S3 Series

Turnouts
Represented Squads - 352nd (7), 4th (3), RCAF (2), 13VRAF (2), 23rd (3), AE (1), DRs (2)
7 Allied pilots (352nd), 42 Hurri1a sorties
13 Axis pilots (4 in Ju87D, 3 in SM79s, 6 in MC.200), 24 Ju87D, 9 SM.79 and 24 MC.200 sorties
Low numbers again this frame. Axis bombers permitted 1 wingman to make up the difference.

Losses
MC.200 - 8. All shot down by Hurries
Ju-87D - 8 player and 5 AI wingmen lost. 4 players and all 5 AI killed by Hurris, 1 87 killed by AAA.
SM.79 - 8. 3 player and 1 AI shot down by Hurris. 1 by AAA
Hurri1a - 8. 2 shot down by Ju87D, 3 by SM.79 and 3 by MC200.

Targets Destroyed
1 BB, 2 CL AA, 1 Freighter, 1 Cargo ship, 1 tanker
2 static destroyers, 2 static freighters, 2 static cargo ships.

Narrative
A lack of 100 octane aviation fuel, and limited stores of even 87 octane kept the RAF Hurricanes on a short leash over or near Malta. RA intelligence had given them a good picture of what ships were in the Grand Harbour the day before the attack, and that any new ships must be the Allied reinforcements. The Picchiatello crews were keen to take their new mounts into battle, but the mauling the SM.79 crews and MC.200 fighters had received in August made them uneasy. What was unclear at the start of the battle was exactly where the RN ships were. Some faulty intelligence caused at least one flight of SM.79s to try to find a convoy south of Malta. The remainder of the RA forces took their time forming up into a relatively tight formation, with Ju87s at ~9K and one SM.79 at 15K.
Although engaged prior to reaching the island, covering MC.200s allowed the RA bombers to unleash their payloads before suffering any losses. One destroyer under repair (static) was sunk and moments later a Picchiatello inflicted catastrophic damage to HMS Calcutta, lying just outside the harbour entrance, when a 250Kg bomb struck behind her B turret and penetrated to the magazine. The RAF were not standing idly by as all of the attacking Ju-87s were shot down. Meanwhile, the high flying SM.79 returned for a second bomb pass, damaging some port structures and hitting the vulnerable HMS Coventry with three 250Kg bombs. The AAA cruiser burned briefly then settled to the harbour bottom. The victorious shouts of the aircrew where abruptly silenced by the guns of an avenging Hurricane.
Meanwhile, the SM.79 flight searching south of Malta was contacted via HF radio and advised the RN ships were already off loading in Malta. The radio transmission was somewhat garbled. As a result, the aircraft launched a sea skimming torpedo attack against an empty freighter in Kalafrana Bay, sinking it before being pounced upon by defending Hurricanes.
One of the Hurricane pilots, obviously inexperienced, misjudged his attack and rammed one of the SM.79s, killing all involved. The second SM.79 was shot down a few moments later.

A second wave of RA aircraft formed up over Sicily and headed south, attacking Malta about 40 minutes after the first attack. The Ju87s were met early by Hurricanes and suffered a few losses, while a pair of high flying SM.79s was able to reach the island unscathed, dropping on the docks and straddling HMS Valiant with 6 250Kg bombs. At least one of these bombs exploded underneath the battleship's keel and broke her in two.

Thirty minutes later a third wave of RA aircraft attacked. Two SM.79s conducted a torpedo attack at Kalafrana Bay, damaging infrastruture at the sea plane base. This drew away some hurricanes from the main attack at Valetta. Ju87s struck hard, diving through vicious anti-aircraft fire and sinking the tanker RFA Plumleaf before she could offload any fuel. After their dives the Jus jinked madly low over the harbour, causing at least one defending Hurricane to repeatedly spray harbour infrastructure with .303s. High flyihng SM.79s again had a relatively easy path to the target, sinking the freighter SS Cornwall and the SS Volo. Although heavily damaged, the SM.79 was able to return to Sicily before her crew was forced to bail out.

Axis destroyed six of six target ships, and have earned their first victory in the series.

It is nice to read a writeup that fills in the voids or clears the fog of war.
Nice write up!
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