Overall, there was quite a variety of results at each of the tables. The scenarios were weighted against the Iraqis, but only if the attack force played well. The situation was a dangerous one since the defenses consisted of three layers, aircraft, SAMs and guns. In the scenarios where the attackers did the best, the MiG threat was neutralized quickly allowing the Iron Hand to engage some of the ground defenses which in turn eased the pressure on the bombers. The FA-18's were the most successful strike birds mainly due to the fact that they could use AIM-7s to quickly tackle the MiGs. The F-16s had to get in closer to fire and usually ended up in a dogfight. The same applied to the Tornados which were not well equipped for an air battle and suffered against the MiGs. There was a learning curve as well, as quite a few players had not spent much time with Air Strike although they were competent with the Air Superiority aspect of things. Top Wop and Slather's success as the defenders stands out only in that they used the firepower available to them with their SAMs and never let up thus dominating the situation by keeping the attacking Falcons off balance the entire game. All in all, it was quite interesting to watch! FINAL TEAM STANDINGS As described before, points were awarded for individual performance in each game and team performance at each table. As there were six games of each scenario played, each member of the top ranked team was awarded 6 points and so on, so that each member of the bottom team merely received 1 point. However at each playing, regardless of team standing, the best player of the four attackers was given 4 points and so on. In some cases we felt there were ties so points were sometimes split between two players. What follows is the team standings for each scenario. Note, the best two teams on defense recieved a first place standing and so on. Team Ranking Waterloo Attack Airfield Attack Best Two Iraqi Defenses 1 A+G A+H A+E 2 E+F E+L C+F 3 K+L C+I K+G 4 D+I B+G H+D 5 J+C D+J J+B 6 B+H F+M* L+I Dave Larstone and Jay Davis, last round substitution for K. INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS AND PLACING Ranking Player Call Sign Total Pts 1 Mark Bovankovich Top Wop 25 2 Fran Kiger Bald Eagle 23 3 Curtis Maki Slather 23 4 Dan Foxman Dragon 18 5 Steve Madjanovich Madman 17.5 6 Mike Phelps Cougar 16.5 7 Fred Gray Bozo 16 7 Tim Tynan Wildman 16 8 Mike Daniel Maddog 15.5 8 Bob Gross Grossman 15.5 8 Gary Bear Gunner 15.5 9 Rick Noetzel Redneck 15 9 Paul West Wahoo 15 9 John Caraher Quickdraw 15 10 Bruce Merz Iceman-II 14.5 10 Mike Vanleeuwen Zee 14.5 11 Jim Rumizen Z-man 13 11 Pat Slocomb Soleman 13 12 Scott Kreiser Slick 12 13 Chip Sayers Raider Red 11.5 14 Bob Sanders Iceman 11 14 Cliff Alcorn Popcorn 11 15 Karl Mueller Hollywood 9.5 16 Roger Taylor Woof 8.5 17 Jay Davis Snake 2* 18 Dave Larstone -----? 0* * Played one round only. TOURNAMENT AWARDS First place deservedly went to Mark B. who seemed to play cleanly in every round. He kept priorities straight, attacking his assigned targets and masterminding the mother of all Iraqi Air Defenses. His erstwhile comrade, Curtis M. also played well and was barely eaked out of 2d place by Fran K. who, while not in the top team every round, had the same point total by placing higher on individual performance (read blew a lot of things up) and thus took 2d on referee's judgement. After fourth place, ranking wasn't broken out but the order of the players tied within a given rank indicates who did slightly better in terms of damage to assigned targets and in terms of overall effort. Of course, ranking isn't everything! There are always those coveted additional awards we hand out to distinguish those individuals who perform above and beyond the call of duty. While there were many nominees, only one individual could recieve each award. And without further adieu: 1. The Infamous Tony Valle Memorial Leadership Award: Given to the player who most aggressively charges to his own quick death or does something equally dumb like diving into the Ground. Congratulations John "Quickdraw" Caraher for diving a MiG into the ground in round 1, after successfully evading two AIM-9Ls. (There's always one). 2. The Coveted Missile Sponge Award: Given to the player who absorbs the most hits with or without going down in a single game. While there were several valid candidates; Dan "The Dragon" Foxman stands out for his efforts as a MiG pilot in round 1in which attacking FA-18s expended four AIM-7s and two AIM9Ls for no hits followed by an FA-18 gun attack which damaged but still failed to bring his MG-21 down. At the end of play, the MiG progressed to Cripple damage while still pursuing the Hornets. Tim Tynan is a first runner up for taking five SA-6s in a row at table one in round one before dying. 3. The Definitive I'd Rather Be Lucky Than Good Anyday Award: Given to the player who for whatever reason avoids death despite his own poor tactics or flying. To the entire Tornado Strike force of Table 3, round 2; consisting of Slather, TopWop, Madman, and Zee, but primarily Madman who must have used voodoo on the defender's dice. To recap; Every AAA shot taken against a Tornado missed, two SA-8 missiles were launched at Madman but failed, two Magic IRMs were launched at Zee, one failed and one was decoyed, a Stinger was launched at Top Wop and failed, Top Wop launched two ALARMs in a fake attack on a MiG and the pilot broke off his pursuit of Madman. The other MiG missed a gunshot at Top Wop and met Madman for a head on shot and missed. Madman cleaned his clock Oust another typical day right Steve!). 4. The Amazing Live In Fame, Or Die In Flames Award: Given to the player who puts up the most dramatic fight of the day and lives. (Modified this year to read; "...and lives, ordies"). Presented to the indomitable Tim "Wildman" Tynan for his courageous effort as a struggling Hunter pilot at 40,000 feet alone against four F-16s. Allah was proud! Too bad you died. 5. The Meritorious "No Guts, No Glory" Award: Given to the player who manages to do the least with the opportunities given him. While it's true that Dave Larstone didn't get much of an opportunity against Top Wop and Slather's Mother of all defenses in round three. His comical expression in midgame when faced with the sudden fact that his other three comrades were all blown away, and his subsequent futile attempt to flee from an SA-11 and two MiGs earned him this award. And hey, didn't Dave write us in issue #10 and say something about soon being "...masters of the arcane and brutally effective Canadian Tactics that have sent so many (Yanks) on a quick trip down to Terra Firma."? Say Dave, how does that foot taste? HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR 1991! 1. Best Defenders; To Top Wop and Slather, for the Mother Of All Iraqi Air Defenses, and their silly attempts at Arab accents while playing same. 2. Most Outlandish Dress; To Slather.... long blond hair, military flight suit, and oh gawd, a shrike missile earing? 3. Best Group Spirit; The Canadians and Californians for masterminding the popular Air Sup. 91 Tourney T-shirt showing a surfer dude hanging ten on the wing of an F-104. 4. Most Enthusiastic Players; the couple of guys just back from Desert Storm! Glad to have you! Well that wraps up our first ever Air Strike Tourney and what a wild one it was. Next year's will be similar but less involved and hopefully even more fun. Expect 2d edition stuff using Clash of Arms "The Speed Of Heat!" game due out by April 1992. Just a reminder, Clash Of Arms is picking up the Air Superiority line where GDW is leaving off. See you then. Origins 91 Air Strike Tourney Report Set Up Combat Summaries: Round One Combat Summaries: Round Two Combat Summaries: Round Three Combat Summary, Standings, and Awards Back to Table of Contents -- Air Power # 17 Back to Air Power List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1991 by J.D. Webster This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com