Eagle day bombing the reich

[Butcher]

So during my down time (what I have such little of these days) I started a new game in Eagle Day - Bombing the Reich. Its a turn based game where you control all the squadrons in Europe (england to Italy). Basically you have a variety of campaigns to choose from, it starts with Eagle Day (Bombing of England) which you can play either the British or the Luftwaffe, it has a 1941 (WHAT IF) scenario in which the Luftwaffe delayed hitting Britain until their fighters could get drop tanks. Second part is Bombing the Reich (one I am on is the big 700 turn campaign) which I control the allies. You fly everything available from Recon, Bombers, Night time Bombers, Fighters, attack aircraft etc.
As you can see from the photo below, there are a TON of targets, right now I am focusing on anything I can get my hands on - Ball barring plants and Aircraft factories have been my major target starting off (as the Luftwaffe has poor night attack planes in 1943, my losses have been ok since I am hitting my targets).
I am also on a hunt for the Luftwaffe, which so far have Fled the low countries and keep their fighters bases around Essen where I have to fly over enemy territory for a distance and my fighters don't have the range yet.
If anyone wants the product info it can be found here: http://www.matrixgames.com/products/320/details/Gary.Grigsby%27s.Eagle.Day.to.Bombing.the.Reich
Its a very OLD game and has not been updated for some time, but I just fell in love with the game again, when not in Aces I have to be in BTR.

So here is where I am in the game, its October 6th 1943, the 8th Airforce is tasked with hitting the UBoat pens, unfortunately those things are a pain in the bellybutton as they are defended heavily by 88s and 128s. My last trip cost me 12 B-24's which is a high price but acceptable since I have to knock those targets out.


This is a photo of the european map, as you can see I am preparing for D-day early, mainly its to keep the Luftwaffe out of Western France, I am right now clearing a hole in the Radar to attack Essen, its about the Length of my P-47 escorts, the fighters can't even actually get that far and already have to turn back.
All Red targets mean those been hit and destroyed, they can rebuild over time (using the railroad) however I have only spent one month in game.


Here are my losses,  not good on my part, many times escorts failed and turned back shredding my B-17s early on, however I made the 109s take their licks as I have had Typhoons strafing airfields along with P-47s when I can.


Here is my best fighter squadron right now as its to early for P-51B's, the 20th FG are flying P38Js and have 4 of my top aces (6 kills each). Most of my P38s and P47s are my top killers, problem with spitfires is they have such a limited range that the Luftwaffe doesn't bother with them.

[titanic3]

I have the original disc and I'd love to play it more but..whoopee, it takes nearly an hour for a turn to finish and play through. And there's 500 turns (depending on what campaign you choose)! Plus I can't get the original to run higher than 800x600 resolution which sucks.

[Curval]

The best Grigsby game I played was Uncommon Valour.

Swoop and I had some epic battles on that game.

This looks good too.

[Butcher]

The best Grigsby game I played was Uncommon Valour.

Swoop and I had some epic battles on that game.

This looks good too.

Uncommon Valor was a piece of the fun, War in the Pacific is the sucessor of that game, Check out War in the Pacific Admirals edition, it takes UV to the next level by 10 times.
I've been playing two WITP PBEM games for over a year now, were only just now getting into 1944.

[Curval]

Uncommon Valor was a piece of the fun, War in the Pacific is the sucessor of that game, Check out War in the Pacific Admirals edition, it takes UV to the next level by 10 times.
I've been playing two WITP PBEM games for over a year now, were only just now getting into 1944.

I bought WITP and could not deal with how huge the theatre was.  UV was big but manageable.

[Butcher]

I bought WITP and could not deal with how huge the theatre was.  UV was big but manageable.

Once you really get that first turn down and the major operations, I spend usually no more then 15-30 minutes per turn.

[Curval]

Once you really get that first turn down and the major operations, I spend usually no more then 15-30 minutes per turn.

lol

I couldn't get the first turn down...ever.  I tried numerous times.

How long does it generally take you?  A month?

[GScholz]

Looks like a great old school strategy game. However, your comment on the German night fighters not being good in 1943 turns me off. With the 110G-4 entering service in January, 1943 was arguably the Luftwaffe's best year of the war on the western front. The RAF lost more than 5,000 night-bombers that year, mostly to German night fighters.

[Butcher]

Looks like a great old school strategy game. However, your comment on the German night fighters not being good in 1943 turns me off. With the 110G-4 entering service in January, 1943 was arguably the Luftwaffe's best year of the war on the western front. The RAF lost more than 5,000 night-bombers that year, mostly to German night fighters.

Using Radio Counter Measures and keeping Radar's dead is the key, night fighters use radio detection as well as radar to help guide them, If you look at the small hole I made from England to Essen, The german's would only be able to "Hear" not see the bombers, luck plays a part and in a moonless night I can walk away with maybe 5 bombers lost at night. If a Radar goes up and my RCM planes are to early or late, then I will lose a good 30+ a night.

I am not pushing my bombers deep into germany and face loses, there is an arbitrion you have to deal with, squadron moral and losses can mount easily and sometimes it takes far to long to recover. I prefer to take the safer route and bomb my way into germany rather then force the issue.

My main goal is to drop the radar up to the German port Wilhelmshaven, thus serves two purposes - Allows me to attack Eessen by day, and Wilhelmshaven by night (coming over the water). Problem is Uboat pens are VERY high valued targets, If I don't keep them "Dead" then the 8th is required to bomb them, I hate losing my B-17s to those Heavy flak batteries for nothing (day light bombing that is). Britian is well better flying at night - they can rain a ton of bombs and if I lose a few I don't really care since Bomber command only flew at night.

With Radar up and no RCM, Bomber command is a joke at night time, lack of defensive armament plus the heavy guns of the German night fighters (we dont just have 110s, but Do-17s, Ju-88C's etc and now 109s are showing up) pretty much can slaughter a raid of 50+ bombers in a sortie.

[Butcher]

lol

I couldn't get the first turn down...ever.  I tried numerous times.

How long does it generally take you?  A month?

Nah a few hours maybe 6 or so depending on what goals I have in mind and what I want to plan. Basically as the allies you arn't doing much other then running Convoys, as Japanese it gets trickier, you have to plan for the Phillippines, Borneo, Malaysia right off the bat.

As the allies its easier because you basically can't do squat until you start building a carrier fleet, I turtled mine in Australia, kept them down in Sidney and new zealand where I knew land based bombers and fighters could help protect them, until 1943 I actually didn't bother to do much other then run ASW missions - and if my carriers were picked up, i'd shuttle them somewhere else.

If you have the game, I can send you a few first turns (WITP AE that is or WITP) - I had at one point roughly 5 games going on at once for both games, lately its just WITP AE and BTR