S3 Series

Frame 3

Allied

May 21, 1941

Gentlemen,

3 days ago, a reconnaissance spitfire spotted the German Battleship, Bismark leaving the Baltic and heading to the North Sea.

Bismark is being escorted by the Battle Cruiser Prinz Eugen, 3 destroyers and a flotilla of minesweepers.

Intelligence estimates its location somewhere off the coast of Norway near the Norwegian Trench.

Yesterday May 20, The Battleship Prince of Wales, Battlecruiser HMS Hood and a multitude of destroyers
sailed at top speed from Scarpa Flow to engage the German ships. The Ark Royal and Victorious
Aircraft Carrier battlegroups have been deployed to the area. They have a limited number of swordfish torpedo aircraft supported by
even fewer Sea Hurricanes.

It is crucial that we stop the Bismark before it enters the Atlantic where it can threaten our vital supply lines.


Mission:

Sink the Bismark! first and foremost. Sink all remaining German warships. Protect our fleet. Watch for Uboats. Shoot down enemy aircraft.

Each CV will have total: Do not exceed these numbers!
9 swordfish
6 Sea hurricanes

Air base: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 - 1 and 5 will be closest to the action.
Remember you MUST be landed or in the landing pattern at end of frame.
Leave yourself at least 30 minutes at 250mph to get back to base.
Plane and pilot count as a loss if you do not return to base in time!!!!
Planes from CV will have more time...plan on having Sea Hurris last to leave the battle area.



Notes:
Battleships are Dest 1 (all grey) and have been hardened. Destroyers are Dest 2 (wooden deck). Mine sweepers are frigates with 2 .30 cal and 2 .50 cal guns.
Bismark with be in front of the Prinz Eugen. (both are Dest1)

NO GROUND ATTACKS OF ANY KIND THIS FRAME. TARGETS ARE AIRCRAFT AND SHIPPING ONLY. AXIS DOES NOT HAVE ACK AT AIRFIELDS SO NO ATTACKS ON AXIS AIRCRAFT UNDER 10k ONCE THEY ARE FEET DRY in Norway. The battle is over the sea this frame.

Suggested plan/squad roles:

4thFG Airfield 1. Escort DR's to Norwegian Trench area. We may need recon out in front to find the Bismark. If RCAF, 23rd or 13 Grp find the Enemy ships, please report in buffer!!!

DR’s Airfield 1. Roll Wellingtons and or Blenheim to Norwegian Trench. Target Bismark. I suggest Wellingtons as they have torpedos... DO NOT go in without escort
There are 2 grey DEST1's, The Bismark will be in front of the Prinz Eugen. There are minesweepers leading the group. Destroyers (wooden deck) in rear.

RCAF, 23rd, 13 Grp. Roll from CV. Coordinate with each other with Hurris and Swordfish. We only have 6 Hurris and 9 Swordfish total for each CV. Use sparingly. Suggest you roll Swordfish and get them into a safe area, send a wing pair of hurries to find the Bismark. You will get slaughtered if you go in alone.... maybe recon the location of Bismark, then get to a safe area and coordinate with 4th and DR's to attack at same time...


Axis has 10 mi DAR at F159 in Norway. So you dont need to worry too much about keeping NOE.

Remember, NO ground attacks and No attacks on axis aircraft feet dry over Norway below 10k.

Comments welcome.

German order of ships:
front
Minesweeper
Minesweeper
Minesweeper
Dest
Bismark
Prinz Eugen
Dest
Dest
rear

THIS MAY HAVE CHANGED AS MUZZ MADE A NEW BISMARK AI SCRIPT. battleships will have a BB tag now.