Question about AA units

[El_Condoro]

In a recent game, my opponent used AA units extremely effectively to block my advance in France, to take resources, make amphibious landings behind my lines, and later to become forward scouts for an advance into the Reich.

All good and enabled by the game but it didn't seem very historical to me.

I am wondering if there has been any discussion about limiting the number of AA units that can be built by a country (or even eliminating them as separate units) and compensating for that by allowing corps and armies to have better AA protection (Level 3 like HQs). That way the AA, which was attached to corps et al will be present and effective but can't be used for the (IMO) ahistorical purposes listed above.

[Platoonist]

The Germans did form the so-called "Flak Korps" but those were hybrid units, made up of regimental and brigade sized units performing a variety of AA, anti-tank and indirect-fire artillery roles and they were neither excellent at any of them nor cheap. I suspect they wouldn't have existed at all if it wasn't for the faulty relationship between the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht. Given their expense and specialization, it's hard to envisage them being deployed in scouting, amphibious or raiding roles as happens in the game. Those big "88s" in particular were pretty vulnerable when on the move and not quick to set up.

In some cases, such as in Normandy, these units achieved notable success against attacking Allied armor. However, given the expense of producing AA guns, in relation to the cost of antitank guns of the same capabilities it's questionable if their use as antitank weapons was cost-effective. They don't seem to have a parallel among other nations. Although the Soviets also organized large air defense units, they were typically not used against ground targets. If they're going to be in the game maybe only as a uniquely German unit, but that would likely be an unpopular decision. Plus, this is a game where having a variety of unit types to play with has always been prized over nuts-and-bolts realism.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

Gotta love it.
These guys will have so many AA-guns, it will look like thousands of Solar Panels fields from the Sky.
They'd toss their own Mother in front of the German Tanks to dish out 1 damage and take 5.
AA-guns do it all, except shoot down Yankee Bombers.
And that's just in Europe.
Hawaii is bound to have a couple, Wake Island, Midway, Guam, and that's just the start of the game.
Because those AA-guns will grow up, sprout finns, learn how to swim.
Then comes the fun part, those beautiful AA-gun Fish will suicide blonde, into all kinds of juicy targets.
Maybe Iwo Jima, nah, means nothing in this game.
How about Rocketman's Hometown, and it's lights out for an entire Continent & half for the Japs.
You'll be lighting candles for several turns.
Dont' worry about the AA-guns.
It's the 6-pack Marines by the jokers, that have killer supply, and bayonet bash Japs.
And yet there's more to your experience.
The Marines load up again, again, again.
Top Clone Players are all about the exploits.
It's like Chess, you've already loss in December 1939.
Pray for weather, you'll need it.

Want a rematch?

[Chernobyl]

Yeah I am a big fan of restricting Amphibs to SF HQ and Corps only
and even then it feels weird when HQ units get that free slap