Carpet bombing

[jboldt007]

Right - to much of an impact - it seems best not to use it (or perhaps create a house rule amongst players as to limited use). Historically places like Truk were attacked by carrier aircraft executing what in the context of the game would be ground strikes. Disorganzing air units can effectively neutralize them if the US has put the island out of supply. level bombing of such bases was rarely effective.

[Courtenay]

Here are the rules I would use for carpet bombing:

1) The rule is unchanged for A-bombs;
2) Carpet bombing may only be done into a hex in the ZOC of a cooperating land unit;
3) Invasions and paradrops may not be made into a hex carpet bombed that impulse;
4) Air units are not affected;
5) Ground units are not destroyed. Instead, they are disorganized, and, in the ensuing combat step only, may not receive supply. HQ units may still pass supply on to other units. Thus, in the combat step(not movement step) white print corps have a defense of three, and all other units a defense of one. If you don't kill them that step, though, they can again receive supply. To repeat, other units may still trace supply to a carpet bombed HQ; it just can't use supply for its own combat purposes.

Carpet bombing was always done as the prelude to immediate ground attack. It was the ground attack that actually destroyed the carpet bombed units. If the carpet bombing did its work (Cobra), the defenders would be stunned, but would recover if not attacked.

[brian brian]

Isn't that called ... Ground Strike?

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

Isn't that called ... Ground Strike?

The key additional effect is to put the defending units our of supply for an impulse. If the phasing side can attack and destroy them, great. If not, the units will recover.

[jboldt007]

I’ve experimented with a carpet bombing house rule where one can only carpet bomb if the target hex contains at least one unit which is disorganized AND out of supply. This kind of represents a case where units are surrounded (in a “pocket”) and in disarray. This would be somewhat more historically accurate and limit cases where it could be employed, but still allow its employment which in some cases would be warranted perhaps. For “island”
Fortresses this could also allow for the destruction of air units which otherwise would not be possible- although one can argue that high level bombing of airbases, even ones which were semi abandoned like Truk or Rabaul were generally ineffective.
Limited

[Courtenay]

Here is my house rule for carpet bombing (which can't be implemented in WiF0:

1) Units can be carpet bombed only if in ZOC of a cooperating major power;
2) Air units are not affected;
3) The effect of carpet bombing is to disorganize the unit and to make it incapable of using supply for the rest of the impulse. HQs may still transmit supply to other units;
4) A hex that has been carpet bombed may not be overrun that impulse;
5) A hex that has been carpet bombed may not be invaded or paradropped on;
6) A-bombs use the original rule.

The effect, then, or a successful carpet bombing is to not eliminate enemy units, which did not happen, but to temporarily greatly reduce their combat effectiveness, allowing a ground attack to eliminate the unit. The ZOC restriction and prohibition on overrunning reflect the fact that carpet bombing only took place on static fronts, not mobile ones.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Viktor_Kormel

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

Many, many suggestions like these were discussed for RAW8. Ultimately, the decision was made to delete the rule.

I never played it and I´ll never play it. [;)] I´m glad that RAW 8 kick out this stupid rule.

warspite1

+1

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

Many, many suggestions like these were discussed for RAW8. Ultimately, the decision was made to delete the rule.

Good call. I always try to avoid it in the games I am in but have failed on several occasions. Each time that happened has made me dislike the rule even more.