Operation Chunky Bandit #22 (Air)

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.

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 12 (Veteran)

Boxcar 14, "Oilcan," the Flight Leader (Veteran) who was awarded the DFC for his last fight

Boxcar 15 (Regular)

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 Fitters; they have three movement points per turn, and can fire defensive fire only.

Turns 1 to 3 brings us to striking distance; Tally Ho!

The fight gets started straight away with Boxcar 12 coming right and taking a not so great shot on Green 01, damaging the MiG!

As Boxcar 04 cuts left, coming west to engage the enemy's Silver flight.

And Boxcar 15 charges straight in at the bombers (far left).

Which begin their march south.

But perhaps Boxcar 15 was a bit too hasty; matter of fact, I know he was, 'cause Silver 01 immediately cut in and smoked his ass.

Next thing he knows he's watching Silver 01 streak by, waggling his wings as he's looking up at a silk canopy, floating down to the lush jungle below, which he then traverses to get back to base.

"That was quick," thinks Boxcar 14 (right).

Silver 02, feeling froggy after his boss just smoked one Cuban (yuk, yuk), turns straight into Boxcar 14.

While up top, Green 02 pulls an Immelman to get back in the fight, kinda the Commies' go-to move to start each fight: have one shoot past, one hold back, then the overshoot pulls an Immelman to sandwich the Phantom left over when his comrades inevitably went after the bombers...

Only problem here is that, rather than stay put and be the left piece of bread on the sandwich, Green 01's got blood in his eyes, so he punches it and cuts right, onto Boxcar 14's tail!

The Cuban hero, recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, his nation's second highest award for valor, never even saw it coming, and was killed instantly when his aircraft exploded!

The Cubans are now down to one F-4 vs 4 MiGs and 6 Sukhois...

"Dammit," screams Boxcar 12, who immediately looks for retribution.  He cuts hard right, going head to head with Green 02; both pilots fire...

But only Boxcar 12 remains, scoring his first kill of the day.

As the bombers push south, with not much left to stop them...

The Commie fighter pilots are salivating, shoving each other out of the way to get the last kill.  Silver 01 starts the feeding frenzy, coming east to engage.

Followed by Silver 02...

And then Green 01.

Boxcar 12, with little choice but to go for the jugular, cuts right and takes a bad deflection shot on Silver 02.  He fires and Silver 02 is struck and promptly flips over onto its back before plummeting to earth.  "Splash two bogeys," Boxcar 12 mutters to himself...

The bombers push south.

And suddenly, thanks to some fancy shooting by Boxcar 12, things aren't looking so bad.  Not good, but not so bad, either.  Silver 01 does manage to travel a bit then cut right into a tailing position, but he's unable to get into a firing position.

As Green 01 pulls left, defensive, putting a bad angle on Boxcar 12 (which hasn't deterred him so far).

Boxcar 12 runs straight in on Green 01, trying his patented bad deflection shot...

And gets his third kill of the day!!!  Great shooting, but he's in big trouble now with Silver 01 on his butt.

*Not bad die rolling, certainly helps to get the +1 on firing for Veterans, making that 'bad' deflection shot hit on a 4+.  And Thomaston wants me to get rid of it! ;)

And the bombers march inexorably south...

And here's our big moment: Silver 01 cuts right onto Boxcar 12's tail, in a perfect firing position.  The missile leaves the rails...

And shoots straight past the big Phantom, as does Silver 01!

Boxcar 12 cuts left, defensive, hoping to force him into a mistake and gun him down.

The bombers move south, having to break formation.

Silver 01 punches it, seeking to disengage; "I don't want that psychopath getting me, too!"

So Boxcar 12 says hell with it, flips an Immelman, and takes his now-normal bad deflection shot on Bomber 03, and he can't help but giggle as he notches his fourth kill of the afternoon!

But the bombers keep marching south.

Silver 01 scans the sky glumly: "yeah, that's kinda my fault, isn't it?"  He cuts left to get back in the fight, maybe keep the mad Cuban from killing ALL the bombers...

Boxcar 12 flips it left to be in position to fend off Silver 01 (bottom right) or go after the bombers.

And the bombers are nearing the finish line.

Silver 01 cuts through their formation, looking to do just enough to keep Boxcar 12 at bay.

And he's wary, getting pointed in the right direction but maintaining a defensive posture.  He probably will not have a feasible shot at bringing down any more of the bombers before they reach the target area, so Silver 01 has done his job.

The first bomber reaches the target area and begins his bombing run.

But then he gets froggy!  Silver 01 breaks hard left, lining up a pretty good shot on Boxcar 12.  He toggles the switch and a missile leaps off the rails...

But Silver 01 looks on incredulously as the missile strikes the large, American-built fighter, damaging it, and Boxcar 12 immediately shakes it off and streaks in on Bomber 06.  The dastardly Cuban fires again, and the bomber comes apart!

Five kills in a single fight for Boxcar 12, but the remaining three bombers fan out into attack formation and begin their bombing runs.  With the SLA HQ and Marshalling Area destroyed, all four Su-22s target the SLA Logistics Hub, causing moderate damage (23/30), bringing the total not far from destroying the third target.  

Boxcar 12 rang up five victories in this fight, becoming an instant Ace, and bringing his total kill tally to seven (might just have us a future NBK, 7 kills in two fights).  The young Cuban pilot was meritoriously promoted to Captain and awarded the Medal of Honor for his exploits.  Despite Boxcar 12's, AKA Miguel "Mad Max" Cruces, heroics, the mission can't be called anything but a failure: two out of three Phantoms were shot down, another pilot, and hero, was killed in action, and the FSNL Air Force has nearly destroyed their third target of the campaign.  Strictly speaking, it's not that clean cut: the Cubans lost two fighters while the Communists lost three fighters and three bombers.

Here's what happened in terms of pilots:

Boxcar 12, Captain "Mad Max" Cruces, five Kills, promoted to Captain and awarded the MOH

Boxcar 14, "Oilcan," no Kills, shot down and KIA

Boxcar 15, no Kills, shot down but bailed out and okay

I'm playing and posting more as soon as I can, stay tuned.

V/R,

Jack