Carl_Brisgamer
03-25-2017, 19:53
Yesterday I dropped in to the Emperor's Legions shop in Annerley, Brisbane. I had just finished some Fiat CR.32s (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?27251-WGS-Spanish-Civil-War-1936-39-1-200-Shapeways-Fiat-CR-32-Chirri) and brought out the Spanish Civil War aircraft. The mission below is a variation on an historical scenario I have completed for my pending 'Luftwaffe Commander' WGS campaign. Paul and I decided to each fly a pair of Nationalist fighters against two Republican bombers using the WGS automatic movement rules. Paul selected the German Heinkel He 51s and I took the Italian CR.32s.
Background
The Spanish Civil War erupted in July 1936, and two months later the battle lines have formed across the country between the Republican Government and the Nationalist Rebels. In August 1936 the Republican cause received a number of twin-engine French Potez 540 bombers in Barcelona where they equipped the Escadre Espana formed by Spanish and volunteer international aircrew. On August 14 a covert force of Italian pilots with a dozen Fiat CR.32 fighters arrived in Morocco to assist the Nationalists under General Franco. The week before a contingent of Luftwaffe pilots travelling under assumed names codenamed Sonderstab W arrived in Cadiz with six Heinkel He51s to support the Fascist insurrection. By September the Nationalist forces were pressing Republican defences around Madrid resulting in an increase in the tempo of aerial operations.
North of Madrid, Spain
September 1936
219856
Two Fiat CR.32 fighters piloted by capitán Angel Salas and his wingman of 1a Escuadrilla de Caza del Tercio are patrolling 6000 metres over the Sierra de Guadarrama. The two Spanish pilots took off from their airfield at Tablada near Seville in response to reports of Republican bombers attacking Nationalist positions.
219855
A few kilometres away two Heinkel He 51Bs piloted by Oberleutnants Krafft Eberhardt and Hannes Trautloft were responding to the same report.
219854
The Nationalist fighters soon spotted two Republican Potez 540 bombers about 1000 metres below returning from their mission .....
219853
and set course to intercept.
219852
The Spanish Fiats are the first to engage the Republican bombers .....
219858
..... but Salas mistimes his approach and overshoots the Potez as it turns to meet the attack, catching a burst from the front gunner which damages his rudder. His wingman opens fire with his 12.7mm and 7.7mm machine guns, the burst severing a fuel line. The Potez immediately catches fire.
219857
As the Fiats swing around the Potez gunners continue to fire on the Nationalist fighters inflicting some damage.
219861
Meanwhile the Heinkels swing out wide of the other Republican bomber.
219860
Capitano Salas is unable to follow up the first Potez due to his rudder damage, leaving his wingman as the sole target for the Potez gunners.
219859
As the Heinkels turn towards their Potez to attack from the rear, Salas' wingman banks left out of range as the fire finally seems to take hold on the first Republican bomber.
219865
The Potez continues to burn as the CR.32 pilot turns back to attack. His rounds cause minimal damage but the Potez gunners pepper the Nationalist machine.
219864
The flames do more damage to the Potez 540 .....
219863
..... but finally burn themselves out as the CR.32 passes overhead.
219862
Sala's wingman banks back into the attack, firing on the bomber with height advantage. Return fire from the dorsal turret smashes into the little Italian fighter, causing serious structural damage.
219871
Swinging in behind the Potez the CR.32 fires one last burst but misses the mark. The dorsal gunner shoot well however, his burst stitching the Fiat from nose to tail.
219870
Unable to take any more damage the CR.32 falls away, the pilot bailing out over Republican lines to an uncertain fate.
219869
The methodical Germans move into to attack their Potez, diving down behind the Republican bomber. Fire from the Heinkels' four 7.92mm machine guns does considerable damage, with Eberhardt's machine being hit by return fire.
219868
Capitano Salas extracts a measure of revenge for the loss of his impetuous wingman as he dives down to 5000 metres and opens fire at close range. His burst pummels the French-built Potez, smashing through the cockpit and wounding the pilot. The stricken Potez wings over and spins down to crash behind Republican lines.
219867
The Germans press their attack as a burst from Oberleutnant Eberhardt takes out the dorsal gunner and damages the rudder controls. As he is hit the gunner's last burst strikes Eberhardt's engine causing critical damage.
219877
With the dorsal gunner wounded the Germans attack with impunity, Eberhardt putting more rounds into the Potez.
219876
Eberhardt's next accurate burst blasts through the fuselage, lighting up the fuel tanks and wounding the bombardier/front gunner.
219875
The Potez 540 starts to burn .....
219874
banking away to starboard to escape the marauding Heinkels. The Republican bomber's ventral gunner mans the dorsal turret scoring hits on Trautloft, who returns fire. Eberhardt struggles with his damaged engine but puts one last burst into the enemy bomber .....
219873
..... shooting down the Potez flames.
219872
Both bombers dispatched, the remaining Nationalist fighters join formation for the return trip to Tablada.
Background
The Spanish Civil War erupted in July 1936, and two months later the battle lines have formed across the country between the Republican Government and the Nationalist Rebels. In August 1936 the Republican cause received a number of twin-engine French Potez 540 bombers in Barcelona where they equipped the Escadre Espana formed by Spanish and volunteer international aircrew. On August 14 a covert force of Italian pilots with a dozen Fiat CR.32 fighters arrived in Morocco to assist the Nationalists under General Franco. The week before a contingent of Luftwaffe pilots travelling under assumed names codenamed Sonderstab W arrived in Cadiz with six Heinkel He51s to support the Fascist insurrection. By September the Nationalist forces were pressing Republican defences around Madrid resulting in an increase in the tempo of aerial operations.
North of Madrid, Spain
September 1936
219856
Two Fiat CR.32 fighters piloted by capitán Angel Salas and his wingman of 1a Escuadrilla de Caza del Tercio are patrolling 6000 metres over the Sierra de Guadarrama. The two Spanish pilots took off from their airfield at Tablada near Seville in response to reports of Republican bombers attacking Nationalist positions.
219855
A few kilometres away two Heinkel He 51Bs piloted by Oberleutnants Krafft Eberhardt and Hannes Trautloft were responding to the same report.
219854
The Nationalist fighters soon spotted two Republican Potez 540 bombers about 1000 metres below returning from their mission .....
219853
and set course to intercept.
219852
The Spanish Fiats are the first to engage the Republican bombers .....
219858
..... but Salas mistimes his approach and overshoots the Potez as it turns to meet the attack, catching a burst from the front gunner which damages his rudder. His wingman opens fire with his 12.7mm and 7.7mm machine guns, the burst severing a fuel line. The Potez immediately catches fire.
219857
As the Fiats swing around the Potez gunners continue to fire on the Nationalist fighters inflicting some damage.
219861
Meanwhile the Heinkels swing out wide of the other Republican bomber.
219860
Capitano Salas is unable to follow up the first Potez due to his rudder damage, leaving his wingman as the sole target for the Potez gunners.
219859
As the Heinkels turn towards their Potez to attack from the rear, Salas' wingman banks left out of range as the fire finally seems to take hold on the first Republican bomber.
219865
The Potez continues to burn as the CR.32 pilot turns back to attack. His rounds cause minimal damage but the Potez gunners pepper the Nationalist machine.
219864
The flames do more damage to the Potez 540 .....
219863
..... but finally burn themselves out as the CR.32 passes overhead.
219862
Sala's wingman banks back into the attack, firing on the bomber with height advantage. Return fire from the dorsal turret smashes into the little Italian fighter, causing serious structural damage.
219871
Swinging in behind the Potez the CR.32 fires one last burst but misses the mark. The dorsal gunner shoot well however, his burst stitching the Fiat from nose to tail.
219870
Unable to take any more damage the CR.32 falls away, the pilot bailing out over Republican lines to an uncertain fate.
219869
The methodical Germans move into to attack their Potez, diving down behind the Republican bomber. Fire from the Heinkels' four 7.92mm machine guns does considerable damage, with Eberhardt's machine being hit by return fire.
219868
Capitano Salas extracts a measure of revenge for the loss of his impetuous wingman as he dives down to 5000 metres and opens fire at close range. His burst pummels the French-built Potez, smashing through the cockpit and wounding the pilot. The stricken Potez wings over and spins down to crash behind Republican lines.
219867
The Germans press their attack as a burst from Oberleutnant Eberhardt takes out the dorsal gunner and damages the rudder controls. As he is hit the gunner's last burst strikes Eberhardt's engine causing critical damage.
219877
With the dorsal gunner wounded the Germans attack with impunity, Eberhardt putting more rounds into the Potez.
219876
Eberhardt's next accurate burst blasts through the fuselage, lighting up the fuel tanks and wounding the bombardier/front gunner.
219875
The Potez 540 starts to burn .....
219874
banking away to starboard to escape the marauding Heinkels. The Republican bomber's ventral gunner mans the dorsal turret scoring hits on Trautloft, who returns fire. Eberhardt struggles with his damaged engine but puts one last burst into the enemy bomber .....
219873
..... shooting down the Potez flames.
219872
Both bombers dispatched, the remaining Nationalist fighters join formation for the return trip to Tablada.