It had been quite some time since my last game with the Blood Red Skies rules. So I eagerly accepted Tim's idea to join in, especially since my brand-new bombers hadn't had the honour of appearing on the table. A quick action, and Tim created a scenario: the Allies, in this case a combined RAF and USAF bomber force, were to destroy two targets defended by a strong concentration of German fighters. The targets received support from the Flak, so the game promised to be truly interesting.
UMPIRING: Tim Chant
1. Forces.
LUFTWAFFE
1st Squadron (Andy)
2 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190A (2 x3)
2 x Messerschmitt Bf-109G (2 x 2)
2nd Squadron (Michael)
2 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190A (1 x 5 Hans Dortemann, 1 x 3)
2 x Messerschmitt Bf-109G (2 x 2)
3rd Squadron (David)
1 x Focke-Wulf Fw 190A (1 x3)
3 x Messerschmitt Bf-109G (3 x 2)
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RAF & USAF
1st Bombing Squadron RAF (Tim)
2 x de Havilland Mosquito B Mk.II (2 x 3)
2nd Bombing Squadron USAF (Bartek)
3 x B26 Marauder (3 x 3)
1st Support Squadron RAF (Tim)
3 x de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI (2 x 3, 1 x 2)
2nd Support Squadron RAF (Bartek)
3 x Supermarine Spitfire IX (1 x 4, 1 x 3, 1 x 2)
3rd Support Squadron RAF (Alasdair)
4 x Supermarine Spitfire IX (1 x 5 Killer Caldwell, 1 x 4, 1 x 3, 1 x 2)
2. The Game.
As I mentioned at the beginning, there were two targets for our bombers. Tim and I decided that he would target one, and I would take the other with my American bombers. My fighters provided direct support to the American bombers, while Alasdair provided distant support for me. Tim's remaining Mosquitos, in turn, supported him. Three German squadrons moved against us: Andy against Tim, Michael against my fighters, and David against Alasdair.
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Michael launched his attack on my fighters. I noticed his German fighters were flying in a single line, which was a mistake. I sent my best pilot forward while the less experienced pilots stayed back to support him. I broke through the German line with the first plane, then the second, and soon found myself on their tails. All I had to do then was open fire, and before long two German planes were down. First went a Focke-Wulf flown by the German ace Hans Drotemann, then a Messerschmitt Bf-109. The remaining German planes reached the bombers and even managed to outmanoeuvre one, but a burst from the American bombers' rear machine guns drove Michael's squadron from the battlefield. The Germans were beginning to lose.
What I did to Michael, Alasdair repeated against David. Although he was nearby and saw the German planes being easily shot down, he still fell into Alasdair's trap. This time, he escaped without loss, but my bombers rejoined the action and, with cannon fire from their turrets, drove David's squadron away. My bombers had a clear path to the target, but they were moving very slowly; that's because of the weight of the bombs they carried.
At the same time, Tim's Mosquitoes broke through Andy's blockade and advanced toward the second objective. Despite a valiant effort and poor shooting—Andy didn't roll a single six in the entire game—the German planes were forced to flee, losing one ME109. With both air defences gone, the Allies had a clear path to the objective. The anti-aircraft guns were the main problem, but we would deal with them later.
Tim's Mosquitos were the first to launch the attack. Both dropped their bombs but missed the target. The remaining Mosquitos moved in and destroyed it with cannons and machine guns.
There must have been something wrong with our bombers' bombsights, because the American bombers, when they finally reached their targets, also missed. My Spitfires had to finish the job. This time, however, anti-aircraft fire shot down one of my fighters, but the target was destroyed. The Germans lost both targets and three planes, including one ace, thus losing the entire game.
It was a successful debut for my American bombers: their machine guns were proven more effective than their bombs, and they returned to base unscathed!
