This scenario generator was developed by Christophe Massuyeau. All I have done was to clean up the translation If you like this, please e-mail Christophe (aka Prof. Erata) and tell him.. - Uncle Ted

Here’s a mission generator for Achtung Spitfire! which portrays particularly fierce air fights which took place above Malta during the spring and the summer 1942. Will you succeed also brilliantly as in the historical reality to defend the island from the Axis bombers like did it the RAF pilots?

Fighters Pilots’ Paradise: Malta April-October 1942

by Prof. Erata

Background: At the beginning of 1942, the Island of Malta proved to be more and more trouble for the Axis. The Royal Navy submarines and the RAF and FAA torpedo aircraft sent to the bottom a heavy part of the logistics and reinforcements intended to the German-Italian armed forces operating in North Africa. Therefore, they decided to get rid of this evil once and for all by invading the island during the spring: Operation HERKULES. But at first, like the Battle of Britain, the Axis needed to wipe out the defense of the island. This task fell to the Luftwaffe and the Regia Aeronautica. The Axis offensive began modestly at the mid-January 1942, but from the 21^st of March, the pressure rose to levels unknown before.

Meanwhile, a delivery of Spitfires 7-Mar-42, from the carrier HMS Eagle, reinforced the defense of the island. The end of March and the beginning of April would be a very hard period for the British, Axis bombers particularly hitting fiercely and unrelentingly at Valetta Harbour (3,156 tons of bombs fell on the harbour of the 6,728 over Malta for April only!). Two new Spitfires Squadrons - 601 and 603 - arrived at Malta the 20 April; but despite everything, the situation at the end April-beginning May was became desperate, the RAF being virtually pinned to the ground. But 9-May-42 new reinforcements - 59 Spitfires from the carriers USS Wasp and HMS Eagle - completely reversed the situation in a few days. The Axis offensive over Malta stopped at the mid-May, the aircraft moved to be more useful elsewhere. The Luftwaffe lost about 500 aircraft destroyed or severely damaged during this period. The British took advantage of this respite by delivering new Spitfires.

But the hardships of Malta were not at all finished. During the summer, the island knew a semi-starvation state, the convoys charged of its supply suffered terrible losses in July and August. The Axis reopened a smaller scale offensive during July. A highly skilled Canadian pilot, George Beurling, was distinguished during this period.

At the mid-August, the situation was again critical, fuel and ammunition running short, but the arrival in port of the tanker Ohio not only maintained British morale but also allowed a counter-offensive against the airfields of the Axis with Sea Hurricanes and Spitfires. The month of September was calm, but on 10 October, the raids reopened again during ten days before a final end.

Malta stood firmly with its tenacity and the valor of its Spitfires’ pilots, permitting Montgomery victory in his offensive at El-Alamein. This period saw an exemplar interarms cooperation, the island garrison furnishing valuable help by repairing and maintaining the airfields and by delivering its armorers to the RAF maintenance crews, relieving those overworked enough...

II. Fliegerkorps and Aeronautica della Sicilia Mission Orders:

Proceed to Malta in order to wipe out its aerial and naval strengths. Roll a die to select the exact target:

The bomber formation flies at altitude 11,500+(1D5 x 500) feet. Do not reveal the destination to the British player until the end of the game.

OMT Set Up:

Special Rules:

1. The initial Operational Weather Table receives a -4 modifier (O thou Blue Sky, Mediterranean...)
2. The Ju 88As start loaded from the OMT initial circle; their airfield is prepared.
3. Every Ju 88A which bombs its target over Malta earns 5 points of victory.
4. Strafing: Bf 109Fs may strafe the Malta airfields. They have to end an op-turn Movement Phase in the airfield square at hedge-hopping heights (ASP! p.42). Strafers are subject to AAA attacks per the normal rules, the light/medium AAA additional modifier being applyed (cf. Flak Attack Modifiers Table). The strafing attack is performed during the Intercept and Combat Phase when it is that formation’s turn to act and counts as a deliberate encounter. Each strafer expends half a die roll of ammo and each may attack one A/C on the field with a range 2 shot using the normal combat rules. The deflection modifier for a grounded A/C is x1. Multiple strafers can shoot the same, or different, aircraft if they desire it. Select which of the three airfields is attacked during this turn. A formation may attack on another airfield on the following turn if the player desire it.

   Historically, the Bf 109F strafed the Malta airfields from 15 May to the 30 June, and during all the August. Takali and Luqa are the Spitfires Squadrons’ airfields, and Hal Far the bombers and torpedoes’ airfield (Wellingtons, Beauforts and Swordfish).

Additional Rules:

1. Square 2 represents the Mediterranean. Search and Rescue are available for both sides.
2. The Spitfires Mk.VC are tropicalized (-0.5 at Max Speed and -100 in Average ROC n°). They do not carry drop tanks.
3. They may refuel and rearm once during the game.
4. They can’t fly beyond of Square 2.
5. The Macchi C.202s usually fly in loose formation. They do not carry drop tanks.
6. The Bf 109F-4/R5s use the Bf 109F-4/Z card, but without the GM-1 device; they carry drop tanks.
7. They take-off from the square 1 (prepared airfield). They may refuel and rearm once during the game.
8. The Ju 88A-4s used in this scenario have a different defensive armament of the A-5:
   • VG is a twin MG-81Z (Firepowe: 8/6/4/3/2/1/-/-. Ammo=18
     DG1 and 2 is one MG-81J (Firepower: 4/3/2/1/1/-/-. Ammo=20)
     FG1 and 2 is one MG-81J (Firepower: 4/3/2/1/1/-/-. Ammo=15);
   • the Cockpit Protection is +2 and the Damage Factor is 18 / 27.
   • Add +200 feet to the Average ROC.
   • The Ju 88A-4s can’t go beyond the square 3.
9. Malta possess an EW and GCI radar installation from April 1942 (which had been installed initially for the Beaufighter night fighters).
10. National training:
    • RAF=Average until June, Good after
    • Luftwaffe=Good
    • Regia Aeronautica=Average

    Inall cases, upgrade any Recruit pilots to Green.

11. Historical Notes: we may subdivide the offensive over Malta in 1942 in six periods:

    1-Mar - 19 Apr	The first Spitfires Mk.VC were conveyed by carrier to Malta in several waves during the month of March 1942, and No. 126, 185 and 249 Squadrons converted to them right away (but they conserved however their Hurricanes Mk.IIB). The tempo of combat increases from 21 March (beginning of the Operation HERKULES) to mid-April. No. 89 night fighter Squadron on Beaufighter Mk.IF arrived in the middle of April and performed great services.
    20 Apr - 15 May	Arrival of the reinforcements. No. 601 and 603 Squadrons took off the 20 April from the USS Wasp, delivering a precious load of 46 Spitfires. The combats reached at this moment their height over Malta, with high losses of Spitfires as on ground than in flight, but the supply of 59 new Spitfires the 9 May permitted to the Britishes to reconstitute theirs strengths. The 15 May was the decisive day of the campaign, where the RAF caused the Axis to stop its bombardments which became too expensive in crews and in material.
    16 May 30 Jun	Calm period. The Axis sent sporadic fighter-bombers raids over Malta. On its side, the RAF is reinforced with three new deliveries of Spitfires, permitting them to reequip its five Squadrons. No. 601Squadron left Malta 23 June for Egypt.
    1-Jul - 12 Aug	The bombardments over Malta started again 1 July, but without the intensity of April. The RAF knew how to properly "receive" its "guests". From the 13 July, the tempo of raids decreased but continued. At the beginning of August, 603 Squadron was disbanded to reconstitute 229 Squadron; the new 1435 Squadron was created this month. Fighter-bomber attacks began again. The RAF lack of fuel was revealed during this period.
    13 Aug - 10 Oct	From the 13 August, the Spitfires, supported by Beaufighters, escorted the arrival of the Pedestal convoy. The tanker Ohio delivered precious aviation fuel so indipensable to the Malta defenders on 15 Aug. This supply, combined with an offensive strategy, permitted the RAF to make raids over Axis airfields in Sicily starting on 18-Aug, which reached their highest point the 27 August. Moreover, the Swordfish pilots exchanged their old biplanes for Sea Hurricane Mk.IIA equipped with 250 lb bombs. September and October are calm months for the Spitfires, but busy for the Beauforts.
    11-Oct - 20 Oct	The Axis again sent bombers over Malta, but this time without great conviction. After 20 October, the raids weakened. The battle was finished; the convoys could arrive without incident to destination. Malta would become a springboard for the conquest of Italy, and was bothered from then on only by few night bombardments.

Variants:

• You may use up to twelve Spitfires Mk.VC (use four counters of Spitfire I/II), even more in July, August and October 1942. You may group the Spitfires with Hurricanes Mk.IIB in March and April 1942 (use the corrected card of this aircraft published in Air Power #42).
• You may do the same thing with the Bf 109F-4 (use Bf 109G counters beyond twelve aircraft) and Macchi C.202.
• From 18 August 1942, the RAF Spitfires and the FAA Sea Hurricanes began to raid the airfields of the Axis in Sicily using 250 lb. bombs (the Sea Hurricane Mk.IIA has the same armament than the Mk.IA). You may create accordingly an "offensive" variation of this scenario (the Axis airfields are equipped with one light Flak unit).
• The Regia Aeronautica was very active over Malta. If you have the ADCs of the Re.2001, Z.1007 and S.79, you may add these aircraft in this scenario by mixing them with the German aircraft, or by replacing them.[Available under Italian Aircraft- Uncle Ted.]
• You may replace the Ju 88A-4 by the Ju 87B-2 of the Regia Aeronautica 102° Gruppo B.aT.
• George "Screwball" Beurling arrived the 9 June in No. 249 Squadron and embarked on the fight from the 6 July, becoming ace this day! He achieved 28 kills over Malta from July to October 1942. If you want to put our man in this scenario, he is a Regular-Ace-Gifted-Crack Shot.

ENCOUNTER TABLES OVER MALTA IN 1942

The Hurricanes intervened only during the two first and the two last periods of the campaign (in the last case, FAA Sea Hurricane Mk.IIA used for airfield attacks over Sicily); if they are encountered outside these periods, use Spitfires instead. You cannot encounter British fighters this side of the square 2; ignore this result before 18 August. The 89 Squadron night fighters Beaufighters Mk.IF had the occasion to intervene by day for protect the "Pedestal" convoy at the mid-August. If you have the ADCs for the Re.2001, you may modify the Axis side of this Encounter table.

When a vic of bombers are encountered, they will be loaded with bombs (or possibly torpedoes for the British) on a die roll £ 4.

There were various British bombers types in operation:

• Beaufort Mk.I (replaced here by Blenheims Mk.IV - defensive armament and the performances are analogous)
• FAA Swordfish Mk.I.
• Wellingtons GR Mk.VIII are identical to the Mk.ICs, but they have Cockpit and Fuel +2.

If you have the ADCs of the Ju 87D, S.79 and Z.1007, you may modify the Axis side of this Encounter table.

Sources

- Fanatique de l'Aviation n°115.
- Troupes d'Élite Aviation n°135.
- The Air Battle for Malta, par J. Douglas-Hamilton - Airlife Publishing Limited.
- Histoire de la Luftwaffe, par T. Wood et B. Gunston - Éd. Elsevier.
- Histoire pour Tous n°18.
- Aircraft in Action n°57 (Bf 109), 85 (Ju 88) et 76 (Wellington) - Squadron/Signal Publications.
- Fanatique de l'Aviation n°95-96-76.
- MACH 1 T.2.
- Courage Alone, par C. Dunning - Hikoki Publications. Ouvrage remarquable, recommandé.

CONCEPTION: Christophe MASSUYEAU
Bar-le-Duc, FRANCE 1995-1997