Fork Tailed Devil
When the P-38 returned to service with the USAAF's 8th Air Force in mid 1943 it was considered the premier US fighter in the ETO. The P-40 had proved unsuited for operations in Europe and the P-47 did not possess the range that the twin engined P38 had.
On October 15th 1943, just 24 hours after the disastrous Schweinfurt raid, in which 60 of 291 B-17s had been lost, the P-38 equipped 55th FG flew its first combat sweep over the Continent. From this point onwards, untill the introduction of the P-51 in sufficiantly large numbers, the P-38 would provide much of the long range escort for the USAAF's heavies.
...for the 'experten' of the Luftwaffe's fighter arm, the P-38 provided yet another challenge to overcome as they sought to stem the growing tide in the Allied air forces bombing offensive.
This squad operation recreates some of the action in late 1943 and early 1944 when escorted B-17s became the new strategy for the Allied daylight raids.
Arena
SEA
Country Percentages
USAAF :60
LW: 40
Allies
Units: B-17G, P-38J, P-47D-11, Mosquito VI
Restrictions:
*Each a/c type must be used every frame in squadron strength (12 min). B-17s will be used at 24 players minimum each frame to recreate the Heavy Bomber Group. At least 50 percent of the escort force must be P-38 equipped.
*Airfields: A1, A15, A16, A18, A19.
*Max alt for B-17s is 25k.
*P-47 and P-38 may not carry ANY air to ground ordnance. Drop tanks are allowed.
*The Mosquito must be used in the bomber role, and is not permitted rockets. It may operate at any altitude.
*USAAF may refuel (time permitting) at any friendly base.
Axis
Units: Bf 109G-6, Fw 190A-8, Fw 190A-5, Bf 110G
*Each a/c type must be used every frame in squadron strength (12 min).
*Airfields: A33, A34, A41, A42, A71. No more than 3 squadrons may roll from any one base.
*LW may refuel at any friendly base.
Victory Conditions
Based on points for a/c and ground targets. Fighters 10 points
Twin engined bombers 15 points
Four engined bombers 25 points
Each ground target is worth 200 points to either side and scoring is based on the % destroyed for enemy targets and the % undamaged for friendly targets.
Arena Settings
- Terrain 'BoB'
- Fuel 1.0
- Icons short
- Ack .5
- Fighter and Bomber warning range 5 miles (26400)
- Tower based radar 25 miles (132000)
- Radar off
- Friendly collisions off
- Killshooter off
- No wind
- Set time to noon
Designer Notes
The Mosquito is provided for the sake of completeness, as it was one of the RAFs primary fighter-bombers at this time, and provides the LW with another interesting adversary.
CM Notes
N/A
Design By
Warloc
