SAS version 1.1 introduced basic squadron organisation for aircraft operating from airfields and carriers.
A squadron is a group of aircraft of the same 'category', with a theoretical establishment.
There are eight categories of aircraft for squadron purposes:
Within a squadron, there can be aircraft of different types, i.e. makes and models, but all types in a squadron must have the same primary role. For example, a British torpedo bomber squadron could have both Albacores and Barracudas.
The theoretical operating establishment of a squadron depended on the category, and also the country - different countries had different organisations.
| Category | Country | Full Establishment |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter/interceptor | United States Other | 24 20 |
| Torpedo bomber | Japan Other | 20 12 |
| Dive bomber | United States Japan, Germany Other | 16 20 12 |
| Heavy, medium & Light bomber | All | 12 |
| Long & Short range reconnaissance | All | 12 |
The numbers above represent theoretical full establishment. In practice, because of aircraft loss, damage and unserviceability, and production and deployment limitations affecting replacements, most squadrons operated below full strength most of the time.
| Category | Country | Minimum Establishment |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter/interceptor | United States Other | 8 6 |
| Torpedo bomber | Japan Other | 6 4 |
| Dive bomber | United States Japan, Germany Other | 5 6 4 |
| Heavy, Medium & Light bomber | All | 6 |
| Long & Short range reconnaissance | All | 3 |
The minimum operational size affects aircraft deployment by the computer: automated deployment is always in 'packets' equal to the minimum operational size of the squadron for which the aircraft are destined. (Manual deployment can override this though - see how to deploy aircraft for information.)
The minimum size also affects operations: squadrons falling below minimum strength cannot contribute aircraft to offensive operations.