Warbirds in Miniature game at Waterloo Minis 17 Sept 08 AAR
Three of us met to play Warbirds in Miniature (WBiM) last night at Waterloo Minis in Ashland VA. Malcolm and I each flew two B-26 Marauders vs. JD and his two BF 109G's. Scenario: B-26 raid over Sicily June 1943
Hauptman JD (the Luftwaffe Co) placed three Panzer HQ markers on the map. I (the GM) randomly selected three AA guns out of the pack of 12 guns. The AA selected were, 1ea 20mm, 1ea 20mm Quad, 1ea 88cm gun. Hauptman JD placed one near each HQ, The 88 with a range of 15 went to center of the board the two 20mm with a range of only 2 hexes were placed on the flanks.
1LT Malcolm and I selected the center PZ HQ as our target and rolled for random entry. Malcolm chose to enter at level one I choose to enter at level 3. JD enter at level 8, he B-26 has a max altitude of 8 when loaded and 10 unloaded. (Max altitude is a club rule)
JD AA hit the US Bomber on the 2nd turn, when the Quad 20 hit Malcolm for one Light damage point, 1LT Malcolm without his dreaded Red Dice rolled bad ad started smoking! Malcolm rolled and passed his morale. JD's BF 109 targeted my two bombers.
On turn 3 due to a fancy maneuver my B-26's raised one level and found both of my bombers one hex away from the flanks of both BF 109's. JD next felt the sting of the B-26's and their six 50. cal MG nose guns. Both of his fighters took heavy damage, one of the pilots failed his morale roll and had to abort the mission, this left one Messerschmitt to deal with! Malcolm was over the target hex and let lose of one of his bomb loads but only hit the target once (Med-Bldgs need to be hit twice in a turned to be destroyed) JD let lose with his 88 and hit Malcolm other bomber for 6 Light hits.
Turn 4: I coordinated with Malcolm, so that our remaining three bombers would be over the target on turn 5 (lesson learned from turn 3) JD's 88 AA gun now targeted one of my Bombers and missed.
Turn 5: Three B-26's are now over the PZ HQ, flying through heavy flak we manage not collide and let all of our bombs loose and hit the target 3 times and destroy it. The 88 fires again and hits Malcolm causing a fire.
Turn 6: All four Bombers are racing back to safety when the 88 fires its last effective shot and knocks out one of my engines, on Turn 7 JD finnaly gets his lone fighter directly behind my wounded plane and lets loose with his 20mm cannon, the bomber also fires back with its top turret and belly gun. Both planes take nasty hits, while below me Malcom is having trouble with fire as he rolls and starts another one, the 2nd fire was to much for his crew and they bail out of the burning plane.
Turn 8 The three surviving bombers make it off the board but now must roll to make it back to the base!
My wounded B-26 with the engine out failed to make it and crash landed on the coast of Sicily, the Pilot was killed but the wounded gunner survived and was rescued by partisans. Malcolm's bailed out crew were all captured. Both of JD shot up BF 109's made it safely home.
Final Talley: Panzer HQ destroyed, two B-26's destroyed, and JD gets credit for one Kill and the 88 crew credit for the other. That dammed 88cm gun hit their target 4 times, not bad considering the last game where the AA missed each turn!
Mission was a draw!
CPT Bing
12th Air Force
makes flight stands for 1/300 scale aircraft.
