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Re: Daunted by Long Campaign force selection

Quote:

Originally Posted by jivemi (Post 842656)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobhack (Post 826346)

In a German campaign - core AT units can convert to SP-AAA later on when Allied air gets significant.

Having the flak elements have gained experience means that when converted to arty (in a non German core) they then have quicker response times. And any German anti tank converts to flak tend to be noticeably more effective since they usually have a sizeable kill total (and hence the experience gain for that) by the time they do switch roles.

Cheers
Andy

So what's the best flak to buy and later convert to SP-AAA? In a current German LC I started with 2 3.7cm flak batteries and upgraded the 4 most experienced to Wirbelwinds with lower ranged 20mm after the first Western Front battle (June 44). Unfortunately a platoon of Panthers got left out in open fields shooting up Brit infantry for too long and 3 of them got whacked by 4 Typhoons with only 1 point of damage inflicted by 2 or 3 Wirbels in range. (In the first West Front battle--a German delay--the original stationary flak damaged 3 of 4 Typhoons during their first strike, with only one Panther lost).

While the tanks would probably have been lost regardless, would it have been better to upgrade to Moebelwagons with 3.7cm guns instead? Thanks.

Best flak would be a ZSU-23-4 with its radar and fire control, but that is post-war, unfortunately.

In WW2, flak is about numbers and being lucky really. In my current LC I have a platoon of ground 37mm and 2 sections of some armoured truck with 37mm, but I usually buy 3-4 support sections of SP-flak. The tin trucks sometimes will survive cannon or MG strafing, and aren't too expensive.

I tend to keep my core SP trucks in the middle zone, the ground mounts on any nice ridge to protect the arty park, and the support ones try to keep up with the armour, while staying out of line of sight of his AT weapons. Preferably within 10 hexes of the main pack.

In the later war things like moebelwagens come along with 4-5 fire control, rather than the 2 or so of earlier war - and would likely prove to be better shots. You still would want them close by though, not lounging in the back.

So - yes the moebelwagen would have been a useful upgrade to have taken, if the choice was there.

Re: Daunted by Long Campaign force selection

So I mostly play LC and per what others (and Andy in particular) have written about how to use/choose a core.

What do others think about Fixed Core Campaign games? Especially when the designer attempts to give you the historical kit?

Re: Daunted by Long Campaign force selection

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobhack (Post 826419)

Now - perhaps you may be getting confused with say the pre-baked British core, thinking that core had "2 batteries" when it does not. British field batteries were 2 platoons (troops) of 4 guns, for 8 guns total, whereas some continental armies only had 4 guns per battery. Some had 6 - which in the game will be 2 platoons of 3. Again, not 2 batteries, but one (1) battery made up of 2 elements.

The Brits actually used a 12 gun battery, 2 off in a regiment (Bn) in the 39-40 period, but went back to 3x8 gun batteries per regiment of 24 field guns. 12s were too cumbersome. But if your UK core starts in 39, feel free to buy 3 Troops - it is historical.

OK so in a British LC (40 battles starting April 1940) two 60-pounder troops were bought as part of the core, hoping to upgrade one or both to longer-range off-map artillery for CB. Couldn't find a "howitzer battery" in the menu. However it turned out "troops" are off-map to begin with. And when one troop was changed to "25-pounder gun" all that resulted was a single field piece!

Any way to get British on-map howitzers (or medium mortar batteries bigger than 3-inch) at the start, or available to change shortly after? Thanks.

Re: Daunted by Long Campaign force selection

Quote:

Originally Posted by jivemi (Post 844563)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobhack (Post 826419)

Buy them as part of the core - "Medium battery" is the formation you want for off map mediums, "heavy battery" for big stuff, "light battery" for field artillery.

For on-map then buy one of the on map formations, and select the bigger gun in the choices given. "howitzer tp" or the /t with tows, or the section or battery. These should have 25pdr, 4.5in and 6in howitzers to pick from.

4.2in mortars do not appear till 7/42.

If you want mortars with some range - use the captured Italian mortars available from 3/41 on.

There is a colonial portee section with a 3.7in mountain gun on the back of the truck in the misc page - a handy unit to shoot and scoot with. Just plan not to be there when the counter battery fire arrives!