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Malta on the offensive!

Last nights scenario saw the players having to escort 4 Blenheim IV’s on a bombing raid on Comiso airfield. The airfield was defended by a medium AA battery Continue reading “Malta Campaign Game 14”

OVER 16 Enemy planes Shot Down!
In the past few weeks, our brave RAF pilots have achieved success after
success in facing the fascist aggressors in the air. Over 16 enemy
aircraft have fallen from the skies from the heaviest raids of the war so
far. Although these losses are costly for the enemy, they are easily
replaced and there seems to be no end to the air armada Hitler and
Mussolini are prepared to throw at our little island. Having said that
though, Luftwaffe planes have not been seen for some days now, with
rumours suggesting they have been sent to the Russian front to counter
increased Soviet activity.
Our successes have come at a cost, with several RAF pilots killed, and
many more planes damaged and destroyed. Once again we are looking to
the sea for replenishment of stores, aircraft and manpower. The next
convoy through will have to battle against the odds for much of the
way. Amongst the reinforcement aircraft are cannon armed Hurricanes,
something that our dwindling band of pilots will be looking forward to
flying, packing more than adequate punch to knock down the Macchi s and
Italian bombers!

Reconnaissance Raid Defeated!

In the early morning haze, 6 weary Hurricanes scrambled to gain height
and intercept an incoming Savoia Reconnaissance plane presumably after
pictures of the harbour. Against a heavy fighter escort, our planes
battled, with onlookers near the docks and Fort St. Elmo watching the
spectacle grow closer and closer to our shores. One Macchi was seen to
disintegrate after a close burst of cannon from one of the newly arrived
aircraft, the pilot’s body being recovered by the ASR launch shortly
after lunch. Despite being swarmed by the smaller and more nimble enemy
fighters, our pilots bored in on the bomber and set it alight before
finally shooting it down into the sea off Dingli as it turned for home.
Several Macchi’s were seen limping home trailing smoke and glycol. All
our hurricanes returned to Takali, although one had to land with no
engine, while the other had serious damage to it’s airframe, an impressive
feat of flying especially considering enemy fighters flying top cover
bounced our aircraft in the middle of the battle.

Malta Night Fighter Unit Formed!

A number of hurricanes have been detailed to form a new unit,
specifically to combat the increased enemy night activity. Pilots for this
new unit will be volunteers only. Any pilot wishing to apply should
speak to his Flight Leader.

In the first of today’s raids five brave Hurricanes battled skywards to see off the impertinent Italians. Our pilots, newly arrived on the island took to the air when radar plotted incoming aircraft which as they drew nearer revealed themselves to be a single bomber and two escorting aircraft.

Unfortunately the inexperienced pilots failed to intercept in time and the enemy aircraft, possibly a photo reconnaissance flight, managed to escape by diving over the island. Only a few of the Hurricanes even fired their guns and the anti aircraft barrage was completely ineffective.

The second sortie saw another SM79 bomber identified on the radar, this time escorted by six enemy fighters. Once again the defending aircraft were slow off the ground, the flight leader opting to fly in formation rather than allowing individuals to climb as they saw fit. This time however our boys certainly got in amongst the enemy although not without cost.

As soon as the Hurricanes had climbed to intercept, the enemy fighters immediately pounced and a general melee occurred. One of the Hurricanes had a lucky escape having collided with a Macchi and crash landed at Luqa with heavy damage, the pilot fortunately avoiding injury although the aircraft is written off. Several of the enemy were seen to fall from the combat and one Italian pilot was rescued from the sea. Eventually though, the bomber who was almost on top of Hal Far aerodrome was damaged and almost immediately shot down, a number of our planes being seen to fire upon it.

In an unfortunate turn of events it seems there was a case of mistaken identity with one of the Hurricanes returning with damage seemingly caused by .303 bullets. At least that plane made it back, one of our planes was hit hard by a Macchi moments after the pilot contributed to the demise of the bomber. Fortunately the pilot managed to bail out and came down just short of the airfield which would seem to have been the target of the raid. In total, the enemy lost two fighters and the bomber for the loss of a Hurricane and two damaged.

(This report was originally posted to the players after the first 2 games of the campaign.)

Malta 1940-42 : A Check Your 6! Campaign

The aim of the campaign is for players to recreate the battles in the skies above Malta between the RAF, Regia Aeronautica and Luftwaffe during the height of the “Siege of Malta“. All players will take the role of RAF pilots. Games will be played using 1/300^th scale aircraft and Check Your 6! Rules with appropriate house rules where necessary.

Pilot Generation.

At the beginning of the campaign, and at any time a player requires a replacement pilot, a roll will be made as follows. 1xD10, 1xD8 & 1xD6. The scores of these three dice will be added together to determine the starting experience of the pilot.

Pilot Skill.

CY6! Requires each pilot to be graded from Green-Ace. Player pilots will each have an experience rating which will change from mission to mission.

• 0-15 Green
• 16-60 Skilled
• 61-120 Veteran
• 121+ Ace

 

Pilot Experience.

Pilots will have the potential to gain and lose experience throughout the campaign. Successful completion of missions, as well as air combat victories will add experience, while poor performance or getting shot down will lose experience for the pilot.

• Surviving the mission (Green 4xp, Skilled 3xp, Veteran 2xp, Ace 1xp)
• Mission Success 3xp
• Claiming a damaged Enemy A/C 2xp
• Claiming a destroyed Enemy A/C 5xp
• Being Damaged -2xp
• Being Shot Down -4xp
• Friendly Fire Incident -10xp

 

Surviving the Mission.

Pilots shot down during a mission are not automatically killed, regardless of the situation described by the rules. Pilots will need to score over 7 successfully using the following dice combinations and modifiers:

• Green Pilot 2D6
• Skilled Pilot 1D4 & 2D6
• Veteran & Ace Pilots 3D6

 

• Pilot Killed Result on Special Damage Chart -3
• Aircraft at height 1 (Surface missions only) -2
• Aircraft exploded result on Special Damage Chart -2
• Aircraft was already damaged from previous turn -1
• Pilot voluntarily bailed out +2
• Pilot “in the drink“ -1
• Aircraft exited unfriendly table edge -1

 

Failing the roll by 1 or 2 means your pilot is wounded and must sit out the next sortie. Failing by 3 or more means your pilot is either dead or so seriously wounded as to remove him from the campaign. You may roll for a replacement if you want to continue.