Unit supply by air supply

[BigDuke66]

Someone help here please. The manual writes:
"Transport AOGs will usually try to resupply units of the
command they are attached to. If they have no linked HQ,
they will seek to resupply airbases connected to their air
command."
But the handy graphics in the manual folder list that a unit will try to resupply units if it follows an HQ.

So, an AOG with transports attached to a Luftflotte but following a Panzergruppe will supply what units?


Some more questions:
Additionally is it a good idea to use transports to supply the PGs?
And is it correct that I can not form an additional AOG as Axis?

[loki100]

a) it'll do its best to target airbase(s) where that command is clustered. Realise this is a bit ambigious but crudely the more you have your command clustered the easier it is for the AI to make a choice, if you have say PG2 spread over 20 front line hexes then inevitably the AI is going to struggle to interpret your overall view as to where you want the transport planes to focus

b) its the 'follow' bit of the logic that matters (if I recall properly) in determining the choice. If it has no 'follow' status then it will focus on the airbases of its controlling command

c) in 1941, yes I'd tend to focus on the PG simply as they are the most advanced. But really as (a) pick a target HQ that more or less gets the freight drops where you want them

d) neither side can 'build' AOG, they are raised, removed and transferred according to historical schedules. In the main the Germans have to use all they have, the Soviets often have spares.

Worth remembering the AOG is really a concept for your convenience in terms of moving and assigning air units, there is no malus if the air unit is attached direct to a Flieger Korps or Luftflotte (or Soviet air army)

[DarkHorse2]

Oh dear, I am afraid the reality of the air-supply game may not be up to your expectations.

There are some fundamentals you probably need to be aware of first.

1. In order for air-supply to be possible, you have to have an air base (with depot) with a sizeable surplus of freight stored. I would say... at least 1000 freight.

2. Depending on how deep you are into the Soviet Union, they may be hard to find. Here is an example:

Turn 22.
GC, Germans vs Soviet AI
In all of Soviet Union, I have 132 Depots; however, only 16 have 1000+ freight. 8 of 16 are at ports on the Baltic or Black Sea.

3. Effective range of Luftwaffe air transports is currently nerfed due to:

* inaccurate game data; and/or
* game calculating range as if they were flying bomber missions.

---

Now that we are past the fundamentals. This is very tricky situation even for a human player to navigate, let alone the AI. In many cases, those few Depots are out-of-range for a possible air-supply mission. Other cases may require multiple drops to bring freight in through a series of "hops" to closer Air Bases. (something the AI does not even consider doing...)

Also, if the air transports are not strategically located at the correct Air Base, simply rebasing them to an Air Base with sufficient freight could have them, inadvertently consuming a large portion of the freight (that they intended to transport) on their arrival.

---

Given all of these "constraints", I do not know of a single player who uses or relies on the WiTE2 Air AI to conduct air supply missions.

This is not meant as a criticism, just a fact.

I do not play with Air AI enabled, so cannot speak with 100% certainty. But I imagine that if and when AI directed air supply does occur, it would be heavily dependent on having ample stocks of freight close to the front lines & a generous number of air transport AC close by - and - it would be a rather random occurrence.

[loki100]

..
I do not play with Air AI enabled, so cannot speak with 100% certainty. But I imagine that if and when AI directed air supply does occur, it would be heavily dependent on having ample stocks of freight close to the front lines & a generous number of air transport AC close by - and - it would be a rather random occurrence.

Hanny, that is a classic of the genre.

lets unpick, it is wrong that there needs to be freight at the starting location?
You don't use the AI-assist?

But we get the 'view' in any case.

Actually, the AI assist is probably too supply aware in its basing decisions (which is why it often lags where a player would take a chance), so yep, it leaves its transport assets where there is freight.

More generally, in the last thread where you punted this argument we asked you for saves that could be used to replicate what you were seeing (and what you reported was at variance to others). This would help sort out if there is a real issue or its a case of user-error.

Roger