Allied (Pacific Theater Operations) pre-campaign scenario
05. January 1942
Attack Japanese Airfield
Background: The 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–1942, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was composed of pilots from the United States' Army Air Forces (USAAF), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC), recruited under presidential authority and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. The ground crew and headquarters staff were likewise mostly recruited from the U.S. military, along with some civilians.
The group consisted of three fighter squadrons with about 20 aircraft each. It trained in Burma before the American entry into World War II with the mission of defending China against Japanese forces. Arguably, the group was a private military contractor, and for that reason the volunteers have sometimes been called mercenaries[citation needed]. The members of the group had lucrative contracts with salaries ranging from $250 a month for a mechanic to $750 for a squadron commander, roughly three times what they had been making in the U.S. forces.
The Tigers' shark-faced fighters remain among the most recognizable of any individual combat aircraft and combat unit of World War II, and they demonstrated innovative tactical victories when the news in the U.S. was filled with little more than stories of defeat at the hands of the Japanese forces.
The group first saw combat on 20 December 1941, 12 days after Pearl Harbor (local time). It achieved notable success during the lowest period of the war for U.S. and Allied Forces, giving hope to Americans that they would eventually succeed against the Japanese. While cross-referencing records after the war revealed their actual kill numbers were substantially lower, the Tigers were paid combat bonuses for destroying nearly 300 enemy aircraft,[1] while losing only 14 pilots on combat missions
This is a starter scenario for the Fire in the Skies Campaign, Pacific Theatre of Operations (PTO)
- Time Frame: 1942
- War Theatre: PTO
- Type: General
Play area: A 4x3 playing area or 2 mats suitable for terrain being fought over. An area marked as an airfield ( max area 6"x6") with 2 buildings and 4 static aircraft. This area should be in the middle of the mat opposite the Allied entry point.
Allied BRIEF: The push continues you have identified an enemy airfield and will attack it. You and your wingman - 2 aircraft. (Curtiss P-40E Warhawk or Grumman F4F)
Allied MISSION: Destroy as many enemy aircraft on the ground as possible.
AXIS (AI): 4 parked aircraft on airfield. (Could use target cards for aircraft if mini’s limited) 1 AA Gun placed within 1 ruler of center of airfield (optional) 1 returning aircraft (Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero or Kawasaki Ki-61). Starts on the edge opposite the Allied entry point.
AXIS reinforcements: once 1 aircraft (Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero or Kawasaki Ki-61) 5 turns after the first axis aircraft is shot down.
AXIS (AI) MISSION: Defend the airfield and fight off the attacking aircraft.
SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:
AAA gun rules: Use the normal fire/load rules. Rol a dice when firing the AA gun. If the result is 1 or 2 draw a D chit for damage. Range 2 rulers. Range ½ ruler no firing allowed.
Static Aircraft Rules: Static aircraft on the ground will take damage as normal once HP are exceeded or they take a fire special damage chit, they are considered destroyed.
1 static aircraft that don’t take fire special damage or have their HP exceeded and there are at least 1 friendly aircraft flying will be removed on every turn after turn 6.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks