Background: The sixteen PAF Sabre 6s of No. 14 Squadron were the only Pakistani combat aircraft in East Pakistan at the start of the war. They were facing approximately 200 Indian jets of all types. No. 14 Squadron held out for four days before their base and runway at Tezgaon were damaged beyond repair. The ground crews eventually scuttled 11 of the Sabres on the ground as Indian ground troops closed in on them. Can you assume the role of 14 Squadron commander and do as well or improve upon their record? A. The squadron consists of 16 silver Sabre 6 (refer to AP issue 14) and 18 pilots generated using the 'Europe' table. Assign one veteran or regular pilot as the CO and another as the XO. Assign 4 regulars or better to the positions of Division Leaders. Up to 4 other pilots may be designated Section Leaders if regular or better. B. The Campaign will be a combined campaign based on scenario G-15/G-16. 1-5-Air-to-Air Mission and 6-10-Air-toGround Mission. The number of sorties and related things will be mostly the same as G-1 5/G-1 6, with some changes that will be discussed below. C. Campaign and Combat VP totals are kept as per G-15/G16. The following changes are made: The Squadron will nW be withdrawn (where to??). 14 Squadron will continue to fight until either their base is finally damaged beyond repair, all of the Sabres are destroyed or unable to fly due to damage or lack of necessary maintenance, or there are no pilots left. The Squadron loses if it cannot perform operations on the fourth day or earlier regardless of the Combat and Campaign VP totals. You have not met the historical results and your lack of potential presence and support will enable the IAF to dedicate more planes to close support and to achieve a quicker victory in East Pakistan. A Draw results if operations continue to the fourth day and finish on that day and Combat or Campaign VPs are not positive. You lasted as long, but without as much success-a game effort! A Historical Victory results if operations cease during the fourth day and both Combat and Campaign VP totals are positive. You have achieved identical results. Considering that this was considered an impressive feat, victory is yours. A Substantial Victory results if the squadron is functional at the end of the fifth day, but the Campaign or Combat VPs are not positive. Your squadron has lasted longer than the historical result and continues to draw IAF jets away from ground support. Since you continue to be a thorn in the side of the Indian forces in spite of your lack of success into the second week of conflict, you have earned this Substantial Victory! A Stupendous Victory results if the squadron is still functional at the end of day 5 with a positive Combat and Campaign VP total. Your squadron has held out into the second week of the war and may, through contributing in combat and in tying up Indian air assets, enable East Pakistani ground troops to hold out for a couple of more days which may help at cease-fire negotiations or in future political bargaining. D. Turn-Around Cycles remain the same as G-15/G-16. E. The Mission type and determination is reached as per a typical G-1 5/G-1 6 campaign. The following matrices, however, are used instead: Air-to-Air: Roll Mission A/C 1-2 = G-5 Local CAP (2) 3 - G-7 Interception (2) 4 - G-7 Interception (4) 5-6 - G-9 Area Patrol (2) 7-8 = G-9 Area Patrol (4) 9 = G-10 Fighter Sweep (4) 10 - G-10 Fighter Sweep (6) Air-to-Ground: Roll Mission A/C 1-2 - EoG-2/S-15 Search and Destroy (2) Targets are set up as in S-15 but defenses are as in G-1 2 (Low Threat). IAF may purchase aircraft as per G-15/G-16. 3-4 - EoG-2/S-15 Search and Destroy (4) Targets are set up as in S-15 but defenses are as in G-15 (Medium Threat). IAF may purchase aircraft as per G-15/G-16. 5-6 = G-1 1 Close Air Support (Low Threat) (2) IAF may purchase aircraft for defenses, cannon only. 7-10 = G-11 Close Air Support (Med. Threat) (4) IAF may purchase aircraft for defenses, cannon & IRMs only. Note: Extra PAF aircraft cannot be requested! Your Squadron is the only combat air asset in the entire country and is isolated by hundreds of miles from West Pakistan. F. Mission resolution is the same as for G-1 5/G-1 6. Remember that your incoming strike raids can be intercepted! G. The Flight Schedule is handled the same as in G-1 5/G-16. H. The Attrition of aircraft and pilots is handled the same as in G-15/G-16. I. Repairing Aircraft is the same as in G-15/G-16. J. There are NO replacement aircraft and pilots. However, No. 14 Squadron had all aircraft'up' at the outbreak of hostilities. K. Weapons Depot: Fuel Tanks: 24+2 Die Rolls. AIM-9B IRM: 24+4 Die Rolls MG Ammo: Unlimited. Air-to-Ground Ordnance: HE type BB and RK (These are available in unlimited quantities). There will be no resupply of FTs or IRMs. L There will be one enemy raid during EVERY cycle. The IAF mounted a relentless counter-air campaign against 14 Squadron in an attempt to knock them out of the conflict as quickly as possible. Each Raid that exits the appropriate map edge rolls on the following table:  Raid Results: Die Roll Effect 1-6 = No effect. 7 = Raider hit by ground defenses. Roll on the 4 damage table and award the squadron Combat VP. 8 = 1 randomly chosen aircraft on the ground is damaged. Increase the plane's damage level by one and award the Combat VP to the enemy. One point of damage is also given to the base. 9 = 2 randomly chosen aircraft on the ground are damaged. Increase the planes' damage level by one and award Combat VP to the enemy. One point of damage is also given to the base. 10 = One Maintenance Crew is removed from play and one point of damage is given to the base. When 10 damage points accrue to the base, all operations cease for the rest of the day. Campaign VP are lost for missions not flown. Maintenance cannot be performed on the aircraft; these men are busy patching the runway and getting the base back to some semblance of operational capability. 1 die is rolled. Divide by 2 and round up the fraction where necessary. The result is how many points are repaired. Operations can resume at the start of the next day. When 10 damage points are reached again, the base is finally beyond repair and the scenario must end. This simulates the historical results when the airfield ceased operations during the third day and managed to conduct some sorties on the fourth day before the base was finally knocked out for good. M. Use the Campaign Table as presented in the 1971 IndoPakistani War Article to generate IAF fighters and strike aircraft. Roll for scenario forces as per G-15/G-16. N. Special Scenario Start: Play the Prelude to War scenario before the campaign begins. There will be no incoming raid at the scenario's end, and all remaining planes that return regardless of their damage state will be ready for the actual beginning of the war. This simulates the fact that 14 Squadron had 16 planes until this pre-war border incident, and actually started the conflict with 14 planes because of this action. If you want to start on day one of the actual war, start with 14 planes, 16 pilots, and the following numbers for campaign and combat VP: 10 Campaign VP, 15 Pakistani Combat VP and 40 Indian Combat VP. If you feel that you can do better in the Pre-War shootout, I highly encourage you to play it out rather than start in the hole. Notes: Even if you do have an excellent campaign as 14 Squadron Commander, be resigned to the fact that historically, you eventually would have been forced to destroy your remaining Sabres and run for it as overwhelming Indian ground forces inexorably closed towards Tezgaon airfield. You also would have escaped to Burma with your remaining pilots to escape capture and internment in an Indian POW camp. This should at least keep you from getting too swelled a head if you manage to acquit yourself with distinction against a force that outnumbers you by more than ten to one and is dedicated to crushing you as quickly as possible. If you come out of this scenario feeling beleaguered and wiped out, it has accomplished its objective in putting you in a small building near Dhaka, trying to stop the overwhelming IAF forces as best as one can.... Back to Table of Contents -- Air Power # 20 Back to Air Power List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by J.D. 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