Wings of Glory - "Malta" AAR

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Picchiatelli over Malta

September, 1940.  Italian Stukas (called the Picchaitelli by the Italians) of Gruppo 96, escorted by CR.42s from Gruppo 23 and C.200s from Gruppo 6 attacked British and Commonwealth forces around Fort Delimara on the island of Malta.  They were intercepted by a mixed force of Gladiators and Hurriances and driven away while inflicting only light damage to the fort.

This scenario is loosely based on that raid.  In this game, Italian aircraft from the Regia Aeronautica are launching a dawn raid against the British at Fort Delimara on the island of Malta.  Their goal is to inflict losses against RAF aircraft and to destroy the British oil storage tanks located next to Fort Delimara. 

Their forces consists of a single Stuka escorted by two Cr. 42s, a Dewoitine D.520,  and an Reggiane Re2001. (all the Italian aircraft I possess.)

Defending against the raid are two Spitfire Mk Is, a Hurricane, and a Gladiator.  (I have only one Hurricane and it's got Belgian markings.  I've tried to use RAF decals but they don't seem to adhere to the model very well.)

In addition to the air cover, the Fort has two AA batteries of 40mm Bofors guns. 




All fighters begin at altitude level two while the Stuka begins at altitude level three.

The Italian players' initial deployment.




The Italians deployed with their Stuka in the centre of the map with their CR.42 biplanes on the right and the Reggiane and Dewoitine on the left.








The RAF players' initial set up.




The two Spitfire Mk Is set up on the British right opposite the Italian monoplanes while the Gladiator and the Hurricane set up on the left facing off against the Italian biplanes.






The first two moves saw the Stuka and the CR.42 fly straight forward in formation while the Reggiane and the Dewoitine spread out towards the edge of the map.







The British players were both new to the game and their inexperience showed in their opening moves as they ended up crowding one another in their attempts to intercept the Stuka.





The Bofors guns opened fire on turn three as the fighters continued to vector towards one another. 




After turn four, the fighters were just outside of long range and couldn't fire.








Things got messy on turn five.  One of the CR.42s flew into a stream of flak from one of the Bofors.




The Dewoitine, the Reggiane and the Spitfires attempted head on passes but all four planes ended up clipping as they passed.  (The Italian miniatures were temporarily replaced with cards in order to avoid clutter)







The 40mm rounds from the Bofors slam into the CR.42 and blow it out of the sky with a massive 18 point hit.



The second flak barrage just missed the Stuka as it entered a climb instead of going forward.




The fighters exchange long range fire and the Hurricane lands some hits on the remaining CR.42, causing smoke to pour from its engine.




On turn six and seven, the fighters overshoot one another and being to pull turns to get back into position.



One of the Spitfires pulls an Immelmann turn but does so too early and ends up in front of the Stuka and takes a burst of fire for its efforts.



On turn eight, the flak guns send up fire into the predicted flight path of the Stuka.  The fighters continue to manoeuvre back into position.  The RAF fliers commit an error and the Gladiator and Hurricane turn into one another and collide.  The Gladiator opens fire on the Stuka and scores a lucky hit, causing it to burst into flames,



The Stuka pilot, realizing that he's now in a race against time goes to high speed in an attempt to reach the target and get his bombs off before the fire spreads and causes catastrophic damage.  Unfortunately for him, the flies right into both flak barrages as the Gladiator pulls in tight on his tail and opens fire from below.





The Stuka somehow manages to survive the damage which is more than the remaining CR.42 and the Hurricane can say.  They hit each other hard in a close range head-on pass and both are knocked out of the sky.



On turn nine, the Reggiane and one of the Spits pull Immelmann turns.  The Stuka continues towards the target while the Gladiator sticks tight to its six.



The Dewoitine and Reggiane take potshots at the Spitfire between them and manage to score a lucky critical.  The Spitfire explodes in mid-air.



Turn ten, the Stuka is somehow still aloft and almost within range of the oil tanks.



The Spitfire nearly collides with the Gladiator which once again fires on the Stuka from six o'clock low.



The burst from the Gladiator tears into the Stuka just as it begins to roll into its dive and knocks it out of control.  The Stuka spins in and hits the ground.



With the Stuka gone, the Italians concede the battle and the Reggiane and the Dewoitine turn and run for home.

Another brutal game.  The Gladiator was the star of the show.  Nobody was really expecting much from the biplanes but the Gladiator definitely punched above its weight in this battle.

[mirth]

Great pics. Looks a fun battle!

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Thanks.  Heh, just noticed that the guy who was controlling the Spitfires grabbed the wrong base of one of them and was using the base for a Bf-109. 

[mirth]

Thanks.  Heh, just noticed that the guy who was controlling the Spitfires grabbed the wrong base of one of them and was using the base for a Bf-109. 

Oops!

I didn't realize the Italians operated some D.520s. Makes sense when I think about it, but I didn't know it until now  8)

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Yeah, me neither.  I saw it in a clearance bin at one of the FLGS's for $4 so I grabbed one. 

[mirth]

Yeah, me neither.  I saw it in a clearance bin at one of the FLGS's for $4 so I grabbed one. 

Good deal!