AD boxes: a theory question?

[MarkShot]

This could apply to either WITW or WITE-2.

Since, we may only draw squares for ADs ... I imagine in real life, orders were more like "don't fly North of the Yalu" or "patrol no further than The Channel".

Are big box missions better? Or multiple small box missions which yield say 50% hex count reduction?

What do you think and why?

Thanks.

PS: One could do a basic mathematical analysis, but then the game is not really strictly physics based.

[loki100]

would you believe the answer is 'it depends'.

Lets say you know what the likely combat intensity is going to be. Its a GA-interdiction AD or recon or similar. Look at the assets, consult a passing chicken and pick the size that matches. Crudely assets/space = effect?

But sometimes you don't know. This is probably more about WiTW but lets take air base bombing with poor initial recon. I want to bomb the Axis airfields in S France, I know the LW is there and I don't really know what bases they are using. A large AD that covers all the feasible slots is good and enough assets so every airbase gets hit on the first day.

The game routine then discards empty bases for the next round, so odds on your bombers do a number on the LW despite stating the week with limited knowledge.

The other one is again more WiTW. If you are doing HI/manpower bombing with say Bomber Command, then a fairly large box can be useful, it generates as many raids as you told it and generally they will do the damage you need.

So returning to WiTE2,I'd say that the balance is towards small focussed boxes as the main reasons for widely drawn ones don't often come up.

[Joch1955]

I have been experimenting with the air component, using the 1st turn of the Road to Minsk scenario. It is easier to use and more flexible than in WITW, although it is the same basic system.

As far as I can see, number and size of AD boxes make no difference, a few large boxes yield the same results as many smaller more targeted boxes.

What has the biggest impact is manually assigning AOGs to your ADs. AUTO yields a lot less sorties.

Intensity high or medium and assigning drop tanks to the 109s has no impact.

Admittedly, this was a limited experiment to see how to maximise VVS losses on the 1st day, while minimising LW losses.