OP Pedestal – Doncaster 2015
A trail game for the new Air to Sea rules.
The plan layout.
Carl, Steve and Myra plan the Axis attacks
SM79 torpedo planes, ME110, Macchi and a Stuka attack the convoy
2nd Martlet takes off as CAP reinforcement.
And attacks the Stuka
Swordfish reinforcements as 2nd martlet loops round to enter the fray
Late arrival by the Spitfires from Malta Command
Lone Martlet takes on the torpedo bombers with support from HMS Foresight. A ME110 trails smoke crossing the tail of the convoy.
The first of 2 aircraft shot down by HMS Foresight
Santa Elisa is hit by a torpedo and is dead in the water. Sadly she was hit again and finished off by a deadly straffing run by a ME110.
Rochester Castle suffers the same fate.
Italian torpedo planes have the range now and another merchant is struck
The plotters in the Lascaris War Room try to plot the battle as it unfolds.
2 Italian torpedo planes on fire as the Malta boys close in
Santa Elisa erupts in a cataclysmic explosion as her deck cargo ignites and the doomed ship blows up.
Waimarama & Santa Elisa sink to the bottom of the Med.
Empire Hope takes two torpedoes starboard side.
The aftermath circles with crosses in show where planes where shot down. Grey German, Green Italian and Blue FAA.
The last attacks by the Italian torpedo bombers caused heavy damage on HMS Warspite. Warspite took 2 torpedoes and took maximum damage (2x18 C damage chits). The attack at last beaten off the remains of the convoy steamed into Grand Harbour.
Butchers Bill
Royal Navy:
HMS Victorious (1 plane shot down pilot recovered)
HMS Warspite (badly damaged)
HMS Manchester
HMS Birmingham
HMS Foresight (minor damage)
HMS Eskimo (minor damage)
HMS Bicester
HMS Ashanti
HMS Bramham
HMS Tartar
HMS Derwent
HMS Fury
Merchant Marine:
MV Clan Ferguson
MV Dorset (badly damaged)
MV Empire Hope (badly damaged/dead in the water engine damage took under tow)
MV Deucalion
MV Glenarchy
MV Rochester Castle (sunk)
MV Port Chalmers
MV Santa Elisa (sunk)
MV Wairangi (sunk)
SS Ohio (minor damage)
SS Almeria Lykes
MV Melbourne Star
MV Brisbane Star (sunk)
SS Waimarama (sunk)
Axis:
5 planes shot down.
SUMMARY
1. Rules seemed to work ok.
2. Should have put more CAP up but this was done on a dice roll 1-6 (rolled a 1).
3. CAP should be able to relocate for initial attacks up to 3 ruler lengths to simulate radar cover.
4. Add aricraft, torpedo and bomb respawn points for Axis aircraft.
5. Warspite was unlucky that Steve did pick 2 18 damage chits, 1 from each torpedo and took 3 of the 12 hull boxes out in one strike.
6. Merchants were vulnerable to fire, any special damage caused a fire (simulating fuel stored on open decks).
7. Engine hits on ships either stopped them dead in the water (merchants 1 hit) or slowed them down.
8 Due to massive fleet size only dead in the water was taken into consideration.
9. Rules to be finalised and typed up fully.
10. Will place in file section soon.
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