Deploy paratroopers?

[bylandt11]

How can I deploy paratroopers in the air at the start of a scenario? Guadalcanal as the Japanese is one of the few scenario's where they can be useful. But I can't figure out how to have them start the game airborne. The Japanese have no airfields to launch them either.

[X-the Unknown]

The Japanese have Henderson Airfield on Guadacanal. What do you mean the Japaneses have no airfields?

[bylandt11]

The US have Henderson Airfield.

[Adherbal]

Currently you can only do that by deploying them around an airfield, then clicking the "take off" button. So that means if you have no airfields you can't deploy them in air transports at the start.

I realise that's a shortcoming though... I think the best way is to allow switching to air transport during deployment phase IF there is an airfield OR there is "off map" air support (indicated by green fuel numbers on aircraft).

@CHIEF DRUID: In the Japanese version the US has already taken Henderson Field, so the Japanese don't have any nearby.

[bylandt11]

Thank you for the reply. I think in this scenario there is off map air support, as the Japanese can deploy non-carrierbased aircarft at the start. So it would be nice to be able to start with paratroopers in the air as well. The more so since the scenario itself provides paratroopers in transports later on.

[jonnieb57]

I had been having the same problem. Adherbal basically has the right idea.

Place your airborne unit on an airfield, then click the "take off" button and they will be in the airplane and all of the eligible hexes for air deployment will be shown. That´s it!

[DiceWrangler]

Also note the extra (20RP) resource cost for "boarding the aircraft." This extra cost, however, appears to only be charged *once* per given battle so you can find another airfield and re-board without incurring the cost again.

[Kolc]

Can you deploy paratroopers on an airfield if it has a hangar?

[Haako]

Originally posted by Old Kanye:

Can you deploy paratroopers on an airfield if it has a hangar?

If I remember correctly, airfield must be empty. Paras move on the airfield hex, and then you will board the aircraft.

[Jaydent97]

How do you guys feel about the use of paratroopers? I feel its rewarding in blitzkrieg when you go for norway and than belgium. But for the rest i dont really see a good chance in the German campaigns (execpt Malta) or American campaigns. Maybe only a few times for Japan in the scenario road to manila and java.

Curious to you guys opinion!

[Kolc]

I have found if you are too aggressive with them, they'll get destroyed. Properly supported and deployed they can be effective which I think was the historical experience in WWII.

[Haako]

I like to use them, even thought they are expensive. Besides being para, they have a lot of useful traits. But you are right, they are limited used for them in any campaing. In each, there is 1-2 sceanrios where is meaningdful and usefull to deploy them behind enemy lines, but in rest mission they serve as elite infantry.

I would very like to see some campaing with more missions, where your strategy is more flexible and droping paras is one way to achive victory (or get serious advantage), not only storming with infantry + arty or massive number of tanks + air support.

I would love to see Market Garden campaing, even as DLC.

[Jaydent97]

Yea but i feel paratroopers should do ''special'' missions like capturing vital bridge, securing harbors, airfields or taking out command post from that sort. If you got to use proper support to keep them alive it kinda takes out the use of dropping them and moving them behind lines.

I hope the delevopers will do a allies campaign starting with d-day landings to the battle of the Bulge maybe even further, operation Varsity springs to mind. Gives you a good chance to use paratroopers on three or four scenarios.

[DiceWrangler]

Using paratroopers to aid in the capture of an airfield is handy because they can use the captured airfield to re-board (limited to one unit per turn) their aircraft and be dispatched for another mission -- without incurring the extra cost for "boarding."

I also use paratroopers to delay potential enemy reinforcements or cut supply lines by dropping them near chokepoints like bridges, isthmuses or narrow paths through difficult terrain. Note that they cannot hold-out for long without supply so act quickly. A group of 3 or 4, however, can quickly take a lightly-defended resource point and, depending on how many RPs the hexes supply, become self-sufficient deep into enemy territory -- until the enemy reacts in-force.