PDA

View Full Version : AAR Mediterranean Theatre - Chapter 2: To Run or to Stay



Blackronin
08-09-2014, 14:02
This is The Malta Variation - Scenario 1: He who runs away lives to...

June 15, 1940


Dear Brother:

I was very sad we couldn't meet before the Eagle left harbor. I received your letter from May 25 and I understand the weight you feel over your shoulders. But we must endure. I'm now in Malta and as soon as we arrived we had to fight. Captain Bridge decided that the Swordfishes we brought should flight to Malta escorted by four Martlets. This would maintain the Eagle in combat readiness and give us the space so needed to operate our planes. So this morning at sunrise, Yellow Section, commanded by Flt. Lt. David "Arizona" Surprise escorted the 8 Swordfishes. As soon as they arrived the island, Malta control tower asked for help. Three bogeys were coming in direction of La Valletta port. Dave decided to send two Martlets to engage the bandits. PO Carlos Janriver and PO Daniel Prague dropped formation to engage the Italian planes.

Air Commodore Kyte heard the sirens and left his desk. He went outside and looked up.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay02.jpg

Air Commodore Kyte looked up and saw the incoming planes. Three Italian fighters. What were those? He had to study every Italian plane. Then he heard some more engines coming.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay03.jpg

More Italians, he wandered. They too came from the sea...

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay01.jpg

But the way they moved to intercept seemed to deny that first thought. He still remembered from the other war... No time for that. His aide joined him at the veranda. "Those aren't ours..." Kyte pointed. "No sir. They're the new American naval fighters. They're from the Eagle. Escorting the incoming Swordfishes..." Kyte nodded. He knew that they were intercepting.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay04.jpg

"One of those Italians flies like an ace..." Kyte said quietly. "What, sir?" Kyte put his hand over his eyes. "Would you be kind enough to bring me a G&T? This battle promises to be interesting." His aide left quickly. "Yes sir."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay05.jpg

"Trying to get in a better position?" Kyte shook his head. "It won't work, m'boys, they're more than you..." Finally he remembered he had his binoculars in his belt and he took them quickly.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay06.jpg

"Yes..." He spoke to himself, "I told you... First blood..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay07.jpg

"A formation split-s... You navy boys know how to fly... But maybe you should split up..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay08.jpg

Kyte's aide returned in a quick pace. "Here, sir. Did you lost anything?" Kyte slowly sipped a small portion from his G&T.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay09.jpg

"No... Just the initial firing... This G&T feels a bit rushed, doesn't it?" His aide kept looking at the evolving planes. "I am sorry, sir..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay10.jpg

"No harm done. The Italians are firing well against our boys..." "Shouldn't they split?" "I understand now that it wasn't for the G&T making that I accepted you as my aide..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay11.jpg

"They seemed to have listened you..." "You didn't..." "What?!" "You didn't accepted me, sir. You invited me to be your aide." "Yes. You're quite right..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay12.jpg

"That light brown plane... That pilot knows what he's doing..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay13.jpg

"Ah there. Excellent firing from our men!" "Indeed, sir."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay14.jpg

"They're outnumbered, those boys, and two of the Italians are targeting one of them..." "But the other one might make the difference, sir."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay15.jpg

"He's taking a lot of hits. At least from here seems so..." "I saw something fall out of that Martlet..." Kyte turned his eyes to his aide. he also had a pair of binoculars in his eyes.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay16.jpg

Then suddenly a flash. "That one is done!" His aide turned to the other Martlet. "Who?! Who?" "The Italian! Look how it comes down."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay17.jpg

"Excellent burst. We have a pilot there!" "I was watching the other plane... I didn't saw the shot that took him down..." "No matter! Now the odds are getting even."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay18.jpg

"He has to reach his wingman quickly..." "He'll do it. These Martlets are hard built."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay19.jpg

"They are... But that one has already taken a lot of punishment, sir." "I'm afraid there's a lot more punishment to come yet."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay20.jpg

"Look how they are trying to get close to each other. They know what they're doing." "And the Italians don't?" "Oh, they do... They do... But let's just hope that they don't..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay21.jpg

"The Italians seemed to have lost the fighting edge..." "Don't say that, my boy, that Italian is to be reckoned for..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay22.jpg

"Look at the way he fires..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay23.jpg

Kyte followed the firing planes and then looked around. "Our boys should be airborne by now." "They should?" "Yes. We'll have to see to that."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay24.jpg

"They're in a good position now. The Italian are going to move away." "Mmm... Maybe. Maybe not..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay25.jpg

"Good shooting!" "He was ready for that... See what he's doing now..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay26.jpg

"Good flying... But he'll be shot again." "Yes he will..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay27.jpg

"How could he hit from that position, sir?!" "That Italian is an ace..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay28.jpg

"But our boy is not bad either..." "He's not... But he was lucky... The other Martlet is on fire." "Why won't he jump?" "Too low..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay29.jpg

"Is he trying to put it down in the water?" "Yes... If the Italian lets him..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay30.jpg

"The Italians are leaving!" "They are. I want to meet those boys... Let's hope they're okay..."

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay31.jpg

"He landed on sea and the fire was put off!" "Yes... The Italian ace has problems in his engine. Was it that the reason he let them go?"

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i395/Bayushiseni/WW2%20Mega%20Campaign/Malta%20and%20Mediterranean/Chapter%202%20-%20To%20Run%20or%20to%20Stay/RunorStay32.jpg

"Bring the car. Let's see those Swordfishes!" "Yes sir." They both got inside the building leaving the veranda empty with the exception of glass with a roundel of lemon.


In this Mission:

A Pair from Yellow Section
PO Carlos Janriver - Martlet (Standard) (1 Kill - 1 kill in this mission)
PO Daniel Prague - Martlet (Standard) (No ammunition)

Italian Forces
1 ace and two Standard pilots

Special rules:

Angling Shots - All shots that don't enter the enemy plane in its rear arc and front arc are always long range shots;
All close range shots that enter the enemy's plane rear arc at close range add an A damage chit;
All close range shots that enter the enemy's plane frontal arc suffer reduction. All B, C and D chits become A chits instead.
These rules adds to the extra A damage chit for continuous fire (i.e. firing against the same enemy plane for consecutive turns).
Example: A ki-43 is firing for the second consecutive time against a P-40 in the P-40 rear arc at close range. It would make AAB damage.

Ace Trigger Free - Aces are the only pilots that can fire during a reverse maneuver.

Universal Diceless Solo Chart - From now on I'll use this chart for WW2 combat.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=138793&d=1406980938


Butchers Tally

Mixed Flight
PO Carlos Janriver / RTB / 1 Kill
PO Daniel Prague / FLM / FT / S

Blackronin
08-09-2014, 14:05
The Universal Table is very fun to play with. As soon as I make it more user friendly it will be very fast to use.
The Ace was always a step ahead but the cards he drew weren't favorable to him, to my luck.
I was lucky with that boom card, or else I think that both my pilots would have to learn how to swim.

Barkmann
08-09-2014, 21:03
Great mission Joaquim! I read the thread for this universal chart you created... But didn't understand nothing! If you could post something in Portuguese i would be glad.:thumbsup: :)
Thanks


Nick

Flying Officer Kyte
08-09-2014, 23:41
Very enjoyable to see the Martlets in action Quim.
Also to hear Kyte's comments on the action. I loved the ending with the roundel of lemon.:clap:
Your two and my four will make a good half Squadron between them if you want to do it that way. As the Swordfish were also half a squadron, we can do the same. The two flights can fly independently. I am flying a sortie today so watch out for the AAR in a few days time.
Rob.

Blackronin
08-10-2014, 01:43
Great mission Joaquim! I read the thread for this universal chart you created... But didn't understand nothing! If you could post something in Portuguese i would be glad.:thumbsup: :)
Thanks


Nick

I'll do that, Nick. But I think that even in English, for now I'm the only one to really understand it. I'll make a clean chart in both languages soon.

Blackronin
08-10-2014, 01:45
Very enjoyable to see the Martlets in action Quim.
Also to hear Kyte's comments on the action. I loved the ending with the roundel of lemon.:clap:
Your two and my four will make a good half Squadron between them if you want to do it that way. As the Swordfish were also half a squadron, we can do the same. The two flights can fly independently. I am flying a sortie today so watch out for the AAR in a few days time.
Rob.

Thanks, my friend. The Eagle will stay near Malta to help you. My squadrons will join you in several missions. I have an idea for the next mission, that we can play together. But that will be only next weekend.

Lt. S.Kafloc
08-10-2014, 05:54
PO Daniel Prague had never been shot down before. This was a totally new experience for him. To low to bail out he knew he had to put the Martlet down before the flames reached the fuel tank. Glancing round he noticed the italian pilot giving him the thumbs up and indicating that he, Daniel, should put his aircraft down. A quick wave and a thumbs up back Daniel leveled the Martlet and pushed the stick forward. He decided to cut his engine and glide the aircraft down and hopefully land safely on the water. Forgetting the combat up above him Daniel, beads of sweat on his forehead, brought the Martlet down. Trying not to focus his eyes on the waves coming up to meet him he looked in the mid distance so he could gauge his approach. Nearly there he thought, a few more feet and I'm there. Unfortunately fate did not smile on PO Daniel Prague that day. Just as his wing tips were about to touch the water a freak wave caught the Martlet and flipped it over onto its back. PO Daniel Prague was knocked unconscious as the Martlet slowly settled into the water and began it's death dive to the sea below.

PO Daniel Prague: 14 damage / FLM / FT / S (-1)
rolled 1 -1 (sea) = 0 = KIA
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601853/

Lt. S.Kafloc
08-10-2014, 05:55
I am so sorry.

Barkmann
08-10-2014, 05:58
Thanks Joaquim! :)

Barkmann
08-10-2014, 05:58
PO Daniel Prague had never been shot down before. This was a totally new experience for him. To low to bail out he knew he had to put the Martlet down before the flames reached the fuel tank. Glancing round he noticed the italian pilot giving him the thumbs up and indicating that he, Daniel, should put his aircraft down. A quick wave and a thumbs up back Daniel leveled the Martlet and pushed the stick forward. He decided to cut his engine and glide the aircraft down and hopefully land safely on the water. Forgetting the combat up above him Daniel, beads of sweat on his forehead, brought the Martlet down. Trying not to focus his eyes on the waves coming up to meet him he looked in the mid distance so he could gauge his approach. Nearly there he thought, a few more feet and I'm there. Unfortunately fate did not smile on PO Daniel Prague that day. Just as his wing tips were about to touch the water a freak wave caught the Martlet and flipped it over onto its back. PO Daniel Prague was knocked unconscious as the Martlet slowly settled into the water and began it's death dive to the sea below.

PO Daniel Prague: 14 damage / FLM / FT / S (-1)
rolled 1 -1 (sea) = 0 = KIA
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601853/
:eek::eek::eek:

Lt. S.Kafloc
08-10-2014, 06:01
Replacement Pilot:
Rolled 4
Name:?????? ????? Skill: Standard
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601856/

Pilot & Plane available:
Rolled 2 = In time for next mission
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601857/

Blackronin
08-10-2014, 06:05
That's the fate of war. Thanks, Neil for one more excellent post-combat short-story.
I raise my glass to Daniel Prague. He fought well.

Flying Officer Kyte
08-10-2014, 09:02
That's the fate of war. Thanks, Neil for one more excellent post-combat short-story.
I raise my glass to Daniel Prague. He fought well.

Really tough luck Prague going for a Burton like that Quim.
I'm sure that Captain Bridge of the Eagle will have something comforting to say to his parents.
Kyte.

Blackronin
08-10-2014, 09:17
In the Eagle, letters are always written by an excellent officer called Neil Colfaks. Then Captain Bridge reads it, sheds a tear and signs below.

Lt. S.Kafloc
08-10-2014, 10:15
Joaquim do you have the name of the replacement pilot from the Eagle?

Blackronin
08-10-2014, 11:57
Indeed, my friend: PO Dom Sheffield

Here! (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?17883-Malta-amp-North-Africa-801st-and-804th-Squadrons-(HMS-Eagle)-Blackronin)

FarEast
08-10-2014, 18:06
Good grief! I would give a rep but need to wait a while!

gully_raker
08-10-2014, 21:43
:salute: R.I.P. P.O. Prague. Lest we Forget!

Blackronin
08-12-2014, 13:26
Thank you, my friends.