Solomon Campaign Briefs

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Bombs and rockets on the Avengers? So I guess these are not TBF-1s anymore, -1Cs are they?

DW

[AH_DealnDave]

Sorry DW,

Yes they are "C's" ... looking at the skins though there is not much difference from the previous TBF.

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Well it has different armament going from the nose to wing guns. From what I can tell so far, seems most 1Cs also had 3 tone camouflage. Still looking for examples of -1Cs in the Solomons that are'nt RNZAF.

DW

[AH_DealnDave]

S~ All,

Last night's mission was difficult, fun, but difficult.  When testing the mission there were a lot more planes that made it home. However during actual play we had only 5 planes that made it back to friendly lines, with only 4 of those able to safely land at the base. We had 13 pilots at the start of the mission.

Currently, I'm "zero-ing" the fuel load on the accompanying AI due to requests from the squad. But I think going forward we may have to give them some gas if it looks like we are going to be light on human pilots. This will require Jack (our current host) or I to make a quick change in the mission builder before we launch the mission.

Thoughts anyone?

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Last night's mission was difficult, fun, but difficult.  When testing the mission there were a lot more planes that made it home. However during actual play we had only 5 planes that made it back to friendly lines, with only 4 of those able to safely land at the base. We had 13 pilots at the start of the mission.

As we agreed last night, all Archie's fault. Boo Archie.

Currently, I'm "zero-ing" the fuel load on the accompanying AI due to requests from the squad. But I think going forward we may have to give them some gas if it looks like we are going to be light on human pilots. This will require Jack (our current host) or I to make a quick change in the mission builder before we launch the mission.

Thoughts anyone?

I did something similar during the Fortress Malta campaign, I would create a normal and alternate version of some missions and send them both to Jack. They differed in the number of enemy aircraft and we would select one or the other based on the night's turnout. I would suggest make one copy of the mission with zero fuel AI and another where they have fuel or whatever other tweaks. When its time to load the mission you make the call based on the turnout and tell Jack which to load (and lets face it, its fun to give Jack orders). Its a little extra work but this way you minimize delays on mission night which is important.

There was also talk of re-flying the mission, were we going to do that?

DW

[_AH_z5o]

Well, even though I got killed and it was my fault that I did. And barring any technical issues. You didn't get any do overs in war. But, I don't mind either way. Just saying.

[_AH_Twenty]

Z,

I thought it was Archie's fault?

Well, even though I got killed and it was my fault that I did. And barring any technical issues. You didn't get any do overs in war. But, I don't mind either way. Just saying.

[_AH_DarkWolf]

C'mon.

Say it with me.

Boo Archie.

DW

[Kopfdorfer]

I just wanted to chip in that I enjoyed last night's mission , despite the heavy losses , and despite running out of fuel , being forced to ditch and missing the nurses' party.

My own perspective is that you don't always have a favorable situation in war , and sometimes you get your butt kicked.
Personally I wouldn't vote to refly the mission , just move on , but I realize that I am not a member of the group .

No matter which way the cookie crumbles , I hope to enjoy the next one.

Kopfdorfer

[AH_DealnDave]

Decent turn-out for mission - 35, we had 13 pilots altogether !!!  Here is the next briefing to be flown on Tuesday - December 26th.

"Solomon Islands Campaign"
Mission - 35a
Date: September 23rd, 1943

After Action Report:

Good job hitting the enemy base on Balalle.  That base is currently out of action.  Numerous aircraft were destroyed on the ground and in the air.  However, we were hit hard as well with only four aircraft returning to base and one crew pulled safely out of the drink. Thirteen crews launched on the mission.

Intelligence:

With the group's previous strike on Balalle and the USAAF hitting Kahili, both of these airfields are now non-operational. Submarine reports are saying the enemy is possibly pulling out of these areas. That's not to say they won't make the airstrips operational in the future. As of now though, they are not a threat.

However, the enemy base that has been harassing our airfield is staging out of the Shortland Islands. There is a float plane and torpedo boat squadron located at Nila, grid AS-34 on your map. The enemy sea-plane base is well defended with AAA and the torpedo boats are also armed to defend against any aerial threat. There are three areas that comprise the base. All areas are within AS-34, pad 3. 

The most northern and most southern areas have the enemy float planes and torpedo boats, the mid portion area houses the command and control structure of this area, at last reports.

Enemy aircraft is always a threat is this area.

There are also enemy warships patrolling this area.

The Mission:

"THIS IS AN AIR-START MISSION"

We are going to attack the enemy base at Nila, grid AS-34 on your map. We will use TBF's and SBD's to hit the base and F4U's to provide escort and CAP.



TBF's - arm with bombs and rockets. Attack the northern base, hit the AAA first, then hit the base.
SBD's - arm with bombs and hit the southern base.

If the strike aircraft has weapons after their strikes, then hit the command area.

NOTAM's:

*All aircraft are "ZERO" fuel at this time.
*All pilots to use same comms channel this mission.

SBD's (1st Squad, seats 9-24)
F4U's (2nd Squad, seats 1-8)
TBF's (3rd Squad, seats 25-48)
F4U's (Spare's, HQ & Guests, seats 49-52)

Good Luck ...

[AH_DealnDave]

*SPECIAL NOTE ... on SOL mission 35a (this weeks mission) ...

I sent two versions of this mission to Jack.

The first version has "ALL" aircraft at zero fuel, our AI's included.

The second version has "ALL" aircraft at "100%" fuel, including our AI's (this in case we do not have enough breather pilots for the mission).

[_AH_Bear]

~S~.. Ill be missing this .. Family dinner... Merry Boxing daymas   

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Family dinner...

Did anyone else get their invitations to this yet? I ain't got mine yet...

DW

[AH_DealnDave]

S~ All ...

My apologies to all as I'm currently not where I can send the next campaign mission to Jack or put up the briefing. I'm on the other side of the island for the New Year. I'll be back home on Wednesday. We'll fly the next mission on Tuesday, January 9th.

Again my apologies to all.

[AH_DealnDave]

Good turn-out for mission - 35a, we had 16 pilots altogether !!!  Here is the next briefing to be flown on Tuesday - January 9th.

"Solomon Islands Campaign"
Mission - 36
Date: October 7th, 1943

After Action Report:

Excellent job hitting the sea-plane and torpedo boat base at Nila. The group destroyed an escort ship as well as numerous float fighters and a long range surveillance aircraft.

Intelligence:

Our submarines have spotted a large enemy naval force coming down the slot headed toward Kolombongara. Adm. Halsey has sent a destroyer group to meet the threat. The last sighting of the enemy task force was grid BB-29 on your map. The sub reported "ten ships", five of which are enemy destroyers, the other five vessels appear to be a type of barge or large river craft. These five vessels are armed.

It is believed that this task force intends to pull out the remaining enemy troops on Kolombongara and Vella LaVella.

Enemy aircraft is always a threat is this area.

The Mission:

We are going to attack the enemy task force using our TBF's.

TBF's - arm with torpedoes. You will fly to grid BD-27 then turn northwest heading to grid BB-29. Locate and destroy enemy shipping.



F4U's - will cover the strike group.

NOTAM's:

* All pilots to remain on same comms channel this mission.
*ALL AIRCRAFT HAVE ZERO FUEL AT THIS TIME - ENSURE YOU PUT FUEL IN YOUR PLANE.

TBF's (1st Squad, seats 9-32)
TBF's (2nd Squad, seats 33-56)
F4U's (3rd Squad, seats 1-8)
F4U's (Spare's, HQ & Guests, seats 57-60) - AIR-START

Good Luck ...