So, anyone care about managing air units at all?

[fbs]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

The air war will be looked at guys in due course (Pav says so it's Gospel!) it will take time though. Bear with us [:)]

That works for me.

[molchomor]

ORIGINAL: fbs

ORIGINAL: Speedy

The air war will be looked at guys in due course (Pav says so it's Gospel!) it will take time though. Bear with us [:)]

That works for me.

For me too [:D]

Just one request: Please make it **worthwhile** to attack tank/mech corps with my tankbusters (JU-87G). Worthwhile for me would mean tank losses at least in the tens and not like today where it is close to zero (the occasional chef or two may get a 1000 pound bomb on his lap though and show up in losses).

[Helpless]

Just one request: Please make it **worthwhile** to attack tank/mech corps with my tankbusters (JU-87G). Worthwhile for me would mean tank losses at least in the tens and not like today where it is close to zero (the occasional chef or two may get a 1000 pound bomb on his lap though and show up in losses).

It is not 0. When you bomb unit the biggest part of effect goes to disruption. Disruption has direct effect on combat effectiveness. Also after the battle disruption is converting to fatigue and damage. Damaged elements can easily get destroyed in case of no support and low experience, but this happens next logistic phase. So it is not 0, but it is not visible immediately.

[Zebedee]

ORIGINAL: johntoml56

What evidence is there that bombing a unit makes a difference, as the lossess are usually minimal...can this be verified or is it anecdotal/intuition derived from experience...?

If you watch the combat in close detail then you'll not only see 'losses' but also 'damage' results (for interdiction) as well as 'disrupt' results for ground support. The bigger the hammer, the greater the impact.

[Zebedee]

Butchers bill for a 168 bomber attack.(212th Rifle Division in fort level 2 supported by a tank brigade activated from reserve status and some army level subunit reinforcements - hasty attack by 16th Motorised Division on opening turn of 1942 GC). It's split into three sections, the first is the results of the air attack on 212th Rifle Division. The second is the results of the component of the air attack which hit the tank brigade. For comparison purposes, the third is the result of the admittedly brief and not too inspiring opening German artillery barrage (hasty attacks suck for a decent opening to a battle from your ground forces). Admittedly, the actual casualties reported to be caused were relatively minor: 316 men, 17 artillery and 1 AFV (I can't get the numbers to add up either but it's worth noting that it seems like multiple damage hits can cause a 'loss' and that the casualty numbers being totted up during a combat can differ quite radically from the final result even for the 'victorious' side).

In this particular battle, the Germans took around 270 casualties and dealt out close to 1400 to the Soviets as they retreated. I've run the battle several dozen times at least and have found that air power makes the world of difference as it seems to suppress (the disruption results I presume) the incoming fire as your troops close to within assault range. Without it, that battle more often than not results in the German division bouncing off the defences with around 800 casualties.

NB: Forgot that there were two 76mm guns in the Soviet ToE and didn't distinguish between the two when tallying.