Whats the point of Bf 109G?

[tkrysiak]

So I just got to 42 where I opened up an upgrade to bf109g for my fighters and TBH I don't see a point?
Ok so it has 15 attack vs 13 on version f so it will kill stuff faster, but it has both ground and air defense lower meaning it will actually take more loses? Not to mention the 50 fuel vs 75 (going from memory)
Less ammo 3 vs 4...
Is there something I am missing here? I mean higher attack is pointless at this stage on the eastern front as it will take me 2 fighters to finish off any soviet fighter...
Any feedback from more enlightened people would be greatly appreciated!

[Razz1]

Range. USSR is a vast empire. You need range Obeewan.

[captainjack]

I agree with Razz1. More range = less time heading back to the airfield and more providing air cover, taking down the entrenchment of the conscripts etc. But this is partly balanced by less ammo, which means more return trips, but while I have lost planes from running out of fuel I never lost one from running out of ammo.

The extra 2 air attack also increases your chances of a kill by 8 or 9 percentage points, worth an extra kill per attack on average for a 12 strength Bf109. With a 15 strong Polikarpov, this can be the difference between the survivors taking a point off you or not, which can save you a lot of prestige in the long run. And once Sturmoviks appear the high AD means you really will need the extra 2 attack or you will hardly scratch the paintwork.

However, if you are happy with your current range and Air attack, why not keep the F a bit longer to benefit from the increased ammo and better initiative.

[tkrysiak]

Range. USSR is a vast empire. You need range Obeewan.

I agree that + range is good but I prefer to have +50% of fuel to hoover around longer - and with one more ammo it makes more sense. There is always some conscript that needs his head bashed in or some poor junkers in need of escorting even if there are no enemy planes in sight. I play on field marshall with 5 bf109s in late 42 and gotta say they all have their hands busy each turn

[tkrysiak]

I agree with Razz1. More range = less time heading back to the airfield and more providing air cover, taking down the entrenchment of the conscripts etc. But this is partly balanced by less ammo, which means more return trips, but while I have lost planes from running out of fuel I never lost one from running out of ammo.

The extra 2 air attack also increases your chances of a kill by 8 or 9 percentage points, worth an extra kill per attack on average for a 12 strength Bf109. With a 15 strong Polikarpov, this can be the difference between the survivors taking a point off you or not, which can save you a lot of prestige in the long run. And once Sturmoviks appear the high AD means you really will need the extra 2 attack or you will hardly scratch the paintwork.

However, if you are happy with your current range and Air attack, why not keep the F a bit longer to benefit from the increased ammo and better initiative.

Thta is also a valid point for having that attack for stronger opponents, I guess I am still at a stage where I do not need them fighting overstrenght i-16s some Laggs Yak1s and occasional Hurricanes. Once more advanced stuff arrives I may not have the luxury of choosing more fuel.ammo over extra attack if I want to keep my planes in the air rather than grounded for repairs at a nearest landing strip...

[proline]

You understand that you don't have to have all your fighters the same, right? Like send the attack fighters against the bombers and use defensive/initiative ones against the fighters? Works this way for heroes too.

[captainjack]

send the attack fighters against the bombers and use defensive/initiative ones against the fighters

It worked for real in the In the Battle of Britain, where the Spitfires took on the fighters and the Hurricanes took on the bombers.

[ThorHa]

Sounds good but is not true, captainjack. Spitfie I and Hurricane had the exact same weaponry - 8 MG 7.x mm. The reason for their different employment was the clear inferiority of the Hurricane against the Bf 109 Emil.

Regards,
Thorsten

[captainjack]

Exactly my point Thor. Spitfires could cope with the fighters while the Hurricanes were best used against less agile opponents (ie bombers). Hurricanes were viewed as very durable, stable and reliable which made them good for bomber attacks and (importantly) damage could often be fixed on the airfield, as the skin was doped fabric. In contrast the metal bodied spitfires usually had to be sent back for factory repairs which took days if not weeks.

In Panzer Corps terms, the early Spitfires have better initiative but cost more prestige, while the Hurricanes are cheaper but have poor initiative. When short of prestige and can't upgrade everything, you use the Hurricanes against bombers where initiative is less important and send the spitfires against the fighters.

I've had the equivalent case in Afrika Korps where I couldn't afford to upgrade all the 190G to FW190, so as far as possible I used the FW190 to take out fighters (and mosquitos) while the 109s took on the bombers.

[ThorHa]

prolines point, which you confirmed, was to use higher attack against bombers and higher defense/initiative against fighters. Not the case 1940 in RL. Agreed with your (different) points.

Regards,
Thorsten