Air Missions and Strategic Regions

[mavannis]

Hi guys. After watching some of the WWW's and DD's i have a question about Air Missions. If a group of planes tries to attack a strategic region that has no planes defending it but has to cross a another strategic region with fighters, the defensive forces will try to engage in battle and try to destroy the attack before they can cross that region or defensive planes are just effective if that region is under attack?

 

[Wulf145]

I cannot say for certain, but I am sure that if a pulk of bombers comes into your sector all Fighters will be scrambled to intercept, since you have no way of knowing which Target they have.

 

[Aries666]

I would imagine there would be an interception otherwise you would be able to create some pretty silly exploits.

 

[Sharp163]

if I recall correctly, podcat said something along the lines of "bombers will fly too high to be shot at until they reach their target" and so won't suffer attrition or artillery fire until they're in range of their target. I'm not sure how this relates to scrambling interceptors, however. I think it depends on your radar

 

[LordOfWar16]

They can be intercepted on their way of course, but atleast local AA will only be effective in the region where planes attack. Podcat stated that bombers would travel too high anyway to be in danger of anti-aircraft anyway, which is true.

When a mission flies, it has a chance of being detected by the enemy based on weather, Day/Night, RADAR coverage, enemy Air Superiority, etc. If it is detected, the enemy's defending planes may intercept it. Enemy planes will prioritize attacking bombers, but the mission's escorts have a chance to catch intercepting aircraft. After the air battle is concluded, the mission continues with available aircraft. The damage done will be affected by not just the number of planes sent, but also a Disruption Penalty, calculated based on the proportion of bombers sent that were engaged or destroyed while on the way to their target.

The question is of course, if you even detect the enemy and can intercept them in time. Overall, just as with navy it is not guaranteed to locate the enemy. Radar and enough planes being on patrol mission will drasticly increase the chance of course.

 

[mavannis]

But then you need to have fighters on every strategic region to have some better coverage of all provinces or focus all your planes on strategic regions that are used as crossing regions to attack others?

 

[agus92]

But then you need to have fighters on every strategic region to have some better coverage of all provinces or focus all your planes on strategic regions that are used as crossing regions to attack others?

I'd go with the second. And interception seems to work best before the objective region.

 

[mavannis]

I'd go with the second. And interception seems to work best before the objective region.

I think that's more interesting. Especially for big countries have to separate all you air force to have all regions covered seemed to me a bit stupid.

 

[griffor]

I think that's more interesting. Especially for big countries have to separate all you air force to have all regions covered seemed to me a bit stupid.

wouldn't it work best to cover the approach you think the target is most likely to take? and just stock those regions with asf?

 

[mavannis]

But then you have to care about many different things. You have to cover your front lines, your important industry and infrastructures, etc. And if i recall correctly, if you are a country with high industrial output you have to cover virtually everything which is a pain in the ass.

I think that's very unbalanced for countries that fights against other ones that have a powerful airforce like RAF for Great Britain. They can put all their planes in one strategic region to attack the german reich that has to defend all their country, included probably poland that can be eventually hit by strategic planes.

 

[Wulf145]

But then you have to care about many different things. You have to cover your front lines, your important industry and infrastructures, etc. And if i recall correctly, if you are a country with high industrial output you have to cover virtually everything which is a pain in the ass.

I think that's very unbalanced for countries that fights against other ones that have a powerful airforce like RAF for Great Britain. They can put all their planes in one strategic region to attack the german reich that has to defend all their country, included probably poland that can be eventually hit by strategic planes.

Depends on the Range the Bombers and the escort Fighters have and if one wants to risk higher losses by bombing areas which cannot be reached by Escort Fighters.

 

[mavannis]

Depends on the Range the Bombers and the escort Fighters have and if one wants to risk higher losses by bombing areas which cannot be reached by Escort Fighters.

Yes of course i think you are completely right. The most important thing is the range of those models. If the Escorts have low range, attacking a far target is a complete gamble.

 

[shri]

But then you have to care about many different things. You have to cover your front lines, your important industry and infrastructures, etc. And if i recall correctly, if you are a country with high industrial output you have to cover virtually everything which is a pain in the ass.

I think that's very unbalanced for countries that fights against other ones that have a powerful airforce like RAF for Great Britain. They can put all their planes in one strategic region to attack the german reich that has to defend all their country, included probably poland that can be eventually hit by strategic planes.

Not necessary, keep a strong Fighter support on or near the RUHR, and keep smaller fighter/interceptor contingents at - Bremen, Low Countries and Paris (once they fall) and you have pretty much covered everything. If a bomber fleet passes to Berlin, on the way it will be intercepted and fight and lose ORG and material, while returning it will lose some more.
A dozen raids and the entire fleet will have to be rebuilt, far too costly. Thus, until and unless the USA enters the war, Strategic bombing will be minimal.
Obviously, a fighter/interceptor squadron is going to be cheaper and faster built than a Bomber squadron.
Until you get long range support fighters, no Human player will launch futile air raids, against AI it is easier as the AI is predictable.
Also, if by 1943 you have not won Russia, it is game over for Germany, if you have won Russia you can put a thousand fighters all over your territory and then keep a thousand in reserve.

 

[mavannis]

Not necessary, keep a strong Fighter support on or near the RUHR, and keep smaller fighter/interceptor contingents at - Bremen, Low Countries and Paris (once they fall) and you have pretty much covered everything. If a bomber fleet passes to Berlin, on the way it will be intercepted and fight and lose ORG and material, while returning it will lose some more.

That was my first opinion and the one i think its the best. If the game works that way for me its completely fine. If you can defend mainly the "entry points" of your mainland and keep some small groups on important areas you dont need to reinforce all your regions and waste planes dividing them on places they can reach. That was my problem with air combat.

 

[Wulf145]

That was my first opinion and the one i think its the best. If the game works that way for me its completely fine. If you can defend mainly the "entry points" of your mainland and keep some small groups on important areas you dont need to reinforce all your regions and waste planes dividing them on places they can reach. That was my problem with air combat.

Since you have different types of fighters one can implement different strategies depending on the threat one faces i.e. Deploy lots of Interceptors on the borders to deplete the Escort Fighters and heavy Fighters Inland which will 'safely' attack the Bombers.