I'm playing the Gazala Line scenario (which I got after a DV in Second Offensive) and although it is a rather tough one, I'm doing pretty well.
The problem is that around turn 20 the Allied AI brings in a HUGE (at least 5) number of fighter units which I simply cannot counter with what is left of my airforce — which is inevitably damaged by a good share of fighting in the beginning of this scenario and can't be repaired for the small levels of PP I get in it.
Even if AI sent this many fighters in the very beginning with my airplanes still intact, this would still be a very tough battle to win safely. This late into scenario it's impossible.
I have 3x Bf109G and 1x MC.205 as core fighters. Is it too few?
AK - Gazala Line. Looking for AA ideas.
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Re: AK - Gazala Line. Looking for AA ideas.
You don't have to win the air battle in order to win the ground battle. I gave up trying after losing one of my 109s.
Re: AK - Gazala Line. Looking for AA ideas.
I have played this a few times, lastly with good success using 4 x Bf109Gs from my core. The game provides 2 aux Folgore + 1 aux Bf100F. This combination is pretty effective. By this point, all of my fighters are 12 strength, 200+ experience ("12/200") - which is important. Along the way it is important to use elite to build effective fighters up to strength, and as many as possible. Tactics are also important. When I first played it in beta, I used 2 x Bf109s (12/200) and 1 x Bf110 (12/200), thinking the aux fighters/fighter-bomber would be sufficient, but it was not.
Initially, do not rush out to do recon or blunder over enemy fortifications or airfields that might contain AA emplacements. Instead, figure which of your units that the enemy will prioritize for air strikes - artillery, armor, recon, units mounted for transport - are in spotting range of enemy units. Position your fighters behind them out of spotting range to set Fighter traps/ambushes. Enemy air will whistle in, and you will be able to do serious damage with little risk. Then finish them off with mass attack to reduce your losses.
Repeat this a few turns initially, and you will have initial security. When later waves appear, repeat it as possible and use mass attack to minimize your losses. As an important objective, your southern forces by-passing bir hachein should make for the airfield at 45,38 to both give you extended operational range, as well as deny it for the enemy. Ditto the base at 36,24.
The air game is tough here, but if you use sound tactics, take those enemy airfields, and use caution throughout the scenario you will win. And as robman said, defeating all of the enemy fighters is not necessary, just cripple enough or neutralize them. I usually finish the scenario with some enemy fighters still around though insignificant. If you deploy four fighters, it should be enough. But the Folgore you have to use more like a Bf110; carefully and only as an "auxilliary" fighter. It cannot stand cover duty on its own or will be chewed up. I would prefer four Bf109s, experienced.
Initially, do not rush out to do recon or blunder over enemy fortifications or airfields that might contain AA emplacements. Instead, figure which of your units that the enemy will prioritize for air strikes - artillery, armor, recon, units mounted for transport - are in spotting range of enemy units. Position your fighters behind them out of spotting range to set Fighter traps/ambushes. Enemy air will whistle in, and you will be able to do serious damage with little risk. Then finish them off with mass attack to reduce your losses.
Repeat this a few turns initially, and you will have initial security. When later waves appear, repeat it as possible and use mass attack to minimize your losses. As an important objective, your southern forces by-passing bir hachein should make for the airfield at 45,38 to both give you extended operational range, as well as deny it for the enemy. Ditto the base at 36,24.
The air game is tough here, but if you use sound tactics, take those enemy airfields, and use caution throughout the scenario you will win. And as robman said, defeating all of the enemy fighters is not necessary, just cripple enough or neutralize them. I usually finish the scenario with some enemy fighters still around though insignificant. If you deploy four fighters, it should be enough. But the Folgore you have to use more like a Bf110; carefully and only as an "auxilliary" fighter. It cannot stand cover duty on its own or will be chewed up. I would prefer four Bf109s, experienced.
Re: AK - Gazala Line. Looking for AA ideas.
There are of course the ground AA defense - in my case two 88 and 2 mobile units. One 88 north and the rest south. The carnage is immediate - especially when the Brits run into the experienced 88. Then just send out your air force to finish the job - minimal loses. Remember the AI is very keen on your arty, make a trap: arty well upfront with the two mobile AA covering - lovely results!
Re: AK - Gazala Line. Looking for AA ideas.
88's are your best defense.
You don't need that many planes.
Then when the sky is clear...
Tell them to use binoculars and pick off those strong allied tanks.
You don't need that many planes.
Then when the sky is clear...
Tell them to use binoculars and pick off those strong allied tanks.
Re: AK - Gazala Line. Looking for AA ideas.
On 88s vs. fighters, it's really what you have. A fighter is going to be more flexible and mobile. If used carefully, much more effective than an 88 (surprising the enemy by flying into it). The virtue is that the fighter then can set up a trap anywhere on the map within range quickly.
However, it requires long planning; you have to start developing many fighters, with experience, well before they are needed. Throwing green ones into a scenario isn't usually helpful at all. So if you find yourself with fewer than you need, then the 88 is the stop-gap, and it will work very well.
You can win either way, which you choose depends upon what your core strength is, and how you've developed it prior. I usually don't take a fixed AA on offensive scenarios, but on defensive scenarios where you know you will be pinned in place a long time with challenging enemy air attacking, they an 88 (or vastly better, a 12.8cm when they become available) is really valuable. Given this is a hybrid scenario with a long period of static attack in the center, a single 88 there would be good even with four fighters.
However, it requires long planning; you have to start developing many fighters, with experience, well before they are needed. Throwing green ones into a scenario isn't usually helpful at all. So if you find yourself with fewer than you need, then the 88 is the stop-gap, and it will work very well.
You can win either way, which you choose depends upon what your core strength is, and how you've developed it prior. I usually don't take a fixed AA on offensive scenarios, but on defensive scenarios where you know you will be pinned in place a long time with challenging enemy air attacking, they an 88 (or vastly better, a 12.8cm when they become available) is really valuable. Given this is a hybrid scenario with a long period of static attack in the center, a single 88 there would be good even with four fighters.
Re: AK - Gazala Line. Looking for AA ideas.
So, I've beat the scenario and I can tell that taking all airfields (except for that heavily fortified one in Gazala) is really the key to victory. Without convenient airfields the AI can't launch a concentrated air attack, and although air battles are still much harder than in previous scenarios, for me (colonel level) they were a minor annoyance after I secured the airfileds, picking their planes off one at a time. Wasting their armoured waves and stopping their flank attacks is much more difficult.
Look out, Malta, here I come!
Look out, Malta, here I come!