Liberators and Nachtjaegers: 1-Aug-43

by Joe Ferrara

Background: Near Vratsu, Bulgaria two brand new Me-110 nightfighters on a ferry flight from Wiener-Neustadt to Sofia sighted and attacked a damaged B-24 retiring from the attack on Ploesti. Although already heavily damaged, the Liberator was able to damage both of the Messerschmitts before finding refuge in a cloud.

Map: OTR Ground map

Aircraft	USAAF	=	One B-24D Liberator
	Luftwaffe	=	Two Bf110G4/R3

Set Up:

Set up the B-24 in hex 3034, heading west at altitude 0.1, speed 4.0, wings level.
Set up the Bf110s in hexes 3244 and 2946, altitude 1.0, speed 5.5, wings level, heading west.

Game Length: 20 turns, or until the B-24 has exited the west edge of the map, disappeared into the cloud layer (special rule 3), or been shot down.

Special Rules:

The B-24 is unloaded, having dropped its bombs at the target.
The B-24 has taken 10 damage points of flak damage. There have been three critical hits: One each on engines 3 and 4 (both #5 on the engine critical hit table), and a hollow area hit.
The north-south river and all hexes west of it are covered by a cloud deck from altitude level 1.0 to level 5.0. If the B-24 reaches this deck, then movement and combat ends. Roll for any on-board fires until either they destroy the B-24 or go out.
The Luftwaffe player must shoot down the B-24 and have more points in order to win. Any other result is a USAAF victory. Only count any damage done during the game when you compute Luftwaffe victory points. If the B-24 exits any edge other than the west edge, it is considered shot down for full VP award.

Additional Rules: Pilot Quality:

USAAF = Veteran (pilot) crew = Regular
Luftwaffe = Veteran, Regular. Roll for additional characteristics.

Variant: Compute B-24 flak damage randomly: Roll 1D10. The result is the number of damage points of flak damage done. Roll for critical hits using a critical hit number of 3. Treat all results that would result in the destruction of the B-24 as a "Hollow space" critical hit.

ADC Availability: The B-24D and the Bf110G-4/R3 are available at Uncle Ted’s.

Sources: Dugan and Stewart, Ploesti, pp 204-205.