In Europa, the B-type bomber (hereafter used to include all type B, HB, SB, VB, and T air units) is the plane of choice in GS missions because of its +1 modifier on the AA table. As a result, Europa allows these planes to endure a greater volume of AA fire than type A, D, or F units which don't enjoy the AA benefit. The AA modifier is understandable when the B's are conducting conventional bombing missions such as port or marshalling yard attacks, interdiction, air base attack, etc. In those attacks the planes can fly along at 10 or 15,000 feet and still get enough bombs into the target area.

But GS (and DAS) missions are something else entirely. There the targets are often small, dispersed, moving, and relatively heavily defended by AA units. They are also often camouflaged. Thus, supporting bombers have to come down to very low altitudes to be effective. Every air force in WWII recognized that it was an inappropriate use of medium bombers to conduct missions in direct support of the ground forces.

Such missions require planes that are small, maneuverable, and fast (or heavily armored) to get into the target area, identify the target, and engage it effectively. This is a job for dive bombers like the Ju 87, specialized ground attack planes like the IL-2 and Hs-129, or fighter-bombers like the P-47, Typhoon, or FW 190F. Another reason for favoring non-B planes is that B-types took too long to respond to fluid combat situations. GS missions as a whole became less effective when the front lines were moving, but bombers fared even worse: the American 12th Army Group found that it took an average of 48 hours to prepare a medium bomber mission, and the Luftwaffe found that German bombers took twice as long as ground attack planes to prepare for missions. This means that B-types have a harder time keeping up with a fluid tactical situation, especially when the enemy is attacking.

I suggest that for missions required to be flown at low altitudes (GS, DAS, harassment, and air drops), B-type bombers be given a minus one (-1) AA modifier instead of a plus one W). This is a very simple change that can have a significant impact. With the enhancement of other missions described below, players will have good reasons to use their medium bombers on other targets. If they still want to use them for GS missions, in an emergency say, there is nothing to stop them. They will however have to face the historical vulnerability of the B's to heavy AA fire, as the RAF learned with its Battles and Blenheims in France in 1940.

"Messing" with the Europa Air System

Introduction
1. The Popularity of GS missions
2. Type B Bombers
3. Harassment
4. Patrol Attacks
5. Gratuitous Air Missions
6. DAS Reconsidered and a Revised Air Sequence
7. Optional Rules