Anti-Aircraft and Unit Size

[Dereck]

-- Anti-Aircraft

Are anti-aircraft units useful in a game against the AI?

-- Unit Size

I think I read once for WITE that for the Soviets bigger is better. Does that hold true with WITE2 in that if I have both mortar regiments and battalions I should move towards the regiment sized units and retire the battalion sized units?

Thanks

[FortTell]

Are anti-aircraft units useful in a game against the AI?

I think I read once for WITE that for the Soviets bigger is better. Does that hold true with WITE2 in that if I have both mortar regiments and battalions I should move towards the regiment sized units and retire the battalion sized units?

Re: AA
Yes, AA is useful against AI. The AI makes heavy use of the Ground Support mission, so it is good to have AA batallions in some of your attacking units. But protecting cities and airfields is less important, the AI does not attack them after T1 from what I remember?

Re: Mortars
Please look at the actual ToEs. Soviet 41 mortar battalion has the best ratio of mortars to support elements, 36/3. None of the 42 regiments have it as good, and only one of them (42b) even has 36 120mm mortars. 43 regiment is slighly better, 36/19. But overall, keep as many battalions as you can, use regiments where you cannot, and then be happy when you get mortar brigades in 43.

[Dereck]

Re: Mortars
Please look at the actual ToEs. Soviet 41 mortar battalion has the best ratio of mortars to support elements, 36/3. None of the 42 regiments have it as good, and only one of them (42b) even has 36 120mm mortars. 43 regiment is slighly better, 36/19. But overall, keep as many battalions as you can, use regiments where you cannot, and then be happy when you get mortar brigades in 43.

Okay I am both confused and intrigued. You mentioned "best ratio of mortars to support elements". Is that important and, if so, why?

Thanks

[FortTell]

Okay I am both confused and intrigued. You mentioned "best ratio of mortars to support elements". Is that important and, if so, why?
Thanks

Mortars kill enemies, support elements do not but still cost manpower. If given a choice between a unit with 36 mortars which needs 350 men at full strength, or a unit with the same 36 mortars but needing 670 men, I will choose the first because it is more manpower-efficient. Getting the same bang for a lot less buck, if I were to use an American proverb