@LHoffman:
@purplebaron:
Further, the airbase is far superior to a carrier on defense because it acts as a force multiplyer (you have to be strong enough to simultaneously win the approach naval battle and the land battle).
Can you explain this statement a bit for me?
Sure. Basically, in order for an attacker to amphibiously assault an island, they have to first win any battles in the sea zone, and then conduct their land battle. Since moving into the sea zone is a combat move, the island airbase scramble rule gives the defender the option to scramble some or all of their fighters into battle in the sea zone. The key is that the scrambling is optional, and that the attacker has to assign his units to the land or sea battle before the scrambling decision is made. Here’s an example:
An Italian attack force of BB, CA, 2xtransport each with 1 INF and 1 ART attack Malta. Additionally, the Italians have 2 fighters and a bomber to support. Malta has 2 infantry and 4 fighters defending. Without an airbase, this is an attack that should win with ease, but with an airbase, it becomes a chancy proposition.
Case 1: All of the aircraft are assigned to attack the island, then the defender scrambles all their aircraft to defend the sea zone, giving BB+CA vs 4Fighters. That’s a losing battle, so the attacker retreats after the first round, probably having lost the CA and a hit on the BB, possibly losing the BB as well, transports are safe for the moment (unless UK gets really lucky with four hits). The Italians most likely destroy one fighter. Meanwhile, on the land, two fighters and a bomber attack two infantry. They probably win in one at the cost of a figher. On UKs turn, they counter attack the sea zone with three fighters against a damaged BB with two loaded transports that couldn’t unload (due to the aborted amphibious assault). The UK fighters win, probably losing another fighter. End result, Italy loses BB, CA, 2x transport, 2 INF, 2 ART, and a fighter. UK loses 2 fighters and 2 infantry and holds the island for another turn. IPC losses are 70 to 26.
Case 2: All aircraft are assigned to attack the sea zone. UK chooses not to scramble, and defend the island. Italy is attacking with 2 inf, 2 art, and two offshores vs 2 inf and 4 fighters. One offshore hits and one inf or artillery hits (two if they’re lucky). The defender gets three hits, leaving a single art for round 2. Maybe it gets lucky and gets one more hit. Most likely outcome is the attackers lose 2 inf and 2 art to destroy 2 inf and maybe a fighter. That’s about even, but now there are three fighters that can attack your BB and CA and transports (and probably a bomber or two from UK), swinging the tide in UK’s favor.
Case 3: The aircraft get split: This is where it gets tricky, and Italy can probably choose a split where it just barely wins whichever way the brits choose (I think 2 fighters in the sea zone and the bomber on the land is just about right). Let’s try that. If the fighters stay on the land, it’s the same as Case 2 above plus a bomber on the attack. UK loses two more fighters in exchange for the bomber, still holding the island but taking about even losses. If the fighters scramble, it’s BB, CA and two fighters (3 3s and a 4 plus a soak) against 4 fighters (4 4s). Very close. Round 1, Italy expects 2 hits, UK expects 2.66 hits. If UK gets 3 hits, it’s a 3 and a 4 with no more soak against 2 4s, which is a slight advantage to the brits. If they only get two hits in the first round, then the extra attacking unit means that the Italians probably win. Assuming the Italians retreat if it goes badly in the first round, then the losses are CA+fighter or 2x fighter against 2xfighters, then they probably lose the Bomber in the first round in exchange for an infantry. If the Italians win the naval battle, they probably lose two fighters and the cruiser for four fighters, then win the land battle handily.
There are a lot of choices there and opportunities for the dice to send things one way or another, so it’s hard to peg who has the advantage. However, in the case of an attack, the Italians would have to choose Case 3, splitting their air force, giving the Brits (with an inferior force) the opportunity to choose between two different scenarios, each of which they expect to win while extracting roughly equal or slightly favorable unit value, and where even if they lose, they put up a good accounting for themselves. Without the airbase, they expect to lose while taking most likely three land units and a fighter (possibly 2) for roughly 2 to 1 unit value loss ratio.
In summary, the airbase is a force multiplier because it forces the attacker to act as though the fighters are both on the land and defending the sea zone.
EDIT: Added Summary
