ORIGINAL: KarlXII
Does the air combat even work at all ? I have no clue since I cannot see any reports about successful interdiction missions or ground support inflicted.
The air combat report shows losses, so some combat is taking place, in the case of the Axis side mostly in getting wiped out.
So far, it seems that the Axis don't get much air superiority effect as it is overwhelmed early (I think too easily), so there doesn't seem to be much 'air to air' activity, but it does figure in interdiction and ground support, especially for the Allies.
Air units set to 'interdiction' will improve your chances of seeing enemy units in the rear areas, which would otherwise be invisible in FOW.
Interdiction will slow down the movement of enemy units, most of which you may not see, so you will not know how effective this has been, but this is how it was, not knowing what is happening on the 'other side of the hill'.
If you don't have air superiority, potential beach landing hexes won't light up to allow you to make landings. How much air you have to allocate to air superiority missions to allow landings, is by trial and error, or as the Allies actually did, you just throw in everything.
Allied air power will not reach beyond Rome, until you capture FOGGIA and the airfields in that area.
With each ground unit you can set air priority, but best I think not to spread it too thin, but to work for a significant effect where it counts. All ground units start the game set at air priority (1), I reduce this to (0) immediately, then start allocating air priority to units that are really going to need it. Remembering to reduce it back when no longer needed by any particular unit, this means running through the units' air priorities each turn.
Planning an attack is easy, you know there is going to be a combat where you can use your air ground support, unless the enemy withdraws before the attack, but anticipating air support in defence is much more difficult, where will the enemy attack ? You find yourself allocating ground support in anticipation of an attack, but it may be wasted if the enemy does not make the move, or attacks elsewhere.
There is probably more, but air power is having an effect in the game.
The Battle Reports will show how much 'Ground Support' was given in any combat, including what the opponent got for the opposing unit.
As with so much in Frank Hunter games, it may seem so simple, but there is so much that is going on with the few inputs you are required to make.
If it is on the screen it is important, there is a lot of background, but no surface gloss.
