The New Normal (Air War - Battle for France)

[stjeand]

Insane losses on both sides...
Used to be more land...with the changes. Just crazy.

It is raining plane and pilot parts over France.

[sveint]

I can't see the image but you are showing a worst case here where I didn't manage my German air units too well.

However it continues to be a problem, the UK is too powerful and can produce too many fighters (or a huge BEF or anything else it desires).

Personally I'd take off 10 production from the UK and increase Soviet production by 10.

Germany has some options though:
-Manage air units better, never use ground support unless air superiority is established, turn off air units for the Allied turn, etc etc
-Accept Allied air superiority, because Allied bombers are rather weak, not ideal but doable
-Massive strategic bombing of France, this is my current favored strategy

[redrum68]

Agree. Shifting some production from UK to USSR would help. I also suggested weakening France itself a bit by say decreasing their ground morale from 40 to 35.

[stjeand]

Yes have to figure out if managing them better would be the fix.
I managed mine horribly...but it went well.

Sadly the UK and make 3 more fighters and the French 2 more...that is a LOT of fighters...so the Germans have to win on the ground. I guess will have to see if they can do just that. Ground only, minimal air support.

It is possible...just have to figure it out.

[redrum68]

I think its possible as long as the British don't send too many ground units to France. If they commit 7+ ground units to France as well that is when it will be pretty rough to break through without using much air.

[CHINCHIN]

In my mod this tactic does not work, at least in the tests I have done. Since you have these changes to prevent it.

UK starts with -20PP from the Pacific, until 5/1/1940 they have +30PP from the Pacific, once Japan enters the war, UK loses them again.
The UK air drive in Egypt starts with 10/20Str.
And the French experience of their air units decreases to 40%.

[stjeand]

Be very cautious weakening the defense of France...

To fast Germany will be through Yugoslavia and Greece before rains start and they should not.

A few other thoughts I had..

1) Change 2 French Divisions to a calavary corps. They had them at the star of the war and used them but don't.
2) Remove their ability to build armor though air is a better choice here even if losing they are shooting down German air.
3) As you "weaken" the UK add units to the queue...Sorry but Sealion is more possible after the last patch. You take away units and there is a good chance they are getting invaded. Adding say two corps to arrive in July / Aug might be the way to go if you weaken their PP to start.


But there are a lot of tactics to try in France.
Just have to try them.

Perhaps a German all in land blitz...and keep air on defense? Not sure until tested.

[redrum68]

Doesn't Yugoslavia already fall in 1940 in most games? Not sure Greece is even worth the time and effort to attack.

[stjeand]

If you get through France in time yes...if you get through France in July then it will fall 100%...August it gets a little tougher and September you have to fight in the rain...still will fall but be more costly.

Every change has a domino effect...

Just have to keep an eye open for those...

[redrum68]

True but ideally France would fall close to its historical date so Yugoslavia and Greece should have other factors not France holding til September.

[AlvaroSousa]

Ideally if you play the French historically. But we all have hindsight.