KaLeun, you’re such a trouble maker :wink:
Great question, I had the same one a while back.
First of all, only fighters can escort, per the rulebook.
Second, after any air battle with defending interceptors, you will assign your strats and tacs to targets.
Now you’re saying there is no target for the tactical. That is, there are no naval or air bases. Therefore, they are not shielding the strategic bombers from AA fire, because the industrial complex AA will be firing at attackers, and the only attackers will be strategic bombers. If you’re sending tacticals at a bombed out base, then that’s doubly ineffective, because the tactical would be taking AA fire for no reason, and would not be shielding the strats.
So I think the part you’re overlooking is that AA fire occurs AFTER dividing the strats/tacs into groups and going after the different facilities. You can’t send tacs at industrial complexes, so the tactic you are describing is not a viable option, no.
Wait, now I get your question. You want the tacs to shield your strats in the air war, when the tacs have no target, or a bombed out base is the only “target”.
Not 100% sure on that answer because I didn’t write it down after getting it from Krieghund. Must have thought I’d remember, or something.
If you want 100% answer on that, you’ll need Krieghund or someone who remembers or can quote his answer. It’s a good question because the rulebook doesn’t address it, and seems to allow for this tactic.