GDYNIA MISSION - DEBRIEF

GREEN GAL and crew after landing. Lots of .50cal ammo consumed but no damage to the A/C. An impressive array of new kill markers show it was not all wasted. 

Sadly, Pilot 1LT PITTS was KIA and the TG WIA - though he has recovered in time to fly the next mission - to Bremen. 

A [6,6] DR (the worst possible) on the bombing TC caused all the bombs to miss the target.
Galling  for the crew and tragic for the Poles who were likely killed in error.

 FLAK all the way across Denmark.

GREEN GAL HEADED FOR GDYNIA

The easy missions well within range of the P-47s couldn't keep coming up for ever - but this one is a real doozy. To add to the danger escorts are only POOR and weather is GOOD. LOW squadron position is neutral for BANDITS but there may be FLAK in zones 7,8,9 and 12 - making 7 rolls of the extra FLAK dice with a 30:70 chance.

There's an interesting WW2 era propaganda film on the historical mission to Anklam, Marienburg, Danzig and Gdynia called TARGET FOR TODAY. It's on youtube.

GREEN GAL TAKES OVER THE MANTLE

As soon as one A/C and crew are shot down, another takes their place!

Here GREEN GAL and her crew have completed 7 missions - all to France and Holland - with 2 KIA and one WIA - invalided home. Bombing percentage averages 25%. Attrition rate just under 2%.

They've had a pretty easy work up and have got HEROES manning the WAIST and BALL guns. However - all these easy 3-4-5 zone missions cannot continue forever.

I've greatly reduced the impact of FLAK - though it has caused all the losses and damage so far. I've added a DRM to the BANDITS DR for A/C returning - since a few references have mentioned that after bombing the target  the formations were more vulnerable. I suppose it figures since the German controllers would know the end and start point of a pretty straight line back to base. Major deviations from this course would be unlikely given limited fuel and the need to get damaged planes and wounded men back to safety.

This drm will especially add to the danger of high and lead/tail positions.

LAZY LASS III SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES OVER GERMANY

A Bf 110 got on the tail over the target and destroyed engine #1 which caught fire. The Bf 110 was later shot down itself and LAZY LASS III proceeded on to the bomb run only to miss completely. Turning for home the engine burned out of control and the crew attempted to bail out - only 2 men made it.

Casualty rate for these crews ran 26% KIA  - 33% if you include men WIA who were invalided out.

3 A/C were lost - but 2 were ditched after the crew bailed out.

LUSTY LASSIE'S DEMISE

18th mission over St Nazaire - hit many times by FLAK - oxygen system in waist caught fire and burned out of control - the crew had to bail out over Rennes. 6 chutes all POWS.

LUSTY LASSIE'S LOG MISSIONS 1-10

This A/C and crew seem charmed. Only 2 KIA and 1 INVALIDED HOME so far. Quite a lot of bombs on target and a lot of kills 'claimed' though I am going with the exaggerated claims made by the crews during this time period.

Bremen comes up like a bad penny and is a tough target to reach.

The date is now 19th June 1943.

I have made a Ju 88 nightfighter/bomber destroyer and also added aerial rockets - though their use was limited and ineffective at this time. I may want to factor them in come the Summer proper along with up-armed ME109G6/R3. The up-armed FW190A6/R6 seems to have come into use in November 1943.

All these beasties don't seem to be effective if there are any ESCORTS around. There would need to be close cooperation between the Sturmbocke units and regular fighters to keep the ESCORTS off - not yet sure how to portray that.

Rules for the Rockets are also still not settled - but I have workable pieces for them which is necessary for testing.

I'm finding this era more interesting than the 1942 B-17 QOTS campaign. There is more variety and more danger/challenge.

LUSTY LASSIE MISSION 3

Back to Bremen - this time in the middle of the formation and with poor weather so it is not too intimidating. Hope the bombardier can hit the target in the poor weather though...

The crew are shaping up well and have 8 'kills' to their credit - though in reality many of these would be duplicate claims with other A/C.

LATEST MISSION MAP

A few extra targets and correction of one or two that were misplaced. I'd like to put the Norwegian targets on too but that is proving fiddly. Maybe later.

HEAVY FLAK OVER HAMBURG

This was a very tough mission with plenty of action and 3 KIA. The aircraft had to be ditched with surviving crew bailing out over England - since both pilots were out of action and the aircraft had significant battle damage.

NEW ZONES MAP

Changed the scale of the map and zones are now 120km or 75miles across. This irons out a few anomalies dating back to the earliest versions. It helps the B-17 since there are far fewer zones to cross and therefore fewer DR for bandits/Flak. Still very tough these long missions  into zone 7 with no escort the last two.

MID 1943 TOURS

I've been trying a few 1943 tours and it's tough. Long missions to Kiel and Wilhelmshaven have ended in disaster for two a/c.

SPITFIRE V

I've added a Spitfire V counter and set it to appear 2/3 of the time with Spitfire IX appearing 1/3. I have a spreadsheet with lots of data on  8 USAAF missions and Spitfire Vs appear as escorts a lot while IXs not at all.

The Spitfire V is a lot less capable -  maybe a little too weak. We'll see.

Recent changes swing the ESCORT battle in favour of the LW quite a bit but the defensive fire of the B-17 is proportionally a lot more powerful.

More changes

Just decided that the fighter armament in the game had too much range - this was due to my changing the scale from 6 pixels to 1 m to 2 pixels to 1m and not readjusting.

The B-17s guns keep the same range - effectively double the equivalent calibre gun on a fighter. I am rationalising this due to the guns on the fighters being synchronised to about 300m while the .50 cals on the B-17 being intended for longer range fire.

This will help the B-17 fend off the Bandits since they will be at normal range and the Bandits at long range...

But on the other hand the P-47s and later the P51s have short rang .50 cal armament while the Germans all have at least some 20mm - meaning the P-47s have to get in close or the Bandits will escape and perhaps turn the tables.

Escorts should ideally engage enemy at lower altitude using a 'bounce' tactic - zoom in fire and climb away to repeat. If the Fw190 or Me109 sees the P-47 climbing up from below it will be able to counter the threat.

Spitfires are ideal for the dogfight and have 20mm guns too,  while P-38s have the advantage of a 12 maximum range 20mm gun.

Thunderbolts are powerful and tough and if they do get in close to a Bandit they will usually blow it to bits.

Recent changes

I've been tinkering about to balance the game - a very difficult process of trial and error.

I improved the level of ESCORT cover a bit - but now have reduced it. I also increased the number of German fighters by reducing the chance of 'none' being rolled on a dice. The maximum is still 6 but now I get 2-3 more often.

The new Flak placement is quite a big change and is causing a lot of losses and damage.

I am hitting the target more though - with 20-30% now typical.

Now if the B-17 is in HIGH TAIL or LEAD position it will get a lot of fighters over the target zone - a DR <= 9 suffices [~80%]. If beyond escort cover this could easily prove lethal - but so it should really. There is only a 10% chance of being so exposed in any given mission. And 30% of missions 6-25 will be in the MIDDLE with only a 42% chance of BANDITS over the target.

With 20 missions using FORMATIONS the B-17 should fly 1 mission in LEAD [-2], 1 mission in HIGH TAIL[-2], one in LOW TAIL [-1] 6 in HIGH [-1] and 6 in MIDDLE [+1]. The other 6 should be LOW [+0].

I can't pretend it's done yet - probably never stop tinkering as that is half the fun for me - but I feel it's close to ready. 90% or so.

MISS CHIEF LOST OVER NORTHERN FRANCE

MISS CHIEF was literally picked apart by Flak and multiple waves of fighters. With both pilots KIA and WIA I judged that no-one was qualified to attempt the ATC required to maintain control with the rudder destroyed. The autopilot or a the engineer can maybe keep formation but without a rudder and with two engines out she was doomed. Bail out went quite well - the BALL GUNNER was stuck in his turret, wounded and didn't make it. 3 chutes all POWS.

I don't think I've had a B-17 so badly shot up before.

NEW OD RAZORBACKS

I decided it was really necessary to correct my error with silver P-47s. The OD 'Razorbacks' are more correct for the time frame. The basic counter still has a bubble canopy - or looks like it does -  which is not 100% correct but at the usual scale of magnification is not an issue. The Vertical dive and climb counters are 'OK' but not great. Functional enough for now anyway.

Made and error with the two stars on the wings - should only be one...d'oh!

MISS TAKEN SHOT DOWN OVER KIEL

MISS TAKEN went down over KIEL on the final Flak burst over the target. 9 chutes with only the pilot not making it out. No escape from Nazi Germany and the crew all go into POW camps.

Attrition ove the tour was 6.4% - a little above the average 4%. [7.3% if the invalided home crewmen count and they probably should.]

I've changed the DR for BANDITS which will increase the number of attacks by quite a bit, especially versus A/C in the MIDDLE who were too protected. If you drew MIDDLE plus poor weather you were invulnerable. Now it's a DR <= 5 =28% typically rather than 20%.

MISS DEEDS and MISS TAKEN's tour

Started a new tour with MISS DEEDS. Did well until mission 13 when the starboard tails section was destroyed. The pilots managed to maintain control until within sight of East Anglia only to lose it there and crash into the sea. 7 chutes with 6 crew rescued.

I still have 5 of the original 10 MISS DEEDS crew left so will continue. Attrition is 5.4%. Slightly above the historical figure. In stark contrast to the various BAD APPLES the nose section has yet to suffer a KIA.

I changed the way I do the bomb run making the FLAK more dangerous but the bombing less inaccurate. This change took effect around mission 10.

I've also just realised there is no 'INVALIDED OUT' result possible and there really should be. I don't like it subsumed in the DOW result and it should also be quite likely - about 25% of WIA at a guess.

DUCK SOUP SHOT DOWN OVER WILHELMSHAVEN

I can't help feeling someone had it in for DUCK SOUP'S crew - putting them on LEAD when only 2 crew members had 8ML seems to be asking for trouble. Of course maybe there were no better crews available at this point and it was just their turn. It ended badly anyway - no survivors from the original DUCK'N'DIVE crew - but three more POWS.

The attrition rate was ~ 10% during these 23 missions. 24 KIAs out of 230 'man missions.' and 9 POWS to boot.

During their tour the various DUCKS dropped ~123,000lbs of bombs of which ~7% or 9,000lbs landed on or near the target.

UGLY DUCKLING

UGLY DUCKLING survived six missions only to crash over ROUEN. 7 men made it out and one [the BALL GUNNER] made it back to England to become part of the crew of DUCK SOUP. He is the only survivor of the original ten from DIVE'N'DUCK. Crew attrition is running at 7%.

DIVE'N'DUCK never made it to EMDEN - going down in the North Sea on her 11th mission. 4 of the crew survived to fly again in UGLY DUCKLING.

DIVE'N'DUCK'S 11TH MISSION IS TO EMDEN

High position will make for extra BANDITS. Also, though escorts are rolled as EXCELLENT they won't reach all the way to EMDEN except for a few P-38s over the target. I'm going to leave this one until I have a fresh mind - easy to mess up else and I have some new fighter rules to test out.

DIVE'N'DUCK LEAD BOMBER FOR ROTTERDAM

DIVE'N'DUCK READY FOR AMIENS - MISSION 8

Survived mission 8 but with one KIA. Attrition running 6% so far. I have a new name plate with nose section and smaller bomb markers and kill markers. Some may object to the symbol chosen but living in Asia I'm used to it and as it means 'dead Nazi' I don't think it's offensive. Sometimes you do see 'Balkenkreuz' symbols to denote kills but they are less typical.

DIVE'N'DUCK MISSION 7

This is running along nicely. Attrition rate in crew is 5% per mission - which is very close to the historical 4%. Lots of bandits shot down by escorts and the B-17's guns. So far - so good - it looks for now like I have it right. Scary but survivable.

DIVE'N'DUCK

I've started a new tour with a fresh crew using the amended rules. Still tough but the B-17 can now fend off even large groups of fighters most of the time- though seldom without any damage/casualties. Here is a picture of my new B-17 DIVE'N'DUCK bombing AMIENS. They managed 18% on target but returned with 2 KIA from this their 4th mission.

MAJOR CHANGES

I've made a few changes to beef up the defensive fire of the B-17.

Previously, BANDITS have been able to inflict serious damage and a lot of RATTLED results before getting inside the 8 radius and being vulnerable to the defensive fire.

I've done all the following:-

• Doubled the FP of the B-17s guns to 8 and 16 FP
• Raised the starting ML of a fresh crew to 8ML - not 7. Replacements still join as 7ML
• I have 4 radii now with +2, +1, +0 and -1 DRM to the FTC
• If the target is so close that your fire originates inside it's counter square outline, you count -2 FTC and ignore DEFLECTION DRM

Now, an 8ML gunner engaging a BANDIT at 12 range that is banking and climbing but head on (nearly always is) while NIC can fire on a DR <= 7. BANKING/CLIMBING BANDITS also add +2 to their FTC, thereby reducing their threat especially if they do get RATTLED.

This is a big swing in favour of the B-17 but from recent play tests they need it.

WILD WILMA GOES THE SAME WAY AS JAZZIN' JANE

FLIGHT CONTROLS DESTROYED - 4 CHUTES - 2 RESCUED AND 1 POW. Uncannily similar to JAZZIN' JANE except the Spitfires did help some - just not enough. 4 ME 109s is a serious (and rare) roll on the BANDITS DICE.

It's too early to say if the balance needs adjusting again. A big change from the early tour with BAD APPLES is that I've made long range for the .50 cals +2 on the FTC. Very hard to pass. This allows the BANDITS to shoot up the B-17 at range 8-12 before closing in for the kill...

JAZZIN' JANE SHOT DOWN OVER CHANNEL

Despite better escorts and less chance of BANDITS 4 German fighter found a gap in the escorts and took JAZZIN' JANE apart. Only the TAIL GUNNER wasn't WIA/KIA when the flight controls were destroyed but he didn't make it out.

Even though JAZZIN' JANE succumbed on her 4th mission, I think the level of difficulty is about right. It needs a perfect storm of random factors to doom a B-17. In this case not getting any escort cover at the very moment 4 fighters pounced was what did it. Even a couple of Spitfires would have made all the difference.

LUCKY LULU NOT SO LUCKY..

8th USAAF is losing B-17s at a tremendous rate. The last few mission have been unfortunate to say the least but I seem to be getting too many fighter waves. Perhaps I should reduce the NO TIGHT FORMATION DRM from -2 to -1. This would help a bit. I have also considered reducing the basic chance of fighters in a zone from 30% to 20% - maybe even make both these changes since it is proving impossible to survive the first 5 missions.


I've put both these changes into effect - and I think it should be a big help to the USAAF especially over the first 5 missions.

CANNED MEAT SHOT DOWN OVER NORTHERN FRANCE

Ouch! CANNED MEAT meets its end on the way to AMIENS. Note the FW190 performing a victory roll above its victim. A destroyed wing root is a pretty lucky hit even for an FW190 with its fearsome 4 x 20mm armament. 6 chutes all captured - 4 KIA. The other chute in the bottom right is that of a Spitfire pilot. Rather a good moment for the Luftwaffe - although the preceding waves were both shot to pieces by the Spitfire escorts.

CANNED MEAT'S CREW START THEIR TOURS - SOME END IMMEDIATELY!

2 FW190s shot down over MEALTE but more fighters arrived and damaged several engines, knocking one out and also causing several WIA and a KIA.

CANNED MEAT limped home only to crash land and suffer even more casualties for a total of 5 KIA. AMIENS is the next outing.

GREENGOOSE II GOES DOWN IN FLAMES OVER NORTHERN FRANCE

It was all going so well. Hit the target and downed 2 Me 109s with defensive fire only to have Engine #1 destroyed by Flak and catch fire. The fire burned out of control and the crew had to bail. The tail gunner was smuggled back to England by the French Resistance but the rest are Goering's guests for now [apart from the ball gunner who didn't make it out in time.]

FORMATION - MIDDLE OF LOWER SQUADRON

I've slightly moved the position of the TAIL BOMBERS to be a little further away in both dimensions. I could make them bigger and smaller to give an illusion of depth - but it's  quite a big job - maybe later.

Our B-17 looks well protected surrounded by friends!

GREENGOOSE II BOUND FOR ROTTERDAM - NICE TIGHT FORMATION

 Third try at this...better I think.

Here are all the possible formation positions in one picture. The B-17 in the middle under the LOX button is 'ours'. The rest are its formation mates. You'd have at most 7 of these on map at once. So far the others just provide a visual reminder that there is a formation - you could do away with them but I like to see them.

This is the formation revised - much tighter and looks too tight - but they did fly very close.

I'm not sure I have the formations tight enough - photos seem to show some really close flying. I may make a few changes later - it's easy enough to do. Then I could fit more of the formation on - this time because GREENGOOSE II  is leading the second V she is in the centre and most of the lower squadron fit.

CHERRYPICKIN BLOWN TO BITS OVER AMIENS

Another victim of the deadly German Flak. 5 chutes. 1 escaped back to England. Rest POWS.