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Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:11 pm
by ncc1701e
End of April 1940, General GAMELIN is looking at the map. The Germans have concentrated their forces near Belgium. However, he is pretty confident the French army is ready to repulse the attack.

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:15 pm
by ncc1701e
But the first days of combat turn out to be catastrophic. Netherlands surrenders. Belgium army is in a very bad shape.
All because of the constant air raids by the enemy.

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:17 pm
by ncc1701e
At the HQ of the French 2nd Army, General HUNTZIGER decides to activate full support mode for the fighter group there to intercept enemy bombers and protect his corps.

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:21 pm
by ncc1701e
The 4th Ftr Grp is a good unit, Interceptor 1939 perhaps, but Air Combat 5, experience 50% and effectiveness 101%. It has the same Air Combat level than the Royal Air Force squadron deployed in France.
It was kept in reserve until now.
RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:24 pm
by ncc1701e
However, on the German side, a ground attack group Tactical 8 is given the task to do an Airfield Strike on this target. It will be escorted by a fighter group Air Combat 8.

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:25 pm
by ncc1701e
A deadly combination. The first combat is devastating for the French.

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:26 pm
by ncc1701e
Rotating the units, a second ground attack group Tactical 7 is given the task to do a second Airfield Strike on the same target. It will be escorted by a fighter group Air Combat 6.

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:27 pm
by ncc1701e
Another disaster for the French.

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:30 pm
by ncc1701e
Checking each unit. This one: no loss, experience +1%, effectiveness -9%

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:31 pm
by ncc1701e
This one: 1 step lost, experience +1%, effectiveness -12%

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:34 pm
by ncc1701e
This one: 2 steps lost, experience +0%, effectiveness -10%

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:36 pm
by ncc1701e
This one: 1 step lost, experience +0%, effectiveness -8%

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:45 pm
by ncc1701e
The losses are very light for the Germans and they will continue to perform ground support with a French fighter out of fight.
Indeed, for the 4th Ftr Grp the losses are catastrophic for the remaining of the campaign. They will need time to recover from such a blow:
15 steps lost, experience +1%, effectiveness
-30%

RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 5:26 pm
by Harrybanana
Examining this it appears to me that your airfield attack did no damage at all as the Combat Logs all show "Defender Losses Airfield: 0". What caused the losses to the French Fighter was the air-to-air combat. You would have gotten exactly the same results if you had performed an air strike of an enemy land unit rather than the airfield. Of course, if the French Fighter had not been set to auto you would not have caused any casualties at all.
RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:22 pm
by ncc1701e
Yes you are right, Airfield Strike is completely useless if your opponent is not in full support. And even if in full support, he can counter this by another fighter in full support doing CAP.
What was your proposal already? I'll read it again.
RE: Airfield strikes need love
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 8:09 pm
by scout1
Airfield strike really shouldn't be impacted by the defenders mode (full support or not) ... there were huge losses of aircraft on the ground which was frankly the preferred method
The opposing air force was nearly always the attacking air forces primary agenda