All,
Trying out the HMS Glorious scenario, again, using fighter aircraft. Bf-109s with 250kg bombs, versus Hurricanes and AAA.
This was to be a game with Paul [tikkifriend], Neil [Skafloc], and spectators, but the spectators weren't available today, didn't log on, or didn't prearrange their contact info with me, so I wasn't able to invite them into the video call.
Same scenario as last time, constrained by my smaller table (39x60), as opposed to the 60X60 Con double table set-up I will be using at GottaCon. This is what it looked like:
German planes from the top left, with two planes at a time, respawning as planes were eliminated or sent home.
One Hurricane on CAP, with 15 fuel points, and two Hurricanes on deck ready for scramble (Five maneuvers to launch).
Lots of AAA on the carrier. And this is my new sea gaming mat ($6.00 Cdn from the local fabric store).
Paul and I started the scenario, waiting for others to log on. Paul flew the 109s and I defended
The CAP Hurricane closes in on the lead 109, and the AAA markers placed last turn (the dice) hit the lead but miss the winger.
Paul drew the short range damage from the Hurricane, and the two C chits from the AAA, and then we connected with Neil. International time zones are a B!tch.
When Neil showed up, I gave him the Hurricanes, and was going to handle the AAA. We lost Paul, got him back, lost Neil, got Neil back, lost Paul and didn't get him back. So, now we were at the point where Neil was the British, and I was flying the 109s. After all that, I started drawing all the damage for everyone. The Hurricane was a mess, but flying, Paul said the 109 was OK.
Paul had split up the attackers, and I continued that plan. As I approached the carrier, the two ready Hurricanes launched, just as the CAP Hurricane was approaching the deck. I got a awesome shot on the CAP plane and it went down, but the lead Scramble Hurricane tagged the 109.
Planes at the bow did avoidance maneuvers, but the AAA unloaded at the lone 109 at the stern. All eight 4.7" guns targeted a small spot, and I flew into all of it. I would have survived the hit, had this plane not already taken the previous short range Hurricane shot and the AAA.
We rolled to see where the next Hurricane would spawn, and it came up on the aft elevator.
The surviving 109 has released it's bomb, the New Hurricane is on his take-off run. The Scramble Hurricanes take shots at the surviving 109, and the rear Octuple 2pdr fires as well. The Hurricanes do the damage, but not soon enough. We rolled for simulated altitude, and the 109 was well above the deck, Momentum carried the flaming wreck over the flight deck and tower, into the sea on the starboard side. The bomb landed right between the catapults!
Off in the distance, you can see the next 109 coming in.
Much later, there are three Hurricanes in this picture, with the third 109 on it's bombing run. It is well shot up, but still flying. Neil didn't unload too much AAA at it, as I came in through his cloud of Hurricanes. I didn't plan this, and I was thinking of bombing in the middle of the deck, if possible, but with all the fire coming in, I dropped the bomb as soon as I could. It ended up nearly in the same hole as the first bomb. Really, I didn't plan this.
My fourth 109 is already closing in, but taking hits from the Hurricanes. You can see the splashed 109 in the water near the control tower of the carrier.
And having avoided the first disaster of an enemy plane crashing onto the deck, AAA and Hurricane fire take out my fourth plane as he is getting ready to release his bomb. We rolled for altitude, and he was on the deck. So he crashes into the side of the flight deck, doing two critical hits, plus his bomb and his plane damage. The port side AAA gun is destroyed, and starts a fire in the ready-use ammo magazine. The second critical penetrates the torpedo magazine, and besides the explosion, starts another fire. The three bombs, the plane damage and the torpedo explosion are over the total damage of the Glorious, not including any straffing damage and collateral damage from the two bombs penetrating the hangar deck. It cost three 109s, but the HMS Glorious is a burning wreck, and headed for Davey Jones, not England.
Great game, despite the connection issues, and playing with Neil, well, lots of expertise to be gleaned. Thanks for your perseverance, Neil.
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