This is how I fight c3s. My method is based on speed, so it is not the most cost effective method. It can still be more cost effective than trial and error for an inexperienced player. When I fight c3s, I'm usually fighting multiple wars, one at a time in quick succession. I like to build up an offensive force to fight around 10-14 wars. Ranging from WL3 to WL11.
All weapons and ammo are 330 quality unless otherwise specified.
I like to have my army set up in advance of the coming multi war campaign. I will have 10 Long Range Divisions. Consisting of 9000 offensive anti-aircraft missile batteries, and 10,710 mid range missile batteries. 900 OAAMB, 1071 MRMB per unit. More batteries will be active in reserve to resupply.
I will set up at least 5 or more attack and bombing wings. All will only have precision bombers. Each wing will have 524 precision bombers.
For war levels 4 and above I like to have both interceptor wings and missile defense divisions. I will usually have 5 or more interceptor wings and 2 missile defense divisions. ( or more ) 2 missile defense divisions will consist of 400 each of Anti-aircraft missile batteries, defensive missile batteries and missile interceptors.
You can simply use interceptor wings, but in my experience the missile defense divisions will significantly reduce the loss of all weapons in stealth bomber counter attacks, while simultaneously completely eliminating all stealth bombers with each counter attack. This will greatly reduce the need to resupply weapons for the campaign.
I will have at least 10 or more small supply units. Only consisting of 170 armored vehicles each of 120 quality.
I will have at least 10 or more air transport units 51 transport planes each. 120 quality
1 Rapid deployment unit and 12 or more special forces units.
Once my army is set up I will look for a cluster of c3 countries, preferably within bomber range without needing to airlift the bomber units. Within 4800 miles/km. Once I find a cluster I like I will declare war and airdrop my rapid deployment unit to create an airstrip, and drop 4 special forces units spread out in open areas of the c3 to paint. Once the airbase is deployed I will airlift all of my Long Range Divisions, interceptor wings and missile defense divisions to the c3. I will leave one interceptor wing and missile defense division at my home country to defend the military base. At higher war levels they will counter attack your bases directly, which is why I leave a defensive unit behind.
Once my units are in place I begin by attacking a county or towns defenses with my LRD until the helicopter wings and stealth bombers stop responding. Once they stop responding I select targets directly and attack each helicopter wing and stealth bomber wing with my LRDs. Then I will destroy the interceptor wings with my LRD as well. You will end up going through more offensive anti aircraft missiles this way, but it is cheaper to destroy the int wings as well, then use your bomber wings to attack target defenses directly. This is also much cheaper than simply using fighter/bomber wings. Since there will always be many more interceptor wings than helicopter wings.
Important note: When you're at higher war levels there will be land defense divisions you have to watch out for. Do not attack any target near the land defense divisions or you will suffer unnecessary losses. ALSO, try to avoid declaring war on a c3 if the offensive military base, and airport are close to eachother especially at higher war levels. If you do, every time you destroy a defense wing you will lose more weapons. Attacking the land defense divisions directly will also result in massive weapon loss. If you want that country in particular or are at a lower war level, such as 5 or below it won't be as much of a problem. I'm not sure the range that the land defense divisions respond, but it isn't much, thankfully. It's best to try to avoid land defense divisions of at all possible.
Once the wings are destroyed, paint the map with your special forces units. Try to paint as much territory as possible up to 25 damage points, before you start attacking targets. If you can't you can start by attacking the capital, than cities that are in the way. With the bomber wings. Try to paint as much as you possibly can before you destroy targets.
Tip, if you paint over a city or corporation that has not been destroyed, that means it is ungarrisoned. Once you've painted 25 points, destroy those targets first. I usually always destroy the capital first, than ungarrisoned cities.
Attack defenses of each target first before directly attacking the target. DO NOT use the LRD to attack cities, corporations, forts or any garrisoned target or you will lose all of your mid range missile batteries. Also, way more mid range missiles are needed to destroy a target than bombs. This is why I still use bomber units.
Once you've run low to no mid range missile batteries in a LRD, airlift the unit back to your country so you can dismantle it and set up a new unit to airlift back. If you stop fighting a war and do something else for a few hours, when you come back, if you have the available weapons and ammo available your supply units should be able to resupply your army on their own.
After each war ends in the cluster I airlift or return 4 special forces units. Start the next war, and drop 4 more into the next country. I wait for the special forces units to land, then paint and repeat the process. I don't paint with my LRDs, I keep them at the airbase close to the missile defense division.
This is how I fight c3 wars. Hopefully someone can utilize this information. This, on a much smaller scale is still effective however. You can easily win WL4 or 5 with just a few LRDs, one or two int wings and a defense missile division. I usually go thorough one or two bomber wings in the higher wl wars.
