Ran through one mission of this campaign today, attacking Target #18, an Oil Refinery.

 

The target area is defended by randomly drawn ZSU-23/4 and an SA-14 MANPAD.

 

Pilots selected for the mission are:

Veteran "Wraith" flying air cover with 2x AIM-7 and 2x AIM-7 and an ALQ-119(v) EW pod;

Average "Griffen" flying air defense suppression with 2x AGM-65, 2x AIM-9, and an ALQ-119(v) EW pod;

Skilled "Fox" and average "Bullseye" flying as the strikers with 2x Mk83, 2x AIM-9, and an ALQ-119(v) EW pod

 

The Ingress Event Card drawn is "Bad Weather - Ground Clutter" which will require a -2 Air to Ground DRM from High Altitude.

 

Wraith and Griffen approach the target from the south while the strikers approach from the northeast.

 

The Target Event Card dawn is "F-14 Tomcats" while provides for drawing one less bandit counter for the target area during the Determine Bandits Present step. [That was for you Tony...too bad there are no bandits called for over the target area - too bad it did not apply to the approach]

 

2x Bandit chits are drawn for each of the four approach areas. 3 "No Bandit" markers are drawn , two in the east and one in the north. That appears good for the strikers, providing them with a clear path to the target area.

 

During the four turns of the actual attack 4/7 AIM-9's and 1/2 AIM-7's hitting their targets destroying an Su-24, Su-25, MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27. Griffin took out the ZSU-23/4 with a maverick, while the target is peppered with six Mk83 hits whereas only 4 hits were required to destroy the target. The MANPAD made one ineffectual SA-14 attack on the low-level strikers.

 

A quick and fun game that is available through vassal and .pdf from the designer at dvg.com and I understand as a PC product available from Matrixgames.

Thanks Pete, Tomcats in something called Hornet Leader, no wonder the F-14s didn't get to do their thing.

They show up in the expansion Carrier Air Wing, which I am the proud papa of as well.

 

Here they did their darndest to clear the target area. Too bad there was nobody home.

After some initial questions, today I re-set and re-started the 2-Day Skirmish with Libya in 1986. Todays target for VMF-666 is Tart #17 a supply depot deep in southern Libya. The mission calls for 6 Hornets, each of which will incur 3 Stress Points upon completion, and due to the distance traveled the nornal 8 Weight Points drops to 5 to account for the additional fuel required.

 

Intel advises that the Approach Defense is made up of SA-15 sites in the South and East. An SA-7 MANPAD in the West and an SA-2 site in the North. Target Defenses consist of SA-2 and SA-6 sites. Based on the number of SAM sites, I opt to spend all 3 Option Points open the availability for 3x AGM-88's.

 

Pilots detailed to this mission are:

Big Red: AGM-65, Mk82, 2x AIM-9

Wraith: 3x AGM-88, 2x AIM-9

Griffin: AGM-65, 2x Mk82, 2x AIM-9

Whitebread: Mk82, Mk83, 2x AIM-9

Hammer: 6x AIM-9

Cowboy: AGM-65, 2x Mk82, 2x AIM-9

 

Target Bound Event Card: Team Work, allows for adjusting a single suppression roll by -2 which I promptly forget to employ.

 

Wraith (High Alt), Hammer (High Alt), Whitebread (Low) and Griffith (Low) approach from the NE. Big Red and Cowboy, both at Low, approach from the North.

 

Site Adjust Event Card: Carrier Life, no applicable changes.

 

Bandits drawn: Three "No Bandits"; South MiG-21; East MiG-25; North MiG21, West Mig-21 and Mig-29. Target Mig-21 and MiG-23.

 

Turn1: Wraith, my only "fast" pilot plinks an SA-15 site.

 

Eastern MiG-25 targets Griffin but Hammer suppresses the MiG with an AIM-9, cancelling the attack.

SA-2 targets Wraith who evades incurring +1 Stress. The missile roll causes an additional +1 Stress.

A northern MiG-21 attacks Big Red who attempts to suppress The suppression attempt and the MiG's attack both end up No Effect.

Western MiG-29 targets Big Red, who evades causing +1 Stress. The MiG's attack also causes +1 Stress.

Southern Mig-21 targets Wraith (while randomly rolled - see a pattern developing?) who sppresses the attack at the expense of an AIM-9.

 

"Slow" Pilots now are cleared to engage.

Cowboy shoots down a MiG-21 with a sidewinder.

Big Red conducts an unsuccessful AGM-65 attack on an SA-2 site.

Whitebread downs the MiG-25 with a volley of two sidewinders.

Griffin destroys the SA-2 site with an AGM-65 strike.

 

Hornets now move one zone, Hammer descends to Low. Bandits can move but do not since all still have potential targets in range.

 

Turn 2

Fast Wraith destroys the target area SA-6 site

 

Target SA-2 targets Hammer who evades the flying telephone pole at a cost of +1 Stress.

Wraith suppresses an attempted MiG-23 attack.

A MiG-21 attacks an evading Griffith causing +2 Stress.

Southern MiG-21 targets Wraith, Hammer fails in his suppression attempt, the attack causes Wraith Damage causing him to drop all remaining ordance and +2 Stress.

Southern SA-15 launches at but misses Wraith.

Western MiG-29 and MiG-21 unsuccessfully attack the evading Cowboy causing a total of +4 Stress.

 

Slow Hornets Attack!

Hammer and Griffin down a MiG-21 and Mig-23 respectively. Big Red and Cowboy each hit the target with one Damage Point via AGM-65's.

 

Hornets and Bandits move. Wraith now descends to Low. Hornets are now over the target area.

 

Turn 3

Fast Hornets - none.

 

Bandits and Sites attack:

Southern Mig-21 misses the evading Whitebread for +1 Stress.

Western MiG-21 targets Cowboy, who attempted suppression, each pilot missed.

Western MiG-29 targets the suppression attempting Hammer who incurs +1 Stress.

 

Slow Attacks

Big Red scores a Hit on the target via a Mk82. Cowboy misses with both of his Mk82. Whitebread causes the target areas 4th hit (remember the two AGM-65's earlier) with one hit by a Mk82, the Mk83 missed. Griffin applied the coup de grace with three hits by two sticks of Mk82.

 

All Hornets begin egress to the Eastern Approach Area. MiG's give chase.

 

Turn 4: Hammer suppresses an attack by the southern MiG-21 on Wraith.

Former western Mig-21 attemptsd an attack on Cowboy, that Griffin suppresses.

The MiG-29 now attacks the evading Griffin, causing +2 Stress

 

Egress Event Card; no effect as there is no remaining AtG ordance.

 

Final Tally:

3 Victory Points Awarded

Big Red: +5 Stress

Wraith: Damaged, +8 Stress Points, he'll need a rest.

Griffin: +7 Stress

Whitebread: +4 Stress

Hammer: +5 Stress

Cowboy: +7 Stress

 

Each pilot received 1 Experience Point for accomplishing the mission, plus one experience point for not losing an aircraft.

 

Luckily the squadron has six more pilots who were cooling their heels in their state rooms, and who now will have to carry the torch; Fox, Bullseye, Wedge, Topo, Package, and Joker.

 

Next mission to follow.

Mission 2 (two missions per campaign day required) saw VMF-666 flying against Target # "Lucky" 13 a Libyan Command Bunker. Mission called for 8 hornets but after the lumps that I took this morning, only the six ready hornets went up. Target was located in mid-Libya, south of Surt. Mission completion would automatically cause +2 Stress on the pilots and due to range the target reduces Weight Points by 2.

 

Wing Intel describes target defenses as following: North/SA-13(L); East SA-11(L); South/SA-8(L), West/37mm(HL). Target had a ZSU-23/4, 2x SA-14, and 1x SA-7. One SA-14 was removed randomly due to intel gained as a result of the mornings mission.

 

Mission Roster:

Wedge (Fast) 2x AIM-7, and 4x AIM-9.

Bullseye (Fast) 2x AIM-7, 2x AIM-9, and 1x Mk83.

Fox (Slow) 2x AIM-9 and 2x Mk83.

Topo (Slow) 2x AIM-9 and 2x Mk83.

Package (slow) 2x AIM-9 and 2x Mk83.

 

Inbound Event Card: Bandits. I opted to exped the 4x AtA assets to negate the bandits "jumping" the strike.

 

Hornets enter board from East and Northeast.

 

Site Adjustment Event Card: Human Factor: Intel goffed slightly and the northern SA-13 and the southern SA-8 are flip-flopped.

 

Bandits Placed: South/MiG-23 and MiG-25; East/MiG-21 and "No Bandit"; North/2x "No Bandit"; West/MiG-29 and "No Bandit". Target Area received MiG-21, MiG-25, and 3x "No Bandit".

 

Turn 1: (Fast) Wedge misses the MiG-25 over the target area with an AIM-7. Bullseye downs the MiG-21 in the Eastern Approach Area.

 

(Bandits & Sites) Target Area MiG-25 targets the evading Bullseye who suffers damage to boot, +3 Stress and drops his ordnance.

(Slow) None.

 

Turn 2 (Fast) Wedge downs the MiG-25 with 2x AIM-9.

 

(Bandits & Sites) Target Area MiG-21 targets an evading Fox, +1 Stress.

Wedges fails to suppress the southern MiG-25 targeting Bullseye, whoi suffers an additional +1 Stress.

MiG-29, formerly from the western approach area, shoots down Topo

 

(Slow) Package avenges Topo by downing the MiG-29.

Fox downs a MiG-25.

 

Turn 3: (Fast) Wedge downs a MiG-29 with an AIM-9

 

(Bandits & Sites) MiG-23 formerly of the southern Approach Area attacks Joker, but Fox suppresses the attack.

ZSU-23/4, and SA-7 miss.

SA-14 causes +1 Stress to Fox.

 

(Slow) Joker misses with both of his sticks of Mk83.

Package gets two hits, subtracted to 1 hit due to the target being underground.

Fox scoring 4 hits with 2 sticks of Mk83's, reduced to 2. Target sill operational.

 

During Egress, Wedge downed the final MiG-23 that was attempting to trail the strike package.

 

Home Bound Event: Coordination. Save card, allows single AtA adjustment of 2.

 

SAR: 2-2WP+2 = "Topo" Captured.

Campaign Day 2, Mission 3, Target 9 Armored Forces. Libyan armored force moving along their costal highway. As I needed a cream puff, this was it. Target will cause Stress +2 and reduce weight points by 1.

 

Wing Intel describes the enemy defenses as: West/SA-14(L); South/SA-13(L); East/SA-7(L); North/37mm(H/L); and the target area has SA-14(L) and SA-8(L). It asppears that a high level approach with stand off weapons would be rewarded.

 

4 Hornets are detailed.

Big Red (no stress) 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65, 1x Mk20 CBU.

White Bread (no stress) 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65, 1x Mk20 CBU.

Wedge (+1 Stress) 2x AIM-7, 2x AIM-9, and 1x Mk20 CBU.

Fox (+1 Stress) 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65, 1x Mk20 CBU.

 

Target Bound Event Card: Bad Day - Rack Failure. Randomly, Big Red loses 1x AIM-9.

 

Pre-Approach: Big Red SW; Wedge and Whitebread south; Fox south. All aircraft at high altitude.

 

Turn 1

(Fast Hornets) Wedge fires an AIM-7 and uses the Locked-on card from previous mission to down the eastern MiG-23.

 

(Bandits & Sites) Western MiG-23 attacks the evading Big Red who takes on +2 Stress.

 

(Slow Hornets) Big Red misses an AIM-9 shot on the MiG-23.

 

(Movement) All Hornets move to Southern Approach Area. Target Area MiG-21 remains in target area.

 

Turn 2

(Fast Hornets) Wedge knocks down the western MiG-23 with an AIM-9.

 

(Bandits & Sites) None.

 

(Slow Hornets) Big Red +1 AtG gets two hits employing two AGM-65 counters.

Whitebread gets three hits with two AGM-65's.

Fox +1 AtG gets three AGM-65 hits...target destroyed.

 

Homebound Event Card: Air War - Recon. Next mission draw an extra target card.

 

Whitebread is now promotable, but already on his average side...so no promotion?

 

Campaign Points earned so far: 5 "Good Evaluation" with one more mission to fly.

4th Mission of 2 Day skirmish with Libya 1986.

 

Recon>4; Intel -1 target sites; Radar Base; Infra -1 Hits

Carry overed Air War Card from last mission egress. Allows for 1 extra mission card to be drawn. Whitebread promoted to Skilled after last mission.

 

Target #15 Secret Lab in eastern Libya. Stress 2, WP-2

 

Eight Hornets armed as follows:

> Wraith 4x AIM-9, 2x AIM-7

> Wedge 4x AIM-9, 2x AIM-7

> Cowboy 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65

> Hammer 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65

> Griffin 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65

> Whitebread 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65

> Fox 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65

> Joker 2x AIM-9, 2x AGM-65

 

Target Sp[ecial Rule: Unkown Defenses, do not place sites or bandits until start of Turn 1.

 

Inbound Event: Fog of War, all mission pilots +1 Stress and +1 Experience at end of mission.

 

Enter Hornets:

Wraith (H), Cowboy (L), Hammer (L), Griffin (L) from North.

Wedge (H), Joker (L), Fox (L), Whitebread (L) from East.

 

Site Adjust Event Card: AAA Sites - add 2 sites to target area.

 

East: 2x ZSU-23/4, SA-6, MiG-29, MiG-23, No Bandit

North: SA-6, SA-7, SA-13, MiG-21, MiG-29, No Bandit

West: ZSU-23/4, SA-7, SA-8, MiG-21, 2x No Bandit

South: SA-2, SA-8, SA-15, MiG-23, 2x No Bandit

Target Area: 2x ZSU-23/4, SA-3, SA-7, SA-14, MiG-21, MiG-23, No Bandit.

 

Turn 1 (Fast) Wraith misses an AIM-9 shot at a MiG-29. Cowboy takes out an SA-6 site with an AGM-65 and Wedge downs the elusive MiG-29 with an AIM-9.

 

Sites and Bandits (East) Wedge suppresses a MiG-23's shot at Whitebread, SA-6 shoots at and misses Joker. Griffith and Hammer suppresses a MiG-29 and MiG-21 attack respectively.

 

(Slow) Hammer downs a MiG-29 with an AIM-9, Griffin takes out an SA-13 site with a maverick, Fox does the same to an SA-6 site, Joker and Whitebread miss a ZSU-23/4 and MiG-23 respectively.

 

All hornets advance into the northern and eastern approach areas and climb to high altititude if not already there. Bandits hold as they are all in range of the attackers.

 

Turn 2 (Fast) Wraith and Cowboy both miss AIM-9 shots at MiG-21's while Wedge connects with an AIM-9 shot at at a MiG-23.

 

(Sites & Bandits) Joker evades an attacking MiG-23 for +2 Stress. Wedge evades an SA-2 launch for +1 Stress. Joker getting overwehlmed evades an SA-15 for an additional +2 Stress. Whitebread attempts to evade an SA-3, but ends up taking damage for +3 Stress and dropping all ordnance. Cowboy evades a MiG-21 attack for +1 Stress while A MiG-23 attack leaves an evading Wedge damaged. Cowboy successfully evades a MiG-21 attack as well as Hammer.

 

(Slow) Hammer fails to hit with two AGM-65 loads. Griffin however hits with one AGM-65 shots of two. Target destroyed since scenario started Infra -1.

 

Hornets begin to egress with MiG's in chase.

 

Turn 3 (Fast) Wraith and Cowboy down a MiG-21 and MiG-23 respectively.

 

Fox suppresses a MiG-23 and suppresses a MiG-21 attack on the damaged Wedge. Griffin fails a suppression attempt but the attacking MiG-21 misses.

 

Homebound Event Card: Opportunity - Communications Vehicles, expend 2x AtG weapons and move recon counter 1 to the right, which I am able to do.

 

Final Skirmish Victory Points Earned 10 "Great".

 

This was my first "completed" campaign after a couple of false starts. Much enjoyment.

"Wedge" was the squadron killer scoring 6 aerial victories, 3x MiG-23, 1x MiG-25, and 2x MiG-29.

 

Next up I am going to put together a "composite" squadron of 12 aircraft/pilots using all of the assets from the Carrier Air Wing. I have available A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair II, EA-6B, E-2 Hawkeye, F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18E Super Hornet.

 

The mix is limited to twelve plane/pilots, and I will be averaging two missions per campaign day. I'm thinking of keeping it retro, not including the super bug.

 

Thinking of:

4x A-6

4x F-14

2x F/A-18

1x EA-6B

1x E-2