Hellcats Over Mindanao
Artist Credit:
Historical Background American grand strategy in the Pacific was decided at a conference
in the summer of 1944. Gen Douglas MacArthur, Adm Chester Nimitz and the
members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff chose to reoccupy the Philippine islands
rather than strike toward the Chinese mainland. Sixteen fast-carriers departed
at the end of August with some 520 Hellcats. The ever increasing requirement
for fleet defense had resulted in big-deck carriers embarking up to
54 fighters (with fewer dive- and torpedo bombers) - a significant increase over the
previous standard of 36 fighters. The resulting surface action was second only in size to
that employed in the 1916 Battle of Jutland, though for variety and concentrations of forces
engaged - air, surface and submarine- no other action could match it. From the initial
sweeps over Mindanao in September 1944 to the withdrawal of Task Force 38 in January
1945m the twenty-two squadrons of Hellcats that saw action over the Philippines
claimed an astonishing (and devastating or the Japanese) tally of 1300 air-to-air kills. Mission
Briefing: This Snapshot represents initial fighter sweeps and strikes of Imperial Japanese
forces on Mindanao by USN F6F Hellcats operating from Task Force 38.
Arena
SEA
Country Percentages
Allies (Bishops)-50%
Axis (Knights)-50%
Allies:
F6F-100% of Allied Forces, Task Force 38 (C15)
Orders:
The US objective is to engage the CAP over P34 and destroy enemy fighters.
Restrictions:
none
Axis
A6M5-50% of Axis Forces
KI-61-40% of Axis Forces
N1K2-10% of Axis Forces
Japanese roll A30
Orders:
Japanese objective is to CAP port P34 and destroy US attackers.
Restrictions:
Zekes, Ki61s and N1K2s may not carry bombs.
Victory Conditions
All Planes -10 pts
Arena Settings:
1. Terrain - Mindanao
2. Fighter and Bomber Warning Range - 52,800 (about 10 miles)
3. Enemy Collisions - on
4. External view for bombers (F3) - on
5. Visibility - 7 miles
6. Friendly Collisions - off
7. Fuel - 1.5
8. Ack - 0.4
9. Kill Shooter - off
10. Tower Range - 52,800 (for display to aid players, set to match the above setting)
11. Radar - off
12. Time - 06:00
13. Wind - None
14. Icon Range - short
Designer Notes
The number of fields the allies are required to attack is dependent on attendance.
Hellcats shall launch from any CV within striking distance of the Japanese airfields
at the discretion of the CM.
CM Notes
Targets killed at other fields or strat targets will not be counted. Suggest if 1-20 players attending then use only P34 as a target. If over 40 players then use both P34 and A29.
Design By
Skyfoxx-880 FAA, edited by 68Falcon/daddog
