How to beat Crete 1941?

[SSLConf_pewp3w]

So far this game has been extremely easy. I have turned up the difficulty to a somewhat high level and 1941 actually poses some more difficulties for me (Actually lost a unit at thermopylae :O)
Now I am stuck at crete.
I tried different approaches, but always lose to the royal navy. My paras land just fine and conquer the two airfields, I rebase my airforce and bring in some artillery and aa, but the ships just keep completely blasting me to smithereens. My paras take sooo much damage from them, they cannot fight the enemy infantry. I tried using strat bombers, but the ships do fight at full strength even when they are damaged. And fully destroying them takes many turns.
It seems to me I should move my units east from the airfields asap, but for that I need to break through the enemy infantry, which is hard when my units are so damaged.
Am I missing something or playing suboptimally?

[Grondel]

hi pewp3w,

are u using any mods? some of the favourite ones make AO scenarios with ships very challenging.

if that is not the case try overstrengthing ur Fallis. the 7.5cm artillery gun can be airliftet and dropped on airfields, helps some.
the HE variant u can purchase at the start of crete is very effective in sinking ships. even the bigger ones. overstrengthing ur strat bombers can be helpfull, too.

sers,
Thomas

[SSLConf_pewp3w]

Hey,

no I don't use any mods, and I also didn't pick the strat bomber, since I don't really use them and want to keep get some other rewards.

Anyhow, I already use 5 falls overstrenghtened to 19 or 20 and a few Arti pieces. I guess I have to just try again and focus real hard.

Thanks for you reply

[Grondel]

.. and I also didn't pick the strat bomber, since I don't really use them and want to keep get some other rewards.

if u are not using strat bombers, they ones u have are probably very low on experience. sinking those ships with green strat bombers is a tough one.

good luck on retrying.

sers,
Thomas

[SSLConf_pewp3w]

I retried it and did it this time. Apparently the battleships do stop attacking you after they lost ~25 percent of their strength. If I had known this before this would have been much easier. After dealing with the ships and landing successfully, the rest was pretty easy. your allied AI is absolutely atrocious though.

[euramer]

I always try to build my core with two strategic bombers with one to two stars (up to 5) because they are good ship killers and invaluable as long range bombers. With the DLCs, if you can add on them the right bonuses, they are the Nemesis of the Royal Navy or can soften even a well AA defended position without too much losses.

[Bee1976]

Indeed, i prefer having up to four Strat Bombers in my core (and reserve ofc).
At least 1 or better 2 Dornier Do 17 Z (1 Slot Cost). With Entrenchment Killer4x Hero they are great to soften enemy Infantry, Artillery or AA Guns.
Using 1 Slots Strat bombers in SCW is a great eway to support your spanish AI.

You can setup nice AI Aircraft Traps and "baits" with cheap 1 Slots Strats.
If i recieve a Double Move Hero, i prefer using 2 cheap strats. You can easily subtract 1 enemy from the battleground due to supression.

I use to play without mass captures, so a shock tactics hero on a cheap strat can help dealing with nemesis units like de gaule

So there are many reasons (for me ) to use 1 or 2 1 Slots strats.

I prefer spending cp on the He 111Z. Its a nice long range ship killer, but with lethal and no retaliation you can simply take out enemy AA guns aswell. There are a lot of funny and crazy hero combinations to create a real "beast" out of a 111Z.

Well and 1-3 normal strats in my core/reserve to handle enemy ships if needed and to build up some exp for this mission.
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Strat bombers are great in saving your prestige. And well i dislike playing with mass captures and/or tophies and i only play on generalissimus. So prestige is sometimes still an issue. Just some ideas why strats can be really useful, ofc this is just my opinion and if you still dont like them, dont use them. But i would suggest to give them a try

[Tassadar]

Strat bombers are great in saving your prestige. And well i dislike playing with mass captures and/or tophies and i only play on generalissimus. So prestige is sometimes still an issue. Just some ideas why strats can be really useful, ofc this is just my opinion and if you still dont like them, dont use them. But i would suggest to give them a try

Agreed on all of this (especially early war, starts are basically artillery with wings), with the small comment that they need to be very well defended. They are quite prestige intense and the AI likes to target them when given the occasion. This mission has the British carrier roaming about and until those fighters it has are dealt with, using the bombers can be quite risky.

[SSLConf_pewp3w]

Thanks for your tips regarding strat bombers. I have 3 strat bombers with ~ 1 1/2 stars, but I still fail to see that much use for them. Sure with the right heroes they might be strong, but there are just so many insane hero combinations in this game.
For example I use a wurfrahmen with the heroes that give double attack, zero slots and +5 overstrength. That unit can shred any defensive position with ease. I also still use the verdeja with the heroes that ignore fortification, support attacks and also prevent enemy defensive attacks. I can just blitz right behind the enemy lines and take out all AA, AT and Arty and the rest can mop up in single turns sometimes.
I think heroes are cool and all but I probably have to forbid myself from using some of the more broken combinations.

[DefiantXYX]

I think heroes are cool and all but I probably have to forbid myself from using some of the more broken combinations.

Yeah indeed, some combinations are just too powerful and a single unit can make a whole scenario.

Talking about strat-bombers, they are the easiest way to beat the enemy airforce. The AI ist really stupid, one could say broken, but instead of killing your fighter they almost always attack your strat-bombers first, so if you place your fighters well, the enemy is killing himself.
In some scenarios, like england 1940, thats quit essentiell, since the british could wipe out all your 109s easily in a direct fight.