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View Full Version : Valetta or bust! A OP Pedestal mini scenario.



Lt. S.Kafloc
01-20-2014, 14:30
"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.
120711

Lt to rt, HMS Bedouin, SS Ohio, Melbourne Star (Fore), Rochester Castle, Brisbane Star, HMS Somali.
120712

Hauptman Becker/Lt Yorcke (lt) Lt Konrad/Lt Veldmann (rt) have been tasked with engaging the small convoy from their base near Tripoli.
120713
Lt Konrad engages the Brisbane Star. (3,0)
120714
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.
120715
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)
120716
The Gladiator closes in as the ME110’s engage the merchant ships again.
120717120718120719
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.
120720
Hauptman Becker hits the Melbourne Star again. (3,0,5)
120721120722120723
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.

120724
Hauptman Becker draws fire from HMS Bedouin, (0=miss, 3= hit 2nd chit = 3). The Bedouin takes hits in return (3,3,0).
120725
As Lt Kyte skims past the 110, Konrad opens up on the Ohio. (6,0,0).
120726
Hauptman Becker draws more deadly AA fire from Bedouin as he fly’s past. (2=2 , 2=2, A SD = 3+smoke).
120727
Both 110’s have taken damage but 2 out of 4 merchants have been sunk.
120728
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
120729120730
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.
120731
Kyte turns sharp right and engages Konrad’s 110, (8) but takes a few in return (3,1)

120732
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)

120733
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).
120734120735
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:
120736
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.
120737
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.

Flying Officer Kyte
01-21-2014, 13:00
Great show Neil, you have preempted my grand fleet action by wee
ks.
I suggest an AA Cruiser in the center of your Merchantmen, then the Destroyers can watch out for those nasty Italian Subs and MTBs.
Getting the Ohio through was the gilt on the gingerbread, so well done chaps.
Kyte.

Lt. S.Kafloc
01-21-2014, 14:37
John at the club let me have the two 110's to play around with. As they were in desert cam it was the only one I could think of plus I wanted to give my Gladiator a 2nd outing.

gully_raker
01-21-2014, 15:12
:thumbsup: That was a super AAR Neil!:clap::clap::clap:
Young Kyte (3 times or more removed!) did an outstanding job against superior odds.
I see a :medal: in the future for him!;)

Still cant give you Rep!:eek:

Teaticket
01-21-2014, 15:17
Nice, I love seeing more creative scenarios!

Blackronin
01-21-2014, 15:26
Excellent scenario, Neil.
where did you get those transport ships?

Lt. S.Kafloc
01-21-2014, 15:29
They are hand made from balsa. Part of a contingent for the WingCo. Couldn't resist giving them a try out. Mind you 2 have been in the Pacific and Med, they get around a bit do those boys.

Neil


Excellent scenario, Neil.
where did you get those transport ships?

Blackronin
01-21-2014, 15:36
Thanks Neil. Beautifully done.
The WingCo knows that you are scratching the paint of his babies?!
I've heard that he can be quite implacable when his fleet is on jeopardy...

I remember that day, in 1942, we were testing a new... Well, better not speak about this... maybe 50 years from now...

calm
01-21-2014, 16:21
Excellent AAR Neil !!!

Do you have top views of merchant ships ? I think that flat targets are better on the table :)

Marechallannes
01-22-2014, 00:03
Nice AAR, Neil.

Great air to ship action. I like the model of the sunk freighters.

The Bf.110 were AI driven. That explains Becker's unneccessary Immelman right into AA fire range of this destroyer. :hmm:

Blauer Baron
01-22-2014, 00:43
Nasty special effects there! :eek: The three flak/flames together are very impressive. The sunken boat parts are very well done too. I enjoyed the report. Lovely to see the ships. They will have to be copied soon and made from scratch. Thanks.:clap:

Lt. S.Kafloc
01-22-2014, 03:22
I'm in the process of making the target cards with top down photo views. The process would be to remove the model leaving the target card (flat) in its place so models can fly across them.

calm
01-22-2014, 04:35
I'm in the process of making the target cards with top down photo views. The process would be to remove the model leaving the target card (flat) in its place so models can fly across them.

That's the idea :D

But I would use only the Target cards, not the models :thumbsup:

Flying Officer Kyte
01-22-2014, 07:06
Best of both worlds there old stick.
Rob.

Lt. S.Kafloc
01-22-2014, 08:34
Check the WW2 file section I've posted lots of target cards there.

Neil


That's the idea :D

But I would use only the Target cards, not the models :thumbsup:

ptownhiker
01-23-2014, 11:20
That's a great AAR! I loved seeing the Gladiators put to good use. Things looked very bad for the British initially, but they turned things around.

Doug
01-23-2014, 12:49
Good AAR there Niel and a very intresting game. Given me idea's there my ships are in 1/600 scale and I have had a CAM model just waiting to be made.......!

Brambo
01-24-2014, 06:22
Brilliant AAR Neil, love the introduction, it did make me chuckle ;) Great effects (Sinking Ship). That Gladiator did well, I thought when he came on those 110's would rip him apart but he survived and proved his worth, well done.

richard m schwab
06-23-2014, 14:13
Great AAR. Doing research for GOA and your game look great!


Rich