Advanced difficulties and the air force.

[Panzerpimp]

Recently I noticed that when I play on higher difficulties, I am using my air force less and less. In later years as the axis it becomes too vulnerable or too expensive. For example, during the Grand campaign I started to rely on the mobile AA more. (It is really good with the attack heroes) The AI just focus its attacks on my planes using its air superiority and It becomes too expensive to maintain them. Is it just me? What do you think? Is air heavy core viable on higher difficulties and in later years?

[dalfrede]

For TB only Rudel gets used every scenario, as I noticed even H Lent was getting chewed up.
Fighters remain useful.
Strats don't get deployed.

The only solution I found was to make fighter-bombers switchable to fighters to take advantage of experience effects as fighter aircraft.

[goose_2]

Hey Guys when do you find this happen?

I have 4 Fighters, but only 2 that I deploy every scenario.

I am playing in 1941 Grand Campaign on Ultimate Difficulty. I know I will get Otto Kittel and Walter Nowatny, but right now 2 BA's Heinrich Bar and my +3 Def Fighters are dominating the air. I still use AA when I can, but I struggle using the mobil aa as I get very frustrated with their limited use. I have 1 mobil and 2 88's.

Your help and assessment is much appreciated

[dalfrede]

Hey Guys when do you find this happen?

Starts in GC43, but mainly GC44 and GC45.
If you don't have enough fighters to take out their air force and protect your bombers at the same time,
your bombers stay home.

Got your new graphics card installed yet?

[goose_2]

Hey Guys when do you find this happen?

Starts in GC43, but mainly GC44 and GC45.
If you don't have enough fighters to take out their air force and protect your bombers at the same time,
your bombers stay home.

Got your new graphics card installed yet?

Thanks! I have a graphics card, but it isn't the strongest. Maybe get a better computer for Christmas?

[Cerberus51]

I'm currently in early 45 in my first serious playthrough of GC East and only at my usual field marshal difficulty. At this difficulty I have been able to deal with the Russian aircraft without too much trouble. Largely because I have spent significant prestige on having the best units (currently 4 Me 262, all with heroes plus Rudel and Lent in FW190G's. At higher difficulties, particularly in the West where the capability of opposition aircraft is higher, I would expect to have to conserve prestige much harder and running 4 262's to be too expensive.

The issue for me is that you have to decide early (at the point where the GC splits either East or West at the latest) whether to put prestige, and commit deployment slots to AA or aircraft. The German AA is as good as or better than anyone else's but has to become very experienced to do significant damage. Any later than the start of 42 and AA (with the possible exception of dual purpose units ie 88's) just won't get enough experience. I have 3 Mobelwagen, one Wirbelwind, 3 88's and 3 12.8's available, mostly OS to 12 (I was given most of them in the scenario where you raid several arsenals). The mobile stuff will chip a few points off the Russian aircraft but it would take 3 or 4 to actually destroy one. The towed hits a lot harder so I feel I have to deploy both. Deploying air units on top of that starts to impact on how many slots you have for ground units.

I suspect my answer at higher difficulties would be to reduce what I deploy to Rudel in a 190G and 2 fighter heroes in 262's alongside 3 mobile and 3 towed AA (I generally operate 3 battlegroups). That would hopefully enable me to keep the Russians honest in the air and keep wearing them down. Against the British and US air units, I really don't know but, as I am intending to play GC West next, I will find out over the next few months.

[huckc]

I use lots of air units along with heavy AA. The first turn or two I focus on air traps, a mechanic I greatly enjoy, which paves the way nicely for air supremacy. I really like not having to worry about enemy air units re-appearing, just be done with them.

I use lots of fighters in particular. When done mopping up the skies they're useful in suppressing reinforcements and especially lowering entrenchment. A one-two punch with bombers lowers entrenchment by two with suppression.

It's not without peril as I've had bombers get one-shot from full health on Manstein, like from the P-47Ns you face in late GC West.