S3 Series

Running with the assumption we have a slight lead in points. This frame is our last chance to use space and time to our advantage. After this the allies will be in our face and we will have to employ more hit and run tactics. Last frame hitting ships was more costly than it was worth IMO and terribly inefficient to gun down. In the past they have been easy, they have been hard, at least now we know.

I think this would be the best frame to satisfy the 1 frame aircraft requirement and run the Ju-88s. I have a couple of thoughts on this:

1- We position them initially at 172 and hit as many beach heads (6 points) as possible with a FG at 167 hitting others before the allies show up on the coast. This puts a FG in rear echelon but they can make it to the front quicker than the 88s. The aim is snatch as many points as possible with our full strength before the inevitable contact with allied groups.

2- We station the FGs at 172 and 167 to raid the beach heads while the Ju 88s are at 1 or 42 looking to hit either 199 (20 points), or the flak position and refinery at 151/152 (21 points). With the allied forces likely to focus forces towards Sicily this may leave Tunisia open. That's an if though as they certainly do have the numbers to cover Tunisia and attack Sicily.

Here's why I'm throwing boats out. Even if we torp up the 88s and go for good targets like what is coming out of the 10,5x, allies can have fighters from Malta over there quickly. We could commit the FGs to run a screen but I doubt they would piecemeal us their fighter groups like they did last frame. Reference dobs' "big wing" comment in his video. In short, it would be large effort to succeed with limited reward.

My gut tells me we will need to get as large of a points spread this frame as we can get to help latter frames be successful.

I'm just throwing up ideas and not assuming operational command just yet.

Having us use the 88's is a good idea providing we have the fighters out there protecting our butts.

Still I like it!

Quick thoughts...

All fighters should attack the static shipping around the southern coast....NOT the convoys.. all of this on the initial sortie and conducted low with an egress back north over friendly ack. Static ships should go down easy by strafing..... fighters then RTB and rearm for A2A role. We MUST do this first as we will only have a few minutes unopposed at low level.

Knights...those who want to JU88 could roll and head north then west to the 3.12.x then SW in the radar hole and attack field 153. Then the few who like the 190F8 could work on the shipping lanes.

We will get the points with the shipping if you ask me..


JMHO...

<S>

Still, no one? K then I guess I have frame 2.

Hawk, what sounds good? I only offered a few ideas.

Jman, the concern is at what cost? We lost quite a few fighters last time and it was a pretty big expenditure of ammo for nothing except your 190 which was lucky enough to put rounds in everything before unloading. Dolch didnt even get credit for burning a ship which ended up not sinking with his R6. Unreliable target IMO.

Beach heads are worth 3x the ships and are small targets right next to our airfields. We can hit those quick along with the static shipping there. The 88s with their AI can also make quick work of the beachheads.

Which brings me to basing. I can only put 2 groups right next to the coast. Everything else in the area are landing strips for use after the first sortie. Puttings the Knights on beach head duty will put a FG further north, by the time they get south the allies will be upon us, assuming they strike out of the gate.

As for A2A, I doubt we can fool them twice. This part is really entirely circumstantial. If they piecemeal in (doubtful) then I think it is possible to mount a defense, we did get good points on it last frame. The issue is they could easily just mob in with all their might and even if we attack with both fighter groups, its asking to lose everything in one go. We do have a couple things on our side, 1, radar is entirely in our favor, 2, we have the ability to land anywhere at any time to rearm, refuel, and dodge the enemy if need be. Potential for more points is still higher on the ground.

You will need bombs or torps on the AI ships to score them as Jman did. Dont bother strafing them.
You can strafe the static ships as they are the same as ground objects.

Frame 2 is your only free frame to hit the beachheads. It wont be so easy in later frames.

Like jabo said..the static ships can be strafed down. The moving AI ones need bombs/torps/rox...

Have all fighter groups attack the beachheads and static shipping there..with luck they can close several before withdrawing north to rearm and fight a2a.

The 88s could also attack the beachheads from alt since we have dar control. They can be vectored to non defended beachheads then dive and egress north.. Rinse repeat.

A mixed force of 190s and ju88s would keep them guessing. The 190s hit the convoys and 88s on beachheads...

F-162 is an example of the "beachhead" fields. There are a number of "required" targets to take down the field. It is likely the case that the various static freighters, cargo ships, trucks and tanks are worth more points than taking out the beachhead field itself. (These locations will reopen in Frame 3 for the Allies, no matter what happens.) Shipping which resembles cruisers are "capital ships" and require much more ammo than any of the freighters. With limited ammo, it may be advisable to target those after the freighters. Ammo required to kill tanks is unknown. Trucks ("Carriers") are easily strafed. Targets are predominantly protected with 20 mm.

I think a mix of 88's and 190's is good for us. We can torp with the 88's and strafe with the 190s.

If the 88s are going to attack the beach head I'd have them hit the ground targets fist and the 2x AA guns...have the 190s come in and clean up while the 88s egress N to safety...

That's what Im thinking with beachhead hits. Use 88s to drop the hammer and move on until bombs are gone, hit hards and ack. Don't worry if you miss, the lights can swarm in behind. I'm thinking base at 172 for bombers and sweep E-W up the coast then turn inland for rebasing either in northern fields or a landing strip to the East to set up a N-S run along the E coast. Northern fighter group can prep the western beach heads while the SW FG mops up the southern beach heads.