Battle of Britain: Friday 12th July 12:30

 "Blue Section was scrambled to defend a convoy. They reached it before the enemy and managed to intercept Stukas forming up for an attack”

This was to be the first big(ish) game. A single Hurricane section was taking on six Stukas and two 109s. The Luftwaffe simply had to reach and drop bombs on a convoy represented by some very tiny ships I had acquired and quickly painted up in grey.

The convoy steaming through the Channel

Starting positions were straight forward, the Hurricanes stationed above the convoy and the Germans entering from the opposite short edge of the six by four mat.

The Hurricanes arrive to protect the convoy

Six Stukas and Two 109s start points

The first three turns were bereft of action. By setting up along the narrow edge there was plenty of room to manoeuvre before contact. The 109s used this to their advantage to get ahead of the Stukas and ensure that the first shots would be between them and the Hurricanes. By the close of turn three only one not in an advantaged state was the 109 wingman who had burned advantage to accelerate towards the Hurricanes.

Positions at the end of turn three

Turn four saw the first bit of action, both ME109s attempted to outmaneuver Davis the flight lead. The first manages this but Davis regains advantage after his move, he subsequently passes his saving roll for the second attempt.

At last combat begins!

Finally turn five saw some shooting. The German ME109 ace attempted to get on the tail of a Hurricane but failed. Davis managed to reduce the Stuka's flight leader's advantage level allowing Fraser a deflection shot on him - its a hit. In Blood Red Skies a hit always results in a boom chit but not necessarily a reduction in advantage level. Because deflection shooting is more difficult and the Stuka pilot was an ace, the Luftwaffe man had to get one six on ten d6 in order to save. But of course I rolled the dice and probability tends to nip off for a cuppa when I roll the ivories and the save failed. This left one Stuka in a disadvantaged state.

End of Turn 5

The ME109 ace saw his skills pay off at the start of turn six. Finally he got on the tail of Davis automatically reducing him to a disadvantaged state. It got worse for Davis, by the end of the turn he was isolated with the two 109s for company.

Meanwhile his wingmen were busily reducing the advantage levels of the first flight of Stukas. But although another boom chit was inflicted, probability had nipped back into the room and the Stuka flight leader not only saved but escaped the melee and managed to get back into a neutral stance.

Hurricanes get in amongst the Stukas

Turn seven saw the ME109 ace set up Davis so his wingman could have a pop! Fortunately for Davis the gunnery was not what it should have been and he survived. Fraser tried to reduce the advantage levels of a Stuka from flight 2 and Robson got a shot in resulting in another hit but its saved. Still, the boom chits are starting to mount on the Stukas - three so far.

Davis in a lot of trouble

By turn eight the Stukas have nearly reached the convoy.

Target in sight!

The 109 ace gets a deflection shot in on Davis with six dice and misses. Robson gets to take a shot at his Stuka again. Another hit and this time the Stuka crew's luck runs out and they are shot down. 

First kill of the day!

The gunner does squeeze off a burst as Robson's firing and the RAF have their first boom chit! However, the Stuka squadron has five boom chits and five engines remaining another hit and they'll disperse.

And that comes quickly, Robson moves and finds himself on the tail of another Stuka; blazes away and has another kill! Two in the one round.

And a second!

That's it for the Germans with the Stukas morale exhausted they dump their bombs, break off and scuttle back to France.

So close...

So lucky...

 "All three planes came back. Robson did a couple of victory rolls over the airfield, so we knew the news was good."