Axis Strategic Bombing with Possum 6

[K.J.001]

I wonder if any of the old-timers have employed strategic bombing as Axis in WIR3.3/Possum 6?

Although the effects of strategic bombing have been reduced since the earlier versions, it is still quite tempting to bomb Moscow, Leningrad, and Stalingrad to reduce the Soviet Heavy Industry, which would in turn slow down the growth of the Soviet factories.

The main reason for the temptation to employ strategic bombing as Axis is that the bomb load of the He-111H has been doubled from 44 to 88. In addition, I have gained total air superiority, until the blizzards of course when the Soviet air groups return for the Winter Counteroffensive. Moreover, I am finally within striking range for escorted bombing raids on Moscow itself.

The downside is the limited German aircraft production. A single raid could easily cost 6 or more bombers because of Soviet flak. In my current game as of 3 Aug 41, other than a small number of Axis allied bombers, I am only producing 45 German level bombers, mostly He-111Hs, per week.

So, I would greatly appreciate your views regarding the utility or futility of Axis strategic bombing in Possum 6.

[Von Cone-on]

HI K.J.100
I'm certainly not an old timer but bombing the factories sounds like a good plan especially if you get lucky & damage the heavy industry it could pay off quite well in the long term. Also you should consider that not all bombers shot down are dead, some are damaged & will return to fight another day. Another point in favour of bombing is if you mix some of your less experienced fighter & bomber squadrons in with the raids they will gain valuable experience. Mind you your opponent may have moved his heavy industry? but not likely if your ground forces are some distance from Moscow etc.
Cheers Von Cone-on

[K.J.001]

Von Cone-on, thank you for sharing your assessment.

In my first game of WIR 3.3 with Possum 6, I have decided to err on the side of caution and not bomb the Soviet heavy industry or factories. Besides, in Possum 6, the Soviet Union has lots of them anyway. So, attempting to bomb them in several places outside the Urals could be an exercise in futility and probably counterproductive, especially with the very low level of Axis production. Moreover, I have already eliminated the Leningrad heavy industry (and factories) by capturing Leningrad on 14 September 1941. However, due to the relative concentration of the Soviet oil supply, I have decided to bomb the Caucasus oilfields, particularly Baku, once I have conquered Crimea to try to reduce the Soviet oil supply below the century mark, as it would affect the Soviet readiness to fight. I have figured that while the Soviet Union may have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of manpower and could always mass-produce tanks, they are quite useless without an adequate supply of oil.

Even during the real World War 2, the Allied forces found that bombing the few German oil centers much more rewarding than the German heavy industry or factories as they were concentrated in a few places, most notably in Ploesti. Bombing the German heavy industry and factories was, with the benefit of hindsight, a mistake. Not only did the Allied forces fail to reduce the German war production, it only stiffened the will of the average Germans to resist, as they feared that the Allies would attempt to reduce Germany to a large potato field!