Blood Red Skies: How to - Sustained dive

 

As the Aggresive tactics seams to be native doctrine for turning fighters, as Sustained Dive would be one for the energy fighters.

 

If you like to play offensively and finish the battle quick, the Sustained Dive would be great option for you. This doctrine provide you to keep maximum energy even after diving and catch your prey during the first turn. As the doctrine is coupled with the Great Dive and is designed for extremely fast approach to the enemy it is worth to consider the choose it for high speed great diving aircraft as a British ground support Typhoon, Tempest, German: Bf109, Bf110, Fw190D, Me410, Japaneese: Ki44, Ki61, American (to be honest: most of them), Soviet: Mig3. Romanian IAR80C. The best option for such mission would be great diving, the fastest plane as Fw190D, Tempest, Mustang B/C/D (total 18" range) or Mig3 (the fastest fighter of the early war (with total range of 16").

How to play using Sustained Dive?

As the Sustained Dive enable you to reach and attack enemy during the first turn it is worth to consider:

• be sure you have initative according to speed and advantage level (Radar Support Theatre card raise your chances)
• block the clouds as a starting point for the opponent (in fact clear them by Clear Skies Weatrer card)
• make sure that you will gain shooting position after Sustained Dive (you can use ace with Aggresive skill, repositioning Theatre card: Control Room or keeping element in the High Cover). if possible establish battlefield as far as possible from the clouds especially if you are faster (the opponent may react by popping out from the cloud)
  
• as the Sustained Dive is a kind of Hit and Run operation do not get stacked into turning fight.

 

 How to deal against Sustained Dive? 

As the opponent probably will have an initiative in this battle: will be faster and gain Advantaged status your first goal is to face and survive the his first strike:

• Lower oponent's chances of being Advantaged (i.e. using Jamming Theatre card)
• Raise your chances to survive the first strike by hiding in the clouds or using Defensive Tactics doctrine. Deep Pockets trait card will help.
  
• Protect from Aggresive ace by hiring Mother Hen own ace
  
• Make your opponent's life harder, by - for example - setting your elements in the corner (he will need to turn somehow or using doctrine (Compression Issues)
  
• Try to engage the opponent into the turning fight
  
• It is worth to consider to set a trap with one element as a bait and another (hidden in the clouds) as hunter