Thunderous Escort: 2-Oct-45

by Mitchell Schwartz

Hypothetical Background: After the successful Antwerp Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) in Dec-44 cut off the northern group of Allied Armies and caused an evacuation and re-organization of the Allied efforts, Germany took full advantage of the pause to step up production and deployment of some of its wonder weapons. Some of these were used to harass allied shipping and ports as the allies prepared for a final offensive in the fall of 1945. This is an example of a small escorted raid comg in over the North Sea from a base in Denmark.

The Luftwaffe was not the only side sporting wonder weapons, however. The Gloster Meteor III was joined in the air by the Vampire and the American Shooting Star and Fireball.

Map: Blue Sky

Set Up: Start the scenario from the TMG. Determine the weather to determine where any cloud decks are and at what altitude contrailing starts. Set up with the Luftwaffe as the Mission player. Have both sides determine their formation. The Allies can strike as two elements. The Luftwaffe can select any altitude in the MH or HI band. Use Relative Determination (see rule 14.2) to determine Allied altitude. Both sides have radar support for spotting purposes. One side may have "spare points" available for manipulating die roll outcomes (see Special Rule #3). Set up form TMG into combat scale based on the TMG outcome.

Game Length: 30 game turns

Special Rules:

1. Before the game begins the Luftwaffe player selects two pairs of escorts from the following list:

   Aircraft		Points
   Me-262A-2 He162A-2 He280 Ho229 Do335		20 12 13 19

   Do not reveal the aircraft selected until the beginning of the combat phase.

2. Before the game begins the Allied player selects two pairs of interceptors from the following list:

   Aircraft		Points
   P-80 Shooting Star Ryan FR-1 Fireball Gloster Meteor III Vampire I		18 15 16

   Do not reveal the aircraft selected until the beginning of the combat phase.

3. Total the points used by each side for each pair of interceptors. Subtract the larger number from the smaller number. The side with the smaller total can use these point to inlfuence rolls on the tactical set up.
4. The Arados are armed with 1x SC500 bomb each.

Additional Rules:

1. Pilot Quality: Generate Luftwaffe pilots from Average.
   Generate Allied pilots from Good.
   Generate additional characteristics as desired.
2. The Me262 and Do335 are available with Over The Reich. The Gloster Meteor III and Heinkel He162 is available in Air Power #35. The other jet ADCs are available from Uncle Ted's ADC collection.

Variants:

• For the cost of 1 VP more expense, arm the Me262 or Do335 with the Ruhrstahl X-4 early air to air missile.
• Replace the Ar234B-2 with the Henschel Hs132 jet dive bomber (available from Uncle Ted's ADC collection).

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