cruise Missiles with detect invisible and Stealth Attack, with only submarines as their stealth attack targets. Idk honestly, just throwing ideas out there. :confused:

Cruise Missiles can't stealth attack, since they're bombard units, sadly. :(

either make them aircraft and use them like bombers or make them ships (detect invisible, bombard, small attack...). no other practical way i think.

There is no good way at the moment I'm afraid.

IIRC, I've tried to use detect invisible on them to see if they could spot submarines with a recon mission... And they can't.

I've heard that "Detect Invisible" works when using recon, but it only works for the exact tile the recon mission was used on, not any of the surrounding tiles. I'm not positive on it myself, though.

I think the suggestion jatibi made was focused by setting these units as seaunits. Here the flag "detect invisible" of course is no problem.

I've heard that "Detect Invisible" works when using recon, but it only works for the exact tile the recon mission was used on, not any of the surrounding tiles. I'm not positive on it myself, though.

Virote, I have heard the same, so I never had that experience myself.

Its a shame really.. I'm finishing up a large-scale coldwar scenario/mod Ive been working on for about 2 years now, and with so many great ASW aircraft/helos available (thanks wyrm!) it's a pity not to be able to put them to good use.

I think the suggestion jatibi made was focused by setting these units as seaunits. Here the flag "detect invisible" of course is no problem.

Originally Posted by Virote_Considon
I've heard that "Detect Invisible" works when using recon, but it only works for the exact tile the recon mission was used on, not any of the surrounding tiles. I'm not positive on it myself, though.

Virote, I have heard the same, so I never had that experience myself.

Modern ASW planes do not have that great a search radius or even search area against a submerged sub. Their main sensors are active and passive sonobuoys and the Magnetic Anomaly Detector in the tail sting. The MAD does not have that great a range, and is mainly used to verify that they have a metallic contact and not a noisy whale. Sonobuoys range depends on water conditions and temperature. Making them naval units with a speed of about 20 might work with the recon and detect invisible. Tis a pity that the game does not allow for torpedoes, but does have cruise missiles.

A torpedo is just a cruise missile with a very short range and a very low cruising altitude ;)

A torpedo is just a cruise missile with a very short range and a very low cruising altitude ;)

I understand that, Steph. I just would like to have torpedoes in the game, both for Japanese Long Lance, and ASW homing torpedoes, and also for use by coastal defenses, like the Norwegian shore launched torpedoes that sank the Blucher during the German invasion of Norway in 1940.