Air Power / Air power modeled within POA2 ??

[meade95]

I have a few questions regarding air-power within POA-2.

1. How is Air power modeled within POA-2......I mean say when making a scenario....are the only aircraft "in" the scenario only those placed in the scenario to begin with? Meaning if I only place 5 F-14's and 2 Mig-23's....are these the only 7 planes within that scenario......for bombing (CAS)....as well as air-superiority??

2. How is air-superiority modeled? Is this done a ...(dogfight by dogfight basis).....or more broad? (which I assume)....

3. Can I order the exact air-craft I want to perform a CAS mission.....or does it just call in any aircraft....within those planes that are assigned to the scenario?

4. Any further info on the air power model of POA-2 would be great...


Thanks,

[tws71669]

GREATLY GREATLY SIMPLIFIED ANSWER...

1. Yes, they are the only ones.

2. At thes start of a scenario... quote: 3-10.5 Air Superiority

The air superiority level is used at the start of a new scenario as a measure of how effective friendly forces are at interdicting enemy air units en route to the battle area. The actual air engagements are abstracted, in that the computer makes a simple determination of losses and aborted aircraft, and applies those losses to enemy air units.

As a rough estimate, every 10 points of air superiority will cause the enemy to suffer 8% aircraft losses. Therefore, players should be careful when setting the level too high, since they may inadvertently wipe out all of the enemy’s air assets.

At the start of a scenario, the air superiority level for a force is set from the Player Information form (click the “Change/Edit Defaults” in the Nation section of the main set-up form).

3. If available at the time for a mission, yes.

4. Section 3.21 of the manual.

[HPS]

1. There are two facets to airpower - the individual aircraft that are part of the scenario, and the air superiority assets that are indirectly modeled. The two facets are completely separate.

Air superiority as defined in the simulation is strategic in nature, and is represented by a numeric level 0-100. It does not include, and you cannot assign to it individual aircraft units from those available as part of the scenario. The primarily affect of this level is to determine how many friendly aircraft included as part of the scenario actually make it to the battlefield.

In contrast, aircraft units created as part of the scenario operate at the tactical level, and can be used for on map missions such as CAS, recon, etc. They can also be use to shoot down enemy aircraft, which would be considered air superiority, but again - at a tactical rather than strategic level.

2. Air superiority results are assessed at the beginning of the scenario (only), and are determined by a straight calculation based on the level. There are no dogfights. Once your air units are on the map, they are no longer affected by strategic air superiority.

3. You can assign any available and capable aircraft unit you want to a CAS mission from the tactical air units you have available as part of the scenario. You can’t create new air units “on the fly” in the middle of the game.

4. Well, I’m not sure what else to say about them. Air missions are conducted according to the standard procedures in use by the US military for joint operations. All of the commo, combat, sighting, and other results (both against the ground target as well as the aircraft) use the standard routines. Targets that move out of the target area while the aircraft is en-route are often not engaged for safety reason, especially if they are not designated/painted by friendly forces.

Hope that helps, and if you have any other questions, just let me know.

See ya,
-Scott