I started the game for the first of the two afternoon games on Day One of Operation Battleaxe. My prep post was very helpful in setting this out. The main changes made were only 2 Kette of Stukas were used as I don't have three. A full staffel of Bf109s were available as support for the Germans. The British were using the remnants of the South African Squadron. Which meant that two of their flights were short an aircraft. In addition, I dropped the returning Lysander as I didn't find the plane stats (or didn't bother to look, it was one of those). For this scenario, I used the full size of my 6' x 4' matt. I am very happy with it. I would have liked 1.5" hexes instead of the 2" hexes but this works.
On the table, I placed three markers which were targets for the Stukas. Each marker was two hexes in size. I took a good number of picture of the game and hopefully will be able to finish it soon.
The scenario started with the two groups of bombers on the table. The Bogey cards were used to determine when the fighters would arrive. When the card was draw, I'd roll a d6. For the British a roll of 4+ meant one of their flights would arrive. For the Germans, they needed at . Each turn, the target number would drop until all of the fighters were deployed.
The Stukas had to travel the full length of the table to reach their targets.
To start, the Stukas had some rough rolls and failed to maintain a formation. Each arcraft was basicaly on its own.
The Germans were lucky on their bogey card and the White Schwarm made it to the table first. The British rolled horribly to get their fighters out on their initial bogey card.
The next turn started with the White Schwarm moving.
With the bonus move the leader of one of the Stuka Kette reached the target and begins his run.
Shortly thereafter, the rest of the bombers start their run.
Finally, the British catch a break and roll well on their bogey card and Yellow Flight arrives on the table. You can see dice next to the targets representing the number of hits the stukas scored on their bombing runs. They need at least three hits to destroy the targets present.
Unfortunately for the British, the German Junior Ace of White Schwarm made some moves and arrived up on the newly arrived British and gets off his first shot.
The Ace rolled poorly and the defensive dice were with the South Africans. This resulted in a firer side slip.
The Stukas were now trying to turn away from their targets and leave the table. Both groups had the Kette leader out in front. Then the bogey card came up and the Red Flight appeared directly in front of the Orange Stuka Kette.
Note that the position where the flight/schwarm arrives is determined by a die roll as well. Yellow flight began to maneuver to get into position on the Stukas and on White Staffel. One of the stukas had not made its bombing run yet. Yellow leader managed to line up a shot on White IV, a sprog, and fired under s stuka at the Bf109. He landed a hit that caused temporary loss of control but no lasting damage.
The one of the stuka's from Blue Kette (I probably have that color wrong on the bead) made its bombing run and scored two hits on its target. (Note I was going off the bombing rules from memory and may have completely made up how it was done.) He moved past the target and leveled out.
The last of the Blue Kette Stukas made its run and also scored two hits on the target. This destroyed one of the three ground targets.
Now with all of the bombing runs being complete, the stukas need to make their get away. Orange Kette's leader was bravely running away when the Flight Leader of the South African Red Flight chased him down. In the first bout of competent shooting and poor defensive dice, The Orange Kette Leader exploded in a ball of fire.
The stuka's can be tough opponents with a higher toughness than any of the fighters. Yet, Major de Beer of the South African squadron made his first kill of the campaign. Yellow Flight managed to stay together as a formation as they swung around. Red Flight split up immediatly and another aircraft got on the tail of another Stuka of Orange Kette.
Yellow Flight would then begin to split up and look to engage the White schwarm aircraft. The Blue Kette Stukas were attempting to fly casual and get out of the mess they found themselves in.
That was the end of the 4th or 5th turn. I lost count at somepoint. The cards are all shuffled and waiting for me to have time to return to the game. Orange Kette looks to be in trouble with its leader shot down and another aircraft with a tailing fighter. Blue Kette seems to be avoiding contact. The White Schwarm is scattered and their shooting has been less than stellar. There are stll two German schwarms and one British flight that have yet to make an appearance.
To Be Continued.....
