Anti-aircraft

Wolfleader · Post by **Wolfleader** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 7:07 am

Fighting as the German army in the Western Front right now which means I'm encountering air strikes to no end. What's the best way of deploying my self propelled flak guns and 88's to protect my forces from airstrikes?

stevemk1a · Post by **stevemk1a** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 9:46 am

I find when playing as German, that most of my kills vs aircraft are due to the AA machine guns of SPW251 halftracks. When an aircraft flies across a mech company worth of HT's, one of those low odds shots will tag it fairly often, and that will quite often scare it off and it won't be back. Multi barrel small bore AAA seems to be effective also, like the 20mm flakvierling in all it's incarnations, and the SPW251/21 with it's triple heavy MG's. Forget about any heavy AA, it never seems to hit anything! I usually like to sprinkle some trucks near my high value targets because flyboys seem to favour them as targets

The only thing they like more is ammo trucks ... so protect them. Good luck with the Jabo's:eek:

Totenkopf · Post by **Totenkopf** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 10:52 am

Is it true that moving your vehicles into trees (or forests) lowers the chance of an aircraft taking them out?

Capt. Pixel · Post by **Capt. Pixel** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 11:39 am

Originally posted by Totenkopf
Is it true that moving your vehicles into trees (or forests) lowers the chance of an aircraft taking them out?

I've experienced that problem when targetting in very heavy forest. Nothing more frustrating than sighting a column of tanks in the forest on your approach and then blindly shooting at the empty hex you drew the airstrike in on.

But willy is right. Surround your vulnerable units with trucks and cheap vehicles (Kubelwagens are ideal for this - and cheap!) This seems to draw the flyboys away from your more valuable units. It's not a 100% solution, but it goes a long ways in preserving your units.

I also concur with willy about the large caliber AA. They just don't perform well in the close-in arena of SPW@W. HTs with multiple MG shots and MG-armed SPAA seem to be the most effective at hitting and driving off the jabos.

Toontje · Post by **Toontje** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 5:09 am

Larger bore FlAK has the advantage of enabling kills. MG's hitting can be insufficient to permanently drive the boogie away.

A lot of smallarm fireing seems to lower hit% when it strikes, after 10 20mm flakviering + infantry SMG's + some 3.7 cm AA I noticed a plane dropping bombs way off target, and not using it's cannon at all.

If I expect airpower on the enemy's side, I try to take a section large callibre AA's, and 1-2 platoons of small callibre. Better safe then sorry, you're royally screwed if suddenly a couple of buzzers MG you without anything usefull to protect yourself. Planes tend to be good bang for the buck.

Wolfleader · Post by **Wolfleader** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 9:11 pm

So far my flak 88's been doing fairly well since they're my most experienced units having fought with my forces since Poland 1939 and being heavily used in engaging both land and air targets until I recieved my PzIVF2's and Tiger tanks in the later part of 1942.

Ironically enough, the Jabos have become more of a hazard for my Wirbelwinds and flaks than on my panzer tanks since they seem to gun for them more than they do my tanks.

vahauser · Post by **vahauser** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 5:42 am

Elite 88s can do serious damage to enemy aircraft. But 88s with less than 100 experience are much less effective than small-caliber AAA. If you can't get elite 88s, then don't use them at all for AAA and use the quad 20mm and the triple 15mm instead.

Alexandra · Post by **Alexandra** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 8:28 am

Originally posted by Wolfleader
So far my flak 88's been doing fairly well since they're my most experienced units having fought with my forces since Poland 1939 and being heavily used in engaging both land and air targets until I recieved my PzIVF2's and Tiger tanks in the later part of 1942.

Ironically enough, the Jabos have become more of a hazard for my Wirbelwinds and flaks than on my panzer tanks since they seem to gun for them more than they do my tanks.

Yes, as well they should

That's called SEAD or Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. Look at it this way, if you are the pilot, what are you more interested in killing - the tank that is no threat to you, or the multi barreled flak gun that can kill you? The tank can wait for the next pass is what most pilots would think.

Alex

Anti-aircraft

Anti-aircraft

German AA