S3 Series

The 352nd has our group of assigned OSS guys working on a plan for Frame 5. The current thinking is that the Axis should throw a "Big Wing" at Malta for the last Frame. What was learned from Frame 4 is that the buffs must fly in a VERY TIGHT Box is there if any hope of defending them. A "loose" formation of buffs is simply points for the opposition.

Accordingly the assistance of our buffers is solicited in the planning of this final mission for the Series. The "Box" and the fighter protection should be established PRIOR to penetrating Allied Radar. The fighters are a bit more flexible at meeting time and altitude requirements of the buffs. So, at the RED X, what the fighters need to know from the buffers in the planning portion is:
What is the Frame time that you can be assembled as a box and ready to go to Malta?
What altitude will you wish to cruise?
What will your airspeed be?

With the numbers we have been experiencing, the DRs and the Nomads can share a (3) step field. The Stalkers could share the same field without over-stepping a (3) Step field. Please choose a field that will allow you to get the altitude you need at the Red X, and let that be known so it can be included in the Final Orders for the Frame. It is suggested that you select a RTB location that will allow a secondary mission if time allows. Again, please advise what your choice for that would be, and it will be made available to you. Pick a target on Malta what will maximize the points available from the ord that you select to carry.

The 4th, LF 6 and the 352nd can select any field of choice that will put you at the proper altitude and arrival time for our buff group. The current thinking is to keep the 23rd FG based on Pantelleria and joining the Big Wing from there while they look for any inbound strike on their home island. We will have to deal with that "on the fly" if it happens to occur.

the "Rides and Sides" chart lists the strength of the various Squads as follows (your mileage may vary):

4th FG (2)
LF 6 (2)
23rd FG (2)
352nd FG (3)
Night Stalkers (1)
Nomads (1)
Doolittle's Raiders (2)

Please request a base field that is adequate for your intended operations.

Comments and completely alternative scenarios are solicited. Please post them in this thread.

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Dr. Dart, can you please make this thread a "sticky" until the Series is completed?

Going with the big wing, my few cents would be to:
1) have the Bf 109F's as an umbrealla sweep some 10-20 miles ahead of the bombers. We ingress as a normal big wing strike. When contact is made with the main Spitfire force (not just a few scouts), our bombers will make an immediate 180° turn and hightail it back to Sicily. They should even dive slightly to pick up speed.
2) Jabo will probably quickly report that the bombers are turning, but by then the Spitfires are entangled/have zomed passed our 109's, which give chase to the Spitfires.
3) The Spitfires now can't intercept the bombers as they thought, and must either retreat to Malta or go deep into our territory. All our Messerchmitts, being slightly faster than the Spits, will go all in and fight the enemy to the death or chase the Spits all the way back to Malta if they try to run, picking off the stragglers.
4) Most probably both sides will take losses, hopefully we reduce their numbers severly as all our fighter squads are free to go bananas on the Spitfires without having to protect our buffs.
5) After the fight our remaining fighters RTB and replane while the buffs have meanwhile been climbing back to ingress altitude.
6) The fighters form up for a normal "bombers to Berlin" big wing style of attack, but now with way less Spitfires left to boom n zoom our buffs, compared to if we had gone in against the enemy's full rested force.

SUMMARY
Our bombers retreat to Sicily when the enemy arrives at force and makes contact with our sweeps, meanwhile our fighter engage fully. Our fighters RTB and replane, and then we go in for a normal big wing strike.
This way the donkey DAR plays to our advantage as the enemy gets a "full bombers/fighters" attack report. And once they are told the bombers are turning they will already be mixed in with our fighters.


Cheers
/Robert

Does anyone know what it would take to close a field at Malta and get the 50 bonus points?

We have been pecking away at targets there for 4 frames. Supposedly destroyed targets do not re-build. If we are going Big Wing we should try and establish air superiority and let our bombers close a field to secure an Axis victory. The point spread is pretty close now.

Also, I wouldn't have fighters stray too far from the BG this last frame. Assume Allies have perfect Intel and will skirt any forward sweep. We know they have to go for the bombers. A tight BG and thick umbrella of close escorts is probably our best tactic.

I guess Allies could abandon Malta and go for our shipping convoys.... That would be a surprise and boring

Oskar

Robert,

I was tossing around a similar idea in my head. Thinking that the spitfires would avoid a sweep which could then get behind them. When the bombers turn around the fighters engage and hopefully we can attack from two sides.

Bombers should have enough fuel to loiter and wait for fighters to refuel for the real attack.

Show them what they expect and then change things... (too bad we cant launch Kelt missiles... if you've read Red Storm Rising)

Proponents of the "circle back" scenario should keep in mind that if there is a scheduled refuel for the fighter aircraft in the mix that it takes about 22 minutes and 60 miles for the fighters to get to "buff altitude" from a ground start. Losing 25 thousand feet of altitude, landing, refueling and rejoining the buff group would take significantly longer than that.

I believe using the big wing straight run to Malta escorting the bombers would best be served by knowing where the enemy is inbound from. Using a spread of scouts could accomplish this.
Just a thought.

Squad COs and Flight Planners are requested to attend a brief planning meeting on Wednesday evening so that final plans for Frame 5 can be solidified. It would be beneficial if each Squad could have a representative present. Critical information for all fighters will be anticipated form-up time at the RP by our buffs. Please come on the iENT TeamSpeak channel for the 352nd FG. Wednesday evening 5:30 PM Pacific, 8:30 PM Eastern. Thanks.

Horrido!

I kinda like F205 as Bullseye and RV there before heading to the islands.

Place can handle our buffs and lites as an emergency strip and we will be on friendly DAR for a decent amount of time.

If boats are still in the harbors, a lotta points to be made. The ground tgts are O.K. but need lottsa them. Only good ones are the things that look like piers, and they count like a bridge span and usually have a boat tied up.

See y'all Wed.

Herr Gums sends...

In the intended scenario, fighters provide protection for our buffs. Route choice is certainly up to the buff group, and the available fighters will assemble as elements of a Big Wing. The OSS boys advise me that the original intent of the exercise was to assemble the Big Wing, as completely as possible, prior to penetrating enemy radar.


Malta Targets

LF6 will take F48
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