FAO and Air Observer Aircraft

[Xavier]

Today, I set up a game with an Air Observer. Specifically, I had a British NW Europe force, fielding an Auster Air Observer.

On p. 49, the rules for Spotter Aircraft are outlined. As an Air Observer, I assume that the Auster is able to use these rules. What isn't 100% clear is the point about carrying a FAO. It says in the rules, it will carry an FAO for the duration of the battle. Am I right in assuming that I should purchase the FAO from the army list that is to be carried?

In my head, this makes sense as it is like choosing a unit (the FAO) and then choosing its transport vehicle (in this case the Auster). It would also make the combined unit 145pts (100pts for the Auster and 45pts for the FAO).

Without purchasing and assigning an FAO, would the Auster just count as a normal recce unit for the battle?

[Big Insect]

Today, I set up a game with an Air Observer. Specifically, I had a British NW Europe force, fielding an Auster Air Observer.

On p. 49, the rules for Spotter Aircraft are outlined. As an Air Observer, I assume that the Auster is able to use these rules. What isn't 100% clear is the point about carrying a FAO. It says in the rules, it will carry an FAO for the duration of the battle. Am I right in assuming that I should purchase the FAO from the army list that is to be carried?

In my head, this makes sense as it is like choosing a unit (the FAO) and then choosing its transport vehicle (in this case the Auster). It would also make the combined unit 145pts (100pts for the Auster and 45pts for the FAO).

Without purchasing and assigning an FAO, would the Auster just count as a normal recce unit for the battle?

Hi there
I am (as is often the case over a holiday period) without my rules book or the army list. So I will attempt to answer your question as best as I can.

Yes, you will need to buy 1 of your available FAOs from the Command section in the list (@ 45pts) and an Auster (@ 100pts) from the Transport section, to allow your FAO to make use of the aerial transport capabilities the Auster provides.
If you choose to do this the FAO must remain in the Auster throughout the game (so, for example, it cannot land and the FAO disembark).
Of course the Auster now moves as if it is an FAO (so after all other moves have been made, except for that of the CO) but it does so at the speed of the Auster (50cm if my memory serves me correctly). So it gives the FAO that extra movement range, plus the advantage of height and the FAO cannot be hit by enemy ground fire (so accidentally come under an artillery or air template for example) but could be subject to enemy AA fire instead.

If the Auster is shown in the Transport section of the army list, then it is a transport unit only, and it can only transport the units specified in the list.
If it can carry a Recce unit then you'd need to buy an appropriate Recce unit (a Recce Scout unit INF:LI) to act as its passenger. In this instance the Auster takes on the properties of the Recce unit as far as movement is concerned (so you roll your Recce movement D6 and multiply the Auster's movement by that amount). If the Recce unit is not moving, but carrying out other Recce actions in a game turn, then the Auster is assumed to be circling tightly overhead, even though the model is static on the table.
However, the Auster on its own is just a transport and without its passenger, buying it is pointless 
I hope that helps?
Cheers
Mark

[Xavier]

Thanks for the answer, and I understand that you are doing this purely from memory.

The Auster is in the Recce section of the army list, rather than the transport section. The name is listed specifically as Auster air observer. In the notes, it has the Recce special ability. It doesn't have any transport value attached to it e.g. Transport(1).

I did wonder initially if there was another special ability missing, a CV missing, or it was an incorrect unit type (AIR:GA). However, I dismissed the idea because I thought it could be an observer due to its recce roll, e.g. for indirect fire from on-table units

[Big Insect]

Thanks for the answer, and I understand that you are doing this purely from memory.

The Auster is in the Recce section of the army list, rather than the transport section. The name is listed specifically as Auster air observer. In the notes, it has the Recce special ability. It doesn't have any transport value attached to it e.g. Transport(1).

I did wonder initially if there was another special ability missing, a CV missing, or it was an incorrect unit type (AIR:GA). However, I dismissed the idea because I thought it could be an observer due to its recce roll, e.g. for indirect fire from on-table units

Hi there.
Ah - that is helpful - thankyou. However, if the Auster is in the Recce section then it is already a complete unit.
So the 100pt cost covers its reconnaissance capabilities and there is no need to buy a Scout Recce unit as a passenger as well.
However, that mean that you cannot add a FAO to the unit.
TBF I am not sure whether the British used aerial FAOs (& I am sure somebody else on the site will know much more about this than I?) but all the standard capabilities of a Recce unit apply to the Auster.
Thanks
Mark

[sultanbev]

Yes indeed, the British used aerial FAO, the Auster scout plane was the most feared plane to the Germans in Normandy, usually because once the Auster spotted your unit, a few minutes later a regimental stonk of 16x 5.5" guns landed in your neighbourhood.

Each British Corps in NW Europe had one squadron of 16 Auster OAP planes in general, giving you typically 3-4 per division, or 1-2 per brigade, so wouldn't be out of place in your regular BKC level game. Probably the reason they didn't have more effect was the times of adverse weather, and the Luftwaffe, which did have local presence on many occasions, despite Allied superiority in numbers. Whilst Austers were quite difficult to shoot down with fighters as long as the scout plane dived low to the ground and hugged trees and hills, whilst your pilot is busy evading your observer is unable to plot artillery fire.

The Americans were similarly equipped, most divisions having in theory a flight of 3 scout planes in addition to air force assets.

If I recall correctly, the use of scout planes with FAO came into use around El Alamein, but wasn't really perfected until 1944.

[Big Insect]

Yes indeed, the British used aerial FAO, the Auster scout plane was the most feared plane to the Germans in Normandy, usually because once the Auster spotted your unit, a few minutes later a regimental stonk of 16x 5.5" guns landed in your neighbourhood.

Each British Corps in NW Europe had one squadron of 16 Auster OAP planes in general, giving you typically 3-4 per division, or 1-2 per brigade, so wouldn't be out of place in your regular BKC level game. Probably the reason they didn't have more effect was the times of adverse weather, and the Luftwaffe, which did have local presence on many occasions, despite Allied superiority in numbers. Whilst Austers were quite difficult to shoot down with fighters as long as the scout plane dived low to the ground and hugged trees and hills, whilst your pilot is busy evading your observer is unable to plot artillery fire.

The Americans were similarly equipped, most divisions having in theory a flight of 3 scout planes in addition to air force assets.

If I recall correctly, the use of scout planes with FAO came into use around El Alamein, but wasn't really perfected until 1944.

Thanks Mark
So adding an Auster in the Transport section with the ability to carry 1 FOA as passenger would be an acceptable addition to the Late War British list.
I'll look at that as part of the next Errata for BKCIV.
Cheers & Happy New Year
Mark

[sultanbev]

"So adding an Auster in the Transport section with the ability to carry 1 FOA as passenger would be an acceptable addition to the Late War British list."
Yep, I've had them in the British late war lists I've written, eg List BKCB22.

Looking at the Americans, it is a similar situation - a late war division has a Divisional Aircraft Observation Squadron with 5 sections each of 2x L4 scout planes, which might give you 3 models per division in BKC terms, or 1 per infantry regiment.EG List BKCA47.

Cheers
Mark

[Ithoriel]

Ah! But can I add a bazooka upgrade to an American L-4 Grasshopper and field it as "Rosie the Rocketer"?

[Big Insect]

"So adding an Auster in the Transport section with the ability to carry 1 FOA as passenger would be an acceptable addition to the Late War British list."
Yep, I've had them in the British late war lists I've written, eg List BKCB22.

Looking at the Americans, it is a similar situation - a late war division has a Divisional Aircraft Observation Squadron with 5 sections each of 2x L4 scout planes, which might give you 3 models per division in BKC terms, or 1 per infantry regiment.EG List BKCA47.

Cheers
Mark

Once I am back at my desk with access to the rules book I'll put up the appropriate stats for both the Late War Brits and USA.
Thanks
Mark