GA and AS

[tyronec]

This is a summary of how I understand GA is working in the game.

Per sortie GA is less effective than GS. With GA any disruption does not carry over to the ground combat phase while with GS it does. However with GA it is possible to concentrate several thousands of sorties against a single target and get a lot of kills.
The only real counter to GA is AS. AA is moderately effective. auto-intercept is fairly anemic on it's own although it will join in AS intercepts.
Without AS cover the Soviets can easily inflict 5k+ losses a turn on Axis lead units.
Axis can counter GA by maintaining AS cover across their front line. However in '41 and '42 this puts some restrictions on their advance. In general they will need to keep within the 8 hex range of their most advanced airbase from last turn, and if they want to move across a space where airfields are too spread out then they will need to build new airbases in the gap. They also need to keep their advanced airbases supplied.
During the winter AS is less effective. As I recall GA is less effective during blizzard however that leaves a gap between mud and blizzard when GA is working well and AS is not.

Clearly this is all unhistorical, the VVS were not able to coordinate thousands of sorties against a single hex area AND the Luftwaffe were able to keep their fighters active on bases just behind the front line.
I think to make AS workable a couple of things should be addressed, the winter interception rate and somehow to be able to build airbases, get supply to them and move AS forwards without the minimum one turn delay as it is now. However I don't think that is going to happen and it would really only be a counter to a use of GA that shouldn't be happening in the first place.

Clearly there are some players who think it is all fine as it is, I would say that they have not played against someone who is using GA to it's potential.
Personally I am intending to house rule against GA in any future games.

Anyway, here are a few tips for Soviet players who want to use GA.
Monitor how much AS Axis are running (Logistics report, air execution phase).
Can also monitor where Axis fighters are by doing recon, however that information will only be useful for next turn and they could have moved by then.
Look for which Axis airbases could be active for AS, so not ones that they captured last turn. AS range is 8 hexes, box shape, are there Axis ground units outside of AS cover ?
The best targets are unentrenched units in open terrain. If possible Panzers or elite units.
Check the AA levels; 'O'. Note that light AA fires up to 9k and heavy AA fires at 10k and above.
Concentrate your GA with maximum force, thousands of sorties on on hex. Can you avoid the AA by flying at a specific height ?
Do all of your bombing on one day. That way the AA will run out of ammo and cannot replenish. Over several days it will reload.
Do you need fighter cover ? If you are outside AS range it is not necessary. If you do need fighter cover then your own AS with good fighters at high altitude may help.
The U2's are useful. Also there is the potential for FBs to be used as bombers, check their load outs.
If you can kill 5k of a lead unit that will put it out of action for a couple of turns while it pulls back to REFIT and also adds a strain the Axis supply network.

If you can work out where the Axis fighters are based then bomb them. Some areas of the map Axis will have options but sometimes there is only one airbase available to them to provide AS cover to the front. Even with AS cover you can attain a kill ratio of something like 1:4 instead of the usual 1:10.

[DeletedUser1769703214]

Clearly there are some players who think it is all fine as it is, I would say that they have not played against someone who is using GA to it's potential.

You are 100% "wrong" in statement above. Maybe you should look at your post below before making a comment above.


In this link https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 9#p5139669 you complained about what happened on the kulik discord server. I quote, "Had a look at some of the early posts of our game, not a pleasant experience. I guess some people thing it is fine to disparage other players but I find it rather offensive, about me or anyone else".


Anyway glad you will be house ruling it out, congrats.