This Video Will Prove How POWERFUL CAS Is In HOI4

Today I will prove How POWERFUL CAS Is In HOI4. For years I've been trying to say how important an airforce is in Hearts of Iron 4 so I will now finally show it for your viewing pleasure. As the UK I will focus on just an air force - mainly CAS to prove how powerful it can be.
►PATREON - / therambler146
►JOIN - / @alextherambler
Alex the Rambler produces videos on a variety of Strategy games while dabbling in other things from time to time. Expect extremely incompetent gameplay!
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[@AlextheRambler]

*I was not aware Feedback was already doing videos on this to. I noticed just before I released this. LOL Sorry Feedback!*

[@janipetra5346]

How are you

[@TheErickDH]

would love to see you do some experiments with infantry division comps, but like get absolutely bonkers with it and see how weird you can get a template that still actually works

[@Marulauriu710]

This is basically British revenge for Feedback's video

[@viesturs6321]

Alex, try 15 divisions width with 1 artillery piece it just works.

[@generalno181]

7/2s for the win, mega cheap and outpreform ai divisons (20 width; 2 arty, 7 infantry) its a very solid and extremely cheap division, and it can always shred an enemy divison 1v1 even without air superiority. I highly recommend using it on small nations or deathstacking as a major, either way they are very good as long as they dont get attritioned

[@gamidragon]

"If we lose the war in the air, we lose the war and we lose it quickly." I've been having a grand time making small, advanced airforces with minors and punching so far above my weight that I exhaust the axis/comintern air entirely.

[@nikolatanev1140]

Anti air and mountains are king. Also when you think about it if you are at war with axis and allies thats almost 10k planes against your 1k as a minor if you focused a lot to make.

[@jananders7937]

How do you do this? I often focus on air but I'm never able to do it as a minor

[@ProfibobWot]

@@jananders7937 there are only a few minors who can achieve significant air numbers... they are few... if we are speaking about early-midgame lategame any nation can have many recources manpower/scientific slots and land hungary and yugoslavia are examples of minors who are capable of having a pretty big airforce cuzz of alluminium... rubber is a problem tho... a bit you need to dedicate a few scientific slots/research time for synthetic rubber... or trade it somehow what is not easy

[@spartan11payne]

Since this is a CAS playthrough, and CAS is King, does this mean we accidentally discovered a Secret Monarchist Playthrough?

[@Valsorayu]

yes

[@alfred9895]

I mean, he was playing as the UK, a constitutional monarchy. So it already was a monarchist playthrough.

[@FalkyRocket2222]

@@alfred9895 kings party is more based tbh

[@danhunt3327]

Always monarchist

[@DrewHelander]

After watching some of your disaster saves I learned so much, I loaded up a game of Germany just casually and for the first time on recruit (I normally play civilian) I managed to get 1k industry, sea lion Britain, Barbarossa, and I had to fight Japan. I used tons of cas and fighters to help me, so thank you.

[@linkfromzelda1002]

I feel like that’s cause you’re playing on recruit difficulty.

[@DrewHelander]

@@linkfromzelda1002 that may be true yeah but I also normally played on civilian. A while ago I probably would’ve ran into issues playing Germany on recruit.

[@oracle372]

@Link From Zelda Yeah while he used to be playing civilian and losing anyway so, improvements!

[@Tate.com2]

That’s never happened to me in 2 years never got close like you have

[@oracle372]

In my first hoi4 game, I played the Soviets on civillian difficulty and lost a war against Poland.

[@Exoromans]

New idea: "Maritime" Only. Amphibious tanks, Marines, Naval air ships and such.

[@nevets2371]

So you'll have like 1 division because all the amphibious battalions are special forces.

[@jdon6484]

If Japan and the US were the only playable nations it wouldn’t be a bad strat

[@secularsam7678]

@@nevets2371 You can use the special rule that turns off special force limit

[@bandskall]

If I have a weaker economy, I usually find that 9 Infantry with one artillery and support is pretty good, especially if paired with Logistics Companies and AA. If I have a stronger economy then I tend to go for 9 Infantry and 3 Artillery with heavy support and CAS, it usually completely melts the opposition.

[@maximilianodelrio]

So far Ive been using 9-1 only with plenty of support because it's effective and I like historical templates, but i'll start trying out 9-3 since everyone says they are much better

[@1mol831]

5 infantry 1 artillery not good?

[@lolloblue9646]

I've found that even staying at 20w with 8inf 1art 1at works well enough

[@hatless_spider]

Alex the Rambler and Feedback combining their power to get CAS nerfed. Based and Balance-pilled

[@SRWellington2]

Yeah, few hours apart haha

[@JonMI6]

Doubt it CAS and strat bombers really did help in the war

[@hatless_spider]

@@JonMI6 well sure, but they also didn't use guns only in all divisions as it is currently possible to do with ease and still smash the enemy

[@Zorro9129]

@@JonMI6 CAS mainly had the psychological advantage, it didn't tend to inflict many losses because of how inaccurate the planes tended to be.

[@JonMI6]

@@Zorro9129 wrong

[@lil-mac2263]

27 for infantry and 41-45 for tanks, and for small county’s who can’t afford the production 10w infantry is great. Also like you said, a lot of CAS

[@funbro99]

What about tanks? I assume for minor nations or for nations like sweden a 15 inf and 30 mech inf/tanks would suffice?

[@the_fallen_halo163]

@StatikTiger Are AA Tanks even worth making tho? Aren’t they too expensive? Wouldn’t it be more worth it to use either Towed AA or Motorized AA

[@sinydzo]

Alex, if you wanna see what impact exactly your CAS has, click on the ground battle bubble and than move your cursor over enemy/allied attack/def stats. It will show you how many % of these air superiority is lowering or adding

[@cc0767]

isnt that just the air superiority effect? CAS directly damages the enemy, not just affect stats

[@cc0767]

I did check on the wiki again and air superiority just depends on the amount of planes, fighters or CAS doesnt matter. CAS damages enemy, air superiority reduces their stats

[@sinydzo]

@@cc0767 thanks, good to know

[@IceMaverick13]

Even better, if you look at the Theatre of War stats in the top right, you can literally see # of deaths to Airplanes.

[@simonepapa7091]

My humble opinion about the optimal infantry division is a 21 width, 9 infantry and 1 artillery^^ Anti-air, engineer, artillery and recon as support companies

[@HolyShitNew]

the last support company slot is not used since its not worth?

[@simonepapa7091]

@@HolyShitNew It's not always necessary to max out the slots, you can use it for logistics if you want, but I usually don't

[@HolyShitNew]

@@simonepapa7091 yeah i know i just dont know whats optimal 😅 I like to add logistics since i didnt understand the new supply perfectly and dont effectively build railways

[@simonepapa7091]

@@HolyShitNew I tend to use logistics in 10 widht division I use in africa. The new supply system is a bit messed up, but I usually experiment and I check the bottleneck,, upgrading the railway as needed, as the game suggests^^

[@niekumata8782]

21 widths are perfect forest divisions

[@tactical_ninja09]

Alex the Rambler: CAS is king German Alex the Rambler: GAS is king

[@gamerdrache6076]

Nein

[@DanDugan]

CAS is definitely OP. As Germany I Barbarossa’d as immediately as possible and as long as I had CAS and payed attention to supply I had beat the USSR before the IRL invasion of Poland took place

[@equxxe]

is that even possible?

[@DanDugan]

@@equxxe yes! You justify and declare on Poland. Then while you’re at war you justify on USSR. The war with USSR started in 1937, and ended in August of 1939. IRL Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. You need LOTS of CAS and trucks. Then you set 5 full army groups to max motorized supply, and maintain your supply lines as you move into Russia. This would probably go even faster if you start a collaboration government in USSR.

[@equxxe]

@@DanDugan ohh alright, I thought you meant you capitulated the soviets in 2 in game weeks lmao

[@DanDugan]

@@equxxe That would be one helluva blitzkrieg 😂🤣.

[@harrison_46]

Really enjoyed this style of video from you. 🥳 I would love to see more.

[@randomzombie2]

Just letting you know that I love your videos. I've been watching you for several years now. Thanks Alex!

[@unitedfloridamapper7669]

I love how he gets 30% in a battle then wins.

[@cvpgame7267]

I think you should do more streams if it's your thing. I like the Twitch chat interacting with or changing your game, and the clips and comedy that comes from it. I've never been to a Twitch stream of yours, but these post-stream videos certainly give that feel lol

[@cheeseofglass]

I've never played HoI4 and have no idea who CAS is/does but damn, do I know that he's King!

[@noaheke2666]

I love the idea of these challenge/scenario vidz

[@Jimothyjohns]

Hopefully you do more of these videos on experimentation!

[@coopermetzger5026]

I've been using 18, 42, and 44 width with decent success. I think those numbers a decent balance between having good stats and minimizing combat penalties for being over width. The 18's can struggle to push once entering the mid-game, but tank divisions at 42 or 44 can make up for that.

[@TheToby121]

I use both a 15 and 21 width infantry unit with a single artillery to balance out the uneven width. I use a signal company, logistics, engineer and recon. Depending on other things you can throw in an anti air or anti tank or the medical support. Idk about MP but this is what I use in single player. Make sure you have artillery railway guns and lots of air support. Use entrenchment and only push with units dedicated for breakthrough. You can also use the spy agency to get buffs for units fighting by areas with an active network. Radar helps too. It is important not to add too many supports before you buff your unit organization. Another tip, have your strat bombers target antiair whenever possible because the ai will spam that out when they realize they can't catch up to your air production

[@canomos8690]

Wow! Next time i will concentrate more on producing CAS I love your videos ❤️❤️

[@last1841]

Rambler The Alex, Wise he is.

[@black_station]

Remember, its just a theory, an Alex The Rambler theory!

[@user-je9kb2ce3v]

what I don't understand is why build CAS when you can do everything CAS can do with fighters

[@richardtwopenny9175]

Fighters only hinder your opponent, CAS do damage and buff your troops

[@cdub35071]

Looking forward to return of Rambler Hot Tub stream this year.

[@BackgroundSpace]

One thing I've tinkered with and have found some success with is tasking some CAS with logistics strikes. Doesn't do direct damage but you can really put the hurt on enemy troops resupply and movement.

[@brolertheaviationmaster3448]

Proving Theories is so fun to watch lol, Please make some more! :)

[@krisledford8718]

Alex got that pregame in. I be feelin in to brother. Power to the Chonk

[@Zorro9129]

In my games I always used a very meagre airforce because I believed that air cannot hold ground and CAS wasn't so pivotal in history. But now I can see how good it is!

[@zoso8700]

Good work Alex

[@tobinrose2330]

7:05 one paratrooper. OP. Paratroops everywhere. Every victory point

[@yellowbudd9344]

The french impersonation at @14:56 is gold🥖🥐 😆

[@vinniecheng]

alex mentioning the try guys was the last thing i was thinking alex would talk about

[@jessejaimyhecker3350]

Oeh yes that would be amazing!! More pls

[@damienbazin9940]

you actually can see it the best if you click on the notebook near british theatre and their you see all the battles with causulties and equipment lost and also how many died from the aircraft

[@strangergelt5182]

"I'm right, you're wrong, just get over it" That's definitely an efficient way to prove your point

[@roobz4947]

My favorite div template rn is a 20w inf with support rocket arty, arty, logi, AT and engineers

[@hawkerben1158]

CAS and arty Meta, one of my fav things to do I’m this update is to produce both rocket and normal artillery and stack the bonuses for increased soft attack, that plus a light recon tank that’s specifically designed to get as much soft attack as possible and I ended up with a Soviet army that had 500 soft attack in each division in 1943 and defeated the Germans in 1942

[@robertcooke9299]

Alex the Caffeine very rambling is a fun sight to behold!

[@ekeech]

after you pickup a cas desinger you should really put 1 upgrade into a cas to get its bonus applied to the design

[@aaronford1332]

Wow Alex really had enough of people doubting CAS

[@2p19]

my favourite division template is an 14/4 with support companies

[@stevan1063]

my favourite division template is mostly 7 2's but they get weak in like 1941 so i change them to 24 combat width artillery ,infantry and rocket artillery very good template i must say.

[@ryandoubleu.]

Drink every time Alex says “CAS”

[@syrialak101]

To be honest, although I do believe CAS is king, oftentimes my enemies have upwards of 10,000 planes in the sky which can noticeably hinder the Supportability of my Close Air Support. It still helps a lot though.

[@1mol831]

Tac bombers not work? They seem to be fine for me.

[@JonMI6]

The power of CAS compels you...the power of CAS compels you

[@brendangish9786]

What's even crazier is that at the end there he was overflowing his airbases which does a significant amount of efficiency reduction to the flight damage. Which means he was doing like triple digit with CAS and he could have been doing more if he had the capacity in the airfields.

[@oscargurdian9389]

the problem with air especially in smaller nations is that i'd rather put mil factories towards other things like inf equip, support equip, artillery, anti tank, tanks, etc so by the time i even consider putting factories into air it's already super late in the game

[@sneezy3233]

I use 22 width for both armour and infantry. Infantry I do 8-2s. Also since I started focusing a lot on airforce, I switched AA support to Rocket art. support.

[@chefchan3831]

I would like to see how fast each type of tank including the super heavy would do with cas backing them, also a infantry that is built with each of the artiliries only would do with the cas

[@wallybonejengles5595]

I learned this from Dommy but i still love you Alex.

[@TheToby121]

28:58 I imagined those two old guy muppets laughing after he said this

[@brodstergaming6521]

Incredible you have been saying for a year

[@kalqul8er]

For a infantry division, im sold on artillery soft attack, so I go with a 6/1 15 combat width division with support (engineers, recon, maintenance) high soft attack~ 150 with decent org ~70. 15 width is my personal favorite not to big that it takes forever to produce but not super small 10 widths, plus it fits with most terrain you might find in Europe even mountains, 50 base and 25 from one flanking tile fits 7 15 widths

[@MrFaorry]

9/3's with Engineers, Support AA, Flame Tanks, Logistics, and Tank Recon have been my go-to division for NSB and they work really well. Throw some Cas up in the air you they can roll over the ai pretty well.

[@petrut3487]

Hey Alex! Case damage is on org, idt doesn't do manpower or equipment, but it deorgs the enemy, hence making it easier to destroy them

[@unitedfloridamapper7669]

I normally use 9-1 infantry with support artillery, support anti air, and engineer companies.(recon tanks uf you can afford it). For tanks I use 5 tank 4 mot with 1 sp artillery with support artillery and aa.

[@trippi_3999]

Alex The Rambler CAS world conquest

[@Blu_Jay07]

I used a similar strategy of focusing on CAS and Fighters, but in Kaiserreich as the Union of Britain instead. Beating enemy divisions has never been easier

[@manuelmurielcagigal9971]

I love your videos Alex The Rambleroonie

[@tonczekd8436]

My favorite infantry template for pushing is 40 widh infantry with 4 artilery and ton of support

[@aguythatyoudontknow3594]

It only requires one military factory to start cas production, even small countries can get these benefits!

[@just_got_drafted9843]

literally just used my air force to destroy every British ship in the British Channel

[@nicholastrzcinski20]

I recently did a Polish playthrough using a lot of your tips and I absolutely smashed both Germany and USSR. Thanks for the videos (: P.s., challenge; I dont see a lot of China plays, think you can make Republic of China work?

[@markafterdark8047]

I feel like you could make a t-shirt, "CAS is King" and have like your cartoon avatar on like a plane or something

[@adamsucy6452]

I think KZbin thought you were talking about Cash based on all the cashback credit card ads on this

[@gregl2419]

I'd love to see how Tank Destroyers and SPG's only, with some limited holding infantry divisions, would do. The breakthrough would suck, but the value on the units relative to tanks could be interesting to experiment with, just a thought

[@vik4130]

Thats how i do it, 500 soft attack and about 80-100 piercing qith no mptorization in an inf unit

[@anakinskywalker9360]

my fav division for singleplayer is basically: 27 width infantry: 3 arty and the rest inf support companies: Anti air, arty, armored car recon, Logistics and flame thrower tank. IMO it's so OP

[@ExecutiveSonda]

Why 27? Havent played Hoi4 much since NSB was releashed.

[@anakinskywalker9360]

@@ExecutiveSonda There has been a lot of changes in combat width..So 20 width as much as they are good they are not as good as they were. A lot of experiments have been done and for me 27 widths were the most successful…

[@chrisboyer2195]

“To prove how powerful CAS is, I sawed this army in half!”

[@luccacorbetta4665]

You heard about the royal navy, now prepare for the royal air program

[@awhahoo]

I knew using a lot of cas in my argentina run was smart! Unfortunately i didnt have a lot of materials Production was a bit slow

[@architech02]

Tac bomber and cas allows me to break the maginot directly and quickly

[@franciszekskoczen5816]

Since No step Back dlc i feal like the only thing you have to do in singleplayer is make infantry with artillery, CAS and just turn turn on the plan of the attack, its absolutely broken

[@ComradesChoice]

I've been always using the classic 7-2 with Reacon, Engineer and Artillery Support but nowadays 8-2 seems better.

[@poyloos4834]

Well I’m convinced

[@Darth_Conans]

I'm not that great at HoI4, but you can absolutely hold the Germans in Belgium as France with a combination of CAS and a little bit of logistics bombing.

[@ryandean9493]

France is easy. Poland is a better challenge.

[@augustas3765]

Great video, CAS SUPRIME!

[@austinneece7853]

My go-to infantry has been 10 Inf - 2 Art - 1 Anti-Air Has worked fine so far.

[@sqweebel1]

I mostly use 9/2 divisions, even if they're not optimal they work pretty well.

[@thegwnhq6247]

I love experimentation videos. I would love to see a useful super heavy tank Russia. I always seem to find it doesn’t work due to how much supply they take up.

[@anarchopupgirl]

If you can get engineers, light flame tanks, rocket arty, towed arty and supply as support companies, your infantry will be mostly unstoppable

[@anarchopupgirl]

Add a single arty, aa, or at unit as needed to 9inf, otherwise 10 inf

[@nalpha3451]

Every time when I'm order my planes to an airline they just don't go on missions so I never have air superiority... But now I think I just had not enough Planes😅

[@_Amplified]

i find that a good infantry divison is 9 inf and 1 artilery

[@Andyb2820]

That moment when you realize you weren't in "War Economy." We have all been there lol

[@samweber6157]

I've had Goodluck with 33 width infantry. 18w infantry and 3 arty. Substitute for AA as needed

[@Laksur_]

I always make a garrison division that has 5 calvary divisions and military police

[@cnlbenmc]

Wait until they do an Aircraft Builder for a future Hoi4 DLC.

[@jamro9011]

Maybe a challenge vid about trying to defend Denmark with historical units? (Bicycle etc.)

[@pacificstensland3254]

What you want is 2-width infantry with no support. Just spam that Infantry Equiptment.

[@k1ll0raffe]

I'm still not convinced: I think you need to add paratroopers for it to really be effective :)

[@-championofrome-5303]

You should try rushing the Yugoslavian airplanes because there's a focus that lowers the research by 2 years on the 3rd IK fighter line, it's broken.

[@imperify7671]

I use 21W infantry if I have a bad industry, if I have a good industry then ill use 27W infantry. For armor I usually do 42W or 30W, again depending on my industry

[@TheShadowGryphon]

My Man

[@rusler159]

Germany: why is it night it was just day Uk: I have plane

[@IceMaverick13]

Your instructions were very clear, so now I'll comment: "Like and subscribe" so you know we want more.

[@kristianludvigsen3141]

After watching this vid, i played france and was actually able to hold with just cas and inf. Yah cas is king

[@jevinliu4658]

CAS be like: Goodbye enemy logistics/divisions (pick one), see you in hell

[@valorie1559]

CAS ability: Choose division/logistics (pick one) and remove it from the board permanently

[@the_fallen_halo163]

9/1 Inf Arty for your main line Infantry. It’s a bit expensive for a country like Britain, or you can do a 10/1 Inf AA

[@cuddlecrowbyconmon]

10, 15, 27, 41-45 width divisions are what work best now