Three is almost a foursome

 The early 2024 wargamer plague continues.  Roger, aka Daharran leader, had an accident, resulting in a Friday ( the horror) doctors appointment. He missed the second January outing of the airplanes.  More so he missed a visit from Barry, of Barry's Redoubt fame.  

Barry had brought along a squadron of Hurricanes, just in case. We set the stage as 1942, somewhere in New Guinea or the Solomons. Yes, kind of vague but enough to suggest theater and doctrine cards. 

The start of the Hurricanes versus the Nicks.

Most all the Nicks versus the Hurricanes

So it was decided, we'd still do the biggest scenario yet. Three  B-26's would attempt to bomb an enemy target. Protected by the P40's and Hurricanes of the Allied SE Asia Airforce it looked like a straight forward  mission.  

 We failed to tell the IJN they were not invited, and Greg unleashed 6 Zeros and 6 Nicks to intercept. 

As part of set up, the Allies (me) got an extra  element of two P38's.  So all 17 Allied planes started towards the target. Opposed were the dozen Japanese fighters.

Scrum, P40s and P38's against the Zero!

 Each plane has a base, which is home to all sorts of accolades and abilities. There was an ' ace ' on both sides in each half of the table, then 3&4 rated pilots and a single rookie each. Greg led with his good pilots & ace trying to close on the bombers.  I decided to concenrate on his ace as it was well forward and ganged up on it with up to four aircraft for two turns.

 

This create a huge furball as all that shooting and attempting to maneuver sucked in a lot of my attention and Greg was forced to go easier on the B26's than he would like. It would take the bombers 5 turns to reach the target, a supply depot.

To the North, Greg's Nick fighters and Barry's Hurricanes traded hits and while saving most both had built up a sizeable 'boom' chip count ( too many makes your squadron break off.)  Greg actually reached the point with his Nick squadron, but had savaged a B26 before leaving.

My P40 rookie, of all pilots, scored an outmaneuver result on the Japanese ace for the Zero's and that was the beginning of three other P40 & P38 pilots rending the aces Zero into pieces.  But during this interlude, the other Nicks and Zeros  splashed the remaining two B26s.  The raid was a failure.

 

We had a good time, made a few mistakes in the rules, but after four outings we should be able to start the campaign.  Neither the losses for this or the game before will count in he start up.  I have pretty much determined to next get some USN air assets. probably Wildcats and the Dive Bomber-Torpedo bomber squadrons. 

 When Roger recovers he will bring the Luftwaffe to bear on my North Africa Desert Air Force squadrons . The p40,P38 and P47 will all serve double duty.