*Registration will open Jan 2nd, side assignments and CiCs will be on Jan 9th, and frame 1 will commence Jan 16th*
Bougainville Privateers: Solomons 1943
As 1943 drew on Imperial Japan was forced to rethink its war strategy in view of the Allied successes in New Guinea and Guadalcanal, especially on the heels of her catastrophic defeat at Midway the previous year. Everywhere in the Pacific Japan's forces were stretched too thin. Contraction of the Empire's territories seemed the only answer while buying time for defensive preparations to thwart the renewed Allied strategic offensives Japan's GHQ knew would come. In the Pacific Area Nimitz was preparing to assault the Gilbert Islands. In the South West Pacific Area MacArthur was continuing the clearance of the New Guinea coast supported by Halsey's South Pacific Area which aimed to overrun the Bismarck Archipelago. In the Solomons, Halsey was driving up the island chain to capture New Georgia and Bougainville and further isolate Japan's fortress base at Rabaul in New Britain.
By the time the U.S. was preparing to invade Bougainville in September of 1943 both sides were deploying improved fighters in quantity. Examples included the P-38 Lightning and the F4U-1 Corsair, which joined the stalwarts like the venerable P-39 and P-40. On the Japanese side veteran fighters like the Ki-61 Hien were joined by the improved A6M5 'Type 0' making its combat debut. Aces from both sides, like Warrant Officer Hiroshi Okano of the IJNAFs 201st Air Group and USMC 1st Lt. Edwin L Olander of VMF-214 would often find action over "The Slot". This event will recreate the contest that took place between the opposing air fleets as they fought a grinding war of attrition in the hostile skies between Bougainville and Guadalcanal in that fall of 1943.
Country Percentages:
Axis 52.5%
Allied 47.5%
Field Assignments:
Axis Bishop
Allied Knight
CM Rook
OOB:
Allied (USAAF/USN/USMC/RNZAF):
P-38G (max 48, no rockets)
P-40E (max 48)
P-39D
F4U-1A (max 32)
F4U-1 (max 32)
SBD-5
B-25C
B-24J (max 18 with no formations)
Axis (IJAAF/IJN):
A6M5 (max 120)
A6M2
Ki-61 (max 64)
Ki-67 (min 24 *players*)
D3A (may reup with 2nd lives at T+60 min in A6M5s)
Special Rules and Ordnance Restrictions:
All aircraft types must be used in all three frames with a minimum of *12 players* per type. Bombs larger than 500 lbs are not permitted for the Allied side, with the sole exception of the SBD Dauntless, which may carry a 1000 lb bomb load. The P-38 cannot use rockets. B-24s cannot use formations. D3A players (only) may reup at T+60 in A6M5s. All other ordnance options are allowed by both sides. All normal FSO rules apply.
Scoring:
Aircraft Pts
------------
Four engined bombers: 10 pts
Twin engined bombers: 5 pts
All other aircraft: 2 pts
Ground Target Pts
-----------------
0.062 = Gun
0.062 = Mannable Gun
3.125 = Ammo Bunker
3.125 = Fuel Bunker
3.125 = Barracks
3.125 = Radar
27.812 = Vehicle Hangar
27.812 = Fighter Hangar
27.812 = Bomber Hangar
3.125 = Town Building
3.125 = Factory at strategic target
0.781 = Truck in convoy
1.562 = Train
40 = Destroyer
75 = Cruiser
Arena Settings:
- Slot2 Map
- Fuel burn 1.0
- Icons short (3k)
- 0.3 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: Auto ( MA style )
- Wind: 0-2K NO WIND
2-10K NE TO SW - Speed 5
10-18K NE TO SW - Speed 5
18K+ N TO S - Speed 10
Designer's Notes: The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) operated P-40s from Solomons bases in this campaign. The Ki-67 is a stand in for other mid war IJAAF bombers like the Ki-49 "Dinah". The A6M5 was operational at this time as was the A6M3 which it stands in for. 500 lb bombs were the norm during this time period for the Allies.
You can contact all the squads on your side here:
http://ahevents.org/fso_email/mail_address.htmlPlease note the updated rules:
http://ahevents.org/fso-related/fso-rules.htmlDesign by Warloc