2x3+ Team Side Game - BOTH SIDES

[Beria]

T016 Soviet Voronezh Pocket

Soviet South Commander
I re-establish contact with the Voronezh pocket with the sacrifice of a weak Cav division, but this is the last time, I plan to retreat the troops to the next safest river line.

Yes we can!

Although it took a few soaking attacks to get there.

Axis Supreme Commander
No interception of their ground bombing to break in, but managed to get some ground support at least.

Axis South Commander
now 4 less turns of prep [as motorised cannot draw back next turn or in mud] Huge that []
Did not keep pushing us at Voro. I would of if I was him. Risk worth the rewards so close to mud

Axis Supreme Commander
did I mention perhaps should have paradropped a unit in the gap
that is what it could have been used for

Axis Ground Commanders
You did mention it. Many times.

[Beria]

T016 Soviet

[Beria]

T016 Soviet Air

Soviet Air Commander
actually the % require to fly is pretty low, 30%, meaning that 70% of total planes can fly, once Mud arrives, I will change it to 50% to improve the VVS.
I mostly care to send low morale air groups to the reserve, and unless the airbase is being attack by Axis air force.
once Mud arrives, I will sent all air groups except recon to reserve.

[Beria]

T016 Soviet Industry

Soviet Evacuation Commander
evacuated all the factories that are in danger, discounting the doomed armaments in Voronezh we now have 239 Armaments and 181 Heavy Industry.
Not much I can do about Yaroslavl... if it holds next turn I would like to evac the H. Industry but the price of evacuation is now horribly expensive, it will cost 16 000 rail capacity per piece!! considering that we might get 60 000 rail or less next turn, that is a high price to pay.

In about 2 turns, we are about to hit an armaments shortage, compounded by a manpower shortage. We need to be more careful then ever on what stays on refit and what doesn't.

Soviet Centre Commander
Also 50% of the units in the pocket are set to refit. Are these the important units we are talking about? Does this not mean that we will be throwing away valuable men and equipment for nothing? All this while practically no units in the North or Center have this priority. I would have imagined at least some of the very weak new formations arriving around Gorky would receive some priority so more men have time to conduct training.

Soviet Evacuation Commander
Refit only works effectively to units close to the rail, while there is still a bonus, only those units right on the rail will get priority for replacements.
besides, I downgraded all the isolated units ToE to 20%, so its a non issue. The main reason I do this is to prevent the divisions from wasting supply building meager fort levels.

[Beria]

T016 Soviet Training

Soviet South Commander

Comrades, I want to share with you my standard for Experience and training of the red Army. In the fallowing turns, this will be very important to determine what formations go where, arrange good army placements for offensive operations and keep momentum well in to January. We should have a discussing, what do you guys think? Do you agree with my standards?


Minimal training - lower then 20 Experience and low Morale (30ish or lower)

These are raw recruits. they are unreliable in combat, provide shallow CV even in defense, useless for offensive operations (not just because of low CV but also lose too much mps in enemy hexes, take larger loses then normal,etc.
I highly recommend these units be kept at least 10 hexes away from the front line until they finish basic training,
they would only provide the illusion of a ready combat unit at the front line, they also have a higher probability of routing.
I would only ever used then if desperate and/or on harsh terrain against limited Axis opposition.


Basic Training - Experience 23-26 and about 40 morale.

this milestone is only to represent the unit reaching experience level half of national morale, once reach they will only gain 1 experience per turn, so no real reason to keep then away from the front line.


Decent Training - Experience above 30 and above 40 morale.

this is what I call "decent divisions", they have enough construction value to build a level 1 fort in 2 turns. can muster a decent CV on offense.
we should try to avoid losing then in pockets. since it takes more then 2 months to reach this level.


Good Training - Experience above 40 and above 40/45 morale.

this is the Ideal milestone, these are the good divisions and are the key to an successful defense and offense.
these should NEVER be on the front lines baring some exceptions, always on the 2nd or 3rd line of defense.
these divisions should NEVER be risked to be pocketed!!! even if there presence could have reopen the pocket, losing a division like this will be far more hurtful.


Excellent training - Experience above 50 and above 50/60 morale.

what I said before goes double for this one.
these divisions can form the crack army, that can possible stop a Axis offensive in its tracks or spearhead one, put then under Zhukov or any great leader and they will conquer the world (hint: Germany ).

Soviet South Commander
[The best ones], I use a special color to distinct then, dark red. this makes then much easier to spot.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Beria

T016 Soviet Training

Soviet South Commander

Comrades, I want to share with you my standard for Experience and training of the red Army. In the fallowing turns, this will be very important to determine what formations go where, arrange good army placements for offensive operations and keep momentum well in to January. We should have a discussing, what do you guys think? Do you agree with my standards?


Minimal training - lower then 20 Experience and low Morale (30ish or lower)

These are raw recruits. they are unreliable in combat, provide shallow CV even in defense, useless for offensive operations (not just because of low CV but also lose too much mps in enemy hexes, take larger loses then normal,etc.
I highly recommend these units be kept at least 10 hexes away from the front line until they finish basic training,
they would only provide the illusion of a ready combat unit at the front line, they also have a higher probability of routing.
I would only ever used then if desperate and/or on harsh terrain against limited Axis opposition.


Basic Training - Experience 23-26 and about 40 morale.

this milestone is only to represent the unit reaching experience level half of national morale, once reach they will only gain 1 experience per turn, so no real reason to keep then away from the front line.


Decent Training - Experience above 30 and above 40 morale.

this is what I call "decent divisions", they have enough construction value to build a level 1 fort in 2 turns. can muster a decent CV on offense.
we should try to avoid losing then in pockets. since it takes more then 2 months to reach this level.


Good Training - Experience above 40 and above 40/45 morale.

this is the Ideal milestone, these are the good divisions and are the key to an successful defense and offense.
these should NEVER be on the front lines baring some exceptions, always on the 2nd or 3rd line of defense.
these divisions should NEVER be risked to be pocketed!!! even if there presence could have reopen the pocket, losing a division like this will be far more hurtful.


Excellent training - Experience above 50 and above 50/60 morale.

what I said before goes double for this one.
these divisions can form the crack army, that can possible stop a Axis offensive in its tracks or spearhead one, put then under Zhukov or any great leader and they will conquer the world (hint: Germany ).

Soviet South Commander
[The best ones], I use a special color to distinct then, dark red. this makes then much easier to spot.

I like this breakdown. It is more sophisticated then the surface. For example, the German's do not worry about the three bottom tiers .. it is a huge difference between the Germans and the Soviets .. and explains why the Soviets need to nurture their units before throwing them into the fire .. and at what point to do so ..

[Colbert]

Soviet South Commander
[The best ones], I use a special color to distinct then, dark red. this makes then much easier to spot.

Oh no! It is spreading to the other side too! [:D] [X(]

[Telemecus]

+1 [:D]

[Telemecus]

T016 Soviet Evacuation

There is one eye catching evacuation this turn.

This has been moved from South Stalingrad, which is not in danger of being overrun, and is not even in production yet. The Soviet armed forces at this time have a critical shortage of light tanks. And the Stalingrad light tank factory starts expanding from a very low base of just 1 a week - meaning any bombing to slow its expansion has a far more potent effect. Perhaps evacuating it away from harm WHILE it is still not in production is a sensible move?

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Telemecus

T016 Soviet Evacuation

There is one eye catching evacuation this turn.

This has been moved from South Stalingrad, which is not in danger of being overrun, and is not even in production yet. The Soviet armed forces at this time have a critical shortage of light tanks. And the Stalingrad light tank factory starts expanding from a very low base of just 1 a week - meaning any bombing to slow its expansion has a far more potent effect. Perhaps evacuating it away from harm WHILE it is still not in production is a sensible move?

[Telemecus]

[Telemecus]

For information only - this turn the team changed and the Axis team got an air commander. With no prospect of reallocating units to a North command it makes the role redundant, and that of a Supreme Commander to do allocations. Although there was a small residuary ground role for a north commander, going forward the team was essentially a Supreme Commander, an Air Commander and two ground commanders. Attached is the description of the team protocol change.

[Crackaces]

T017 Axis Air Management

The casual reader may want to skip this, and the following few posts on air. There is a quote from a previous WITE 1.0 player that the air war was insignificant. What the next postings show is all of the detail that goes into squeezing every ounce of power from the airwar game. For those players who like to scrape this level of detail and use it to guide their own gameplay - this is for you!

Telemecus created an example graphic of how airgroups and air bases could be deployed for Center at the start of the turn. This is a huge advantage of being a team in a team game. You get different perspectives looking at the same problem. Sort of like the old maid/young woman illusion.

Below is the result:

[Crackaces]

Logistical Cycles for Air Bases

Telemecus' has discussed and posted diagrams before in different forums with different aspects of managing the Luftwaffe OOB. One thing that is fundamental there are three main cycles to think about in managing the Luftwaffe:

1) Morale/Supply cycling through national reserve (a separate cycling through rear airbases is needed in v1.11.03 because of the air experience in NR bug)

2) "Kabuki dancing" of air groups

3) A logistical rotation of air bases. More on this can be read at Kabuki Dance see post 993. In fact the 8MP AAR is a great example of how the accumulation of small details either piad attention to by one side, or neglected by the other ends up with one air force dominating the other. In 8MP, by turn 65 the Germans are ready to bomb the Urals and dominate the battlespace. In this game the Luftwaffe let the foot of the gas and now the Soviets have recovered.

This posting is very specific to versions before 1.12.02 of WITE 1.0. How airbases are supplied changed. Within this version without some rotation illustrated by the diagram below, the vicious fuel cycle of death occurs and typically leaves the Axis air force increasingly paralyzed from turn 8 during the Summer 1941. That cycle of death has been certainly happening to the Axis in this game.

[Crackaces]

One could think -- "Air commander not much to do there .. how boring! I would much rather be pushing Panzers around!" But extracting domination of the air battlespace takes painstaking attention to detail. The Start list below describes all the details that can take a couple of hours to work through ..
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T017 Axis Air Start Checklist

Also at the request of the new air commander I made notes on what could be done by an air commander for their go at the start of a turn. Below is the result:-

Air Go Checklist

START
i) Air Doctrine (best done before air missions as cannot be changed afterwards)

ii) Switch all airgroups to nights (easier to switch to days when you need them than leaving them on and they get accidentally used (e.g. fighter interception of enemy interdiction when moving your airbases)

iii) Change airgroup upgrade and replacement settings (this cannot be done later for airgroups sent to reserve)

iv) Manual swaps (this cannot be done after an airgroup has flown a mission or its airbase moved)

v) Send airgroups to National Reserve (more can be done later, but better do most at start as once air bases are moved or missions flown airgroups cannot then be sent to reserve, and to make space for initial air deployments)

vi) Initial air deployment (as described elsewhere)

vii) Initial air recon - this can be left to ground commanders and spare recon should be left for them to use

viii) Attacking enemy air force (recon spamming, fighter sweeps, airbase bombing) - best done before ground bombing as all air platforms can only use first 33% of bomber miles on airbase bombing

ix) Switch all airgroups to night only missions again.

x) Switch FBs to default fighter or bomber missions (ground commanders can change this)

Telemecus suggested the following ideas for turn 17:

i) Keep % reqd to fly at 0%: there are only rare cases where Axis would want it higher actually and can be exploited if it is
Ground support/Interdiction attack/ Fighter Intercept/ Night Fighter Intercept: look at your battle reports and adapt. If you want more missions these numbers should be reduced, not increased! If you are happy with the number of missions flown but want more airgroups in them only then raise the number
Ground support escort/Interdiction attack escort: increase if your bombers are getting shot down (but will decrease number of missions), decrease if they are unharmed
Ground attack/Airfield attack/City attack : probably leave as is? these are only conducted in our turn and if done manually air doctrine is ignored
iii)
I/StG2 set to upgrade only option: we are short of Ju87B but now have a pool of Ju87D-1 to switch them into, we already have our second most experienced airgroup on upgrade, having our third best will double the chances of it happening soon (our best is receiving the few replacements we have)
most other settings should be fine more or less, but more on this can be looked at in future turns?
iv)
St/StG77 manual swap to HS126A (if there are 3 or more in the pool): again this increases the number of Ju87Bs in the pool for the others as we are short of stukas, the HS126A is a low production dive bomber so could probably only keep a stab or two of dive bombers supplied with replacements, we cannot do this by autoupgrade as more likely it would change this airgroup to Ju87D-1 instead so we need to spend the point doing it manually
v) Send to National Reserve
DO NOT send withdrawing air groups (list available on request or from spreadsheet) but can send
20-35% of all combat airgroups including
any airgroups with 0 ready aircraft
any airgroups with 5 or more damaged and reserve aircraft (two or more if stab)
any airgroups with low morale (including any stukas below 80 morale)
any airgroups with high fatigue
any transport air groups which have more damaged/reserved than ready aircraft (as they do not repair unless over supplied)
a few non-withdrawing recon air groups to national reserve (not as critical and more to keep air groups rotation going, but can help with some airgroups with damaged planes or low morale)
vi) Airbase moves are subject to interdiction so as soon as fighters or fighter mission FBs are in place (and not before) switch them to day missions so they can intercept enemy ground interdiction
vii) Recon can be left to ground commanders and some spare needs to be left to them but this is your chance to shape where it goes for example
Use up withdrawing recon groups before they go
Use short range recon first (if long range does short range recon, then you have unuseable short range recon for long range targets)
Use long range first (converse of above)
Concentrating recon where it has most effect e.g. on the same hex as a low detection unit to raise its detection level while at same time seeing what else is near rather than "scatter gun" recon (or AI)
To find out where enemy fighters intercept (if before final deployment of fighters can be used to find out where they should go)

And then updated after first air commanders go:-

Still to do

iii) A few more upgrade/replacement settings changes suggested below
v) More needs to go to reserve including some suggested below
vi) Initial air deployment (as described elsewhere)
vii) Initial air recon - this can be left to ground commanders and spare recon should be left for them to use
viii) Attacking enemy air force (recon spamming, fighter sweeps, airbase bombing) - best done before ground bombing as can only use first 33% of bomber miles on airbase bombing
ix) Switch all airgroups to night only missions again
x) Switch FBs to default fighter or bomber missions (ground comanders can change this)

Tips or ideas for turn 17 Start updated
iii) Upgrade/Replacement settings
IIIJG51 to no swap/upgrade (just swapped to F4 this turn, change to manual now before having to remember it later)
IIISG2 to no swap/upgrade (just swapped to Ju87D-1 this turn, change to manual now before having to remember it later)
StSG2 to allow replacements (best non-withdrawing Bf109E-7/U1)
1H21,5H11,2H23,2H21 to allow replacements (latest withdrawing Fi156c to keep Fi156c pool below 20 -above that and Fi156c get exported which we do not want)
I KG Zbv 1 and II KG Zbv 1 arrived this turn so we need to review upgrade/swaps of transports (just as we did for fighters/stukas)
v) Send to National Reserve
DO NOT send withdrawing air groups (list available on request or from spreadsheet) but can send
20-35% of all combat airgroups including
any airgroups with 0 ready aircraft
any airgroups with 5 or more damaged and reserve aircraft (two or more if stab)
any airgroups with low morale (including any stukas below 80 morale)
any airgroups with high fatigue
any transport air groups which have more damaged/reserved than ready aircraft (as they do not repair unless over supplied)
a few non-withdrawing recon air groups to national reserve (not as critical and more to keep air groups rotation going, but can help with some airgroups with damaged planes or low morale)
Only 5 airgroups sent to National Reserve so far - need more and at least some fighters (without rotation in and out of reserve the whole system clogs up)
Some suggestions
IIIJG54 (F2) - has 6 reserved so good to repair in reserve (it does withdraw but more than a year away)
IIJG3 (F2) - has 4 reserved so good to repair in reserve (it does withdraw but more than a year away)
IVJG51 (F4) - highest fatigue
15JG52(Croat) - we do not want to use Bf109E4Bs at all (we will swap this airgroup and Bf109E4Bs in pool get converted to better dive bombers)
ISG2 (Ju87B) - low morale
IIISG77 (Ju87B) - low morale
6H31 (Fi156c) - recon with many damaged
4H22 (Fi156c) - recon with some damaged
6H13 (HS126B-1) - recon with many damaged
vi) Airbase moves are subject to interdiction so as soon as fighters or fighter mission FBs are in place (and not before) switch them to day missions so they can intercept enemy ground interdiction
Fighters that have already moved (not 0% air miles should be set to both/day missions while moving airbases)
Use 13LW like you use 16LW to move transports in 7LW along the rail line to 98,62 (and send the transport on 16LW to 7LW afterwards too?)
6LW,14LW and even 9LW,11LW could be moved forward to be forward bases, can also treat all of FKI as forward bases
Airgroups in 2Pz or 3Pz transfered to 4PZ, so then 2Pz empty and could be moved to near end of rail line for heavy recon (e.g. Ju88D-1 on 16LW,6LW,14LW etc)
At the end of the we want to assign a fighter stab to 7LW and a fighter group to the bases on rails near Moscow so need to leave room for them
We can also transfer Ju88D-1 to bomber bases on rails if they have room (now that they are not needed for more bombers, this will help to draw fuel into them next turn although could add to the kubuki dance then)
Once forward bases are in place make sure they have all fighters, fighter bombers, tac/dive bombers and Ju86 - including from 3LW and from 12LW (if we think there is too much there for the fuel/ammo they have), also ideally from bases we want to move back to rails (4LW,10LW,13LW?)
Final decisions on which LW bases (now empty?) are used as staging bases and which are brought back to rails
Final recon transfers if wanted (e.g. transfer withdrawing recon to where it will be used first, good idea to keep one recon base empty for next turn to reduce the need for a kubuki dance)
Same for Lft4, FKI, Hungarians, Rumanians, Finns and Slovaks (easy for them)? Or can be left for next turn/south commander?
At end ideally you want 16LW and one recon base in centre empty, and probably 13LW and some allies/south base too
vii) Recon can be left to ground commanders and some spare needs to be left to them but this is your chance to shape where it goes for example
Use up withdrawing recon groups before they go
Use short range recon first (if long range does short range recon, then you have unusable short range recon for long range targets)
Use long range first (converse of above)
Concentrating recon where it has most effect e.g. on the same hex as a low detection unit to raise its detection level while at same time seeing what else is near rather than "scatter gun" recon (or AI)
To find out where enemy fighters intercept (if before final deployment of fighters can be used to find out where they should go)

[Crackaces]

Optimizing the Luftwaffe takes a tremendous amount of attention to detail. If the Kabuki dance is not enough detail to overwhelm the player .. then managing all the pools and optimizing the applications of platforms to specific jobs will .. I contend that if one player is paying attention and the other player is not .. then a real difference of outcomes becomes slowly apparent.
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T017+ Axis Air Management

There is a plethora of details not documented anywhere. Telemecus took all his notes on the different models of aircraft and provided advice on how to manage the platforms as well as the optimum pool sizes. Below are the results:-

Notes on settings for airgroups and air pools management.

When an airgroup is sent to reserve through transit, its settings cannot be changed until next turn
German aircraft pools >100 give airgroups better replacement rates, similar smaller thresholds exist for allies
Swaps and replacements can entail experience loss

Upgrades can be done for free leaving it to AI unless you are in a hurry.

Autoswaps can be done for free, but only if it cannot swap to a model you do not want the AI to chose - otherwise use manual swap

Swaps can only happen if there are aircraft in the pool for over half the airgroup.

Choking replacements can be good for withdrawing airgroups, worse airgroups when there are not enough in the pool for all, or for airgroups that you want the AI to autoswap soon (it prioritizes low complement groups)

When doing autoupgrade selections leave stabs for last as they can fill out with the last few of that model rather than leaving a bigger airgroup almost empty - in most cases you will want to leave a stab in each model until every aircraft in that airgroup is gone

These assumptions are based on a microeconomic model where aircraft platforms are scarce, and so choices have to be made. (e.g. German before allied groups, not withdrawn), if these are in abundance no such choices have to be made and all can have aircraft (better than being left in pool)

Specific Models

Bf109E3:

Converts to: Bf109E3(R) (already maxed out in 2x3+), Bf109E4B (not very good single seat fighter bomber - though that does in turn convert to a better tac/dive bomber)
Pool: 0 pool, swap to for withdrawing or frozen to end air groups
StabJG54 sucks up any 109E3s in pool (note logistics sometimes takes them from airgroups to pool) at least until there are so few we prefer the stab for something else...
Other airgroups are withdrawing or frozen to end

Bf109E7
Converts to: Bf109E7(S) (Jul42+)
Pool: 0 pool (Jul42+), swap to for withdrawing or frozen to end air groups (after Bf109E3)
Only withdrawing and frozen to end airgroups with later withdrawers only taking replacements

Bf109F2
Converts to: nothing
Pool: Keep in these pools
Keep stabs and some withdrawing groups on these but otherwise put best airgroups to auto upgrade.

Bf109F4
Converts to: Bf109F4(H) (Oct42+)
Pool: 0 pool (Oct42+)

FW190A
Converts to: nothing
Pool: Keep in these pools
Note the upgrade of this fighter is a fighter bomber not fighter

Bf109E4B
Converts to: Bf 109E-7/U1 ( a not very good fighter bomber changes to a better tac/dive bomber!).
Pool: Keep pools for conversions
If fighter trained swap to a single seat fighter (we always need more fighter airgroups, if not can be swapped to Me210A-1 which can then be swapped to it)

If bomber trained swap to a tac/dive bomber (if there are enough airframes for the tac/dive bombers as well - often there is not! tac/dive bombers cannot swap back to fighter bombers) otherwise use other fighter bombers (not Me210)
As 2by3+ has lost a lot of tac/dive bombers we need these to become other kinds of figter bomber (e.g. FW190A-4 when available)
15./JG 27 (Span) disbands before end of blizzard so probably easier to leave in reserve till then and save the point
Usually needs to be done with manual swaps as fighter trained can autoswap to tac/dive bombers and bomber trained to fighters

Bf110C-4B
Converts to: Bf110E-2
Pool: Keep in these pools for conversions
All are withdrawing

Bf110E-2
Converts to: none
Pool: use them up if possible - but seems to be very few airgroups to actually use them or be able to swap to them (but still researching this)
As a fighter it is better at shooting down bombers than single seat fighters, but worse at fighting with fighters

As a bomber it is less likely to get shot down than a tac/dive bomber but less effective.
IIZG26 (fighter trained but disbands) - can use up as many Bf110E-2s as possible, or Swap to Me210A-1, or swap to Me210A-1 which can then swap to single seat fighter
All others are withdrawing, and future arrivals also disband or withdraw soon - it likely that the pools of this air frame will only be used when we run out of single seat fighters (if that ever happens) so perhaps we should keep replacements on even for withdrawing air groups?

Me210A-1
Converts to: Me210A-1(H) (Apr43+)
Pool: 0 pool (Oct42+) (unless the Hungarian conversion converts back to a useful German plane as seems possible from the scenario data?)
Very long range so very valuable as a long distance bomber escort - but very low production. Also swapping to Me210A-1 first allows airgroups to then swap to other airframes they could not do directly.
Could manually swap IIZG26 to this as soon as there are 21 in the pool?

Hs 123A
Pool: O pool (T40 when 10.(Sch)/LG 2 withdraws)
10.(Sch)/LG 2 is only aircraft with this airframe is withdrawing and with replacements off. If 3 or more get into the pool by turn 30 (say) then we can equip a Stuka group stab with this (as we are short of Stukas). But if not 10.(Sch)/LG 2 replacements should be on to see if it can be used up before 10.(Sch)/LG 2 withdraws

Bf 109E-7/U1
Worst Ju87B groups could be manually swapped to these when enough have been converted to it, and if we are still short of Stukas for the Stuka groups

Ju87B
Converts to: none
Pool: Keep in these pools (although shortage of tac/dive bombers overall means likely to be none)
Only put replacements and upgrade on for best non-stab stukas as there are not enough for all. Potentially worst Ju87-B could be mnually swapped to Bf 109E-7/U1?

Ju 87D-1
Converts to: Ju 87D-1(R), Ju 87D-1(H) (1943 sometime)
Pool: O pool (before Rumanian/Hungarian exports start)

Do 17Z-2
Converts to: Do 17Z-2(F) (1942)
Pool: O pool (1942)
IIIKG3 has replacements to suck up pool. In 1942 when a level bomber groups arrives that withdraws soon, swap IIIKG3 out of Do17Z-2 and the bomber airgroup that just arrived to it. To do this IIIKG3 should be left in reserve if it reaches only 21 + a margin (23 say) aircraft.
All others are withdrawing.

Do217E-2
Converts to: Do217E-4
Pool: Can leave Do217E-2 in pool and will upgrade to Do217E-4 in 1942
Bomber with heaviest payload but very few made.

Do 217E-4
Converts to: none
Bomber with heaviest payload but very few made.

He 111H-3
Converts to: He 111H-4 (zero cost but no noticeable difference)
Pool: O pool (Apr1942) (as any converted to He 111H-4 would get converted to Hungarian recon)
Manually swap some Ju88 to these just before Apr42

He 111H-4
Converts to: He 111H(H) (our best bomber turns into a Hungarian recon plane!) (Apr1942)
Pool: O pool (Apr1942)
We have too few He 111H-4 in the pool at the moment so only the best non-withdrawers have replacements on as well as a few withdrawing platforms. When there are enough let best non or latest withdrawing Ju88s autoswap into this as it is a better bomber - and manually swap before Apr1942

He 111H-6
Converts to: He 111H-6(R) (Jun1942)
Pool: O pool (Jun1942)
Manually swap best non withdrawing Ju88s to these before Jun1942

Ju 86E-2
Converts to: none
Pool: Currently has 2 but we need 3 to swap for another group
Only withdrawing airgroups all with no replace - but if pools do not go to 3 soon we may be better have switching replace on for later withdrawing platforms

Ju 88A
Converts to: none
Pool: Keep in these pools

Ju 88A-4
Converts to: (Jan43)
Pool: O pool (Jan1943)

He 177A-1
Only German very long range bomber, but very few made

Fi156C
Converts to: export versions for various allies (sometime in 1941 but I think only if there are more than 20 in pool)
Pool: <20 when exports start
Only withdrawing airgroups so all non-replace, although later withdrawing platforms could be put on replace
Withdrawing recon airgroups with other airframes are on autoswap and there is a bonus to make autoswap to Fi156c more likely. But eventually the Ju88D-1 pool gets large and they will autoswap to that instead in which case autoswap needs to be turned off and airgroups manually swapped to Fi156c.
Fi156c is very short range but virtually cost free in terms of fuel use/supplies etc - should be used before other recon when possible

Fw 189A
Converts to: Fw 189A(F) (42)
Pool: low enough to stop Finnish export (42)
Next shortest range recon and still very cheap logistically - priority for use after Fi156c
Withdrawing groups on autoswap to Fi156c (manual may be needed later)

Hs 126B-1
Converts to: tac/dive bomber (44)
Pool: Keep in these pools for conversions
Third shortest range recon and still cheap. With recon too spare, and a shortage of dive/tac bombers, we want these out of airgroups and into the pool. Withdrawers are on autoswap to Fi156c, but will have to be manual only to Fi156c when they convert to Ju88D-1 instead. Non-withdrawers are on upgrade only to get to FW189A but few ever do. Non-withdrawers can be put to autoswap when they start swapping to Jun88D-1 instead. Ultimately swaps are probably going to have to be manual when points allow.

Do 17P-1
Converts to: Do 17P-1(R) (1942 I think)
Pool: low enough to stop Rumanian export
Shortest range of the strategic range recon - should be used ahead of Ju88D-1 where possible
When there is one airgroup too much capacity then best one is out on upgrade only to Ju88D-1 and others pick up what goes into pool as replacements until Rumanian exports start. After that may need to keep airgroups as Do 17P-1 until they have zero aircraft total

Ju 88D-1
Converts to: Ju 88D-1(R),Ju 88D-1(H) (1942 sometime)
Pool: low enough to stop exports but may not be possible
Essential longest range recon. Withdrawers on autoswap to Fi156c. Air groups with other recon may auto swap to this, but come blizzard we will need more recon of this type and may have to autoswap.

Bf 110C-5 & Bf 110E-3
Converts to: none
Pool: Keep not needed here
Heavy logistically but too short range for recon from rails. Platform is only useful during blizzard when non-withdrawing HS126B-1 may be manually swapped to it

Ju 52/3m
Converts to: other nations
Pool: No good way of controlling so exports will happen

Brewster 239F
Longest range fighter based saved for as bomber escort and ideally with most experienced airgroups. Remember auto missions can go outside Finnish no move area

Gladiator IIF
Converts to: Gladiator IIF(Rcn) (1942 I think)
Pool: 0 (1942 I think)
The two airgroups have capacity to spare but are not swapped until they have zero aircraft left as bad fighters are still more useful than recon

Hawk 75AF,Hurricane IF, Fokker D.XXIF, G.50F, M.S.406F
Ideally use up shortest range first. The last airgroup with these fighters is not swapped until the last fighter of that type is destroyed.

Blenheim I(F), Blenheim IV(F), SB-2(F)
Keep air groups as full as possible by autoswaps where necessary

Fi156CF, Lysander IF, Ripon IIF, Gladiator IIF Rcn(F), F.K.52F, Fokker C.V-EF, Fokker C.XF, I-153F, Pe-2F

Use shorter range recon first where possible. By being so close to the eastern edge of the no move line long range recon cannot fly long range! But can be kept for 1944 withdrawl etc

Italian Airgroups
Use up if possible before they withdraw in 1942. In the case of the fighter bombers this is virtually impossible so may want to manually swap them to older air types as soon as possible. This assumes you want to keep better aircraft in pools for the new Italian air groups that arrive in 1942 (is that worth it?)

He 112B(R) Hurricane I(R)
Do not swap last airgroup until the last of them are destroyed

Bf 109E-3R, IAR80
Use shorter range Bf 109E-3R first where possible

PZL 11F(R) PZL 24E(R)
Pool: As large as possible
Fighters in frozen home bases with no replacements to let them shrink in size. When points allow swap home PZL 24E(R) to older PZL 11F(R)

IAR 37
Converts to: IAR39
18th Rum. Light Bomb Sqn must not go below 7 airframes , and is on autoswap to get it to IAR39. If it gets too close to 7 or more Rumanian tac/dive bombers are wanted manually swap it to IAR39, but then straight away manually swap a frozen home IAR39 airgroup to IAR37 (before the pool gets to 6!)
81st Rum. Bomber Sqn (arriving turn 38) same applies. Keep on night missions during Soviet phase to avoid going below 7 in a forward airgroup.

IAR 39
Pool: Get to 7+ four times
Replacements off to allow enough in the pools to swap two IAR37 and one Potez airrgroups to IAR39 ( in each case could be done manually as soon as there are seven in the pool). Later on may need to do this again to get the last Potez group swapped

Potez 633B2R

Very long range dive/tac bomber that can be used like a long range strategic bomber - when there are only enough aircraft for one airgroup you can swap swap the worse one to IAR39

PZL 37BR
Longest range of all Axis bombers in 1941 and very very valuable. Should be used exclusively for the very longest range targets (e.g. South Stalingrad Tank factory) and in your best bomber groups (a bad one arrives equipped with it). Keep on night missions during Soviet phase and avoid other uses such as ground support.

He 111H-3R
For your next best Rumanian bomber airgroups your next longest range Rumanian bomber

Bloch 210R, SM.79BR, Ju 86K-2

For your worst Rumanian bomber groups -- the shortest range Rumanian bomber. They can hit industry in Crimea and Caucasus from north coast of Azov sea. But otherwise have to be used like a tac/dive bomber

Blenheim I RcnR, Fi156CR, IAR 38
Use up shortest range recon first

Hungarian aircraft and airgroups

None withdraw but some disband. Get worst aircraft into frozen home airbases and best to the 1st Royal Hungarian Air Brigade at front. Heja's are good fighters, but if underused swap to older fighter bombers to at least be able to do some ground bombing. Ju 86K-2(H) is the shorter range of its bombers but does convert to a useful transport. There is a lot of Hungarian recon that can be used up. The Hungarian transports in 2x3+ are being left in reserve as airbases are too far from rail for them to be used.

Slovakian aircraft and airgroups

Withdraw turn 20 use up in anyway possible before then -every turn the Slovak tac/dive bombers should at least use up their miles in ground bombing. Once gone there are no arriving Slovak air groups. Any aircraft in the Slovak air pools hence will stay there until the end of the game.

[Crackaces]

And they do not call Telemecus the femto-manager for nothing!

[Crackaces]

Earlier in the game there was a golden opportunity to smash IL-4's located too close to the front. In a team game it takes only one player to operate independently within the scope of their front to have a great impact on the whole game. An earlier air attack by center lost a great number of Stuka's .. Now turn 17 ...
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T017 Axis Stuka Groups

The Stuka air groups at least have recovered their morale. But they are very depleted, production means it only makes sense to leave one of the best ones on with replacements.

[Crackaces]

Subject: Re: 2x3+ 017 Axis Stukas
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T017 Axis Stuka Swap

Relief comes with our first automatic swap to the newer model of Stuka.

[Crackaces]

The indiscriminate use of tatical bombers has a long term effect on the game.
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T017 Axis Stuka Pool

The pool of Ju87Bs is boosted by those shed to the pool by the swap but will soon be replacements for the others. We are leaving all upgrades to Ju87D to be automatic (to save points) and prioritizing full groups over stabs so it will be a while before that pool will be useful. Some Stuka groups have been swapped to other types of tac/dive bomber - but those pools are dry now too.