Crimean Fall 1943: Frame 3 and Overall Results

[Holder3]

Intense and heavy battle was undertaken in the Northern Front in the battle for the Crimean Peninsula. The Russians threw everything they had at the stalwart Germans, but the Germans held fast and attacked viciously, as the results below show. The Germans have trapped the Russians in a salient around D44, and have largely thrown the Russians back from A6. Large territorial gains have been made, Hitler is reputed to have smiled and skipped a little dance when von Manstein's report was made. Nothing was heard from Comrade Stalin, although NKVD troops were moving towards the Russian Northern HQ office in Rostov.

Frame 1 was a Russian partial victory, Frame 2 was not scored, Frame 3 was nearly a complete German victory. Overall, the Germans came out ahead of the Russians in this one.

German Primary Offensive Missions
Frame CO AKNimitz [/b]
Attack A8 (VH, 1FH, 2BH, 6Gas, 4 Ammo, 2 Barracks, 1 Radar) 17 items x 60% = 10
4 downed/17 = 24%
Attack D75 depot 90 targets approx. x 60% = 54 (these are very soft targets)
80% down
Attack A6 (VH, 2 FH, 1BH, 4 Gas, 2 Ammo, 1 Barracks) 11 items x 60% = 7
10 down/11 = 91%
Attack P38 port (wharf, VH, 4 Gas, 2 Ammo, 1 Barracks, 1 Radar) 10 items x 60% = 6
100% down
Attack Black Sea Fleet (1 cruiser, 4 destroyers) 5 items x 60% = 3
1 Cruiser, 3 destroyers sunk =  80%

Germans destroyed 4 of 5 targets.

Russian Primary Offensive Missions
Frame CO APDrone
Attack A3(VH, 2 FH, 1BH, 4 Gas, 2 Ammo, 1 Barracks) 11 items x 60% = 7
3 downed/11 = 27%
Attack D44 depot 90 targets approx. x 60% = 54 (these are very soft targets)
95% down
Attack A5 (VH, 2 FH, 1BH, 4 Gas, 2 Ammo, 1 Barracks) 11 items x 60% = 7
No damage
Attack D76 depot 90 targets approx. x 60% = 54 (these are very soft targets)
14 down/90 = 16%
Attack A7 base (VH, 1FH, 2BH, 6Gas, 4 Ammo, 2 Barracks, 1 Radar) 17 items x 60% = 10
3 down/17 = 18%

Russians destroyed 1 of 5 targets.



CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FRAME COs, WELL DONE AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH SOME GLITCHES IN MY FIRST SQUADOP.

[Reschke]

I enjoyed getting in on this setup. It was fun and allowed for some nice matchups.

! Axis CO's for a well fought series. Looking forward to the next one.

[Flossy]

Originally posted by Holder3
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FRAME COs, WELL DONE AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH SOME GLITCHES IN MY FIRST SQUADOP.[/COLOR]

Well done, Holder - glad to hear this frame went well.  

[Dugger]

Hmm... I guess I don't understand how some things work.. Damage report show a fleet of one cruiser and 4 destroyers.  Then shows cruiser and 3 destroyers sunk.  I was riding on the cruiser at end frame and it was steaming right along?  Does it not show when sunk if you are on it??   Also had two destroyers alongside.

Just for future reference I'm trying to figure out damage assessments..........

[ghostdancer]

Dugger I am not sure either. I know at the end of the frame that the 4 DD were sunk and 1 CA was left.  Still counts as a LW victory but not sure if Holder was just quoting his orignal assessment of having to sink 4 ships out of 5 and he just cut and paste from the orders.

[Sikboy]

Holder

I really enjoyed this set-up as well, and felt that the planeset was fairly well balanced, with the COs having to figure out how to ensure the battles were fought where their planes had the advantage (Germans hi-alt, Russians on the deck) It really made for some great fights, and even with the problems of Frame 2 I've had a blast, and covered a wide range of combat over the past three weeks.

Frame 1: Air Defense in an M-16/Escort in an La-5
Frame 2: Ground attack in a Yak-9t
Frame 3: CAP in a La-5

This was a great Squad Ops, and I hope we can see more of this in the future!

-Sik

[Holder3]

Have to admit that the damage report on the Fleet was based on what I heard and read from the German side (I was flying German). I looked for the remains of the fleet during my Bomb Damage Assessment and could not find any of it. I thought the cruiser and 3 destroyers were reported sunk.

Even if only two destroyers went down, this would have been a moderate victory for the Germans.

Oh yes, and thanks to Innomin8 for the setup.

I'm glad to hear that the Frame CO's generally liked the approach, this is my intended approach for SOs in the future. Stay tuned, I'm looking at Tunisia next (warm up those P-38s lads, and keep your eyes out for Focke Wulfs). There is another SquadOp before I'm on deck again (I think).

[Flossy]

Quick scan of the logs shows 4 ships destroyed altogether.  001, 002, 003 and 004 - whichever they are.  

[ghostdancer]

After end log I switched to Rooks jumped into CM's eye and took a look. 4 DDs were sunk and the CA was steaming NE back to P38.

[Dugger]

Ok, first, let's be clear.. I was not complaining about the scoring  Just being relatively new to this and hoping someday (way in the future) to be involved in helping to set them up I'm trying to learn as much as I can.  Reviewing my memory (had turned off film by then) I remember being on the CA when they called all VVS were down and the command for all LW to return to base was given.  At that moment I was on the CV and it was afloat.  That much I am sure of.  Prior to that I was observing when the late attack came at the fleet and when that was over there were two DD's and the CA that I could see.  I must admit I do not remember looking for the DD's on my last coastwatcher visit.

Anyhow.. my group had a great time and all have asked me when the next one is going to be  This being our second Tour I was not sure if our attendance would hold up but it did.  Frame 1 - 10, Frame 2 - 8, Frame 3 - 12.  So I expect we will hold our committment at 7-10 for the next one.

We made our share of tactical mistakes, which I'll try to learn from and correct in the future, but we were able to get our planes to the assigned missions on all three frames.  The CO's helped me a lot in figuring out the details and I want to thank all three of them.

As Arnie says, "We'll be back"

[Dugger]

Hell, I'm on a roll, so let me continue.  This is what I've learned so far (it's not much but it beats a blank).

The tendency in Squad Ops to immediate action is different from what I remember in the old AW Scenarios.  Seems like there is a rush to targets immediately on takeoff.  During the first 20 minutes huge airbattles ensue and attrition depletes both sides.  I remember flying for an hour before ever atttacking in some AW Scenarios.

Last night the LW managed to save some assets for late in the frame and that is where they did us a world of hurt.  Not sure if it was strategy or providence but it worked.

I had the task of capping the fleet with my group.  I sent one flight of 6 directly to the area to set up a screen west of the fleet course.  Delayed my second flight takeoff by ten minutes to stagger fuel states.  Sounded good... but

Flight 1 found the Germans incoming ok... boy did we.. 15 or so FW's.  We were at 10K and they came down from maybe 12-15k.  Not a problem since we were at our best maneuvering height but we were severely outnumbered.  My second flight was 8 minutes away.  By the time they arrived we were mauled.  Shot down 3 lost 5 plus one bailed.  Just too many.  If I had all 12 in contact we would have given better.

So next time.. I'll stack my flights vertically but send them all out together for that first 20 minute rush.  THEN begin to stagger refuels.

One small step for me, on giant step toward becoming a more effective outfit.

[Reschke]

Yep Dugger I hear what you are saying about that rush. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I really learned something about the CO slot in Frame 1. Hopefully I can get in that position again and use some of my new "knowledge".

[ghostdancer]

Dugger it all depends on the sides CiC. The overall tendancy is for the fighting too be heavy and early. But there are C.O.s that do plan late frame strikes and try to time things out and figure out fuel endurance of enemy. As I said it all depends on the CiC and their strategic style.

As for frame 3 the late frame strikes were not specifically planned. Basically the LW was tasked with hitting 2 targets early and then regroup and assess and go after the next targets.

In the case of the Nightmares we were tasked to hit A8 and D75 and then help with the defense of D44 and A5. We struck out S then turned E and then headed N. Sort of a big loop around suspected VVS position (attempt to flank). We changed our attack from A8 to D75 when our scouts spotted that horde of LA5Ns over A8 and D75. So we JABOed D75 and lost 6 planes doing so but focused on dropping bombs and extending back to A5. So 1st part of 3 missions done. Then we fell back to A5 and assisted with the defense. And found out just how deadly a group of A20s can be when flown very tightly bunched and supporting each other. We lost 8 to A20s and escorts ( MAW .. and you add on extra armor on those beasts? ). Mission 2 done. And then we tried to get back for our 2nd JABO run but ended up being killed but taking out more VVS defenders.

After that basically the LW scrambled about to find survivors in both the N and S fronts to run late frame strikes. In the N 2 Artic Storm survivors, 1 AK, and 5 880th (in JU88s) survived to run an attack on A8. In the S MAG-33 and other suvivors maybe another 8-10 attacked your port.

So it was loosely planned that way but really was more based on hit these targets first and then see what forces we have left to launch additional strikes. Sort of very fluid command style which worked well.

AKnimitz

[aknimitz]

S! CMs - thanks for a wonderful Squad OP, thoroughly enjoyed! Thanks Ghst, I think our plans went very well and according to schedule.

I knew I would have enough scattered planes to conduct some small jabo raids, relatively undefended. It does not take many 190s to drop all bunkers and what not at a field.

S!

Nim