S3 Series

A few more questions:

1. Is Axis dar 30 miles and full strength?
2. Is Axis fleet still patrolling English Channel?
3. Can heavy bombers land at closer field (18 or 14) without incurring penalty?
4. What fields can be used for medium bombers by Allied?
5. What fields are available to Allied fighters?
6. Are Allied bombers (all types) with 2 AI's?
7. Are Allied bombers limited with numbers (X number of B17's, Y number of B24's, etc.)?

Plan being formulated. C47's are a worry, I'm not sure I'd like to leave it until the last 10 minutes in case it fails and it the field rebuilds! I'll also look at a GV delivered troop option although that's going to be a very lonely & potentially wasted mission... any volunteers?

Thanks Split. To answer the last point first, GV drive in M5 takes no longer and is probably a shorter time than heavy buffs from any field. I tested bomber times from F1 and GV from V31. The only problem is of course vulnerability but then so are C47's (except they might have top cover), and the fact that AAA "spots" the incoming GV from about D100! Their spotters are freaking amazing! So a GV approach should be cautious and hold off until the field is closed or at least all guns down and make a "dash" for it. The advantage is perhaps this might be an unexpected route, but then again, maybe not. It could slip in unnoticed especially if a diversion is operating. Cons: It only has 8 troops per vehicle so a mass drop is not really feasible. It's quite slow compared with aircraft. It's vulnerable.

It's a thought and an option which would take a dedicated person to volunteer for the job with perhaps less than a 50% chance of success. But this is war, is it not?

Regarding bombers, we can either attempt to close 2/32 as "phase 1" of the operation, then concentrate all resources to the secondary target(s) or divide the bombers (and fighter escorts) into 2 flights, one for the primary and one for the secondary. Both flights will be together until reasonably close to the main target when the second group can peel away south to hit F19 (proposed).

If the former idea is preferred, bombers could land at F2 once trooped, as this is a alrge field, it shouldn't incur any penalties, the secondary target can be hit with heavy or medium bombers & heavy fighters. This would certainly speed things up.

Baring in mind the capture of Paris (32): this I imagine will be a mixed attack of GV's and aircraft, the defense is probably more likely to be GV's than fighters/bombers. However, once 2 has been captured, there should be a maximum effort to close 32 asap, trooping it will be relatively simple and straightforward.

Two basic ideas, love them, leave them, I really don't mind, but I'll post some proposed routes later.

You seem to have a plan, why don't you CO?

I am having difficulty uploading an image file, I hope this works.

What are the rules regarding lives in GV's? I'm assuming this scenario will involve a land battle at some point. Will we have the chance to recce the arena before tonight?

Is there a way to contact the FG CO's and discuss some sort of tactic/plan before we start tonight? I have tried to recce the arena but I cannot use the cmeye tool. I have checked the fields and it seems bomber are not available at F1? It would be useful to know what is available and where as this does have an impact on the planning. If, for example, F1 is not used for heavy bombers, so we have to use the UK as a start base, this totally nullifies by suggested plans.

Information regarding this will be helpful.

I checked out the S3 arena this morning (0945hrs EDT). Not certain arena settings will be the same for tonight.
Flight not enabled.
Radar range is 37 miles

Allied fields are segregated as RAF or USAAC.

On the continent:
USAAC Fl1, Fm16, Fm18. No bombers enabled
RAF Fm14, Fm15. Mossie B.XVI enabled at both.
GVs enabled at all locations

In the UK:
USAAC Fm3 (lites, B24, B25), FL4 (lites and all buffs), Fm5 (lites, B24, B25), FL8 (lites, B24, B25), Fm9 (lites, B24, B25), Fm20 (lites)
RAF Fm 6 (lites), Fm7 (lites, Mossie, Lanc), FL10 (lites, Mossie Lanc), Fm21 (lites and Mossie B.XVI)
GVs available at all fields

Axis fields
All airfields have ALL aircraft types and GVs available
All other fields have GVs enabled with the exception of V37 (suspect an arena set up error).

I would expect a quick axis strike early in the frame to close one or both of our forward fields (Fm14, Fm18) as well as the posts and villages. If the numbers are similar to last week, if they use a big wing approach they will overwhelm local defences if we are split between CAP/sweep/strike and buff escort.

You might need to re-jig your plan. The absence of amplifying information from the janitors is not helping tactical planning.

Muzz, thanks for the input. I have no time to alter plans now, I made those based on earlier intel which is obviously 'fake news'. We'll just have to suck it and see, remain flexible, improvise, adapt and overcome... or not!

A pity, if a plan was needed, then more and better comms is required. This is as I said in a previous post, all lastminutedotcom.

Closing and capturing Paris is only required to get a "20% bonus" on scoring. Main focus should be on the scoring table posted on the S3 site:

Squad Select Series #119
ALLIED Point Value
Aircraft Confirmed Kills (LUTWAFFE)
He 111-H3 4.00
Fw 190D-9 4.00
Fw 190A-8 or F-8 3.50
Bf 190G-14 (K-4 or K-4/RIV 3.00
Bf 109 G-6 or G-6/RIV 2.50
Bf 110 G-2 2.00
Ju 88A-4 1.50
Ju 87D 1.00
Ju 52 1.00
AI (All typles NOT using Special Log-in) 1.00

Mission Results
Field Location Closed (during frame) 15.00
Close Port/Post/Town (during frame) 10.00
All Location Captures ( before close of frame) 5.00
Destroyed (Radar/Comm/Ops Center) 2.00
Destroyed (Fuel/Ammo/AAA) 0.50
Destroyed (Hanger/Housing/Base Structure) 0.25

Enemy Pilots KIA\POW
Experten,aces, experienced KIA 1.00
Green, rookies, trainees KIA 0.75
Experten,aces, experienced POW 0.50
Green, rookies, trainees POW 0.25

Given above, and assuming the arena set-up isn't changed, our main focus should be on closing ANY fields as quickly as possible and protecting our own fields from attack. Oh, and not losing aircraft! I'd worry about closing Paris later in the frame.
I think Axis will send out singletons or pairs NOE to close various posts across the map. 2-4 a/c could get them a lot of points as the Posts are easy to close. Worse, they could close them early in the frame, and then close them again later in the frame after they rebuild. There are not a similar number of soft targets for us to hit. The rest of the LW, and I mean ALL the rest, will likely opt for a quick strike from FL2, FL17 and Fm19 to close/CAP Fm18. FW190s would be hvy and 109s light as escort. They can do this and easily RTB and re-up to intercept any bombers that would still be in the climb to 12K. Their second sortie would likely be a similar pattern, but closing Fm14. With these two fields closed we are radar blind near the front. Heck, the LW could "lather, rinse, repeat" if they just let the fields reopen. Given the paltry points awarded for a field capture it would not be worth them sending troops!
Suggest RAF launch Fm14 to CAP 14, P42 and V31 or launch hvy from FL10 to CAP/overfly posts in Southern UK enroute to a strike on Fm11. Even if based at FM14, RAF is too far away to blunt a quick LW strike on Fm18.
Suggest USAAC launch hvy from Fm18 to hit Fm19. Likely a bloody battle if you encounter the LW strike enroute. Alternatively, abandon Fm18 and launch from FL4 and close Fm11 with the DRs.
NB: Fm18 and Fm19 are only 35 miles apart. Unless radar range is reduced, you will be on DAR climbing out of Fm18.
As USAAC buffs are not available at FL1, suggest DR lift from FL4. Alternatively, save the Big Birds for later in the frame and fly hvy fighters. Suggest DR attack from north and close Fm11 and V29 on first pass then egress to avoid Axis fighters. LW would not expect DR in strike aircraft.

Just some thoughts to get the COs thinking and provide a Plan B if the arena settings are different. Most COs monitor(ed) this board.

I will post a long rant about this later. I've expressed a willingness to get involved but not if this is the way things happen. If we are to have a ghost of a chance to devise a plan and offer some coordination, we need access to all areas of information and interest together with the overall objectives in each S3 scenario.

I worked for the military, I know how pedantic and stiff some planning is but the the 6 P's should resonate with some.

A bigger venting of spleen later. Thanks for the input Muzz.