AO and Fallschirmjäger

[DocTsiolkovski]

Hi all,
is there any real use for paratroops in AO after Op Mercury?
I need to plan ahead due to Slow Modernization. In the basic '39 Campaign, there are several later scenarios where a few of them are nice, but in AO air transport is almost never available anway (even worse, no trains, but that is a different topic...).

Generally, when do players use FJs in the AO Campaigns, and how many?

To me, aside from the 4 scenarios specifically designed for them (Fornebu/4, Eben Emael/4, Valkenburg/4+, Mercury/5+), I only find them really valuable in Dover (4 to take the Eastern airfield and structures in 2-3 turns).
In Pindus I use 3 to take the SE bonus field, but mostly to farm experience for Crete.
Aside from that, I will only deploy them for Denmark and the training missions, but again, only so they can gain experience

Thanks for your thoughts
Doc T

[VirgilInTheSKY]

I think a lot of AO 41 and 42 scenarios also gives 3 Ju52s for you to use. I usually deploy them as raiders against enemy airfields, if I think it's worth it. Enemies usually leave their backline empty after their main body has moved away to attack you, so with a few escorting fighters (one is usually enough), they can safely drop behind natural blockades and cause som trouble there, especially for those scenarios where enemy holds a river cross city and things like that.

[robman]

They are useful as ground troops thanks to high initiative and bunker-busting capability. They cost one slot less than pioneers and are not as fragile. Not good against tanks though.