June FSO

[Squire]

Frame dates are June 4th, 11th and 18th. Sides will be posted next saturday with frame 1 objectives out soon after.

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ANGELS EIGHT: Normandy Front Summer 1944

The backbone of Allied air power in the Normandy campaign centered around the mobile fighter-bomber wings of the RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force and the USAAF IX Tactical Air Force. Their mandate was to provide direct support to the American, British and Canadian armies. They had to move as the army did and be ready to change locations on short notice. When fully operational the mobile wings were completely self sufficiant organisations performing the same function as a unit in England. Airfields also had to be built from scratch or repaired, a task perfomed by engineers assigned to those airfields often using an invention called peirced steel planking (PSP) that was critical to setting up airfields quickly. Such was the importance of the tactical air force support troops that many were in the follow up waves of personnel on D+1. Within 24 hrs of the invasion the first Allied aircraft were using emergency strips on the Continent and by a month into the campaign 25 Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) had been built.

The Luftwaffes reaction to the threatened Western Front was remarkably swift. Initially the French based JGs defending the landing area had been widely scattered to counter the threat of air attack and as a result the Jadgwaffes first efforts were woefully inadequate. However by June 9th 1944 no fewer than 15 Jagdgruppen had departed the Homeland for France. Bomber forces from Italy and southern France were also deployed to bolster the defenders bringing their combat strength to about 1000 aircraft. Now faced with having to counter both the Allied Bombing Offensive and the Normandy fighting the Luftwaffe braced itself for a fight for survival in a war few in the Wehrmacht now thought winnable. Many of the Luftwaffe units operated from rough strips during the fighting, keeping well camoflaged and disperesed untill sortied. Along with the fighters of the Jadgeschwader units many Schlachtgeschwader (ground attack) units also flew into the cauldron flying desperate missions in order to try and stem the Allied forces.   

After intense fighting in the bocage country the Allies broke out during Operation Cobra in July. The following month saw the bulk of the German 7th Army retreating from the closing Falaise Pocket. August 25th saw the liberation of Paris. On August 30th the 84 day battle was over with the remaining German forces withdrawn across the Seine river. The air campaign had cost the Allies 1639 aircraft (to all causes) and the Luftwaffe 1522 aircraft (to all causes). The worst losses amongst the Luftwaffe was the high percentage of veteran aircrew killed or posted missing, valuable crews they could ill afford to lose.

This FSO will recreate the defence of the Western Front by the Luftwaffes surviving experten and the Allied air forces supporting the advancing armies.   

Country Percentages:

Axis 48%
Allied 52%

Field Assignments:

Axis Bishop
Allied Knight
CM Rook
 
OOB:
 
Axis (Luftwaffe):

Bf 109G-14
Bf 109G-6 (min 24)
Fw 190A-5 (min 24)
Fw 190A-8 (min 24)
Fw 190F-8 (min 24)
Recon Aircraft: Ar 234 (6 per frame, no formations) *Special mission aircraft*

Allied (USAAF/RAF/RCAF):

Spitfire XVI (max 48)
Spitfire VIII (max 24)
Typhoon (max 48)
Mosquito VI
P-51B
P-47D-25 (min 24)
P-38J
A-20G
B-26B (max 24 players, formations enabled)
Recon Aircraft: Spitfire FR XIV (Spitfire XIV, 12 per frame) *Special mission aircraft*

Special Rules and Ordnance Restrictions: Each a/c type must be used by a *minimum of 12 players* unless otherwise specified. The Recon Aircraft have an OPTIONAL mission ability to make a tactical reconnaissance run. The recon a/c may also be used in their regular fighter/bomber/attack roles. The Ar 234s RATOs will be disabled. Axis aircraft are not permitted to go feet dry over England.

Special Missions (Optional): Recon missons are filmed (ALt-R) over a strike target at 4000 ft or less within light flak range and/or over the center area of the target after the strike is completed but within 60 min of frame start. They must rtb safely to get the points for the mission. Confirmation film to be emailed to the Admin CM.

Scoring:

Aircraft Pts
------------

B-26 = 20 pts
Arado 234 = 25pts
Twin Engined aircraft = 10 pts
Single Engined aircraft = 5 pts
Spitfire FR XIV = 20 pts

Landing Bonus = 5 pts

Ground Target Pts
-----------------

Gun = 0.1 pts
Ammo Bunker = 3 pts
Barracks = 3 pts
Radar = 3 pts
Vehicle Hangar = 25 pts
Fighter Hangar = 25pts
Bomber Hangar = 25 pts
Town Building = 3 pts
Factory at strategic target = 3 pts
Truck in convoy = 1 pt
Train = 2 pts
Recon mission = 50 pts

Arena Settings:

- Battle of Britain (bob09) terrain
- Fuel burn 1.2
- Icons short (3k)
- 0.5 Ack
- Fighter and Bomber warning range 42,000 (about 8 miles)
- Tower range set to 42,000 (for display only to match the above setting)
- Haze/fog full visability (17 miles)
- Radar off
- Enemy Collisions On
- Friendly collisions off
- Killshooter off
- Time: 15:00 ( 3PM ) Game Clock
- Formations: On
- Bomber calibration: Manual

- Wind: 0-2K NO WIND
        2K-18K W TO E - Speed 5
        18K-24K NW TO SE - Speed 10
        24k+ W TO E - Speed 15

Designer's Notes: The Spitfire XVI is identical to a Spitfire IXe and represents that type. The Spitfire VIII is a stand in for the almost identical Spitfire VII. The Recon Spitfire FR XIVs were armed varients of the Spitfire XIV with cameras added. The Ar 234 was just entering service in very small numbers with operational trials units during the Normandy air battles.

Design by Warloc

[442w30]

This looks like a very good set-up!  Already looking forward to it.   

[Spikes]

I want a 234!

[haasehole]

looks good 

[Jenks]

I'm only gonna HO 234's from now on......   We hates Spikesies!, we hates  him!

[TUK]

Are their no bombers for the axis besides the Arado's?

[Spikes]

Believe so because Axis are on defense.

[Squire]

There will be objectives to attack for both sides but the Axis will be mostly on the defensive. The only real "bomber" for the Luftwaffe in AH is the Ju-88. It is cannon fodder in a mid 1944 ETO setup and did not see daylight action in France in 1944. They flew almost exclusivley night missions. Mainly the LW relied on Jabos (fighter-bombers). The pts for a/c makes the B-26s expensive to lose and this offsets the better bombload they have. So the two reasons I did not include it was the high vulnerability, and the fact they were not used as traditional day bombers in Normandy. Some designs may include them, for this one I chose not too.  

[Spikes]

There will be objectives to attack for both sides but the Axis will be mostly on the defensive. The only real "bomber" for the Luftwaffe in AH is the Ju-88. It is cannon fodder in a mid 1944 ETO setup and did not see daylight action in France in 1944. They flew almost exclusivley night missions. Mainly the LW relied on Jabos (fighter-bombers). The pts for a/c makes the B-26s expensive to lose and this offsets the better bombload they have. So the two reasons I did not include it was the high vulnerability, and the fact they were not used as traditional day bombers in Normandy. Some designs may include them, for this one I chose not too. 

That makes sense.

While you're on, as I understand it, the 234s are allowed to do bombing as well as carrying guns so long as they fulfill their recon role?

[Squire]

"The Recon Aircraft have an OPTIONAL mission ability to make a tactical reconnaissance run." - from the write up.

I really want to avoid any confusion here. The recon missions are optional. That is to say if the CiC assigns them, they can, or, they can opt to just use them as just bombers. There are only 6 Arados per frame, they are really included for some history...and variety, they will certainly not be a "main type" in the FSO.

Same with the Spit 14s. They, as an option, be used as recon fighters, in the same fashion, or just be flown as a regular fighter. Its up to the CiC to assign them the tasks.

Both types can also, looking at the above, roll as a recon a/c, land, reup, and fly a fighter or bomber sortie. So there is room for some creativity here.  

Regards.

[TUK]

Was my bad. Upon picking my rides for next montth  I was looking at the old Fso write up in Special events site. I t has not been updated yet and the write up  looks similar..

[Nefarious]

With the Holiday Weekend coming up, Are we going to see sides or CICs selected?

Frame 1 CICs may find it tough with the holiday schedule.

[daddog]

Was my bad. Upon picking my rides for next montth  I was looking at the old Fso write up in Special events site. I t has not been updated yet and the write up  looks similar..

Remember the events site is still being updated. That is why we have an FSO up and posted from 2 months ago.

[Squire]

FSO dates are as stated, Frame 1 June 4th. No plans to not proceed with CiC, sides, ect as per usual. Any wrinkles we will work out.

[perdue3]

Spit 16?

Is this a typo for Spit9?

I need to know soon please.