RNZAF defend Singapore harbor: Gloster Glad (x1) & Buffalo (x1) vs Ann (x2 (Vals)
(Squadron avail: Planes (4 – Buff x2, Glads x2), Pilots (5). Martlet out 2 scenarios)
The Japanese push towards Singapore has been aggressive and the Commonwealth troops are giving ground. Valuable supply ships have arrived in the harbor and the 488th has been tasked with the CAP to protect them.
Podunk Airfield – outside Singapore - Squadron Leader Marriot reviewed the duty roster and looked at his gathered pilots lounging around the scarred table in the middle of mess tent serving as their briefing room, and officer’s mess. They looked relaxed, despite the constant flying and thread of attacks. Looking past them, and out the tent, he spied the 4 planes capable of flying today: 2 Brewster Buffalo’s and 2 Gloster Gladiators. The bi-planes had been “on loan” from the now defunct flight school, as well as Flight Officer Riwai, who had been training several of his pilots on how to fly them.
They had not had any encounters since his own CAP the day before yesterday. Today’s mission appeared pretty straightforward and he called out the next two names in the rotation, and told them which planes they were assigned. They nodded and gathered their gear and went to their planes. After takeoff he waved as they turned towards the harbor several miles away. That was the last he saw either plane.
FS John Anderson (Gloster Gladiator) looked over the harbor and watched the ships below unload. His radio cackled and he acknowledged. Coastal watchers had reported 2 Mitsubish Ki-30 (commonly called Ann’s by the Allied forces). He saw them and gave his wingman a thumbs up. FO Raymond Jeffs (Brewster Buffalo Mk1-B-339E-S) returned it and followed FS Anderson on the new heading.
Anderson wanted to make a wide turn and come up behind the Ann’s. They closed and began their turn, just out of firing range.
Both pilots fired at the Orange colored Ann and scored minor hits while the Ann’s rear gunner missed Jeffs.
Closing from behind, the pilots fired again, but the Ann was beginning it’s dive to perform it’s bombing run and the shots weren’t as accurate (1/2 damage). And worse, the rear gunner improved his aim and his shots found the underbelly of Jeff’s Buffalo. The Buffalo, already repaired multiple times couldn’t take any more and just fell apart around Jeffs. Anderson watched in dismay as they Buffalo began to fall towards the sea.
Anderson misses the Orange Ann, and both Ann’s fire upon him.
Anderson can’t get a hit, and takes more damage. Luckily the White Ann missed it’s bomb run, the Orange Ann did not.
Anderson’s plane continues to take fire from both planes, and it begins to smoke as the engine is hit (smoke = engine hit). He gets a minor hit on the Orange Ann and continues to trail it.
As Anderson struggles to keep flying as he crosses the burning Transport, the brutal crossfire continues as the White Ann turns towards him and the Orange Ann hits him again. A second engine hit causes the struggling engine to stop entirely and the plane begins it’s dead stick descent.
Disasterous results for the Kiwi's. 2 planes shot down, and the White Ann was able to loop around sink the 2nd transport. Both Ki-30's returned safely to their base.
Butchers Tally:
Anderson: Crash: Rolled 10 - 1shot down – 1 sea = 8 bruised – skip 1 scenario: rolled 5 for replacement plane – arrives after next battle. It’s a Hawker Hurricane. 9 arrived in Singapore in late Jan.
Dice Roller
You rolled 2 dice:
Timestamp: 2016-03-18 03:54:10 UTC
Jeffs: Crash: Rolled 11 –3exp –1sea = 7 bruised – skip 1 scenario: Rolled 6 for replacement plane – scratch one plane permanently.
Replacement plane rolls.
Sideways are ½ damage for differences in “Zoe’s House Altitude” (2 pegs).
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