http://www.squadselectseries.com - new map and summary up
Frame 2 saw the Luftwaffe spread out the attack leading with a main force straight up the gut and a left and right hook to the exposed ship convoys. The main painted attack by SM79s(He111 sub) was picked up early with two fighter groups to the left and right. Malta scrambled its remaining fighters when they were reported, to join the CAP that was patrolling the Med airspace. Again and again the spitfires were vectored in taking down a total of 19 bombers during the run in. Extensive damage was done to F220 taking out most of the control apparatus. Only a few structures remain up and there was a heavy cloud of black smoke over central Malta. But the cost in bombers was high and the Regia Aeronautica would be hard pressed to get their pilots to return to the deadly island.
A new group of stuka pilots converted from Luftflotte 6 took off from Pantelleria and headed south the same time an elite unit of Ju88s snuck in below the wave tops to the east of Malta. They hit the outbound Convoy Bacon not far from Malta and sunk several ships and damage a few more. Later in the night they returned and with torps and level bombs sank the remaining ships of the convoy even though they filled the sky with heavy flak. In between Ju88s sorties the stukas hit the inbound west Convoy Pedestal and sank several ships with torpedoes. They were close to Malta and stragglers were chased all the way back to Lampedusa, 4 stukas were shotdown as they fled away from the convoy.
The RAF won the air battle 36 victories to the Luftwaffes 26, but no Wellingtons or Swordfish were seen during the day and the Luftwaffe sank an amazing 14 Allies ships to the west and east of Malta during the night. This alone gave them the win for the frame and the lead in the series, 247 to 210. Pilot losses have not yet been counted but generally are fairly equal between the two sides.
In Frame 3 the British convoy outbound to the east is no more. It was sunk in Frame 2. The inbound British convoy is closer to Malta and will dock if everything goes right in Malta in Frame 3. Map is updated with approximate shipping routes.
Good Luck in Frame 3
jabo
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