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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

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

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

Klink, Oberst

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

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

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

Davay! 3a Rodina!

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

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

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

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?

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.

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

The end of T1.

Klink, Oberst & Klinkovski, Polkovnik

There's always something...

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

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

Klinkovski, Polkovnik

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

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

Time for some R&R.

Klink, Oberst

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

Klink, Oberst

When grey cats roar...

Klink, Oberst