Played at Guns of August 2014.
This scenario inspired by Operation Pedestal!
A Malta bound convoy has slipped into aircraft ferry range of Malta. Composed of two fleet and one light carriers. Two battleships one AA cruisers plus escorts and the
supply convoy intermixed this is no push over for the Axis combined air forces.
Forces: FAA : two Fulmar`s and two Hurricanes.
Axis Four SM-79`s and i Ju-88 all torpedo armed. Escorted by one ME-110 and one ME-109.
Bob and i started playing this game by ourselves. We each had an attack force and also ran half of the defensive fighters. The hope was reinforcements would arrive and take over a few planes!
We decided the fleet carriers were our main objective . The only problem was all the AA pickets around them. We decided to attack the pickets and hope a second strike would finish off the carriers.
We attacked in two groups i came in head on with two SM-79 and a JU-88 with a 110 for escort. Bob attacked from the right with two SM-79`s and a 109 escort. The Fulmar`s and Hurricanes opened the ball with attacks while the bombers were well out of AA range.
Bob drew first blood by sinking a destroyer. My 110 after trading shots with Fulmar`s and taking a beating strafed the ships in his path the AA shot him down but he damaged a escort and the BB . My own bombers were taking damage from the enemy fighters and lost a SM-79 just as it entered torpedo range. The forward escort was hit and sunk. My 110 had reentered the table and made it back to the bombers. One of the Fulmar`s went down around this time. My second 110 arrived over the fleet and strafed the escort and the BB again causing more damage. My JU-88 was in torpedo range of the BB when it went down. The BB sustained 50% damage in return. David joined the game in a Ju-87. My last SM-79 fish was a complete dud, The 110`s last act was better it damaged one of the supply ship. Bob had drooped his last fish and damaged the other BB leaving badly damaged and smoking. David found out how hot the AA was to his regret.. At one point in the game as things were moving fast. I asked Bob if he had fired on my planes. He said no, they were on the same side. My Fulmar was lining up on his Hurricane!
With the damage inflicted on the convoy, and the weariness of the gamers. The game was called. A marginal Italian victory. With two BB`s and a AA cruiser in bad shape plus two escorts sunk, the supply ships would face a long trip to Malta. But that is for a later date!
I want to thank Bob and David they made my games work!
Rich
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