WBiM Burma Campaign AAR #1 29 Apr 09
We kicked off our Warbirds in Miniature (WBiM) Burma aerial campaigns last night at Waterloo Minis in Ashland Va. This aerial campaign runs from Dec 1941 to July 1942 and has the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) and RAF vs. the Imperial Japanese Army Air Forces. Each mission equals one week of time.
Each player commanded two planes and all new players (pilots) rolled a d20 for flight school experience. Until 24points and surviving a mission is complete all pilots are considered green and cannot tail or do restricted moves. Experience is gained 1pt per game turn, 2pts for each heavy hit given to the enemy, 5pt for winning mission and 24pts for a kill
Game one: 10 Dec 1941
Malcolm (1pt and 11 pt experience) and Justin (6pt and 17pt exp) flew P-40B's for the AVG vs JD (China Vet w/21pt and 23pts) and I (3pt and 11pts) in Oscars. The scenario was 10 Dec 1941 Fighter sweep. The action started very fast for on turn two when Justin P40's both lit into my Oscars. One of them lost it the land gear the other took fuselage damage and smoke. The smoking Oscar turned to fire on the next turn but survived his morale roll to turn and race for the home base. But he crash landed short from base, spent a week in the jungle before being rescued. Now it was 3 Japs vs. 4 AVG's. Both side spent the next few turns maneuvering and fired a few shots and causing hits. By turn 8 we decided to end to let another pilot into the game. Malcolm had to leave too with his pilots having 12pts and the other 22pts both still green pilots. Justin did real well and both of his pilots were now veterans. Both of my pilot's survived even the one with no landing gear but both remained green pilots. JD's two pilots were now Veterans. AVG Victory!
Game two: 17 Dec 1941
AVG now has pilots Justin and Gray. Gray (rolled for 8pt and 17pt exp) was the new rookie pilot in the AVG and Justin the Squadron Leader. The mission was a Bomb the bridge. The P-40s each had two light bombs…they would have to hit with 3 of the 4 planes for any chance to destroy the bridge. Each successful bomb hit would give them 2pt exp. Fighters carrying bomb cannot do restricted moves. The first P-40s to reach the bridge were Justin's on turn 3 and 4 both missed the target. He was being chased and soon entered into a dog fight with both of my Oscars at level 4. Above us at level 8-9 Gray and JD were locked in a bitter fight. JD took advantage of Gary's inexperience and hit him for a number of Heavy hits but the Oscars guns were too light to complete the kill. By turn 8 all four of the P-40's had missed bombing the bridge! One of Grays pilots was on fire exited the map on the Japanese side only to crash land and be captured and made a POW or worst? His 2nd Pilot survived and gained enough points to become a veteran. Justin and I tangled for a while but nether pilot did much damage. I ended game two with my pilots having 23pt and 17pt exp points Justin score also went up. Japanese Victory!
Game three: 24 Dec 1941
I moved to fly two Sally Bomber (did not keep pt score) and Andrew joined the Japanese Army to fly two Oscars (13pt and 20pt flight school points) he was joined by JD now the Japanese Squadrons Sr. Pilot. Our mission was to bomb a railroad bridge. Both side rolled for entry points. My bombers rolled well and entered very near the target and within 4 turns to the Objective. The bad part was my fighter escort rolled very bad and entered on the opposite end of the map. Justin two P-40's attacked all four Oscars while Grays went after the Sally's. JD ordered the rookie Andrew to break off and rush to the bombers but he was a turn too late! On turn two Grays 50 and 30 Cal guns hit Bomber #1 with an awesome volley. The bomber answered back and for the next two turns fought it out. Both of rolling very high dice and causing 1-3 heavy hits each turn! One turn 4 the Bomber #1 took a number of hits from both of Gray's planes and then failed morale! The crew bailed out one hex away from the bridge to be captured by the Chinese army. Bomber #2 made it to the target on turn 5, successfully delivered its load and destroyed the rail bridge. Now it turned for home being chased by both Gray and Justin. On Turn 8 Gray flew both of his fighters off the map. Both were heavily damaged by the bombers and Andrew Oscars and both were out of ammo. Also on turn 8 Bomber #2 gave Justin his first heavy hit of the evening! The Japanese all yelled BANZI! The next turn JD flew to my rescue and chased off Justin. Japanese Victory! Both of Gray's pilots shared a Kill (the first kill of the war for the AVG) and received 12pts each. Both crashed landed in friendly territory and survived. Andrew flew and fought well and both of his pilots are now veterans, one did crash land and spent 5 days in the jungle before being rescued. JD and Justin and my bomber#2 made it home safely too.
Pilots end scores were: Japan (JD 54pt & 55pt, Andrew 27pt & 31) AVG (Justin 48pt & 53Pt, Gray 43pt & 62pt both with ½ kill)
Once 100pts or 5 kills is reached; pilots will then get to roll or choose pilot and or Ace skills! My goal is to just survive the war…
A great start to the Burma campaign. The Japanese discovered that their planes are greatly under gunged but once they become Veterans and can use their restricted maneuvers the Oscar can take on their foe. Both JD and Andrew came very close to a kill…but then rolled a lousy die roll and had victory snatched away! The AVG players all fell in love with their P-40's!
We will continue play over the next few months at Waterloo Minis and at the Battle Barn. And maybe even a road trip or two to North VA or Wash DC if enough players will commit to playing. If any of you have 1/300 scale planes that flew over Burma Dec 41-Jul 42 you are welcome to use them. And we are always looking for some new rookie pilots to shoot at!
Hope to see you over the "friendly skies" of Burma soon…
Ron
paints up some WWII Soviet aircraft.
