WSS 99 Dunkirk - An Achtung Spitfire AAR!

The latest issue of Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy has one of those slight rarities in wargaming magazines: an air warfare scenario.  The scenario is actually an adaptation not of a historical action per se, but rather the aerial warfare sequence of the recent Dunkirk film.

The basic premise is that an escorted German bomber is going to attack a British minesweeper and a vic of Spitfires is trying to intercept them and save it.

I use a variety of rules for air warfare, including the miniatures games Lacquered Coffins and Bag the Hun!  However, I also enjoy the slightly more detailed boardgame Achtung! Spitfire from the Fighting Wings series of games.  The latter has its issues but its modelling of flying and fighting is slightly more convincing to me, although this comes with extra workload and perhaps, a slight loss of atmosphere.  More on this later!

The Scenario:

1 x British minesweeper (HMS Emperor of India; not sure about the armament, I gave her 1 x 3" AA gun).
3 x Spitfire 1A (without harmonized guns) at 2000 feet in a tight vic formation.

The leader and no.2 are Regular, the no.3 is Green.

1 x Ju88 bomber (armed as desired) at 1000 feet.
2 x Bf109E3 at 2000 feet in a loose pair formation.

The Ju88 and Bf109 leader are Veterans, the Bf109 wingman is a Regular.

The German aircraft approach from the left, the minesweeper and the British are on the right

A closer look at the Germans

And at the British

The Bf109 leader (centre) dives for a head-on pass against the Spitfires, whilst his wingman remains higher (bottom-left)

A closer view

Many shots are fired but few connect!  The Bf109 leader makes his pass and starts to regain height (right).  The Bf109 wingman and the Spitfire leader make a turning pass at each other, whilst the other two Spitfires do a Split-S and diving turn to get on the tail of the bomber

The two British wingmen are pulling out of their manoeuvres behind the Ju88, but the Bf109s are trying to slot in behind them...

...a closer look...

...and a wider shot...

The Spitfires were moving faster and get close to the German bomber...no hits from the rear gunner...

"He who gets in close, shoots them down"...the two Spitfire wingmen close to point-blank range, pumping bullets into the bomber, which promptly disintegrates...but the Bf109E is now in range of the Spitfires...

And shoots Spitfire 03 down too!  Spitfire 02 breaks hard and out of the Bf109Es line of fire (right); The lead Spitfire gets in behind the lead Bf109E, but the 109 is moving much faster and evades easily.

Game Notes: A nice little balanced scenario for Achtung! Spitfire solo play, since there weren't too many aircraft in play.  In essence, each turn consists of going down a mini spreadsheet for each aircraft each turn, so it can get quite dull quite quickly if there are too many fighters in the air at one time; bombers flying in formation and ships etc. aren't so much bother.  The reason for this is that there is a small incremental speed increase or decrease for each manoeuvre each aircraft makes.  Additionally, combat is very inaccurate unless the pilot is very good or one gets a close range shot from the rear arc.  This can be speeded up somewhat by knowledge of the rules, but it is never going to be that fast. All of this makes a very different gaming experience from a quick, simple game like Lacquered Coffins!  Anyway, more detailed thoughts to come.  This scenario (for me) was still on the right side of fun.