Four of us played Warbirds in Miniature (WBiM) last night at Waterloo Minis. It was our first fight using my new Hotz hex mats. JD and I flew 2ea Zekes/Zeros and took on Joey and Patrick each flying two Wildcats.
This was a continuation of the campaing we started a few months ago, we are now into June 1942. One of JD's Jap pilots has 6 Kills and a special skill of "+1" to all shooting. The scenario was a "fighter sweep" off the coast of New Guinea. Two of the islands under us conatined Ausie 90mm AAA batteries.
Combat started on turn 3 when the 90mm AAA hit one of my Zekes for 4 light hits and accidently shot and hit of the Wildcat for 2L hits. The Wildcat continued on but my Zeke took a terrible toll on the engine and started to smoke turning into fire by turn 5. That plane quickly turned for home but by turn 8 crashed into the sea after taking 2H hits from LJG Patrick's Wildcat on turn 6.
Now with only 3 Jap plane vs 4 USN we flew staright inot battle in true samarai spirt and for the next 6 turns twisted and turned against each other both sides dodging Ausie AAA guns firing into the skies. The AAA did hit JD ace one for minor damage and one of patricks Wildcats for massive damage. Patrick pilot left the field and turned back to his carrier.
By turn 13 the USN had had enough and left the skies giving the Imperial navy a victory but a bittersweet one! My surviving pilot some how lost his way back to rabual and crashed landed on a deserted island…he died in the carsh. Both of JD's pilots made it home safely and toasted the vistory and death of his wingmen with saki.
Both Ensign Joey's planes made it back to the Saratoga. One of his pilot still has one kill from a prior game. One of LJG Patrick's pilot safely returned home but the other plane that left the battle early crashed onto a island. The pilot was found by a Ausie Coast Watcher and recovered after 5 days in the ships hospital. Patrick also rec'd word that the Ausies confirmed that he was the last plane to shoot and hit the burning Zeke that fell into the sea. He too now has one confirmed kill with his Wildcat.
Another great WBiM game played on what was definately worth the wait a greta Hotz hex mat. Until the next game and AAR…Play On!
Bing
