Operation Chunky Bandit #18 (Air)

All,

It's 1015 on 24 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, several hours later, have launched a strike force with fighter escort.  Major Culero sent two flights up to meet them.

This is my arena for aerial combat; simple, yet durable and, to me, beautiful (in a simple, durable way).  I'm using tiny aircraft designed by my buddy Thomaston; not sure what size they are, just that they are much smaller than 1/600.  They're 3D printed models that I mounted on cut-down bases from Litko, and I'm using a very simple rules system called "Battle of Britain," which I found for free over on The Miniatures Page (I've already played a good 13 fights with them).  North is left, so the Communist aircraft are there, whilst the Cubans are on the right (south).

This fight, for the Cubans we have, from top:
Boxcar 05 (Rookie)
Boxcar 04, Capt Trevino, the Flight Leader (Regular)
Boxcar 06 (Rookie)

Boxcar 08 (Rookie)
Boxcar 07, 1st Lt Aguilera, the Flight Leader (Regular)
Boxcar 09 (Rookie)

The Communists, from top:
Green 02
      Green 01

Bomber 6                      Bomber 3
                 Bomber 4                        Bomber 1
Bomber 5                      Bomber 2

       Silver 01
Silver 02

All Communist pilots are rated as Regulars.
All fighter aircraft are rated as +1 (no difference between the MiG-21 and F-4 Phantom in these games; you can if you like, I simply have chosen not to.  Perhaps later in the campaign there will be engagements between fighters with different capabilities).  The bombers are Su-22 Fittes; they have three movement points per turn, and can fire defensive fire only.

The situation at the end of Turn 1.  The Cuban Phantoms have covered a lot of ground because they were already in the air and on station, so they got to dive and 'bounce' the enemy formation.

End of Turn 2, Tally Ho!

Silver 01 and 02 loiter, waiting on the Cubans to commit.

In the East, Green 02 zooms straight in, splitting Boxcar 05 and 04.

Green 01 follows in trace, going head to head with Boxcar 04.  Both pilots fire, and both pilots miss!

Boxcar 04 then pushes left, heading for the bombers.

While Boxcar 05 pulls a great move, flipping around to overtake Green 02, though the move is almost assured of forcing him past.  Barring something crazy, it should at least force him to go defensive, tying him up and allowing the other Cubans to go after the bombers.

Boxcar 06 cuts left, looking to work over the enemy's Sivler flight (bottom center/left).

While Boxcar 07 pulls right, snugging up to Green 01, looking to dogfight.

In an interesting move, Boxcar 08 cuts left, straight into Silver 02, begging for future confrontation.

But it was a sucker move!  Boxcar 09 sweeps around to the left, begging the Commies to take Boxcar 08's cheese.

The Su-22 bomber formation moves up, slowly but surely plodding its way to the target area (the South/right board edge).

Back up top, Green 02 pulls some fancy maneuvering and goes defensive, snuggling up to Boxcar 05, hoping to force him past.

While Green 01 hits the brakes, defensive as well (Boxcar 07, at bottom center left, may look poised for a perfect shot, but when it's your activation, you must move at least one square before shooting, so Green 01 is safe this turn, from Boxcar 07, at least).

While back in the west (bottom of board), Silver 02 doesn't take the bait and go head-to head with Boxcar 08, he pushes hard over and takes a bad deflection shot at Boxcar 09...

He misses and flashes by, averting danger, but temporarily out of the fight.

While Silver 01 cuts left, defensive (not taking Boxcar 06's shot away altogether, but putting a real bad angle on for him).

But Boxcar 08 don't care, he's crazy, and he'll rush in to take that bad deflection shot.  "Fox One..."

He misses and flashes by, putting Silver 01 behind him, clear sailing to the bombers (top left).

Further West, Boxcar 09 loiters, waiting to see what Silver 02 is going to do.  Not a good plan, should have pushed on...

Like Boxcar 06 is doing: he cuts right and runs in, head to head with Bomber 02.  They both fire...

Bomber 02 goes down in flames, and Boxcar 06 pushes ahead, going head to head with Bomber 06!  Again both pilots fire...

The Cuban, perhaps a bit over-exuberant after his first kill, misses, and is shocked back to reality when the enemy's missile damages his own aircraft!

Boxcar 04 is a bit indecisive, can't decide if he should stick with the enemy fighters or close on the bombers.  At the last second he chooses bombers, but he closes too quick and puts himself in a bad position to engage (can't line up a shot this turn, too close to line up a shot next turn, unless he can pull off some crazy maneuvering)...

Boxcar 05 can't get a shot on Green 01 or 02, so he whips his plane around and follows his boss.  Boxcar 07: "Where the hell are you two going?  You can't leave me alone up here with these two MiGs!"

But Boxcar 07 pulls off some very fancy maneuvering, working his plane onto a pretty good tail shot on Green 02.  If only his shooting were as fancy, he missed!!!

The bomber formation pushes south.

Down at the bottom (west), turns out Boxcar 09 shouldn't have waited around to see what Silver 02 was going to do, he just busted an Immelman and put himself on Boxcar 09's tail!

But his leader, Silver 01, is wracked with indecision.  Not sure what to do, he just kinda cruises straight in level out in front of the bomber formation.

While up top, Green 02 thanks his lucky stars Boxcar 07 missed, then tries to work out some space between them so Green 01 can help him out.

But Green 01 ain't having this: "Green 02, you got this, I'm going after Jester!"  And with that, Green 01 whips his MiG around to the right to go get Boxcar 05.  He couldn't line up a shot, but he is in good shape.  However...

Boxcar 07 immediately gets back on Green 02's tail and flushes him, kill confirmed.

Boxcar 04's approach on the bomber formation left him in bad shape, but he's a bit crazy, so he pushes his big F-4 right through the middle of the bomber formation, ending up right on Bomber 01's tail!  Enemy defensive fire misses, but he's only able to damage Bomber 01.

Coming in right behind him, Boxcar 05 jinks in to an okay position on Bomber 06 and fires...

He splashes the Sukhoi and cuts left to stay in pursuit!

Boxcar 06 can't figure out the angle of the dangle and ends up shooting right past...

But just then Boxcar 08 comes charging in like a comet, firing at Bomber 05...

Boxcar 05 grins as he flies through Bomber 05's debris.

But further west (bottom of map), Boxcar 09 has just watched Silver 02 pull an Immelman (bottom right) and realizes he's in big trouble.  He punches the afterburners and attempts to escape.  We'll see if it works...

The bomber formation marches south.  Still a long way to go and half of them are gone already.

Looks like Boxcar 09's gambit has worked, Silver 02 sputters ahead, unable to catch up.

In the center, Silver 01 cuts hard left and goes head-to head with Boxcar 04, trying to get a kill and protect the bombers.  It's a great move, but both miss.

But from the east (top of map), having just hung his wingman, Green 02, to dry, Green 01 swoops in on Boxcar 05's tail and fires...

The Phantom is damaged and Green 01 shoots past, nearly colliding with Boxcar 06!

Feeling his oats a bit from the kill, Boxcar 07 makes a lazy turn to starboard, getting into good shape to engage the bombers, not a care in the world.

While Boxcar 04 puts on another maneuvering clinic, jinking left then right to get on Bomber 03's tail.  He fires...

The missile flies straight up the tail pipe, destroying the Sukhoi.  Boxcar 04 pulls up, even with the damaged Bomber 01.

Boxcar 05 (yellow bead), still recovering from the damage, loiters for a minute, as Boxcar 08 cuts right to get back onto the bombers (as well as going defensive against Green 01).

As Boxcar 06 pulls around, finally deciding to get his ass back in the fight.

And now feeling pretty ballsy, Boxcar 09 pulls his own Immelman, facing back up to Silver 02!  Like the Gunfight at the OK Corral.

The two remaining bombers push south.

And it doesn't take long: Silver 02 charges straight in on Boxcar 09!  Both pilots loose missiles, and Boxcar 09 is damaged.

Behind the bomber formation, Silver 01 has lost his mind.  He's desperate to do something, and maybe he thought he could make something happen, but he cut hard right... right in front of Boxcar 08.  Do to the geometry, it'll be hard to line up a good shot, but Boxcar 08 is definitely in the driver's seat.

And no sooner has Boxcar 06 decided to get back into the fight then he is back in the fight, with Green 01 seemingly swooping in out of nowhere to go head to head.  He sees the Commie pilot fire, and he's so flustered he barely remember to toggle a missile off...

But it doesn't matter, and the next thing he knows, Boxcar 06 is looking up at his silk canopy.  He parachutes to safety behind friendly lines and is soon back at base.

Boxcar 05 is seeking retribution; he cuts hard right and lines up a perfect 6 o'clock shot.  "Fox One!"

But somehow he misses and shoots past!!!

As Boxcar 08 cuts right, inside of Silver 01, in a rolling dogfight.

And, once again, here comes Boxcar 04, swooping in on the tail of Bomber 01.  He braves defensive fire and launches another missile...

Bomber 01 comes apart and Boxcar 04 takes a victory roll to the left.

As Boxcar 07 cuts hard right to get back in the action.

Boxcar 09 is panicked, fighting for his life with Silver 02, and he sputters feebly past.

The last remaining enemy bomber pushes south, with still a long way to go.

Silver 02, tired of playing games with the unorthodox Boxcar 09, cuts hard right and pushes back towards the furball.

Silver 01 remains defensive, snuggling up to the damaged Boxcar 05.

But Boxcar 05 cuts hard right behind him, going defensive and looking for some help.

Boxcar 09 hits the burner again, this time heading south, hoping to get his wounded bird back to base.

Boxcar 04 is on fire!  He cuts hard left and goes head to head with Silver 01, grunting as he fires and gritting his teeth as he sees the enemy missile leave its rail...

Silver 01 goes down and Boxcar 04 zooms past, letting out a primal scream for his third kill of the day!  Boxcar 07 and 08 are licking their chops to get at that last bomber...

Boxcar 08 seizes the initiative and charges straight in, though he can't line up a shot.

Expecting that Boxcar 08 has the bomber situation well in hand, Boxcar 07 cuts slight right to engage Silver 02.

And the enemy bomber pushes south.

Silver 02 is cagey, and he zips straight past Boxcar 07 and jumps on Boxcar 08's tail, firing...

But he misses and ends up pulling up alongside!  Boxcar 08 flips him the bird...

Tired of playing with Boxcar 05, Green 01 pulls an Immelman and chases his bomber.

As, once again, Boxcar 07 gives chase to Bomber 04 but can't get off a shot!

Boxcar 04 pulls around left to help out with Green 01 (far left).

Boxcar 07 makes a great move to pull his Phantom all the way back around on Silver 02, but he can't line up a shot.

**For the life of me, I can't figure out why I didn't let him shoot.  His angle on tail is actually pretty damn good, that's a great shot, why didn't I let him shoot.  Looking at my game notes, that's exactly what I wrote: "can't line up the shot."

Boxcar 09 is sputtering on fumes, too much burner, trying to make it home.

And Bomber 04 pushes south.

Ignoring Boxcar 07 (bottom left), Silver 02 rolls in and takes another shot on Boxcar 08, damaging him.

And Green 01 runs away from Boxcar 05, going head-to head with Boxcar 04.  They both fire...

And Boxcar 04 is damaged as Green 01 flashes by.

*The bad guys sure have had terrible damage rolls this game.

But he's a stud, never out of the fight, and so Boxcar 04 immediately pulls an Immelman and pulls right in front of Green 01!

As Boxcar 05, who is in absolutely great shape for the kill, fumble#$%@s around and blows it, sputtering out...

Damaged but not deterred, Boxcar 08 wants that damn bomber!  He maneuvers, but once again, he just can't seem to line up the damn shot, "and would someone please take care of that @#$hole behind me???"

Boxcar 07 speaks up: "Raaaahhhhhjjjjjj, I'm on it."  He then very smoothly slides his ship in right behind Silver 02 and smokes him.  "You're all clear, buddy, go get'em."

Boxcar 09 is tapping the fuel gauges and praying he can make it home.

As Bomber 04 nears the target area!  It's all gonna come down to this, one shot (hopefully Boxcar 08 gets to take a shot).

Seeing he can no longer help and is sandwiched by Cuban fighters, Green 01 breaks off and heads for home.

As Boxcar 08 charges in, straight on the tail of Bomber 04, and takes the shot...

But he only manages to damage the enemy bomber!!!

Boxcar 04 and Boxcar 09 try, but it's futile, no one else is in position to engage!

And the enemy bomber crosses the finish line.  He not only reaches the target area, but he delivers a very accurate payload, putting ten points of damage on his target, the SLA Headquarters in Pendrakenville.

Boxcar 04 gets on the mike: "All Boxcar callsigns, rally, form up, and let's head for the barn, good job out there.  Not you, Boxcar 08, you @#%hole..."

So, by all accounts a very successful sortie, but it really hurt, letting that one bomber slip away and put a whooping on the SLA HQ (30 points destroys a target).  Here's what happened in terms of pilots:
Boxcar 04, Capt Trevino, three Kills, moves from Regular to Veteran

Boxcar 05, one Kill, moves from Rookie to Regular
Boxcar 06, one Kill, shot down but bailed out and okay, moves from Rookie to Regular

Boxcar 07, 1st Lt Aguilera, two Kills, moves from Regular to Veteran
Boxcar 08, one Kill, moves from Rookie to Regular

Boxcar 09, no Kills, moves from Rookie to Regular

This is the second of the three fights I played Saturday morning, working on the last batrep, stay tuned.

V/R,

Jack