UK Air Flexibility

hansfranz · UK Air Flexibility

Hey all, first post, so go easy on me! I've been taking a look at what i've collected so far and see a LOT of potential in the UK air units for a flexible air build. I gave it a try and i think it worked out pretty well. I leaned heavily towards air but tried to keep a surface presence as close as possible to that of my opponent. For this 250pt surface deathmatch battle I went with:

HMS Rodney - 58
HMS Warspite - 46

HMS Jamaica - 15
HMS Ajax - 13

HMS Javelin x 3 - 27

HMS Illustrious - 20
-Swordfish mk. II - 10
-Barracuda mk. II - 12
HMS Fencer - 14
-Sea Hurricane - 5

Swordfish mk. II - 10
Beaufighter x 2 - 18
Sea Hurricane - 5

Total of 253 Pts (we always play +-5)

Overall, i think it held up. My opponent brought a balanced Italian/German fleet. From the start i appeared to have a huge advantage taking out a potential smoke screen and tossing a hit towards one of two littoros, taking away his extended range. The initiative bonus from the battleships and flotilla leader helped too. My luck soured quickly as Rodney was vitaled early, leaving his superior surface fleet to pick apart what was left of my escorts. Warspite put up an excellent fight holding off for a while, but it wasn't quite enough, and he was sunk by Graf Spee after vitaling the opponents last battleship. My carriers had to buy time for the last few turns, but it was a futile effort by then. A final vital roll by Graf Spee to Illustrious and a torp hit on fencer sealed my defeat.

Overall, my goal in the air was flexibility. By alternating the use of my Beaufighters i had hoped to be able to take out the smoking destroyers early with strafing, provide some kind of extra antiair support if needed and throw whatever torps i could at their battleships and swamp the antiair. I wish i had had more barracudas instead of swordfish, but i had to use what i had. the barracuda got in a bomb attack, and a few asw hits as well, but because my opponent was able to abort the swordfish so easily even with destroyers, it came under very heavy fire. It would have been nice to field more due to their ability to bomb as well, which would handy taking out the cruisers remaining after the battleships were gone.

Any thoughts/suggestions for how to improve greatly appreciated!

swarbs

Not a bad build, certainly. When I go British air, I like to take lots of aircraft since they are more vulnerable than their US counterparts. I like that you included Rodney, its always nice to have a big BB to soak up hits. If you have the pieces for it, you could try to drop the Warspite and take another carrier and more aircraft instead. Switching Rodney over to King George would also save a few points you could throw towards aircraft, you'd still have a ship that could take hits, but you'd rely more heavily on aircraft than battleship guns to do most of your damage.

hansfranz

rodney to king george would save me 7 points, which could be used to upgrade my swordfish to barracudas, and drop my overall pts, maybe giving me a chance at setting up first. Then maybe warspite for ark royal and two more barracudas, then base my extra land fighter off of it. I think that could work out great! the extra expert torps and fighter would be nice. That king george would really have to hold up, but with that much air i spose the first couple of turns i could easily swamp two battleships. I guess ive got to locate a few more barracudas! Thanks for the suggestion!

Bartacus

Firstly

Always nice to see another RN player!

I like your build, constricted as it is by what you have. I think that RN air builds are one of the most challenging to create successfully.

I don't usually play 250 pts, here's a quick go, at what I could put together going for as much air as I think while still being playable.

KGV
Jamaica
Arunta x 4

Ark Royal
Illustrious
Fencer

Barracuda x 5
Sea Hurris x 3 (could upgrade all 3 to Wildcats if allowed with your bonus points)
Beaufighters x 2
Halifax

249 pts

To be honest though I would be far happier with a more balanced build including a 2nd BB and some Truculents, especially as my usual opponent is KGM and their AA is awesome.

Cheers