All of the scenarios presented with this article are variations of the recon or tactical bombing missions (Missions #3 and #5) presented in the game rules with the exception that the German bombers always fly unescorted. The bombers may be represented by using the auxilliary aircraft counters found in the game or you may make your own. Some scenarios utilize the following special formation rule to simplify the control of multiple aircraft and to ease solitaire play. Bomber Formations: One out of every three aircraft is designated a formation flight leader. Extra aircraft are matched up with each leader as his wingmen. Each leader must start with two wingmen if possible and never alone. Each wingman must strive to remain within two hexes of, and behind his leader at the same altitude at all times and must end each turn facing in the same direction as his leader. Speed may be varied to accomplish this. If a bomber is damaged such that, or flies such that it cannot, or does not remain in formation, roll one die at the end of each such turn. On a five or six, the bomber is considered to abort and must immediately turn and fly to exit the mapboard from the Map edge it set up next to. Any victory points gained by that bomber performing its mission are lost. If the aborting plane is the leader, then one of the Wingmen immediately take over as leader (owner's choice). If only one airplane is left of a formation, even if it is the leader, roll for an abort. In this case an abort only occurs on a six. If another formation is nearby, that single aircraft, upon entering formation parameters with the other leader need not roll for an abort as long as it remains in the formation. SCENARIO ONE: Day Bombing Raid! A force of Gothas attempts to bomb a town near London early in the campaign. This is typical of the kinds of air raids conducted by the Germans at the start of the bombing campaign. The target for the bombers is hex V35, the Germans move first. The formation rule is in effect. All rules that normally apply for scenario #5 are in effect. Set up: The Germans set up three Gotha GVs on the South edge of the mapboard at 5,000 meters. Note, they will have to descend to bomb from 2,500 meters. The British may choose either three a) Sopwith Camel, b) three Sopwith Pup, c) three S.E.5a, or d) three Bristol F2.B fighters. They set up at 2,000 meters on the North edge. Victory Points: The Germans receive 3 points for each bomber that successfully bombs the target and I point for each bomber that escapes (aborted or not) alive. The British recieve 4 points for each bomber shot down. The Germans recieve 2 points for each fighter shot down. Variation: Add three additional Gothas which set up and start flying on turn two. Allow the British to set up six AAA guns within three hexes of V35, one per hex. SCENARIO TWO: Night Bombing Raid! This scenario depicts one of the fast night raids over England which caught the British by surprise. No defending fighters were available. The target is hex V35, the Germans move first and the formation rules are in effect. All rules that normally apply to scenario #5 are in effect. Set Up: The Germans get either six Gotha or three Staakens which set up as in scenario one above. The British get six AAA units and three barrage balloons which set up within three hexes of V35. The barrage balloons are not placed on the map but their hex and altitude is recorded. They can be set up just like an observation balloon. Any German that enters a Barrage balloon's hex at its altitude is destroyed on a die roll of one to four. The balloon is also destroyed if the aircraft is. Any aircraft that enters a balloon hex below the balloon's altitude must roll a die: on a one to three both the balloon and aircraft are destroyed (entanglement with cables). On a four, just the aircraft is destroyed. Night Effects: All AAA units subtract 2 from the die roll when firing. At the beginning of each turn roll one die for each balloon that is within four hexes of a German aircraft. On a one to three, the balloon is sighted and placed on the map with its altitude revealed. Anytime an aircraft rolls for collision with a balloon or cables, the balloon is considered sighted and placed on the map. Sighted balloons remain sighted till the end of play. At the end of play, roll one die for each surviving aircraft. On a one, it suffers a crash landing and is destroyed upon returning to base and victory points are awarded to the enemy. Victory points: As in scenario one above except that a Staaken gets five victory points for a successful bomb run and is worth six points to the British if destroyed. Variation: Delete two AAA guns and a barrage balloon and add one Bristol F2.B as a night fighter. All air to air gunnery suffers a minus two die roll modifier and the fighter is not allowed unexpected maneuvers due to the night environment. SCENARIO THREE: Photo Recon This represents a long range recon mission over England by a single Gotha. Use the set up and all rules applicable to scenario #3 except that the German force consists of one Gotha and the British force consists of either two Sopwith triplanes (Naval), or two Sopwith Camels. SCENARIO FOUR: The Death of Lt. Young! 7 July, 1917 The Imperial German Air Service conducted its second major daylight raid on London in July of 1917. Lt. John E. R. Young was one of the British pilots defending that day. He was part of the 37th Home Defense Squadron equipped with Sopwith 1 and 1/2 Strutters and was observed to singlehandedly make several passes at a formation of 22 Gothas. He succeeded in severely damaging one before the massed defensive fire of the German gunners shot him down. Set up: The Germans get six Gothas which start on the East map edge at 4,000 meters. Lt. Young sets up on the West edge in a Sopwith 1 and 1/2 Strutter at 3,000 meters and moves first. The formation rules are in effect. Victory Points: The Germans get one point for each bomber that successfully exits the West edge of the game map. Lt. Young gets two points for each bomber that aborts and five for each one shot down. The Germans get one point for shooting Lt. young down. Variation: Let Lt. Young fly either a Camel, a Pup, an S.E.5a or a Bristol MR. With any variation only award three points for each bomber shot down. (Ed. note: my references indicate the Stacken R planes have a max ceiling of 3800 meters and I believe their dive and max dive speeds should be 4 and 5 respectively for both bombers. Anyway, thanks Jim for this interesting variant! -JDW) Back to Table of Contents -- Air Power # 12 Back to Air Power List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1990 by J.D. 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