Port of Benghazi is leveled by Allied Forces 12/06/1942 (2014)

[THECCRICH]

This just in...

Allied Forces have successfully leveled the Axis occupied port of Benghazi.


The 9 Allied aircraft B-25 task force suffered a 35% casualty rate at the hands of an Italian auxiliary unit flying for the Germans.

3 cargo ships were sunk in the attack as hoped, and now sit at the bottom of the port.

With the Axis being denied access to the port, it should further weaken their advance against El Alamein.

Details to Follow:








3 Joe's version of Chris's plotting desk



5 Pre-flight systems check






The Italian to the right made the Allies pay for the port while the German standing to the left made sure no re-enforcements got close.



The Brits provided some needed fighter cover and even sent Eric Hartman into the sand...
You should have seen the Irish Jig danced to celebrate



Green Group fell after tying up the German assault



Maybe those Italian Fiat CR. 42s will be taken more seriously next time



Until next time... What a blast...

[flash]

That was quite a party - well done Chris and wingmen

[Lord of Girth]

A few more photos and comments from the NORTH AFRICA battle. Really had a great time! My Messers and Fockewulfs tore into the B-25s with a vengeance. But paid the price when the Spit Mk IXs arrived. All the Italians and Germans could not stop the B-25s that got through. They pounded the port with support from P-51s and Beaufighters.

Two Heinkels did manage to make it to the port of Tobruk and damage a liberty ship. And a Stuka did manage to drop a 500lb. on the British HQ.
But - unfortunately those were the only Allied ground targets engaged.

And yes, Hartman fell. After a Mk. IX chewed his Messer's tail section off in an intentional collision. CHEAP SHOT!

I've also attached the "Negative" from a recon flight over the area. Prior to the game, Chris had asked for a photo of the play board so he could "plan" his B-25 route. John and I thought it would be fun to mess with him and provide very low res, negatives - with cloud cover... We used smoke bombs to obscure the port (Cloud Cover). Delivered with a report that "conditions were less than favorable for meaningful reconnaissance". And that another attempt would be tried the following day. It worked very well irritating Chris.

[ptownhiker]

Wow! That is an impressive map and quite the large scale battle. I also like the promotional sign at the top of the thread.

[THECCRICH]

I have to give credit where credit is due... My brothers Joe and John made the board and gathered the crowd...

Seriously, you guys did an awesome job with the game, hosting , and toasting...


Now onto the Ensign's Challenge:

1. Take off from Escort Carrier Gambier Bay and perform the following:
a. Proper Climb
b. Proper Dive
c. Immelman
d. Slit S
e. Overdive
f. Level bombing between 5 and 7K meters (on dummy destroyer)
g. Successful Fuel management
h. Safely land back aboard CVE 73 Gambier Bay and...
i. Successful engine shutdown / reporting to chow.

Successful Completion of the Ensign's Challenge earns you a promotion to Lieutenant junior grade and your wings.

Proper rules now Sailor...!!!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Some very innovative details in this game.
I loved the recon photos though I surmise that Chris didn't.
Well done for all the extras.
Rob.

[THECCRICH]

You are right Rob, I was not happy...
After I realized my brother was messing with me, we all had a really good laugh...

Merry Christmas...

[Doug]

Nice AAR report. When I was in Derna in the 1970's (Libya) there was the rusting remain of a beached Italian amo ship still full of amo on a rockey out crop, just left there nobody had done anything to destroy the munitions.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Nice AAR report. When I was in Derna in the 1970's (Libya) there was the rusting remain of a beached Italian amo ship still full of amo on a rockey out crop, just left there nobody had done anything to destroy the munitions.

i'm astounded that some enterprising local had not liberated them in order to go fishing.
Rob.