Matrix Games Forums

About a year ago I reintroduced myself to Matrix's iteration of a sim I have been using since 1986. Starting with USAAF on an apple II, thru Talonsoft's great rewrite. Now Matrix has taken another step forward. Thanks to a dedicated team this Sim is better than ever.
The realism extends to Strategy and Tactics needed to be sucessful. In future posts I plan to outline what has worked for me. I hope others will join me in this.
To the Matrix tem... Thank you!

Early Allied campaign
Don't just jump in. Plan, Recon, Plan! Then repeat. Figure out your strategy e.g. oil, fuel, ac production.
Perform recon that fits your strategy. Also airfields, often. Remember the AI can move units as often as you can, and it will.
Prepare your units. Move them to airfields where they are effective. Move short range fighters to the coasts. Personally I place 2 Typhoons and 2 Escorts(spitfires) at airfields along south coast of England.
Ok you have done moves and Recon...time to bomb! Wait. Remember initial Axis response will be heavy. Allies found this on the Schweinfurt raids. I suggest some heavily escorted short range raids using medium bombers. Wait about an hour launch short range raids w heavies and some fighter sweeps against airfields. Wait another hour and launch your longest range raid. Make sure it is heavily escorted. At least 1 Fg every 10 minutes to target and every 20-30 min on return trip.
You will take losses, lots, but you will create havoc among defenders.
Scale your raids to target, say 4BG to small targets, 6BG to medium targets and 8 to longer range, larger targets.. watch morale, rest units as necessary.
If you sustain this for a period of time you will see gradual degradation of quality of defenders. Good luck

Using Fighter Sweeps.
These are really useful for a number of reasons.
1) disrupt interceptors: note which airfields are launching interceptors and which types. Recon them. Then on next available bombing day, launch escorted sweeps about 1 hour after bomber launch. Losses taken by returning interceptors will severely degrade the quality and quantity of second wave of launches. Eventually axis AI will start sending aircraft to defend airfields. If they are defending, they aren't going after your bombers. At that point switch your sweep missions to fighter bomber missions(escorted). A word of caution. Use recon to determine flak defenses. Do NOT attack defended airfields at low altitude!
2) reduce axis quality. Go after airfields with dangerous axis aircraft types e.g. Me262, Do217. These aircraft are expensive for axis to produce. Destroying them on the ground will affect their numbers, especially when you can go after aircraft critical industries.
3) kill night fighters. These are difficult to destroy air to air. Get them on the ground!

Thanks for the information. Great tips. I'm just getting into this game and am looking for any tips and strategies I can get to help supplement the info from the manual. Keep'em coming!

Lots of good info if you grab the attachment in the last post of this thread

Get Sneaky. The AI seems to recognize patterns and adjust to them. If your sweeps are getting bounced, protect them! I put a Typhoon sqdn a 9k to attack an airfield, spit IXC 2k above that, then another 5k spit FIX. Oh yeah often the high Cap will get very good results. Also your escorts will bounce returning ac. Make the AI choose, protect airfields or intercept missions.

Late add player! Thanks for all the info and links! This game is unbelievably addicting.