Matrix Games Forums

Hi!
This is my first time with this game and first time with any Gary Grigsby's game. I have stuck with introduction scenario - Operation Husky because I am really stubborn and I insisted to play Air war manually. Everytime I let the AI handle the air missions everything is fine. Usually Axis losses are bigger than mine. But every time i do it on my own my losses are 2 or 3 times bigger. It is always Tactical Air Force and it's ground attack missions that causes problem. This is what I did last time: Most loses are planes of Tactical Air Force while performing ground attacks. I don't understand what I am doing wrong, because the firs directive is quite similar to what AI did. It is an mostly interdiction missions in a center. almost the same hex and radius(not exactly but similar). I used default mission settings. I also noticed that AI wanted to send my strategic bombers without escort to bomb whole Sicily. I don't like is it good strategy? I changed it to bombard only part of an island in range of my escorts. Anyway, actually everything would be fine except this Tactical Air Force getting huge losses every time i execute the missions.
Any ideas and advices for beginner?

I suggest reading some of these.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8&t=289017

Also the players hand book might be helpful.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 5&t=404851

Yes, yes i have read Players Handbook, and I am in the middle of reading this tutorials, there is lot of them. But players handbook didn't answer why I am losing air war every time. In fact there are no problems with other air forces. It is Tactical Air Force and it's ground attack missions that cause big losses. Most of the losses are air combat. I still can't figure out why my escorts loose with German fighters and why it is only Tactical Air Force that has this problem every time

Don't want to start new topic for this, so I will ask here. How can I enable this window under the hex pop-up that shows enemy division units types in this hex? for me it shows only on a friendly units. I don't have this window with such information on enemy divisions

EddieTheTrooper wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2024 7:50 pm How can I enable this window under the hex pop-up that shows enemy division units types in this hex? I don't have this window with such information on enemy divisions

The only times I've ever seen the silhouette icons for enemy units display is when I had the fog of war option turned off while learning how to play the game. With FOW on, they only display for the side you are playing.

Isn't this dependent on recon levels? If you have no recon then no intel on assets - good intel gives you the pop up on enemy units?

"Det" after the unit name in the window above is the detection level - 10 is the highest and should give you this pop up intel

EddieTheTrooper wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 6:14 am Yes, yes i have read Players Handbook, and I am in the middle of reading this tutorials, there is lot of them. But players handbook didn't answer why I am losing air war every time. In fact there are no problems with other air forces. It is Tactical Air Force and it's ground attack missions that cause big losses. Most of the losses are air combat. I still can't figure out why my escorts loose with German fighters and why it is only Tactical Air Force that has this problem every time

Are you able to post some screen shots? Some thoughts:
1) Messina and the hexes next to it are massive flak traps. Avoid as you will get heavy casualties in this area.
2) Your planes might not be flying appropriate load outs. For example, some fighters might be carrying drop tanks even though they don't need them. On the combat results screen try clicking on view load outs and have a look at the config your planes are flying into battle with.

I tried this on units with 10 points of detection

I don't have screenshots. I started different scenario.
But you can be right about Flaks, although most of the loses was in air combat, so probably bad loud out is the reason.

Using the AI to draft Air directives is good for a 1st draft, but you usually have to fine tune them. Some things to keep in mind.

1. 1st turn, the enemy AI tends to put up a lot of fighters which can lead to excessive losses;

2. On GA, check the “intensity” setting , with “medium” or “high”, Allied Air will fly a lot of missions which will lead to higher losses;

3. Avoid sending bombers on attack missions without fighter escort. No need to cover all of Sicily and southern Italy. Concentrate on southern Sicily, especially the area around the invasion beaches;

4. Check the attack height. Attacking at 25 or 20,000 feet is less accurate than at 10-15,000, but can lead to less losses;

5. Sicily 1943 is not France 1944. You do not have an overwhelming superiority in quantity and quality. Don’t assume you can steamroll the Luftwaffe.

Let's stay with beginner asking for help, having bought this during the big sales.

1)
There has to be a simple method of locating a unit somewhere on the map.

When clicked on a line unit, I can click the HQ listed above the NATO icon, and the map centers on the unit. I can do this all the way to the top -- AFHQ.

But I want to go the other way. Drill down to Algiers Sahrien FF Infantry Battalion and see the hex it is located.

2)
I like playing with Fog or War set to the highest. During the enemy's air phase the map starts displaying all those hidden enemy ground units.

3)
I seem to lose 300-ish trucks a turn as the allied player vs the computer, regardless of scenario.

It is not all bad, I learned how to make depots today! Now the British 8th army can advance on Tunisia.

Thanks to the devs, I have been enjoying this.

TechSgt wrote: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:55 pm I seem to lose 300-ish trucks a turn as the allied player vs the computer, regardless of scenario.

I eventually lost 12,700 trucks in the Torch to Tunisia scenario. Trucks seem to die faster than flies in these GG games.