Enough people have asked about the air starts that we thought it best to modify the MOTD to explain them some. This is the new MOTD:
BIG WEEK!
After the October 14, 1943 "Black Thursday"
disaster, the Eighth Air Force flies missions
only within the limited range of its escort
fighters. And so the fall passes, as the Americans
build up their bomber and fighter strength, and
as British and American engineers work on
extending the range of the escorts. The
wretched flying weather of December and
January limits the number of missions that
can be flown.
And then, on February 19, 1944, the skies clear.
The Eighth Air Force flies on the next six
consecutive days. Its target is the German
aircraft industry - which the Luftwaffe knows
it must defend at all costs. Shining machines
filled with thousands of young men pierce the
frigid air over Europe, charging to a flaming
rendezvous in a battle for ownership of the
German skies.
Map: AHRhine2 (the winter map)
Allies (Rooks)
C-47
B-17
B-24
P-38J
P-47D11, D25
P-51B
Jeep
The Ms
Firefly
Axis (Knights)
C-47
Ju-88
Me-109G2, G6
Me-110G2
Fw-190A-5, A-8
Jeep (pretend Kubelwagon)
The Ms
Ostwind
Pz IV
Tiger I
Settings:
Radar: Tower 158400, Sector 343200
Visibility is 12 miles
Field Ack: low-level and puffy are both .25
Killshooter is on
Fuel burn rate is 1.0
Field capture: 10 troops (maproom hardness .0015)
Strat is disabled
Air Starts:
Bases near blue grids have optional air starts.
At the initial setup, Allied (Rook) bases are
A3, A70 and A72. Axis (Knight) air start bases
are A28 and A73. If you take off by clicking
on the south square at these bases you will
immediately be in the air at approximately 18,000
feet. Your gear is down and your engine is off,
so remember to promptly take care of those two
small details.
Notes:
Although the time setting is February, 1944, and thus
before the invasion, we use the Rhine map
for two reasons. First, the Bigweek battles took place
over Europe, not over the Channel, as usually happens
with the Battle of Britain map. Second, we thought
we would enable base capture. People who are interested
in emulating high-altitude bomber intercept situations
should take advantage of the air start bases (as well as
anyone who would just like to fight at a higher-than-
usual altitude).
