Your Target For Tonight - Start of the Campaign

I participated in another test game of YTFT and it was so successful (the game play more than the outcomes) that it was decided to start the campaign.

The first mission was a devastating raid on the airfield at Bernay, Normandy.

Nine bombers were shot down along with some escorting fighters,

but the airfield was destroyed.

The second mission was a raid on another airfield.

Luftwaffe activity was not so pronounced 

but the airfield did not suffer too much damage all the same. 

The third mission was a raid on the U-boat pens that can be seen in the above image.  Very limited Luftwaffe engagement, but heavy flak and a hardened target made it somewhat of a failed mission.

Your Target For Tonight

Another new game to try my hand at.  Still a work in progress by Simon, but it looked fantastic and was playing well.

Northwest Europe full of targets.

I was in charge of the Luftwaffe defending the oil storage facility.

It had already been visited by the RAF during the night.

Note: the FW190s have been de-swastika-ed.

Here come the bombers!

RAF Take Two

Time for the second scenario which is a four-day event.  We just completed three and sadly had made a few errors as we are still learning the mechanics.  

Some aspects are frustrating, but the overall system seems to work well.

RAF

Introductory scenario for the operational level game of the Battle of Britain.  We played it twice through, changing sides to get the full feel for the game's systems. The scenario was just on day of raids, the cards for which are listed on the right-hand side (a random/hidden draw).

First time through we made a mistake with deployment giving the RAF had a few extra squadrons.

Second play through resulted in very similar outcome.

Next, the four-day scenario.

DAM BUSTERS 1943 ONWARDS

Hot on the heels (or is that tail?) of Bomber, Mark B lent me this book.  It is something different...

These two images come from Stella & Rose's Books

The contents has a lovely typo.

The missions after the dam busting are quite interesting along with the development of ever bigger bombs.  In the end they ran out of targets and the bombs were so expensive crews were instructed to fly them home if they couldn't complete the mission due to cloud etc.  That must have been fun landing a plane carrying one of these bombs, especially if you had a bit of flak damage... 

Bomber by Len Deighton

In playing Nightfighter with Mark B he recommended this book to me, even going so far as being prepared to lend me his copy. I was eager for some background and inspiration for the game and took up his offer. I am so glad I did. Challenging at times (it is about one of the most terrifying and indiscriminate aspects of war after all) but most engaging and atmospheric.

It is a big book even though it is set all in one day June 31st 1943.  The author was at pains to make sure it was accepted as a work of fiction, even right down to the date, but it has been meticulously researched and seemed very real and alive with a large cast of very varied characters, and while it was tricky to remember who was who, they were all brought to life in just a few pages.

The tension was compelling.  The horror of what the bulk of the characters went through was impactful.  I felt for them all, well, nearly all of them.

Nightfighter - Scenario 2: Dunaja

Three Hampden bombers braved the night skies on a moonless night while an Me110 tried real hard to find them with the aid of a Freya radar station.

Even with this wunder weapon the nightfighter still had to get super close (as in same hex, which are a mile across) to get a Tally.  

The first bomber was only detected by the radar as it left the zone.

The second bomber was too far along for the nighfighter to turn and catch after it was detected.

But the third bomber was unlucky.  The Freya radar had helped the nightfighter determine the path (hex column) being used and knowledge of the relative speeds allowed the Me110 to get in close.  It still had to get a visual.  Two dice needing a three on one of them.  Mark B rolled well, but could he shoot well?  He rolled two dice and got an 8.  To that you add the fire power which was either a 1 or a 4.  A result of a nine would be no effect, but a 12 would produce three hits which would shoot down the poor Hampden.  A bit of hunting in the rules clarified the fire factor as 4.  The Hampden and its load of deadly leaflets went down in flames.

Not much to look at, but the game plays quick and gives a good feel for blindly searching the night sky for prey (but without the cold, boredom or risk of physical danger).

Nightfighter - Scenario 1: Cat's Eye

I've had this game for a while and finally I was able to give it a go (using the most basic scenario, even though it was described as Impossible).  Mark B took a Hurricane up to try and deter some Heinkel's on a nighttime bombing mission.  

The game's mechanics are straightforward and give a quick game.  It's not much to look at, which is why I made up the data cards for the aircraft involved.  The game has a lot of scope and hopefully we will get to try it out some more.   

Bags of Wings

This week at the club I was pressed for time, but was lucky to be able to take Darren's adaption of Bag the Hun and Wings of Glory for a flight with his paper planes.

My Spitfire got shot up and the pilot wounded and had to head for home.

Lots of promise.