Air Battle Over Maginot Line

CommanderC · 06-04-2006, 15:46

Hello All, Playing France Normal/Aggressive 1936 Campaign Game HOI2 1.3a

Was setting up for a historical OOB leading up to May 10, 1940 where I assumed hostilities would commence with Germans invading Luxemburg and Belgium. Producing units, etc. Researched that the French had many airfields in practically all provinces, and had radar. So I built these items and deployed them in the game:
Airbase level 1 in Chaumont
Airbase level 1 in Dijon
Radar level 1 in Metz
Radar level 1 in Strasbourg

Also took the liberty of moving Maginot Line HQ division to Chaumont; not sure why I did this, but it seemed appropriate to keep the HQ in a rear area province that still supported the French Maginot Line Armees in Metz, Strasbourg, and Mulhouse.

So I'm noticing that the British and Polish air units frequently fly around and "borrow" my level 10 airbases, including the level 1 airbases I had built in Chaumont and Dijon. I have some air units in Metz at the level 10 airbase. Then the Germans invade Poland "Danzig" on August 30, 1939. I'm expecting the historical stalemate with no real action from the Germans up until May 10, 1940 or there abouts. Thats what I get for thinking that I want to play a historical game.... He, He!

Next thing I know, within a coule of hours of "Danzig" the Germans are sending planes to bomb my Maginot Line HQ in Chaumont.

It might have something to do with it being alone by itself in Chaumont. I of course respond by giving my air wings orders for Air Superioity missions. I rebase a couple air wings in Chaumont and Dijon also. While this is going on the British 3'rd Fighter Wing joins the action intercepting German air wings over the Maginot Line provinces. Then the 1.Lotnictwo Armii (Polish) joins the air battle. Within 48 hours there are two Polish level 1 interceptor air wings, my 3 French MS.406 interceptor wings and 1 French Bloch MB.152 fighter wing, and the British 3'rd fighter wing tangling with the Germans over the Franco/German border provices. My air bases are Metz, Chaumont, and Dijon.

I thought this would eventually sort itself out and I could return to the historical stalemate that existed and continue to match up the historical OOB. Ha, Ha! Right. I ended up transferring an AA brigade from a different unit to the Maginot Line HQ to help with the air attacks on it (it's the only AA brigade I have). I also am currently sending my tactical bombers to Stuttgart and Frankfurt province areas on runway cratering missions to suppress the German air in Maginot Line area. Of course, with the runway cratering going on, the Germans respond in kind with more air to intercept my tactical bombers.

Wow! So much for the historical game in Fall of 1939. I've got a full blown air war going on over my border with the Luftwaffe.

Not sure if I can get back my "histerical" path I wanted to take. I do find this to be outrageously fun.

I'm letting the air war continue how it develops as I try to match up the real life OOB before May 10, 1940. I'm not there yet with the OOB, I don't have escort fighters built yet so my tactical air takes quite a bit of damage and I have to sit them out periodically. We'll see where this goes.... Fun stuff! Enjoyable surprise.

Alexander Seil · 06-04-2006, 15:55

If you try to match France's historical OOB by 1940, you will almost certainly lose...France has the distinction of being a rather hard major to play, and going historical with them is not really an option.

Arbelast · 06-04-2006, 16:10

The 'sitzkrieg' hardly ever works out the way it did historically. Although the Germans do tend to wait until the approximate correct date to invade there's usually lots of air activity from the off.

Also, if you play as Germany you get France trying to invade your Western border in 1939 too.

CommanderC · 06-04-2006, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Seil

If you try to match France's historical OOB by 1940, you will almost certainly lose...France has the distinction of being a rather hard major to play, and going historical with them is not really an option.

Yes, I've heard this before on this forum, and of course the French had it handed to them in real life.... That is the challenge though isn't it. And I find that the real life French OOB is quite extensive according to the following site: http://france1940.free.fr/

I probably won't get all the units built before May 10, 1940. This is challenging in itself, making game units to match.

Thanks for the reply, er, ah, warning....

CommanderC · 06-04-2006, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arbelast

The 'sitzkrieg' hardly ever works out the way it did historically. Although the Germans do tend to wait until the approximate correct date to invade there's usually lots of air activity from the off.

Also, if you play as Germany you get France trying to invade your Western border in 1939 too.

Arberlast - Yes. I think that is just the way the game is designed. Probably would take some special case code to keep the AI from attacking the French in some way between Fall 1939 and May 10, 1940. How is the AI supposed to know I am trying to play historically?

Of course it can't. It probably works like this no matter what country you play as you explained with playing Germany. In any case, I'll continue to try holding the historical line as best I can. When May 10, 1940 arrives I'll of course try to kick the crap out of the Germans. If I get pummeled, then so be it.

06-04-2006, 15:46	#1
CommanderC Second Lieutenant Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 123	Air Battle Over Maginot Line Hello All, Playing France Normal/Aggressive 1936 Campaign Game HOI2 1.3a Was setting up for a historical OOB leading up to May 10, 1940 where I assumed hostilities would commence with Germans invading Luxemburg and Belgium. Producing units, etc. Researched that the French had many airfields in practically all provinces, and had radar. So I built these items and deployed them in the game: Airbase level 1 in Chaumont Airbase level 1 in Dijon Radar level 1 in Metz Radar level 1 in Strasbourg Also took the liberty of moving Maginot Line HQ division to Chaumont; not sure why I did this, but it seemed appropriate to keep the HQ in a rear area province that still supported the French Maginot Line Armees in Metz, Strasbourg, and Mulhouse. So I'm noticing that the British and Polish air units frequently fly around and "borrow" my level 10 airbases, including the level 1 airbases I had built in Chaumont and Dijon. I have some air units in Metz at the level 10 airbase. Then the Germans invade Poland "Danzig" on August 30, 1939. I'm expecting the historical stalemate with no real action from the Germans up until May 10, 1940 or there abouts. Thats what I get for thinking that I want to play a historical game.... He, He! Next thing I know, within a coule of hours of "Danzig" the Germans are sending planes to bomb my Maginot Line HQ in Chaumont. It might have something to do with it being alone by itself in Chaumont. I of course respond by giving my air wings orders for Air Superioity missions. I rebase a couple air wings in Chaumont and Dijon also. While this is going on the British 3'rd Fighter Wing joins the action intercepting German air wings over the Maginot Line provinces. Then the 1.Lotnictwo Armii (Polish) joins the air battle. Within 48 hours there are two Polish level 1 interceptor air wings, my 3 French MS.406 interceptor wings and 1 French Bloch MB.152 fighter wing, and the British 3'rd fighter wing tangling with the Germans over the Franco/German border provices. My air bases are Metz, Chaumont, and Dijon. I thought this would eventually sort itself out and I could return to the historical stalemate that existed and continue to match up the historical OOB. Ha, Ha! Right. I ended up transferring an AA brigade from a different unit to the Maginot Line HQ to help with the air attacks on it (it's the only AA brigade I have). I also am currently sending my tactical bombers to Stuttgart and Frankfurt province areas on runway cratering missions to suppress the German air in Maginot Line area. Of course, with the runway cratering going on, the Germans respond in kind with more air to intercept my tactical bombers. Wow! So much for the historical game in Fall of 1939. I've got a full blown air war going on over my border with the Luftwaffe. Not sure if I can get back my "histerical" path I wanted to take. I do find this to be outrageously fun. I'm letting the air war continue how it develops as I try to match up the real life OOB before May 10, 1940. I'm not there yet with the OOB, I don't have escort fighters built yet so my tactical air takes quite a bit of damage and I have to sit them out periodically. We'll see where this goes.... Fun stuff! Enjoyable surprise.

06-04-2006, 15:55	#2
Alexander Seil Philosopher of the Future Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 7,335	If you try to match France's historical OOB by 1940, you will almost certainly lose...France has the distinction of being a rather hard major to play, and going historical with them is not really an option. __________________ I admit to smoking, but I never exhaled. - B. Durruti Billy Bob's Concise Summary of Paradox Relationship Threads Censored for telling it like it is by: Haru yo koi

06-04-2006, 16:10	#3
Arbelast First Lieutenant Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 280	The 'sitzkrieg' hardly ever works out the way it did historically. Although the Germans do tend to wait until the approximate correct date to invade there's usually lots of air activity from the off. Also, if you play as Germany you get France trying to invade your Western border in 1939 too.