Matrix Games Forums

Hello!
I was allways wondering: is there any way to simulate air-combat in this game? Since aircraft are listed together with artillery, I was thinking: if the enemy sends some aircraft to bomb me and I have an idle fighter on that turn, will the fighter "counter batery" (intercept ) the enemy planes, as it happens with regular artillery.
What can the more experienced gamers say about this?

That's a good idea. The fighter bombers should be able to make some kind of bombing runs to the enemy batteries. Only thing that is against this idea is that the off-board artillery probably has some air defense units nearby and this should be simulated too. Another chapter would be the interceptors attempting to check these bombers.

Air-to-air combat does NOT happen in the game, nor does bombing runs on off-board assets. Off-board counterbattery arty fire DOES happen, but it's a random choice by the game engine -- the human player has no control over it.

It has happened to me that the AI counter-batteries fired at my medium bombers units. The game thinks those are just another artillery pieces.

ORIGINAL: Puukkoo

It has happened to me that the AI counter-batteries fired at my medium bombers units. The game thinks those are just another artillery pieces.

Now THAT'S interesting! I never use medium bombers, just the on-board tactical fighters/dive bombers. Most players disregard using the mediums, and certain OOB variations eliminated them entirely. Maybe this idea needs to be reconsidered. You buy a couple of medium bombers, but DON'T use them on the battlefield at all. For amphib assaults, it may not be historically accurate, at least for the USMC, but for the Normandy landings, it is completely appropriate.

If it only had worked another way out, the bombers hit the artillery batteries and not the contrary.

ORIGINAL: Puukkoo

It has happened to me that the AI counter-batteries fired at my medium bombers units. The game thinks those are just another artillery pieces.

That makes me think: What are heavvy (90mm, 88mm) AA guns good for? Historically, they should be able to engage the medium bombers, but since they can't counter-battery, they seem to be only usefull against light atack planes. Is their added AT capacity enough to justfy having these lumbering big guns around instead of some lighter, mor mobile ones?

Hi SiG.

Speaking for the Italians, the 75mm L46 AA is the only gun available in the early war (available 1934-1946) that can stop Matilda tanks (pen value of 126) at range. It is worth buying in the early war years for this reason alone although it is tough to haul around and only has 15 AP rounds. I've never seen them fire against planes although I suppose they would if given the opportunity.

90mm and 88mm are dreadful tank destroyers. Sometimes they even engage planes.

The issue of medium bombers is still quite new in Steel Panthers. The earlier versions, SP 1-3, did not have them as such but had for example He-111, SB-2, Bristol Blenheim, B-25 Marauder as strike element airplanes.