Puzzle #1 appeared in issue #7 and concerned the actions of a pair of F-86 Sabres, the data card of which was also presented in issue V, attacking a pair of MiG-15's in Korea. The puzzle description set up the aircraft and provided the initial moves of the MG leader, the Sabre leader, and the NG wingman as described below. The Sabre leader cripples the MiG leader during the initial moves and declares tailing. The puzzle provided the four facts fisted below and challenged the contestant to submit the Sabre wingman's initial move while answering the three questions listed below. All first edition rules were in effect except that decel could be carried as per the 2nd edition change given in Air Power #4. Facts: 1 . All your cannon die roll this turn will be 4's, next turn 2's. 2. The crippled MiG will do damage control. 3. The Sabre lead will fly to finish off MiG at point blank range. 4. The MiG wingman will shoot Sabre lead unless you are able to move and hit him given prediction. Questions: 1. Can you hit the MiG wingman on initial move? If so, describe move. 2. If not, can you position yourself to hit him next turn? If so, describe your move. 3. Will your initial move insure Sabre lead's safety? Aircraft Start Parameters: (all CL configured) MG lead: 0718, NNE, speed 6.0, alt. 40. MiG wing: 0519, E, speed 6.0, alt. 42. F86 lead: 0819, NNE, speed 6.0, alt. 40. F86 wing: 0821, N, speed 6.0, alt. 40. Aircraft Initial Moves: MiG lead: Mil, level, H(bank R), R (snap-turn), H,H,HjiR(BT R). End in 1215, E speed 5.5, carry 0.5 decel, alt. 40. F86 lead: Mil, level, H,HH, HR(BT R), H, H (carry 2BTR). End in 1215, NE, speed 6.0, carry 1.;5 decel, alt. 40, tailing. MiG wing: Mil, steep dive, H(bank L), L (snap), V-2 (reverse bank 1), H (reverse bank 2; low roll rate), H, H (carry 2 BTR). End 0917, NE, speed 6.0, carry 1.5 decel, alt. 40. We received seven entries and as mentioned in issue #9 a manila envelope being forwarded from Tony to me was lost by the US Mail and we think it contained at least a dozen more. What can we say? To be fair, we did not award prizes for this puzzle as a result. The seven whose entries were actually received were: Karl Mueller, Jay Witt; Mike Combs; Ken Maniscalco; Charlie Vousden; Dave Gogatz; and Noel Wright. The answer to question #1 was supposed to be NO, but Karl and Ken conspired to found a way I did not see when designing the puzzle. They both submitted the following move: F86 wing: Idle (speed now 5.5), H prep, H prep, displ. roll R, H, H (ssgt- 1) shoot. Die roll given was 4, +2 angle-off, +1 MG size, -1 for SSGT = net roll 6; a hit at range zero. Tailing. As the MiG is hit, the Sabre lead will be safe satisfying question #3. Question #2 no longer applied. Jay, Mike and Dave also said they could get a hit but their moves contained errors which disqualified their answers. All performed maneuvers, tow lag rolling left, and one sliding right to line up the MG, without taking into account the altitude penalty of adding another prep. All three made additional errors. failing to add in required modifiers to their hit die roll. Dave even gave the F-86E radar ranging; but it has no radar gunsight. Charlie and Noel sent in moves more akin to what I envisioned. They said "no" to hitting the MiG on move one and instead moved to cut inside the MiG wing's turn in order to hit it in on move 2. Charlie's move was: F-86 wing: Mil, level, R(snap), H, H, H, HR(BT R), H. End 1118, NE, speed 5.5, alt. 40. This move, however, has the problem of ending in a neutral position with respect to MiG wing and thus his answer to question #3 is that he cannot guarantee the F86 lead's safety as he cannot guarantee winning the initiative roll; a disqualifying result. Noel's move was similar, but involved a low yoyo: F-86 wing: NEI, steep dive, R (snap), H, H, H, H, V-2 (Carry 5TIR). Unlike Charlie, Noel has the MiG in his 150 degree arc insuring that it will go first. Since the crippled MiG lead is doing damage control, we know it will end up hexside 1715/1716. What is left to do is determine where the Sabre lead will fly and thus the probable flight path of the MiG wing. Most of the entrants noted that the lead F86 was not wings level and thus couldn't snap-turn to shoot the MiG at point blank range as stated that it would in note 3. Instead it can only position to continue pursuit due to its impending overshoot. A smart Sabre driver would enter a low yo-yo doing the following: F86 lead move 2: Mil, steep dive, V-1, V- IR (continued BT from initial move), H, H, H, H. Ending in 1615, speed 5.5, alt. 38. A good spot to pursue from. A similar but climbing move would cost too much speed. Given the above, the MG wing would want to extend his BT to face right at 1215 then either steep dive or unload two levels while moving up behind the F86 lead and firing. This would put it in hex 1415 or hexside 1515/1516 at alt. 38. Can Noel's Sabre hit it? Yes, in both cases. If the MiG is in hex 1415, a continued TTR would allow a right facing in hex 1117 to line up the MG and attack. If it is on the hexside, idle power must be selected to change the speed to 5.5 and the TTR requirement to 6. This allows the F86 to move one forward and face R into hex 118, then move forward 3 more to fire at range one from hex 1416. Die roll 2, +1 for MiG size and no other penalties give a 3. which is a hit. Therefore, the MiG cannot safely attack the Sabre lead and will run. To sum it up: Ken, Karl and Noel all have right answers and win. My initial move solution was nearly identical to Noel's except I carried an HT turn to be ready to face sooner without jockeying power. Hope you enjoyed the puzzle and solutions. Back to Table of Contents -- Air Power # 10 Back to Air Power List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1990 by J.D. 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