Edited to reflect fighter hitting at 4 correction.
@jamatucci@rcn.com:
How can fighters defend convoys against bomber stategic attacks?
Do they need to be on board carriers attached to the convoy?
Can they patrol a sea zone through which the convoy passes?
If this is possible, will these defending fighters only be able to fight bombers which attempt to intercept a convoy (I believe this interception of the convoy by the bombers is automatic) in the sea zone in which the defending fighters are patrolling?
Planes on a carrier in a convoy will be considered to be in the air when attacked anywhere along the convoy route.
A plane or ship can patrol over a zone that a convoy passes. Â If so, then the attacker will have to get through the patrolling units before it can get to the convoy. Â Resolve this first, and then the convoy Strategic Warfare.
Looking over the Strategic Warefare combat, I see there is confusion. Â Let me clarify it with this. Â I will include this in updated rules:
Your bombers/submarines may attack the defender’s factory or NRZ/convoy.  Follow these steps:
1 Place all of the engaged units to the side of the board. Â All units in the same space are placed.
2 Attacker fires.  You roll 1d6 for each fighter/bomber you have in the space.  Every die roll that is equal to or less than the Combat value of the unit is a ‘hit’.  You then add up the number of ‘hits’ rolled, and that is the number of fighters the defender must choose as casualties.
3 Defender fires.  The defender rolls 1d6 for every fighter he has in the space, including casualties.  Every die roll that is equal to or less than 4 is a ‘hit’.  Defender then adds up the number of ‘hits’ rolled, and that is the number of air units you must choose to be destroyed.  Casualties are now removed.
4 Attacker fires.  You roll 1d6 for each bomber/submarine you have in the space.  Every die roll that is equal to or less than 3 is a ‘hit’.  Defender’s factory/NRZ is now damaged, or 1 transport per hit is destroyed
5 Defender fires.  The defender rolls 1d6 for every destroyer//Tac bomber he has in the convoy.  Every die roll that is equal to or less than 3 is a ‘hit’.  Defender then adds up the number of ‘hits’ rolled, and that is the number of submarines you must choose to be destroyed.
• Go to Stage 4.