Lufwaffe in Italy

[BK6583]

Just started a 44 D-Day campaign as the Germans. I've tried following the air redeployment advice in the tutorials for Greater Germany. Now I've moved down to Italy. What do I do with this seemingly pitiful air force? Move them all to Germany and just take my lumps in Italy using the terrain as my main ally?.

[RedLancer]

Sounds like a good plan. One of the reasons I love this game is that it makes sense of some aspects of history. Other bits can be assigned to megalomaniac nutters.

[Lovenought]

Bad idea in my opinion. If you keep a presence everywhere, it forces the Allies to always use fighter escorts. If there are no Axis aircraft in Italy, you could see 3 or 4 extra squadrons of Fighter-Bombers doing ground attacks.

Even once you lose control of the skies, your aircraft can still be used in a Mahanian manner.

[EddyBear81]

I do a mix a both actually.

Basically, I have no aircraft in Italy, save for Rec planes and any Italian fighters*

However, once in a while, I bring over a couple of Geschwader (3 or 4 Gruppe each) to make a big splash

It's my way of keeping the Allies honest without committing assets in a protracted battle.


* which I use on very selected Ground Support occasion : they seem to shoot down quite a lot a Allied planes when engaged (as Fighters) in Ground Support during Axis turn (why Ground Support specifically and why only during Axis turn, I don't know)

[Searry]

Send all bombing aircraft to the east.