Campaigns and Air-War Realities

**LTJG NSCC** · 05-26-2015 14:02

All: I am working away a little bit at a time on a specialized campaign for youngsters, part game and part history lesson with a healthy dose of tactics. An outline will appear here before long and I am taking shameless advantage of other peoples' work.

But here is a challenge:

In gaming, the evenly-matched "dogfight", probably with fighters starting facing one another, is the most fun. In battle, avoiding the risky "even-up" situation was key to long-term success - striking by surprise if possible from superior positions, avoiding a "fair fight" like the plague!

But...it's no fun to "game out" a scenario where one side, with a serious altitude and positional disadvantage, mostly plays "victim"!

Suggestions for making scenarios instructional without making them boring butchery? It's my standard tutorial to have the first scenario be fighters jumping a few bombers who are basically on "autopilot" (or anyway, being controlled by me as a referee more than a player), to learn the basics. And that fits because early in the war the idea of the unescorted bomber hadn't been totally discredited yet..

One early lesson is going to reguire one side to attempt to maintain the prewar "vic" formations popular in many air forces, versus a free-flowing "Schwarm" of Germans (or Finns) - then re-fight the dogfight with more tactical freedom on the RAF or Russian side. Another might involve higher command requiring fighters to stick close to the bombers they're escorting (as higher commands tended to prefer) versus letting the fighters aggressively use best judgement (as every red-blooded fighter pilot preferred...)

Anyway, your collective wisdom solicited here.

**Setarius** · 05-27-2015 13:19

If you want to start them out easy look up the Circuits and Bumps thread. It is good for people learning the game to be able to get used to how the planes move around the board. And you can combine that with some kind of race to see which planes will move faster than the other. Then possibly go on to combat. Check the stickies under WWI and WWII for possible scenarios, some will be more geared towards history than others but, I am sure you can find what you are looking for.
When teaching friends how to play I usually start out with WWI then progress that WWII. Both are easy to learn, I just think WWI is easier. For a fun read and a race idea check out my KY Derby thread in the General Discussion category.

**LTJG NSCC** · 05-27-2015 13:22

Thanks!

I actually saw your "Derby" thread and it looked like a great instructional idea! Plus, given the importance of racing pre-war (for instance, for the Supermarine company...) it's thoroughly appropriate that an air race be held on occasion.

But I hadn't seen "Circuits and Bumps"; thanks for that reference! Did you know, there's an awful lot of material at this site?

**Setarius** · 05-27-2015 13:43

A tremendous amount if you just do the threads, then you add the blogs and it expands. Also check out my question on the firing arcs of the HE-111, one of the responders gave great information that clears up some possible confusion.

**Gotham Resident** · 05-27-2015 13:59

Originally Posted by LTJG NSCC

But...it's no fun to "game out" a scenario where one side, with a serious altitude and positional disadvantage, mostly plays "victim"!

Suggestions for making scenarios instructional without making them boring butchery? It's my standard tutorial to have the first scenario be fighters jumping a few bombers who are basically on "autopilot" (or anyway, being controlled by me as a referee more than a player), to learn the basics. And that fits because early in the war the idea of the unescorted bomber hadn't been totally discredited yet..

Anyway, your collective wisdom solicited here.

Having a few scenarios of "this is how it was fought...can you do better"? Might be ok.

This summer when the wife (a teacher) & kids go to Bar Harbor for 5 weeks, I'm clearing off the Dining Room Table and fighting several battles, including the ill-fated "USN Torpedo 8 Sdrn" attacks during the Battle of Midway. It was unescorted attacks against a carrier fleet by 2 flights - 6 Avengers in 1 flight, and 15 Devastators in another. 20/21 (20 out of 21) planes shot done, 19/21 pilots KIA, 26/27 flight crew members KIA, in exchange for .....0 Japanese planes shot down and 0 torpedo hits.

**LTJG NSCC** · 05-27-2015 14:17

Yes, I once had the privilege of meeting the only survivor, Ensign George Gay, at an airshow in the 1980's. I always thought that Torpedo Eight was the inspiration for the X-wing attacks on the Death Star in the original Star Wars movie - they even wore orange suits that were the color of life-preservers, and shot "torpedoes", for cryin' out loud!

Of course as you know it wasn't a vain sacrifice: the pilots of Torpedo Eight arguably won the whole battle, because they pulled the fighters down to their level which allowed the dive bombers to come in unopposed and really hammer the Japanese carriers. "Theirs not to reason why", and in the end they brought about a great victory - at tremendous loss to themselves.

**Gotham Resident** · 05-30-2015 16:31

It was quite the "lucky" strike for the US, the didn't have such good results in all battles in terms of hits. And it wasn't just Torpedo 8, all 3 US carriers Torpedo Squadrons took heavy damage but Torpedo 8 had 2 elements wiped out AND was the only group from the Hornet.

**flash** · 05-31-2015 01:06

One early lesson is going to reguire one side to attempt to maintain the prewar "vic" formations popular in many air forces

Other than in a straight line you'll find that nigh on impossible to do with the fixed mechanics of the game - as soon as the lead turns it all goes to pieces ! Be ideal for a start position or for getting bounced though.

**Thomas NH** · 04-11-2016 15:25

Maybe have people take turns playing "victim"?

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 04-12-2016 02:24

I house rule lead plane of formation is the one that moves all others maintain formation. Only slow speed with full bomb laod, once bombs dropped then its fast or slow. No snake maneuvers, 1/2 engines gone then that plane breaks formation, drops bombs and heads for home, (moves independently).

**Thomas NH** · 04-12-2016 15:08

Both sides or just one side use this?

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 04-12-2016 15:22

Both.

**fast.git** · 04-12-2016 15:45

Originally Posted by Skafloc

I house rule lead plane of formation is the one that moves all others maintain formation. Only slow speed with full bomb laod, once bombs dropped then its fast or slow. No snake maneuvers, 1/2 engines gone then that plane breaks formation, drops bombs and heads for home, (moves independently).

Good advice, and a great plane management strategy.