Engineer required to build airbases guide

[topeverest]

Is there a best demonstrated practice to build an airbase in say 5-7 turns -

How many engineer units / squads do we need to attach - how can I forecast the build requirement and get the right number of engineers there to meet my timing requirement?

Thanks,

[M60A3TTS]

An airbase has three levels, so if you are just talking about the first level, they can be built in 2-3 turns. Another 3-4 turns can get you to the second level. The third level takes quite a while, so for the most part a second level airbase is what you're aiming for. How much supply is nearby is also an important factor because engineers themselves won't do it.

Each side has their own unique engineer assets. The Soviets generally have larger ones. I always scrap all the Soviet construction battalions so I can put them into larger regiments and brigades that have higher construction values.

You can assign them to an airfield for 1AP per unit but the AI will do it normally for you free of charge. So I just let the AI auto-assign them.

[Wiedrock]

I won't say you are wrong, I'd also like to know the exact math of it all to have some more planning security.

But playing Soviets I got built an lvl 1 Airfied T2→T3 in a "town" (dot with name on map) on a Clear Hex with an auto-assigned Construction Battalion.
After that T3→T4 another Airfield got built in a Clear Hex by a auto-assigned Construction Battalion but this time without a "town" in the Hex.
Both were poor road hexes and Clear weather and Clear Hexes (as mentioned before).

[M60A3TTS]

I won't say you are wrong, I'd also like to know the exact math of it all to have some more planning security.

But playing Soviets I got built an lvl 1 Airfied T2→T3 in a "town" (dot with name on map) on a Clear Hex with an auto-assigned Construction Battalion.
After that T3→T4 another Airfield got built in a Clear Hex by a auto-assigned Construction Battalion but this time without a "town" in the Hex.
Both were poor road hexes and Clear weather and Clear Hexes (as mentioned before).

I don't think we're talking right or wrong here as I was talking in generalities in terms of build times. I've seen airbases get to level 1 in a single turn, but that is the exception more than the rule. You also can use battalions if you want to, but obviously with bigger units you have the construction points to get the level 2 bases built faster, all other things being equal.

It would be nice if there was more certainty behind build times, but I suspect how many supplies get fed into base construction tends to be the decisive factor in build times.