Here is what I’m thinking.
Paratrooper:
Paratrooper 1/2/1. cost 4ipcs. Â Functions like an inf in all regards except that it can be paradropped. Â
There is no bonus assigned to paratroopers who are airdropped. Â They attack on a 1 unless there is an artillery that came by land or sea to raise their attack to a 2.
Air Transport:
0/0/4. Costs 10 ipcs. Â An air transport does receive the 1 mp bonus for an airbase. Long range tech will increase their move by 1.
Capacity: 1 inf or para unit. Â Must load in an airbase. Does not need an airbase to unload.
Combat move: Â Load a paratrooper unit (only) onto a transport, they must start in the same space and there must an airbase. Â An air transport may not not move first and pick up a paratrooper on the way. Move the transport to its target territory for the airdrop. Â Empty transports CANNOT be combat moved as fodder.
During combat: Â An air transport drops it’s paratrooper immediately after AA fire. Â As a loaded air transport costs more than a bomber, it need not be chosen last. Â After dropping it’s paratrooper, it immediately retreats from the battle, to be landed in the NCM. Â If defending, and air transport cannot fire but can be taken as a loss, again it need not be chosen last.
Non Combat move: Â If the plane moved in the CM, land it. Â If not: Â It can be loaded with one inf or para and be moved to a destination within range and unloaded. Â There must be an airbase in the space where it loaded, but not where it lands. The transport, inf/para and airbase must all start the NCM in the same space. Â An air transport may not start its move empty and pick its cargo on the way. You cannot make a paradrop in the NCM even if the cargo is a paratrooper. Â The transport must land. Â If an air transport starts its NCM in a space without an airbase, it may still move, it just can’t carry any units.
Notes: Â I support 10 ipc cost over 5 as these units are very hard to kill and more versatile then sea transports. Â I’m not sure about the 6 move and 2 unit limit in the NCM as the capacity is too high and the range would allow units to fly across the atlantic, which never happened at this scale. Â I think it would lead to some very ahistorical stuff, in particular the USA flying inf units galore to the UK from the USA. Â
2 unit capacity could also allow the axis to flood africa. Â I think we should leave the large loads to the barges.