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

Mission Scenario for Fighting Wings
Here is an original mission scenario which will require ADCs for aircraft in three volumes of Fighting Wings system (OTR, ASp! and WD). These will enable you to launch into battle with the best hunter of the USAAF over Tunisia in 1942-1943: Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which however hardly deserved during this program its famous historical nickname of " Fork-Tailed Devil" against the Luftwaffe’s FW 190s and Bf 109s... It’s up to you to do better, now!

Lightnings Against Focke-Wulfs, Tunisia – Nov-42 to May-43

Background: On 21-Nov-42, the 1st and 14th Fighter Groups of the 12th US Air Force arrived in North Africa, their P-38s joining other fighter units in P-40s, P-39s, and Spitfires. After a "muscular" greetingby the Luftwaffe (the two unit's base was bombed during the night of 16-17 November ), the new American fighters carried out their first mission on November 18. Very quickly, Lightnings engaged in the Mediterranean suffered a fate quite contrary to those fighting in the Pacific. Flown by young inexperienced pilots, handicapped by their poor roll rate and unsuitable combat tactics, they underwent terrible reverses against frightening FW 190s of the II./JG 2 and Bf 109Gs of the JG 53 and JG 77, which arrived in Tunisia shortly after Operation "TORCH". Used for support missions by the III./ZG 2 (which became III./SKG 10 on 20-Dec-42), FW 190 (as well as Bf 109G) was going to hold the high edge during its stay in North Africa.

On their side, the two FG suffered such losses in combat that 14th FG had to be withdrawn from combat at the end of January 1943, surrendering its remaining aircraft to the new 82nd FG which arrived on Christmas 1942. The two units continued their interception and escort) missions, with moral rather low.

Success finally came with Operation FLAX, where P-38 were going to destroy many Axis transport aircraft over the Mediterranean from the 5 to April 10, 1943.

The end of the campaign in Tunisia on May 13, 1943 did not prevent the continuation of the missions of P-38 with the return of 14th FG. One can nevertheless assess that in this campaign, the Lightning was hardly remarkable in its operations against Luftwaffe, compared with the brilliances successes gained during the same period in the Pacific against the Japanese. The problems inherent in P-38 operations were reproduced at the time of the first missions escorting the heavy bombers of the 8· Air Force over Western Europe from October 1943, where the losses would prove such that the USAAF was obliged to quickly withdraw P-38 in this type of mission in favor of the P-51 Mustang.

This scenario will enable you to recreate P-38 missions in Tunisia from November 1942 to May 1943. The German player can try to contradict with his FW 190 the historical claims of the overrated reputation (in my opinion) of the famous American fighter. It will be also possible to make operate other types of fighters: Spitfire VC and P-40F (including those of the famous GC II/5 La Fayette, first unit of the French Air Force to take arms again withe the Allies from mid-January 1943).

Mission Orders for the 1st, 14th and 82nd Fighter Groups of the 12th Air Force: Take off and move towards Tunisia occupied by the Axis in order to force Luftwaffe to start the combat. The maximum mission range is the Mediterranean (box 5), while flying preferably in ML or MH bands. Additionally you can attack any target of opportunity on the return.

Placement OMT:

Targets of opportunity:

1. The German player rolls a die for the distance:

   Roll	Range
   1 - 3	2
   4 - 7	3
   8 - 10	4

2. The German player then rolls another die for the type of objective:

   Roll	Target type
   1 - 3	Ju 88A-4 in LO band (see characteristics in the Encounter Tables)
   4 - 10	Column of trucks (use a truck counter).

3. The distance and the type from objective are hidden initially with the allied player. The file of truck is revealed to him only when its formation flies over them in band VL; this type of objective is protected by an average unit of Flak.

Special Rules:

1. Reroll the initial operational weather if the first result obtained is 9-10 (without any seasonal modifier). In the event of weather change (every TWO turns in winter, and every THREE turns in spring), time cannot NEVER be worse than "High Overcast Skies" in winter and "Broken Cloud Cover" in spring (if these types worsen, regard the die roll result as no change).
2. The P-38 base is in the IMT circle, and is considered a prepared air base.
3. Strafing the bases: P-38s can strafe enemy airfields by remaining a full operational turn in the box of a base at hedgehopping altitude (OTR p.41). The attackers are prone to being hit with AAA according to usual rules', the additional modifier of the light and average AAA being applied (cf AAA Attack tables). The strafing attack is carried out during the Interception and Combat Phase when this formation moves ; it counts as a successful deliberate encounter. Each aircraft spends half of a die of ammunition and can attack an aircraft on the ground at 2-hex range using normal combat rules. The modifier of deflection for an enemy aircraft on the ground is x1; several aircraft can strafe the same target if they wish. Use the same process to attack a truck column obtained as an opportunity target.

Notes:

1. Front line is located between boxes 1 and 2. An escape exists in boxes 2 to 4 for the Americans (Tunisians).
2. The FW 190A as well as Bf 109G are tropicalized, but do not have any effect on Maximum and Dive Speeds; they can use drop tanks, but cannot rearm and refuel during the game.
3. The Axis can attack the P-38 base if they wiss. It is protected by a light Flak unit.
4. P-38s can carry two 125-gal drop tanks. They cannot rearm and refuel during the game. They can however start to re-enter after a first combat.
5. The American player must carry out at least one interception and gain more points than the German player to win the game.
6. Flying through a box containing an enemy city or base does not force the attacker to fly directly over that city or base.
7. All aircraft use an +4 emergency landing modifier due to the difficulty of the terrain..
8. Germans and Americans can go to box 5 (the Mediterranean).
9. National levels of training:

   USAAF	Average - no aces until February 1943
   Luftwaffe	Good until January 1943, then Average

10. Victory points for the trucks and enemy aircraft damaged or destroyed are deduced in the usual manner (OTR p.48).
11. Specific history: one can divide USAAF and Luftwaffe operations in Tunisia in three periods:

    Nov-42 / Jan-43:	Arrival of the 1st· and 14th FG with P-38s as well as 57th, 33rd, 79th and 325th FG with P-40s, 81st and 350th FG with P-39s and 31st and 52nd FG with Spitfire VCs for the American side, and German side of the II.JG 2 and III./ZG 2 on Fw 190 and of the I./JG 53, II./JG 51 and I-II-III./JG 77 on Bf 109G; Regia Aeronautica has the 155° Gruppo C.T in C.202. During their first sorties, P-38s will undergo heavy losses and are reinforced by the 82· FG on Christmas. On their side, the Germans do better than to defend oneself against the crushing the allied numerical superiority, in particular the II./JG 2. The Italians replace 155° Gruppo by 6° Gruppo C.T. at the end of December. At the end of January, 14· FG, demoralized and having undergone heavy losses is withdrawn from the combat; the units on P-38 will have serious problems to be maintained with full manpower... On January 13, 1943, GC II/5 of our Air Force in its new P-40F-5 begin limited operations, marking the return of the French to combat at the sides of the Allies.
    Feb / Mar-43:	The Wehrmacht launches its famous offensive on Kasserine on 14-Feb-43; Luftwaffe does its best, but it can hardly facilitate the task of Wehrmacht, which misses strategic reserves. After a remarkable campaign, the II/JG2 leaves Tunisia, after having gained the astounding score of some 150 victories while losing 18 of their own pilots! JG 53 and 77 in their Bf 109Gs are left alone to defend the sky of Tunisia entirely, with increasing difficulties. The sea belonging to the Allies, a vast airlift is organized between Tunisia and Sicily, the Luftwaffe organizing an escort for the slow transport aircraft (including the enormous six-engined aircrafts Me-323). Losses are very heavy and seal the destiny of the Axis in Africa. With the advance of the allied armies, the P-38 base moved into Box 1, and the front line is moved to between boxes 2 and 3.
    Apr / May-43:	The American pilots aguerrissent themselves more and more on their aircraft. Operation FLAX from the 5 to April 10 decimates the Axis transport aviation, the maritime transportation lanes being controlled by the Allies. On its side, Luftwaffe defends a desperate plight on the ground. With the retreat of the 5· Armée towards Tunis, the German fighters end up withdrawing on May 10, 1943. May 13, the forces of the Axis leave Tunisia. But the martyrdom of Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean was far from being finished...

Variations:

• Use more aircraft on both sides: eight P-38 and six Fw 190, and even more (boxes of OTR and ASp! provide all manpower necessary), if all players agree.
• Replace the P-38 by
  • Spitfire VC (Trop):-0.5 of Maximum Speed and -100 of Climbing speed
  • P-40F-1/5+ (if you have the ADC of this alternative of P-40);
  You can group together these three models of fighters, if desired. Spitfires and P-40 can go to box 5 only until mid-March 1943.
• "La Fayette, nous revoilà!": During the Tunisian campaign, GC II/5 was the first fighter unit of the Free Armee de L’Air (the F.A.F.L.) to return to combat on January 13 to March 12, 1943 and as of May 11; its base is in the circle of the OMT. The French are flying the P-40F-5. Training level of the French: Good.
• Replace the FW 190A-3/A-4/Trop II./JG 2 with the FW 190A-4/U4/Trop of III./ZG 2-SKG 10, like by Bf 109G-2/G-4/Trop of the JG 53 and 77.
• Fighter-bomber Missions: Both sides can perform this mission:
  • Luftwaffe: Fw 190A-4/U3 can carry out missions of support into Box 1 until mid-March 1943, into 2 starting from the end March.

    Roll a die to select a target: 1 to 6 = allied military unit (use an infantry counter) 7 to 10=base (use a base counter)

    Allied objectives are defended by a light Flak unit. They can also carry out opportunity strafing attacks. FW190A are armed with a bomb SD250/500. Each FW 190 which succeeds in tackling its objective receives 3 points of victory. Note: III./SKG 10 used of FW190G-3 from March 1943 (A-5/U8); they are identical to the A-4/U8.

  • USAAF: the P-40F, the P-39D and Spitfires VC can also perform support missions.

    Roll a die for the distance: 1 to 3=2 4 to 7=3 8 to 10=4 add + 3 after mid-March 43; do not to roll a die starting from mid-April.

    The allies attack the same types of targets that Luftwaffe, but Wehrmacht is defended by an medium Flak unit in addition to usual light Flak. The P-39D and the P-40F are armed with a M43 bomb, Spitfires with a bomb 500MC. The points of victory are obtained same manner as Luftwaffe.

• Escort Missions: P-38F/G and Spitfire VC (and the P-40F) can escort twelve medium bombers (B-25D or B-26B-4). The bombers take off loaded starting from the circle with the OMT; their base is prepared.

  Roll a die for the type of objective: 1 - 5 = city in box 4 (defended by one heavy and one medium Flak unit) 6 - 8= base 1 in box 4 9-10=base n·2 in 4. 9-10 = base 2 in box 4

  They must fly at an altitude ranging between 10,000 and 12,000 feet. Each B-25 or B-26 which succeeds in bombarding its objective receives 5 points of victory. Training Level (bombers): Average.

Encounter Tables for P-38 in Tunisia

One cannot encounter P-39s or Spitfires (like the P-40) beyond box 4 until mid-March 1943; ignore such a result before this date. If you have the ADC for the Macchi C.202, you can modify the German side of this table.

1. If three (or more) of bombers are met, they are armed with bombs on a die roll < 5.
2. The Ju 88A-4s are different from the A-5:
   • cockpit protection +2
   • damage=18/27
   • roc +200.
   • VG=twin MG-81Z (Gunnery factors 12/9/6/4/3/2/-/- ammo=18).
   • DG1 and 2 have each one a MG-81J (Gunnery factors: 6/4/3/2/1/1/-/- ammo.=20)
   • FG1 and 2 (Gunnery factors: 5/4/3/2/1/1/-/- ammo=15);
   The tropicalized version of Ju 88A-4 is not penalized in maximum level or dive speed.
   

ADCs

Here the complete list of the aircraft which are used in this scenario:

• OTR: Fw 190A-4, B-26B, B-17F;
• ASP!: Fw 190A-3, Spitfire VC, Bf 109G-2, Ju 88A-5;
• WD: P-38F/G, P-39D, B-25C/D. [From the list JD published of aircraft in WD. - Uncle Ted]

[Not surprisingly, some of these additonal ADCs are available from Uncle Ted’s:

• P-38F, P-38G and F-5A are part of a P-38 set.
• Ju52 is listed with German bombers.

Previously published in Air Power:

• B-25C/D - AP# 37
• P-39D - AP#52
• P-40F, Macchi C.202 - AP#54
  - Uncle Ted]

Sources

• Grand Atlas Larousse-Hammond - Éd. Larousse
• MACH 1 T.3 - Éd. Atlas
• History of the Luftwaffe, par B. Gunston et T. Wood - Éd. Elsevier.
• Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean, par J. Scutts - Osprey Publishing.
• P-38 Lightning, par A. Pelletier - Éd. Ouest-France. L'ouvrage de référence, recommandé.
• P-39 Airacobra, par A. Pelletier - Éd. Ouest-France.
• "Chasseurs en vue: on attaque!", par A. Legrand - Éd. J. Grancher.
• Connaissance de l'Histoire n53.
• Docavia n·15 Focke-Wulf 190, par J-Y. Lorant et J-B. Frappé - Éd. Larivière.
• VAE VICTIS n1.
• Regia Aeronautica Vol.1, par C. Shores - Squadron/Signal Publications.

CONCEPTION: Christophe MASSUYEAU
E-mail: prof.errata@wanadoo.fr