US corps paratroop deployment or not?

[wargovichr]

Some battles allow US paratroops to deploy airborne, some don't. There's even a problem when deployed on ground on an airfield. The paratroops refuse to go airborne even after deployment done and battle started. Then you are stuck with say two airborne units without transport way behind the front.
No, flipping the ground/air button does not work.
What's the deal?

[TSPC37730]

I haven't played all of the US Corps scenarios, but, as far as PC goes, not all scenarios give you air transport capacity. My guess is that this may be the case for your US Corps scenario. If you want to see how many air transports you have available, you can mouse over the "Embark/Disembark" button at the upper right of the screen. It should tell you how much air, rail & naval transport capacity you have.

As an alternate solution, you may want to consider purchasing some trucks for your paratroops for 50 PP before the scenario. One further thing to remember is to overstrength your units first, and then buy the trucks to save a little prestige. Ultimately, you'll have to discard the trucks if you want to air transport your units in the future, so, this is a cost you'll have to weigh. Hope this helps & good luck.

[RVallant]

I'm guessing the scenarios restrict it.

It's the same in Allied Corps, you can get paratroopers before the game even allows you to put them on a plane (1-2 missions before I think). It is a bit annoying.

I'd say, don't bother with the trucks and whatnot, just leave them in the reserve and bring standard infantry (or whatever) instead for those missions, once you figure out which ones they are.

[wargovichr]

I hear you.
The briefings before each battle should SAY what your capabilities are..whether you can paradrop or not.
I was ready to quit the US Corps module entirely when the Falaise (FAILaise) briefing contained NO hint of an immediate strong panzer attack destroying entire many-starred many-heroed infantry and artillery units deployed as per usual. Not to mention the German AA every three hexes and kamikaze air attacks.
Bad design.
Bad bad.
Cruel joke when 2000+ prestige eaten up and your army is crippled...the exact opposite of history...a major victory for the Allies.
To me it's like a comic book game at times.

[captainjack]

I'm part way through US 44/45. The main problem seems to be lack of prestige. Soviet Corps and Allied Corps are if anything over-generous, but US Corps is extremely tight fisted. Even playing at Colonel, I often had to use green reinforcements between scenarios, play with two or three core slots empty and pull units out of combat because I had no prestige even for green replacements. Given the vulnerability of US units to late war German units due to poor GD, it's essential to maintain experience levels to have any chance, but even with Soft Cap off and on a relatively easy level, the lack of prestige prevents this even for infantry units.

As for paratroops, unless you have plentiful fighter escorts and some luck, you'd be very vulnerable to experienced AA and fighters. I have very limited success with paras, so I'd be looking at using inexperienced troops that I could afford to lose but who won't be very effective on target or taking a big risk with experienced troops that you will have trouble replacing. Nikki's equipment file includes SE 43 paras, so I might try using these when I play next time.

[wargovichr]

captainjack: "I'm part way through US 44/45. The main problem seems to be lack of prestige. Soviet Corps and Allied Corps are if anything over-generous, but US Corps is extremely tight fisted."

YES!! Aachen kills you, that is if you've survived FAILaise! Despite over-strength and prudent set-up.
Heavy Allied losses from insanely grouped (7-8?) elite scripted or beyond-prudent-recon-range-detection (plus recon air unit!!) panzer attacks despite over strength best US model tanks (Tigers score -8 hits even with artillery backup), and devastating kamikaze Luftwaffe attacks despite US AA (worthless even 2-stars) and three-starred P-51s cover.
Close-up German (three!) panzers adjacent to US deployment hexes!!??
VERY experienced player OUT OF PRESTIGE on colonel half way through US Corps '44-45.
I hope the Germans still have that rail car at Compiegne ready for my SURRENDER.

Suggested name change: "US Corps Counterfactual" or "US Corps Surrender"

[egrofik]

I played US Corps on level FM, I like it.
First rule, air superiority, only use Thunderbolts.
Second, a few Shermans but more AT's like M10 Wolverine or Hellcats.
I love my Hellcats...
Third, no Para's, only use Rangers or Heavy Infantrie.
And important, don't use Shermans against German tanks and cover with artillery support!!!

[captainjack]

First, I'm impressed that anyone can get so far at FM when experience makes such as difference, and being well enough in control to still enjoy it is several steps above my current ability.

The thing is, I'm a reasonably experienced player, playing a level below my usual, well aware of prestige management, playing with soft cap off and still desperately short of prestige. For a US campaign this isn't right.

In one scenario, I experienced the following:
4* Hellcat with +4 defence - left at 1 strength by a King Tiger and Panzer IVH.
4* Sherman M4A2 with +2 defence hero left at 4 strength after a single Jagpanther attack.
4* SE P47D wiped out in two attacks promptly followed by the 4* Tac bomber from French North Africa (no, I couldn't justify three escort fighters).

How much down to bad play? Surprisingly, none. Usually my only complete losses are due to operator faults, but not this time. So the latest units with tolerable armour and decent attacks even at 4*, overstrengthed (to 13 for fighters, mobile AA and Hellcats, 12 for others) and with defence heroes are little better than cannon fodder.

I'm not after easy - I often play with 75 or 80% prestige and 80% experience, or self-imposed limits on overstrength or upgrades to add a bit of colour. So I should be able to play a historically well-resourced army at a relatively easy level without too much difficulty. It was reasonably OK up to around Carentan, and then started going downhill from then on - looks like a minimum +50% prestige setting is needed for 44/45.

[egrofik]

okay, it is not easy on level FM.
The key for me is the combination of different attacks.
First try to attack with the Mitchell the strongest unit like tiger or other german tanks.
Stay in formation, hold the front line, try to encircle units you want to destroy. (if possible...)
Use your artillery for suppression and the AT's for finishing move(s).
Use close combat if possible against tanks with your infantry.
Wait if the german/italian troops enter their transports and then it is very easy to attack them with your Shermans.
Overstrenght only for all air planes and AT like the Hellcat.
get all capturable units, and use the switchable AT in artillery mode. (I use two of them and 4 real artillerys)
Try to attack the german air fighter´s first before they can attack you, and if possible don't save prestige and use elite replacment also in the szenario, but decide wisely for what.
At the end I had araund 10000 prestige points, but after the last mission it was only 300...
On my next run I try operation unthinkable, my last battle was Falaise...

[captainjack]

To be fair, US Corps has got a bit easier with replaying, as I have started to get the feel for how to manage the need for separate tank and tank hunters.

It was mostly OK to a bit after Cotentin (late 44), possibly because up to then most units were fairly rubbish but quite cheap, so elite reinforcements between scenarios and selected overstrength were affordable. Also my expectations were quite low. I think late 44 and early 45 is where the bad weather hinders the airforce, and the upgrades to tanks with real armour rather than just a coat of paint changes the balance but also makes for a big price hike. But it still seems counter-intuitive to play US forces and not have a reasonable supply of prestige, especially as much of the challenge is still playing relatively limited core numbers against better quality units - at least they are mostly better until Pattons become available.

I think I missed one of the capturable units, but they were all very welcome for sale or re-use.

For the moment I've switched to Soviet Corps for a bit of light relief (massed artillery and heavy AA should adds a little brightness to anybody's day). I will sort out US Corps next time!

And back - more or less - on topic, are there any US Corps scenarios where paras are particularly useful? As noted previously my para skills leave much room for improvement.

[goose_2]

And back - more or less - on topic, are there any US Corps scenarios where paras are particularly useful? As noted previously my para skills leave much room for improvement.

I have been unable to keep a Fallschimjager alive in my Grand Campaign or in my Sealion campaign so I have no advice.

[wargovichr]

I hear you.
But:
If you do retain one or two paras they make for an *interesting* battle. If you have prestige you can convert other (experienced!) infantry types to para and vice versa.
US Corps battles can be long boring slogs across rough terrain and rivers. As you know, a good strategy is to plan battle routes across enemy airfields much needed to refuel/repair planes critical to the advance.
One can outfit, say, two paras. Use the US recon plane (escorted!) to case out airfields, associated defenses, and sus out safe terrain for unspotted para drop. This must be timed with a savvy ground attack to support the paras. The paras are useful against counterattacking panzers if close terrain. Challenging! FUN. NEW fun. Then, once airfield captured, paras re-usable to re-embark at airfield!
Problem is some(50%+?) US Corps battles don't allow para embarkation (!) unbeknownst to you!

[kverdon]

My biggest problem with US Corps, besides the ridiculous lack of prestige is the the Wonderwaffe. The game falls completely apart in 1945 when the Wonderwaffe completely shreds your air units with fantasy jets while you are stuck with P-47's. You have to spend most of the meager prestige you have to just keep your air units alive. You can just up the prestige in advanced rules to 125-150% to compensate but the air situation is nuts.

I do like the prestige limits during Normandy and the Bulge but you should get a HUGE prestige allotment prior to DDay and then after the Bulge as well as allowing some Allied jets in the mix. I've played it through a couple of times but it is just not fun after the Bulge. It is almost like the designer just threw in the towel to get it out the door.

[captainjack]

Bringing the P47N forward about two scenarios would probably help keep them alive too. The difference between a 4 or 5* fighter just making it to a rear airfield with 1 or 2 strength left and being destroyed completely is staggering at this stage - initiative and defence down by 5 and AA down by 10 is unrecoverable, and even a couple of extra AA points could make the difference between 0 and 1 strength.

[shawkhan2]

I heartily agree with the previous comments. US Corps needs some loving attention to playability in order to better reflect the actual situation.

Of course there is a problem with total lack of realism when playing any of the allied powers. Quantity was always on the side of the Allies while the Germans always retained the quality. The computer AI handles quantity much better than quality. When it is given Both quality and quantity the game becomes a bizarre distortion of reality and the simulation really suffers.

Getting back to the specific issue. US Corps needs the touch of someone who can make the game playable(and enjoyable). 1945 Was a walkthrough for the Allies and should be reflected in the game.
Talented modders, where are you?