Tutorial '44 - Ouch! Furball! and What about the airforce?

[Oberst_Klink]

My 5th attempt (if I recall correctly?!) to shed some light on yet another aspect of the game. How does it work, I mean... above? The air-warfare, if one can call it that way, in TOAW IV... Well, I tried to discharge my voluntarily assigned duties to the best of my abilities. It's September 1944 and both sides, Germans and Soviets alike, got a few air units (and some ground targets) available to demonstrate how, in essence, the air-combat system in TOAW IV works. The setting is 6hrs/turn and our familiar 2.5km/hex Tutorial 'XX map.

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

OK, what have we got there? One Staffel of a Gruppe each of a Jagdgeschwader, Kampfgeschwader. Schlachtkampfgeschwader , Nachtjagdgeschader and finally a Schlachtgeschwader.

A Staffel (plural Staffeln) usually had nine to 12 aircraft. As such it was slightly smaller, on average, than a British, Soviet or US squadron.

In plain English - a fighter, bomber, close air support, night fighter and close support squadron.

Yes, they are not designed in the proper historical terms; as a Staffel/Gruppe/Geschwader should look more like 1./I/JG 1, as in 1. Staffel, I Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 1. But that's not the point, but subject for another OOB and TO&E tutorial.

Now, what we're about to do with them and their specific roles/tasks?

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

A morning surprise for Uncle Joe's fly-boys...

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

Aw'rite... what'ya see ain't really what you might see. Cos' more stuff happened.

Extracts:

AIRCombat:
AIRCombat:Target of opportunity: Axis Bau.Abst.Rgt.101, OT Road.Kol.102.
Combat :Removing available equipment from combat inventory.
AIRCombat:Begin Soviet Union frictional air support (ground attack).
AIRCombat:Air Support: Soviet Union VVS, 3rd Gds FB.
AIRCombat:Begin frictional anti aircraft fire.
AIRCombat:Attempt Penetration: Soviet Union VVS, 3rd Gds FB.
AIRCombat:Committed to furball (escort): Soviet Union VVS, 1st Gds FB.
Combat :
Combat : Smite: Soviet Union VVS, 1st Gds FB, (other), attrition%= 2.
Combat : Weighted direct combat losses: 0%
Combat : Check morale: Soviet Union VVS, 1st Gds FB, ouch=0,ouch threshold=50.
Combat : Morale check passed (low casualties).
Combat : End smite...
Combat :
AIRCombat: Committed to furball: Soviet Union VVS, 3rd Gds FB.
Combat :
Combat : Smite: Soviet Union VVS, 3rd Gds FB, (other), attrition%= 2.
Combat : Axis weapons firing on Soviet Union Il-2.
Combat : Potentially effective hit on Soviet Union Il-2 by Axis weapon.
Combat : Il-2(1) destroyed.
Combat : Weighted direct combat losses: 3%
Combat : Check morale: Soviet Union VVS, 3rd Gds FB, ouch=34,ouch threshold=50.
Combat : Morale check failed (loss tolerance exceeded).
Combat : End smite...

Goodness me... For some reason the Reds knew some of our construction peeps where there and tried to interdict/strafe them!

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

Right... that went well, too. But the brand new 'Wunderwaffen', aka the jets (Me-262) must have suffered some malfunctions... they're reorganizing. I am sure the mechanics will fix it.

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

Bliath! That's what you get, when you distribute extra rations of vodka to the troops. But I already instructed people's commissar Anatoly Kuragin to find (and dispose?!) of those slacking air-control officers!

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

[Oberst_Klink]

Davay! 3a Rodina!

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

[Oberst_Klink]

All went OK, except this :O

Combat :Begin Soviet Union attack on location 30,7.
Combat :Removing available equipment from combat inventory.
News :[R2, Red, FC, FC]
News :Axis Bau.Abst.Rgt.101, NSch.Lager defends [FC].
Combat :Removing available equipment from combat inventory.
News :Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB bombards the target [FC, R2].
Combat :Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB equipment added to combat inventory.
AIRCombat:Attempt Penetration: Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB.
News :Soviet Union VVS, 2nd Gds FB escort supports [FC, R0].
AIRCombat:Committed to furball (escort): Soviet Union VVS, 2nd Gds FB.
Combat : Soviet Union VVS, 2nd Gds FB escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
AIRCombat: Committed to furball: Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB.
Combat : Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
AIRCombat:End penetration attempt.
Combat : Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
ARTCombat:1206 kg/min weight of long range fire suppress entrenchment level in location 30,7 by 21%.
Combat : Defending unit under fire: NSch.Lager (attrit: 1)
Combat : Axis Bau.Abst.Rgt.101, NSch.Lager escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
Combat : Defending unit under fire: NSch.Lager (attrit: 0)
Combat : Axis Bau.Abst.Rgt.101, NSch.Lager escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
Combat :Removing available equipment from combat inventory.
News :Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB bombards the target [FC, R2].
Combat :Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB equipment added to combat inventory.
AIRCombat:Attempt Penetration: Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB.
News :Axis Luftwaffe, II/JG 1 intercept supports [FC].
AIRCombat:Committed to furball (escort): Soviet Union VVS, 2nd Gds FB.
Combat :
Combat : Smite: Soviet Union VVS, 2nd Gds FB, (other), attrition%= 0.
Combat : Weighted direct combat losses: 0%
Combat : Check morale: Soviet Union VVS, 2nd Gds FB, ouch=0,ouch threshold=50.
Combat : Morale check passed (low casualties).
Combat : End smite...
Combat :
AIRCombat: Committed to furball: Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB.
Combat :
Combat : Smite: Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB, (other), attrition%= 0.
Combat : Axis weapons firing on Soviet Union U-2VS.
Combat : Potentially effective hit on Soviet Union U-2VS by Axis weapon.
Combat : U-2VS(1) destroyed.
Combat : Axis weapons firing on Soviet Union U-2VS.
Combat : Potentially effective hit on Soviet Union U-2VS by Axis weapon.
Combat : U-2VS(1) damaged, sent to replacement pool.
Combat : Weighted direct combat losses: 21%
Combat : Check morale: Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB, ouch=189,ouch threshold=50.
Combat : Morale check failed (loss tolerance exceeded).
Combat : End smite...
Combat :
AIRCombat:Committed to furball (intercept): Axis Luftwaffe, II/JG 1.
Combat :
Combat : Smite: Axis Luftwaffe, II/JG 1, (other), attrition%= 2.
Combat : Weighted direct combat losses: 0%
Combat : Check morale: Axis Luftwaffe, II/JG 1, ouch=0,ouch threshold=50.
Combat : Morale check passed (low casualties).
Combat : End smite...
Combat :
AIRCombat:End penetration attempt.
Combat : Soviet Union VVS, 5th Gds LLB escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
ARTCombat:0 kg/min weight of long range fire suppress entrenchment level in location 30,7 by 0%.
Combat : Defending unit under fire: NSch.Lager (attrit: 0)
Combat : Axis Bau.Abst.Rgt.101, NSch.Lager escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
Combat : Defending unit under fire: NSch.Lager (attrit: 0)
Combat : Axis Bau.Abst.Rgt.101, NSch.Lager escapes attrition (insufficient attack).
News :Rounds(Start/Length/Total) : 3/2/4, Attackers broke off
News : Soviet Union approximate equipment and personnel losses - 4%
News : Axis approximate equipment and personnel losses - 0%
Combat :End Soviet Union attack on location 30,7.

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

[Oberst_Klink]

The files... I need to retire, peeps. But will continue, ofc.

Feedback so far - appreciated! It's an order, thee know?!

Klink, Oberst & Klinkovski, Polkovnik

[John B.]

Very interesting and entertaining. Thanks for posting this! I have an simple question, how did you plan the air attack on the bridge? Was it a pop up option with the cursor on the bridge hex or an option with each air unit that allows you to select the bridge you wish to attack?

[Rosseau]

Same questions as John, above...

Against the AI, I am lazy and always chose interdict/CS/Air Sup as needed, but never specific targets. What kind of job does the AI do on its own?

And thanks for this - and will really need help with the new naval aspects in a future tutorial.

[Oberst_Klink]

Any air unit capable to bomb can attack bridges. Select the air unit, let the mouse cursor hover over a bridge and cross hairs should show up, right-click and there we go. he same goes for airfield and port attacks. I will post a screenshot after my morning hike soon. - Edit: attached. Note (thanks Bob!): 'The estimate assumes the planes will actually reach the target.' So, in this case it's estimated, that 7% of the planes reach the target, it's not the chance of destroying the bridge.

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

The end of T1.

Klink, Oberst & Klinkovski, Polkovnik

[Oberst_Klink]

There's always something...

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

[Oberst_Klink]

OK, let's have a look at HQs and their importance for air units, too.

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

[John B.]

Thanks for the specific answer and, again, for the tutorial as a whole!

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: John B.

Thanks for the specific answer and, again, for the tutorial as a whole!

Thanks John!

Words of encouragement boost my desire, moral and well... to plan yet another Tutorial

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

Time for some R&R.

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

In der Nacht... we can fly even under crappy weather conditions!

Klink, Oberst

[Oberst_Klink]

When grey cats roar...

Klink, Oberst