All,
It's 0815 on 26 July 1990 in the country of South Leon. We are with the Cuban Air Force's 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron, deployed to South Leon several months ago. So far there hasn't been much to do, just some routine Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and close air support missions every now and again for the grunts, but no air-to air engagements to date. The squadron, also known as "The Flying Boxcars," is led by Major "Viper" Culero, a former US Navy fighter pilot that earned himself four kills and the Estrella de Bronce (Bronze Star with 'V') during the Cuban War of Liberation. He normally keeps a two-ship CAP up, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but this morning he had bumped it up to four on account of a bunch of chatter about something major going on up North.
What the good Major then found out is that the Communist Army from Federation Socialiste Nationale de Leon (FSNL), South Leon's malignant neighbor to the north, launched an all out invasion of South Leon, and they are rapidly rolling towards that nations capital. Accompanying them is an all out blitz by FSNL's Air Force, and the Flying Boxcars are now involved in some of the most intense aerial action since WWII.
To kick off their offensive, the FSNL Air Force put 6 x MiG-21s in the air on a classic fighter sweep, looking to clear the skies for follow on strike aircraft, while the Cubans answered with four F-4 Phantoms of their own. The results were indecisive, with the Communists losing three MiGs and the Cubans losing two Phantoms.
The enemy returned to base and launched a strike force with fighter escort a couple hours later. Major Culero sent two flights up to meet them. The Cuban fighter pilots did well, downing three MiG-21s and five Su-22s to only one lost Phantom, but they did allow one enemy bomber through. The Su-22 bombed the SLA HQ in the nation's capital, causing substantial damage (10/30).
A few hours later the bad guys are back in force. The Cubans scrambled two more flights to meet the enemy strike force. It was a helluva fracas: the Communists lost a total of three MiG-21s and five Su-22s, while the Cubans lost four of their six F-4s committed. More importantly, they lost a pilot MIA, and another for about a month due to wounds. But Boxcar 14 was on fire, racking up four kills and being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The one enemy bomber that made it through made a successful bombing run on the SLA HQ, again causing substantial damage (19/30).
The next day, bright and early, the Communists sent over another strike package, but the decimated Cubans were only able to scramble a single, three-ship flight. Things didn't go so well; while the Cubans only lost a single Phantom (their Squadron Leader, but he bailed out and he's okay), they only managed to shoot down two enemy fighters, while all six enemy bombers entered the target area! And the damage was fierce: half dove on the South Leon Army Headquarters and destroyed it, while the other half turned on their secondary objective, the SLA Marshalling Area, causing heavy damage (19/30).
Yesterday afternoon the Communists made a second run, sending a full strike package up against five F-4 Phantoms. The enemy was again triumphant. Sure, they lost two MiGs and three bombers, but three bombers got through and destroyed Target #2, then damaged Target #3. Meanwhile, the Cubans lost two F-4s destroyed and two damaged, though both downed pilots returned safely to base. Also, Boxcar 08 was awarded the BS/V for knocking down three bombers all by himself.
Now it's the following morning, and the bad guys are keeping up the pressure. The Cubans scrambled two more flights, though they only amount to a total of three Phantoms, to meet the next enemy strike force.
Boxcar 15 gets a bit too hasty, which immediately becomes apparent when Silver 01 cuts in behind and smokes his ass.
But Boxcar 12 is putting on an aerobatic clinic, becoming an instant Ace and winning the Medal of Honor! To see the details, please check the blog at:
linkI'm playing and posting more as soon as I can, stay tuned, but this weekend was a big painting weekend so I plan on sharing all that with you guys, so this may be the only batrep this week, we'll see.
V/R,
Jack
harvests scenario ideas from The Third World War.
