Non-firing 88's and other flak

[Bernie]

I've noticed since I upgraded to v7.0 from v5.01 that it has become very rare for flak batteries to actually fire on aircraft. I just watched a turn cycle where my mobile artillery was decimated by aircraft, despite being surrounded by four 88 flak, and the only things that fired on the aircraft were two halftracks that were parked nearby! I checked the range setting on the 88's and it was set to 80, visibility was 24 and clear, and they all had clear fields of fire. I've run the cycle a few times now and one or two of the 88's will actually get off a shot only about 10% of the time. Anyone else notice this? Anyone know where I can get a coffee truck to park next to these guys? Obviously they're falling asleep!

[Big Bill]

Possibly they are better suited for high flying bombers, try using 37mm, 40mm, quad 50's, these can aquire low flying fighters and fighter bombers

[john g]

I just did a test 1943, 12 sturmoviks attacking a flak trap consisting of 8 units in a hex formation, first 88flak, then 20mm quad, then 37mm. The 37 did the best, they didn't manage to shoot down any planes but they at least damaged three. I then did the 88 test over again, but edited the experiance and arty leader ratings to 110 reflecting what a campaign core force could have by then. The 88's went from one shot per plane attacking up to about 10 shots. Apparantly each unit has to make a check to fire and normal 1943 Germans are not good enough to pass.

Of course for all that firing the 88's still only managed to damage one plane.

I then decided to try the Germans manning quad 50's since that is often touted as a wonder weapon. Sure enough they managed to shoot down 4 planes and damage others.
thanks, John.

[Bernie]

Originally posted by john g
I just did a test 1943, 12 sturmoviks attacking a flak trap consisting of 8 units in a hex formation, first 88flak, then 20mm quad, then 37mm. The 37 did the best, they didn't manage to shoot down any planes but they at least damaged three. I then did the 88 test over again, but edited the experiance and arty leader ratings to 110 reflecting what a campaign core force could have by then. The 88's went from one shot per plane attacking up to about 10 shots. Apparantly each unit has to make a check to fire and normal 1943 Germans are not good enough to pass.

Of course for all that firing the 88's still only managed to damage one plane.

I then decided to try the Germans manning quad 50's since that is often touted as a wonder weapon. Sure enough they managed to shoot down 4 planes and damage others.
thanks, John.

I wonder what the learning curve for those 88 crews looks like? The units I have are all veterans of four previous battles in this campaign. I'll keep in mind the quad 50's though...might be a good thing to stay well away from, playing as an Axis player, or a nice toy to requisition from the captured stockpiles...

[panda124c]

Originally posted by Bernie
I've noticed since I upgraded to v7.0 from v5.01 that it has become very rare for flak batteries to actually fire on aircraft. I just watched a turn cycle where my mobile artillery was decimated by aircraft, despite being surrounded by four 88 flak, and the only things that fired on the aircraft were two halftracks that were parked nearby! I checked the range setting on the 88's and it was set to 80, visibility was 24 and clear, and they all had clear fields of fire. I've run the cycle a few times now and one or two of the 88's will actually get off a shot only about 10% of the time. Anyone else notice this? Anyone know where I can get a coffee truck to park next to these guys? Obviously they're falling asleep!

Be Careful with the 88's since there are two different versions the AA gun and the AT gun, they are the same but are modeled seperatly in the OOB.
For AA I love those German quad 20mm's.

[Larry Holt]

IRL 88s were used against high flying aircraft. I doubt that they could track a low flying fast moving fighter-bomber. German tactical AA was built around the fast swiveling 20 & 37mm guns.

In the game, as has been stated there are two versions of the 88. In the AA role against high flying aircraft, individual guns were hooked to a central station and used a primitive fire control computer. This set up was not used in the AT role so switching was not possible without set up time. I do not know if a gun set for AT use could just raise its barrel and shoot at diving aircraft.

[Dogmeat]

I've found that AA situated close (within a dozen hexes) to the unit it was to protect, did a poor job doing so. Putting the AA further back and they never failed to shoot at planes for me. I never took any planes down unless I overloaded on AA or I got two lucky 88 hits on the same plane.

Must be something in the game about situating the AAs. The AI always seems to place the AA away from the front line. It could be that the AI is simply treating them like normal on-board artillery but I found the enemy's AA was always effective when located at the back. When I moved their AA to the front, my planes could attack with relatively impunity. Except for AA mounted with infantry for some reason (halftracks and infantry arms always shot at my planes).

[Marc von Martial]

Originally posted by Dogmeat
I've found that AA situated close (within a dozen hexes) to the unit it was to protect, did a poor job doing so. Putting the AA further back and they never failed to shoot at planes for me. I never took any planes down unless I overloaded on AA or I got two lucky 88 hits on the same plane.

Must be something in the game about situating the AAs. The AI always seems to place the AA away from the front line. It could be that the AI is simply treating them like normal on-board artillery but I found the enemy's AA was always effective when located at the back. When I moved their AA to the front, my planes could attack with relatively impunity. Except for AA mounted with infantry for some reason (halftracks and infantry arms always shot at my planes).

That is basically AA doctrine. AA seldomly is at close range of the to protect units, also it´s "easier" for the AA guns to track a plane when farer away. It´s very hard to track a fast flying plane when it´s close to you. Okay beeing farer away from the potential target also has an impact on accuracy of course. So you´ll have to find a point in the middle here.

The german MG42 can be outfitted with an AA gunsight. The Mg42, also the MG34 where used in a AA role by infantry units. Firing with small arms (carbines, sub machine guns etc.) on planes has no great impact of course but a lucky shot can wreck the pilots day.

[Bing]

If you want to fool the game engine with respect to enemy CAS, it isn't that difficult: Buy cheap, expendable trucks. Place them in the open where you are pretty sure the axis of attack will allow the enemy aircraft to find them.

Station your AA about a dozen hexes behind the unlucky candidate. Enemy CAs will go for the truck just about every time, you will be in a position to at the very least damage them, which means they won't be back for some time - you also should get several kills this way in a typcial campaign. I know I have.

Bing

[Belisarius]

Originally posted by Larry Holt
This set up was not used in the AT role so switching was not possible without set up time. I do not know if a gun set for AT use could just raise its barrel and shoot at diving aircraft.

It could.

The difference between AT 88 vs. AA 88 is the carriage. Lower for an AT 88 (and that wasn't around until '43 or something anyway)

Not sure about the whole targeting bit, tho'... using AT sights to pin a bomber must be somewhat challenging. Oh yeah, ammo is another one: Timed triggers ought to work better against aircraft, while using impact triggers against tanks... wouldn't it?

[Tomanbeg]

Originally posted by Bernie


I wonder what the learning curve for those 88 crews looks like? The units I have are all veterans of four previous battles in this campaign. I'll keep in mind the quad 50's though...might be a good thing to stay well away from, playing as an Axis player, or a nice toy to requisition from the captured stockpiles...

The German nickname for the quad .50 tracks was sausage grinder. Something to do with the results when used on ground troops:eek:
I am playing a 7.1 game now where my opponent is using Flak guns in an offensive role. It seems they can unload and fire on the same turn. He tore me up last game with 88's and this game he is using the russian 85 flak gun in the same role. It's hard to deal with a big gun that pulls up unloads, shoots, loads back up and moves off out of LOS. I'm coping, but just barely.
T.

[Tomanbeg]

Originally posted by Larry Holt
IRL 88s were used against high flying aircraft. I doubt that they could track a low flying fast moving fighter-bomber. German tactical AA was built around the fast swiveling 20 & 37mm guns.

In the game, as has been stated there are two versions of the 88. In the AA role against high flying aircraft, individual guns were hooked to a central station and used a primitive fire control computer. This set up was not used in the AT role so switching was not possible without set up time. I do not know if a gun set for AT use could just raise its barrel and shoot at diving aircraft.

Didn't the forum have this arguement about 18 month ago? It sticks in my mind 'caus I produced 3 seperate occasions where german 88's in AA mode, lowered their barrels and blew away British Tanks. The 88 was such a flat trajectory weapon that bore sighting was combat effective. that is why the Load out for an 88 flak gun alway included a few AP rounds, and a few contact fused HE. But this is a debate that started when the Pilum was invented. Do Tactics drive weapons development, or does weapons development produce Tactics? Chicken or the Egg?
T.(who think that weapons are fitted into Tactical systems and one of the requirement for a RMA is a change in Tactics caused by weapons development).

[Larry Holt]

Originally posted by Tomanbeg

...
I am playing a 7.1 game now where my opponent is using Flak guns in an offensive role. It seems they can unload and fire on the same turn. He tore me up last game with 88's and this game he is using the russian 85 flak gun in the same role. It's hard to deal with a big gun that pulls up unloads, shoots, loads back up and moves off out of LOS. I'm coping, but just barely.
T.

In real life, the 88 could shoot without being unlimbered & while still attached to its prime mover. What you are seeing in the game is a simulation of this.

[SeppDietrich]

Basically does the AA version of the 88 have a use? Or could you be better served simply purchasing the AT version, with supplimentary smaller calibre AA guns?

[Larry Holt]

Originally posted by Belisarius


It could.

The difference between AT 88 vs. AA 88 is the carriage. Lower for an AT 88 (and that wasn't around until '43 or something anyway)

...

Quite right. I was posting about the AA 88 used in the AT or AA role. Later there was a specific AT 88 developed with the lower carriage that had no AA capability.

I read somewhere that the 88 was designed to have an AT capability.

[Larry Holt]

Originally posted by SeppDietrich
Basically does the AA version of the 88 have a use? Or could you be better served simply purchasing the AT version, with supplimentary smaller calibre AA guns?

Your latter suggestion is probably the better course of action however the AT 88 is not available early in the war so we are forced to purchase the AA 88 if we want heavy German AT capability.

There are other options for killing tanks. I've stopped using 88s in my cores. It certainly makes for exciting games.

[Belisarius]

Originally posted by Larry Holt

In real life, the 88 could shoot without being unlimbered & while still attached to its prime mover. What you are seeing in the game is a simulation of this.

Yes, that you could. But with a trained crew, unloading and priming an 88 could take as little as 20 seconds. As one turn in the game is approx. 1 minute, you have time to unload, shoot and load back up again. The carriage was two separate parts, basically the forward and rear wheel pairs, with the gun mount itself holding everything together. So you just shoved the two halves in under the gun and jacked them up to get it moving again.

[john g]

Originally posted by Belisarius


Yes, that you could. But with a trained crew, unloading and priming an 88 could take as little as 20 seconds. As one turn in the game is approx. 1 minute, you have time to unload, shoot and load back up again. The carriage was two separate parts, basically the forward and rear wheel pairs, with the gun mount itself holding everything together. So you just shoved the two halves in under the gun and jacked them up to get it moving again.

I don't have any video of 88's firing while still attached to the prime mover, but I do have video of them firing while the wheels were still attached, they didn't lock the brakes so the 88 rolls back and forth while firing. I have read of 88 units spotting aircraft while moving on the road, and unloading and firing before the aircraft make it overhead to attack position.
thanks, John.

[Bernie]

Originally posted by Larry Holt

Quite right. I was posting about the AA 88 used in the AT or AA role. Later there was a specific AT 88 developed with the lower carriage that had no AA capability.

I read somewhere that the 88 was designed to have an AT capability.

As far as I know the 88 was designed from the start as an AA weapon and it wasn't until the Western front that gun crews, in desperation, started using them against ground targets. Once they saw the results that led to AP rounds being made, and later telescopic sights being added. Much later in the war two versions of the gun were produced, the AT version having a much lower carriage and only the telescopic sight while the AA version had a higher carriage with a different set of train and elevation gears (allowing for faster tracking of aircraft) and supplied with standard VT frag ammo. The AA version also used (what we used to call in the Navy a "flyswatter" sight) a rudimentary leading type open sight.

[Bernie]

Originally posted by Marc Schwanebeck


That is basically AA doctrine. AA seldomly is at close range of the to protect units, also it´s "easier" for the AA guns to track a plane when farer away. It´s very hard to track a fast flying plane when it´s close to you. Okay beeing farer away from the potential target also has an impact on accuracy of course. So you´ll have to find a point in the middle here.

The german MG42 can be outfitted with an AA gunsight. The Mg42, also the MG34 where used in a AA role by infantry units. Firing with small arms (carbines, sub machine guns etc.) on planes has no great impact of course but a lucky shot can wreck the pilots day.

This works fine in a game with high visibility, but what about a game with limited visibility? It does not seem like such a great idea to put your AA 20 hexes back from the front when the visibility is 25. You end up with planes firing at your frontline troops long before the AA even "sees" them. Not to mention that when the troops move forward the problem worsens unless you move the AA forward with them. You could, and I've seen it happen, end up in a situation where only one or two AA units were in condition to actually fire while all the other AA was on the move...and have them all lost to a wave of F/B's