Blood Red Skies: Bombing Carinhall.

Our next game was Blood Red Skies. The Allied air force was tasked with bombing the residence of the Reich Marshal. The game was set at 1000 points.

SCENARIO: Tim Chant
UMPIRING: Tim Chant

SCENERY: SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Tim Chant, Michael Schneider, Bartek Żynda

1. Forces.

RAF

(Bartek, Tim)

1st Squadron (British)

3 x Mosquito (1 x 4, 2 x 3)

2nd Squadron (British)

3 x Spitfire (1 x 4, 2 x 3)

3rd Squadron (Polish)

4 x Hurricane (1 x 5 Urbanowicz, 1 x 4, 1 x 3, 1 x 2)

LUFTWAFFE

(Alasdair, Michael, Peter)

1st Squadron

2 x Focke-Wulf FE-190 (2 x 3)

1 x Messerschmitt Bf 109 E (1 x 2)

2nd Squadron

3 x Messerschmitt Bf 109 E (1 x 4, 1 x 3, 1 x 2)

3rd Squadron

4 x Messerschmitt Bf 109 E (1 x 5 Hartmann, 1 x 4, 1 x 3, 1 x 2)

1.2. The Game.

The game was set to 1,000 points. Tim prepared the list for the RAF, while Michael prepared the list for the Luftwaffe. The task of the Mosquito squadron was to bomb the target; once the planes had dropped their bombs, they could act as fighters. At the beginning of the game, both sides pushed hard against each other. Peter led the squadron with Harmann, while Alasdair commanded Focke-Wulfs, as they moved against Tim's Mosquitoes and Spitfires. Michael's squadron and mine moved against each other.

Carinhall.

My squadron and Michael's were the first to engage. I lost two boom tokens, as Hurricanes are inferior to Messerschmitts. However, I managed to breach the German defence and reach their rear. My objective was to target other planes. At this stage, I made a few mistakes, primarily by not utilising special cards, and this oversight will have repercussions later in the game.

Meanwhile, the Mosquitos reached their target and began bombing. One bomber scored a direct hit, another achieved an area hit, and the third missed entirely. As a result, the target was partially destroyed. The Mosquitos were able to carry out this mission effectively because the Spitfires had engaged the main German forces, preventing them from mounting an effective response. However, Germans soon faced an unexpected challenge.

My Hurricanes, after successfully breaking through Michael's squadron, launched an attack on Alasdair's and Peter's planes from behind. Ultimately, my pilot, classified as a level 3, shot down two enemy aircraft that day: first, a Messerschmitt from Peter's squadron, and then a Focke-Wulf from Alasdair's squadron. This led to Alasdair's squadron withdrawing from the battlefield.

In this situation, I exposed myself a bit to the Germans: Michael, who rejoined the fight, and Peter, who targeted my planes. First, Peter, using his ace Hartmann, shot down my Hurricane pilot (class 4). Then, Michael attempted to shoot down my pilot (class 2) but was unsuccessful. It’s worth mentioning that my class 2 pilot was attacked from behind four times, yet he managed to keep his plane operational each time! Unfortunately, this marked the end of my participation in the game, as the number of boom tokens exceeded my endurance, forcing me to withdraw. However, I succeeded, along with Tim, in making Peter retreat with his planes. Consequently, Tim, commanding two squadrons, and Michael, with one, remained on the battlefield.

Michael attempted to attack the Mosquitoes but ultimately failed. In response, Spitfires targeted the Messerschmitts and successfully chased them off the battlefield. The RAF emerged victorious in this encounter.

3. Links.

SESWC:

To be updated soon...

MICHAEL:

To be updated soon...

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720325794651/