Advice on the air war

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A game
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Advice on the air war

Post by A game »

Im playing a game as Axis and my Soviet opponent is carpet bombing my front lines, my interceptors and flak dont seem to be doing much to stop him.

If anyone has some advice or tips on the use of the Luftwaffe that would be great, I have never been that interested in the air side of WitE as it always seemed rather obscure and a lot of micromanaging for little result, but I think I may need to do something more in this game.

I have moved my airbases close to the front lines and I have my % to fly at 20, and my intercept on 100 but it stills seems like my fighters are not actually flying missions very often, the Soviets are ruling the skies and this doesnt feel right.

Any comments would be appreciated!
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Michael T
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by Michael T »

I have noticed that my fighter bases run low on fuel and then won't fly. So you need to keep some fuel for defensive ops. I think this might be a problem actually. The air game is still pretty much borked IMO, but better than 2 years ago.

EDIT: You need to pay much more attention to the air war now as German. As usual a monkey could run the Soviet air war.
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richter53
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by richter53 »

Only 20% to fly? Change to 50% and check results. Also. Check your options for interdiction, anything involving fighters.
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HardLuckYetAgain
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by HardLuckYetAgain »

ORIGINAL: A game

Im playing a game as Axis and my Soviet opponent is carpet bombing my front lines, my interceptors and flak dont seem to be doing much to stop him.

If anyone has some advice or tips on the use of the Luftwaffe that would be great, I have never been that interested in the air side of WitE as it always seemed rather obscure and a lot of micromanaging for little result, but I think I may need to do something more in this game.

I have moved my airbases close to the front lines and I have my % to fly at 20, and my intercept on 100 but it stills seems like my fighters are not actually flying missions very often, the Soviets are ruling the skies and this doesnt feel right.

Any comments would be appreciated!

1st turn as Germans I have all support units go to OKH. By turn 3 i then allocate flak units to Army HQ's(airforce army HQ is good too)and create interlocking zones with these HQ's with reinforced flak (8 to 12 flak per army HQ and range of 3 to5 hexes between army hqs covering your units)I then put the air bases under the HQ (the hq reinforced with the flak units) on this turn and air transfer units in from where they were on turn 1 using extra freed up air bases) Turn 4 they tear holes in Russians like mad (1 game i caused over 150 planes shot down in one battle hex)This way the Russians pay in flak casulties which add up fast. ( i also keep airbases within 15-20 of railhead for supply if possible)

I have interdiction turned off. You run your fighters into the ground flying interdiction. Crank your interception up to to around 200 minimum and precent to fly around 60 to 75+ depending on how fatigued your pilots are. Plus set up a rotation to reserve with your fighters. After a few turns start attacking his airbase with an attack or two. I.e. Fly airfield attack and only have 10% bombers go all the rest fighters or 100% fighters.
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HardLuckYetAgain
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by HardLuckYetAgain »

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: A game

Im playing a game as Axis and my Soviet opponent is carpet bombing my front lines, my interceptors and flak dont seem to be doing much to stop him.

If anyone has some advice or tips on the use of the Luftwaffe that would be great, I have never been that interested in the air side of WitE as it always seemed rather obscure and a lot of micromanaging for little result, but I think I may need to do something more in this game.

I have moved my airbases close to the front lines and I have my % to fly at 20, and my intercept on 100 but it stills seems like my fighters are not actually flying missions very often, the Soviets are ruling the skies and this doesnt feel right.

Any comments would be appreciated!

1st turn as Germans I have all support units go to OKH. By turn 3 i then allocate flak units to Army HQ's(airforce army HQ is good too)and create interlocking zones with these HQ's with reinforced flak (8 to 12 flak per army HQ and range of 3 to5 hexes between army hqs covering your units)I then put the air bases under the HQ on this turn also from where they were on turn 1 well rested. Turn 4 they tear holes in Russians like mad (1 game i caused over 150 planes shot down in one battle hex)This way the Russians pay in flak casulties which add up fast. ( i also keep airbases within 15-20 of railhead for supply)

I have interdiction turned off. You run your fighters into the ground flying interdiction. Crank your interception up to to around 200 minimum and precent to fly around 60 to 75+ depending on how fatigued your pilots are. Plus set up a rotation to reserve with your fighters. After a few turns start attacking his airbase with an attack or two. I.e. Fly airfield attack and only have 10% bombers go all the rest fighters or 100% fighters.

Just an FYI i fly the JU87s to reserve 2nd turn and move some air units around to free up 3 to 4 bases with no planes. I then move those bases close to the front and air transfer the planes into them on turn 2/3. This way they are not fatigued. I then keep doing this with the other bases and other fighters and bomber getting them to the front ready to go. Everyone is probably doing this anyway but figured i would mention it.
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A game
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by A game »

Thanks thats some good advice HardLuckYetAgain, I never feel like flak does much but maybe when concentrated into the Army HQs as you say it has more impact.

I have a lot to learn with the air mechanics, I still dont quite understand how the % actually impacts gameplay, I would have thought having the intercept % very high would limit how many missions you can do in a turn which is why I have it lower, and similar with % to fly.

RE:sending planes to reserve is that something you do just with high fatigue units to 'give them a rest'?
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HardLuckYetAgain
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by HardLuckYetAgain »

ORIGINAL: A game

Thanks thats some good advice HardLuckYetAgain, I never feel like flak does much but maybe when concentrated into the Army HQs as you say it has more impact.

I have a lot to learn with the air mechanics, I still dont quite understand how the % actually impacts gameplay, I would have thought having the intercept % very high would limit how many missions you can do in a turn which is why I have it lower, and similar with % to fly.

RE:sending planes to reserve is that something you do just with high fatigue units to 'give them a rest'?

It will be a learning game getting the flak complement correct but if done from turn 1 you can really redistribute flak to be deadly with the overlapping fields of fire.

Percent to "intercept" must be set high. Thus when you put in 200% intercept this is telling the AI you want to send the same number of planes that are coming in to bomb/interdict etc. (I set to 300% at times just to max out fighters in certain areas) Also putting airbases closer to the front increases the chance of interception and goes without saying having the proper supply to that airbase. I also try to keep fatigue to 25 and below. The more fatigued your fighters are the larger hit in their effectiveness.

Forgot to mention that you may want to put a squadron or two on night mission if your opponent is doing night bombing. (I use BF-110's)

I try and send 1 squadron on rotation to reserves to rest/refit from each front starting around turn 5/6 depending on the fighting. It is micro management but will pay dividends if done correctly :)

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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by rainman2015 »

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
ORIGINAL: A game

Im playing a game as Axis and my Soviet opponent is carpet bombing my front lines, my interceptors and flak dont seem to be doing much to stop him.

If anyone has some advice or tips on the use of the Luftwaffe that would be great, I have never been that interested in the air side of WitE as it always seemed rather obscure and a lot of micromanaging for little result, but I think I may need to do something more in this game.

I have moved my airbases close to the front lines and I have my % to fly at 20, and my intercept on 100 but it stills seems like my fighters are not actually flying missions very often, the Soviets are ruling the skies and this doesnt feel right.

Any comments would be appreciated!

1st turn as Germans I have all support units go to OKH. By turn 3 i then allocate flak units to Army HQ's(airforce army HQ is good too)and create interlocking zones with these HQ's with reinforced flak (8 to 12 flak per army HQ and range of 3 to5 hexes between army hqs covering your units) I then put the air bases under the HQ (the hq reinforced with the flak units) on this turn and air transfer units in from where they were on turn 1 using extra freed up air bases)

What do you mean they 'have a range of 3-5 hexes' between army HQs covering your units?

Randy
:)
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by sillyflower »

ORIGINAL: Michael T

As usual a monkey could run the Soviet air war.

I obviously still have to evolve a bit more before I can be let loose with the Russian airforce
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by HardLuckYetAgain »

ORIGINAL: rainman2015

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
ORIGINAL: A game

Im playing a game as Axis and my Soviet opponent is carpet bombing my front lines, my interceptors and flak dont seem to be doing much to stop him.

If anyone has some advice or tips on the use of the Luftwaffe that would be great, I have never been that interested in the air side of WitE as it always seemed rather obscure and a lot of micromanaging for little result, but I think I may need to do something more in this game.

I have moved my airbases close to the front lines and I have my % to fly at 20, and my intercept on 100 but it stills seems like my fighters are not actually flying missions very often, the Soviets are ruling the skies and this doesnt feel right.

Any comments would be appreciated!

1st turn as Germans I have all support units go to OKH. By turn 3 i then allocate flak units to Army HQ's(airforce army HQ is good too)and create interlocking zones with these HQ's with reinforced flak (8 to 12 flak per army HQ and range of 3 to5 hexes between army hqs covering your units) I then put the air bases under the HQ (the hq reinforced with the flak units) on this turn and air transfer units in from where they were on turn 1 using extra freed up air bases)

What do you mean they 'have a range of 3-5 hexes' between army HQs covering your units?

Randy
:)

In essence the flak protects the Airbases (along with fighter intercept) > The airbases with fighters protect the unit. To crack the nut the Russian have to bust up the airbases but will take high losses because attacking the airbase with flak and higher interception. Makes sense?
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HardLuckYetAgain
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by HardLuckYetAgain »

ORIGINAL: sillyflower

ORIGINAL: Michael T

As usual a monkey could run the Soviet air war.

I obviously still have to evolve a bit more before I can be let loose with the Russian airforce

I don't know Sillyflower, you could be that one Monkey that actually does complete the "Infinite Monkey Theorem" and have a MASTERPIECE on your hand!
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rainman2015
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by rainman2015 »

[/quote]

In essence the flak protects the Airbases (along with fighter intercept) > The airbases with fighters protect the unit. To crack the nut the Russian have to bust up the airbases but will take high losses because attacking the airbase with flak and higher interception. Makes sense?

[/quote]

I see, so it is the fighter's interception range that gives you the 3-5 hex range coverage, and the fighter base is stacked with the air HQ that is now stacked with lots of flak. I like it. I still though want flak up in my panzer/mot divisions and also in each corps HQ, i per unit/HQ, that still leaves a lot of flak, especially the little ones that you could stuff into the Air HQ and then stack the Air HQ with your bases. There will be a lot of bases that can't stack with a HQ though, too many bases and too few HQ.

Randy
:)
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by HardLuckYetAgain »

ORIGINAL: rainman2015


There will be a lot of bases that can't stack with a HQ though, too many bases and too few HQ.

Randy
:)

No, i only put fighters under the up front HQs with flak. Bombers have plenty of range and can be placed to where the soviets fighter escort cant reach. If the Russians decide and try to bomb with their bombers flying without fighter escort then that is a win win scenario imho.
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by Icier »

Also check your setting, he could be attacking @ night & change your fighter setting to both (day/night)
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by A game »

Regarding night bombing is there anyway to check when looking at my opponents bombing missions whether they are night/day?
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by Icier »

No...I have been led to believe that night attacks are nowhere near effective as day attacks, which
stands to reason.
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RE: Advice on the air war

Post by HardLuckYetAgain »

ORIGINAL: Ice

No...I have been led to believe that night attacks are nowhere near effective as day attacks, which
stands to reason.

Night attacks took a nerf in 1.08.09 per Line 29 see the following from patch notes in 1.08.09;

29. Reduced effectiveness of night bombing by 50%.
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