AOG - what is their use?

[Kel]

I am wondering if there is an usefulness to grouping aircrafts by specialized AOGs rather than linking them directly to Air Hq. (I mean, apart of the roleplaying aspect and the organizational simulation)
Up to now, I have found it simpler to direct air units to higher Air HQs. I don't use AOGs like IADs, NBADs, SHADs, BADs, DBADs and so forth. But perhaps i am missing something (XP gain, more operational efficiency).
thank you

[Mehring]

Good question. I group them in AOG and sometimes allocate AOG to lower air commands but disable AOG view during allocation. Range is primary concern. Maybe there are command bonuses?

[Kel]

At least from the soviet perspective, their use does not seem so crucial. except perhaps :
+ (16.3.4) soviet guards aogs give guard status to 3 air groups (usually those under them) with a +5 morale boost.
+ the ability to support a specific army instead of a front HQ.

[carlkay58]

Think of the benefits the player would get in WitW as the Allies in controlling the air war. This is a driving factor of AOGs and their inclusion. It is much easier to handle the air forces in the game and you can build (within historical restrictions) the AOGs as you want them and then just move them around.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: Kel

At least from the societ perspective, their use does not seem so crucial. except perhaps :
+ (16.3.4) soviet guards aogs give guard status to 3 air groups (usually those under them) with a +5 morale boost.
+ And the ability to support a specific army instead of a front.

AOGs are completely optional, you ignore them, link your air groups to the Luftwaffe or Soviet army commands, assign them to ADs individually, move your air units individually.

You've missed the critical addition in 16.3.4:

Usually these will be groups directly assigned to the relevant AOG but if that AOG is not currently in use (or lacks sufficient air groups), then groups in the reserve will be converted instead. If there are not enough of these, then air groups in other AOGs will be converted.

so you get the conversions, just that it becomes largely randomised.

But, from experience, its a pain. I did a test game to 1945 before the AOGs came in and managing the mid/late war VVS was pretty tedious (even using all the management tips from WiTW)

[Mehring]

Not sure what you mean by "conversions."

In any case, if the air group mission allocation window were sortable by column, particularly by range to staging base, and the AI did not reset that staging base every time you adjust other parameters, the whole thing would be infinitely more managable.