Valetta or bust! A OP Pedestal mini scenario.
"Look Lt. Your new here but you're the last available pilot we have that isn't already out searching for the missing convoy. Get your aircraft and fly over area 6 and report what you find. Those ships must make it to Valetta. Without their oil we can't fly, if we can't fly then Malta will fall."
"No probs Sir. Willco. I'll jolly well find them or die trying."
"Just find the convoy and no heroics. Ok"
"Sir".
With that the young Lt made his way to his aircraft. 1 of 3 Gloster Gladiators.
"What's that young pilots name?"
"Let me see sir. He's just arrived, been here hardly a week....ah yes, here it is Lt Phillip. H. Kyte".
"Any relation to that other Kyte?"
"Just checking sir, Ah yes. From his records seems to be his 2nd cousin, thrice removed sir".
"What's the H stand for?"
"Horatio, sir".
"God help the Luftwaffe if he's anything like the rest of em Kyte's and that other Horatio fellow, what's his name?"
"Nelson sir?"
"Yes. That's the fellow, always turning a blind eye....now where's me cup of tea?"
HMS Bedouin and Somali have been tasked with escorting MV Melbourne Star, Brisbane Star, Rochester Castle and SS Ohio to Malta.
Lt to rt, HMS Bedouin, SS Ohio, Melbourne Star (Fore), Rochester Castle, Brisbane Star, HMS Somali.
Hauptman Becker/Lt Yorcke (lt) Lt Konrad/Lt Veldmann (rt) have been tasked with engaging the small convoy from their base near Tripoli.
Lt Konrad engages the Brisbane Star. (3,0)
2Lt Phillip Horatio Kyte (2nd cousin three times removed to the present WingCo) has been tasked with locating the convoy en route to Malta. He radio’s his location and that of the convoy knowing that the Luftwaffe has already found the convoy.
Lt Konrad closes the range and engages MV Brisbane Star again (0,8,4).
The Merchant ship responds with its rear 20mm (but misses, A SD= hit but 2nd chit = 0)
Hauptman Becker engages the Melbourne Star (5,3)
The Gladiator closes in as the ME110’s engage the merchant ships again.
The Brisbane Star takes damage (3,3,5) igniting stored fuel cans on its open decks. The ensuing fire causes a catastrophic explosion and the ship quickly sinks.
Hauptman Becker hits the Melbourne Star again. (3,0,5)
Lt Konrad engages the Ohio (1,0), Haputpman Becker engages Melbourne Star (8,0,5) whilst Lt Kyte engages Konrad (2). Like its sister ship, MV Brisbane Star, the Melbourne Star catches fire and sinks. Whilst Kyte skims past the port wing tip of Lt Konrad’s 110.
Hauptman Becker draws fire from HMS Bedouin, (0=miss, 3= hit 2nd chit = 3). The Bedouin takes hits in return (3,3,0).
As Lt Kyte skims past the 110, Konrad opens up on the Ohio. (6,0,0).
Hauptman Becker draws more deadly AA fire from Bedouin as he fly’s past. (2=2 , 2=2, A SD = 3+smoke).
Both 110’s have taken damage but 2 out of 4 merchants have been sunk.
Becker unwisely throws the 110 into an immelman turn and catches more fire from Bedouin (2=3, 0=miss, A SD=2) but hits the Bedouin, (0,6,0).
Konrad’s rear gunner gets in a shot at the Ohio (1).
Lt Kyte has flipped his agile Gladiator round and heads back to take on the 110’s
Kyte engages Becker as a fusillade of AA fire strikes the 110. (0=miss, SD=5, 4=1) (3+engine). The 110 flips over onto its back and hurtles into the sea.
Kyte turns sharp right and engages Konrad’s 110, (8) but takes a few in return (3,1)
Kyte is flying by the seat of his pants trying to put Konrad’s aim off. But he strikes Ohio all the same.
(3,3,0)
Kyte tenaciously hangs onto the rear of the 110 and hits it again (1+1 aim), whilst the Bedouin hits Konrad with AA fire, (3=2, 1=miss, 0=miss).
Konrad takes another blow from Kyte (2+1 aim) as Bedouin strikes again, (2=3, 4=2, 0=miss).
It’s too much for the striken 110 and it follows the Hauptman into the sea.
The Butchers Bill:
Hauptman Becker/Lt Yorcke (lt): 25 damage. Shot down. Sunk MV Melbourne Star
Lt Konrad/Lt Veldmann (rt): 23+ damage. Shot down. Sunk MV Brisbane Star.
Lt Kyte: 12 damage. Claimed 2 kills. RTB.
HMS Bedouin: 22 damage, severe list (max 25 HP). Limped into Valetta.
SS Ohio: 14 damage (max 25). Severe list and flooding. HMS Somali tied to side to stop sinking. Made it to Valetta decks awash.
MV Rochester Castle. No damage. Made it to Valetta.
HMS Somali: no damage. Tied to SS Ohio to help keep the tanker afloat. Made it to Valetta.
Summary:
Wanted to try out the two 110's and this seemed a fitting scenario do do that with.
Having 2 destroyers I felt balanced the game but they were to far from the action HMS Somali didn't even get to fire. Must position the destroyers inside the merchant line or closer to afford good protection.
The addition of the Gladiator balanced the game but by pure luck and chit draws the two 110's were downed otherwise the Ohio might just have gone the way of the other two MV's.
Must try the 110's with bombs next time round.
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That was a super 
in the future for him!
Originally Posted by Blackronin
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