Hi Guys.
I've done some research on barrage balloons and learnt that the British started to use them during the latter part of WWI to provide a response to the German Gotha bombers attacking London and and were used extensively during WWII.
They were found to produce 3 major benefits:
1. They forced aircraft to higher altitudes, thus reducing supprise and bombing accuracy
2. They enhanced ground based air defenses since attacking aircraft were limited it altitudes and direction.
3. They provided a definite mental and material hazard to pilots.
Mindful of these capabilities the British saw the barrage balloon as a partial means to counter low level bombers during both of the the wars to help protect London, ports, factories, shipping lanes and estuary's.
Over 2300 of them were operational by the end of 1940 and over 2000 were maintained till the end of the war.
They measured approx 19m long 8m wide and were winched up to 1500m.
In game, I would propose deploying them at ports, V bases and towns. They can't be used at airfields or flown by CV's for obvious reasons.
They would add hindrance to jabbo strikes and NOE hordes of base takers. Nothing that couldn't be overcome, just simply shoot them down(but mind the ack!). Once shot down, the normal demolition of buildings and troop runs apply.
I think you could get them to regenerate in the same way/time it takes for buildings.
Just and idea for something else to shoot at. Squads could get the noobs on a balloon pop sortie. Even the GV'ers could take out the cable winches.
Don't know if the thread has come up before.
Happy new year to all
<S>
KlunK
