target hardness in airfield strike

The ETO Rules are very much a work in progress. I have noted the change that was missed on page 109. Even if changed, the posted rules will not change. Final rules copy will not happen until closer to a publishing date. The text of the rules is correct. The sidebox will be updated.

I understand it's Variable Target.

but the presentation can be ambiugous.

The rules posted are not updated too often. We now have: Frank Chadwick’s ETO (v2: The Middle Sea) – Rules v0-5 and on Page 94.

[323.0] STRIKE MISSIONS Strike Missions are “up close and personal” low-level Air-to-Surface attacks against moving targets (i.e., Ground and Naval units) and enemy airfields.

 Bolts or Bombs?: Within their Range, Air units with Bolts can conduct any Strike Mission and those with Bombs can strike all but Naval units. Each Strike Mission Air unit performs its Air-to-Surface attack using either its Bolts or its Bombs (determined separately by the bombing player).

 Placement: Place Strike Mission Packets on the map at their target’s location.  Strike Procedure: Sum the number of striking Bolts (and/or Bombs) and multiply it by the target’s Hardness (i.e., x3 vs. Soft, x2 vs. Average, or x1 vs. Hard) to obtain the Damage Value (“DV” per 332.1); roll a die vs. that DV to produce one or more Hits on the target (see 332.2).

o No Strike Missions are permitted at Night (351.1.1) and during some inclement weather conditions (see “Prohibitions,” below).

• For AIR FIELD ATTACKS and others

o “Variable Hardness” targets are determined by the number of Flak markers the target Faction has in that Theater (312.2):

0 or less = Soft

1-2 = Medium

3 or more = Hard

Subtract one (-1) each from that count of Flak markers when:

 Targeting a specific nationality’s Key City hex or if the majority of that Faction’s Air units in that Theater’s Air Display belong to Hindered Air Forces (342.3); and/or

 Any Mission Air unit with a Red Bolt endures (237.2.4) in that Airfields Attack Strike Mission (323.3)

We changed an item in the rules today to clarify a situation that revealed itself today in the play test game. Little items and some things that have changed with testing are all that have been changed lately.

Airfield Hardness is Variable. From p. 96, Airfields are Soft without help from Flak. In TITE 2, the Axis start with one Flak, so they begin with Medium Airfields. The Soviet Air Force, being Hindered, must purchase two Flak to be Medium. An Enduring Bomber with a Red Bolt negates one level of Flak for its Bomber Group. Against Red Bolts, two Flak for the Axis and three for the Russians is needed to be Medium. Two additional Flak make Airfields Hard, if any can afford this.--but the Germans will get Flak help from cards in the west. Three Flak are 2+4+6=12 RP to buy (the Russians start with none), which is too much. This leaves the VVS quite vulnerable in the Summer of 1941--the real danger being that numerous Air would be Destroyed (after all are Suppressed and Damaged) in one turn. Banged up Air units (literally any Air in Available or Flown Boxes) can withdraw to their Air Reserve during Free Air Recovery, permitting safe but slow Recovery. Airfields Attacks do divert Bombers from CS, so the issue is worthy of some consideration.