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#Post#: 81--------------------------------------------------
E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: pilotofficerprune Date: September 12, 2018, 10:20 am
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Date: 18 Jul
Playtester: Gordon Christie/Andrew Brazier
We decided to start the Eagles scenario book from the
back-mainly to ensure that the alter scenarios get a proper look
as it is likely that most of the testing effort will (not
unreasonably) start form the beginning. Consequently the first
game played was Mediterranean melee. We have managed 3 runs
through this and are reasonably happy with the outcome. A brief
summary, followed by conclusions and suggested changes:
Run 1: 8 P–38s and 3 B – 25s were lost. The bombers inflicted no
damage. In total the Germans lost 4 single-engine and 3 twin
engined fighters together with 14 transports. One transport
squadron was disrupted and two broken. The final VP score was
+7.5 for a German victory.
Overall the result felt reasonable. We did note that the setup
brought everything together in the middle of the map for a very
crowded couple turns, and consequently moved the ships one
column left and the German transport setup one column right in
order to sequence the action a bit and prevent congestion in the
centre of the map. The historical narrative in Shores and Cull
suggests that the attack on the convoy preceded the main air to
air action with the transports and this alteration improves the
sequencing as well as making the map considerably less crowded
in places. We also moved the German transports up to altitude 1
to avoid overlap with the Mitchells & reduce interaction with
the convoy flak.
The second run was a bit of an outlier due to particularly
dreadful German cohesion rolls. The US lost 4 fighters and 4
bombers but managed to shoot down no fewer than 27 German
transport together with 6 single engined and 1 twin-engine
fighter. All of the transport squadrons were broken and the
final result was an overwhelming US victory (+46.5 VP). Again
the convoy was undamaged & we felt that the flak from the ships
was too effective as well as creating a flak trap for the US
fighters in the centre of the map which resulted in some
slightly gamey behaviour as the fighters lurked above the
transports for a couple of turns to avoid the flak.
We adjusted this for the final run by removing the PG, changing
the destroyer to DD 1, and altering the auxiliary to Aux1 (S0
barrage) both of which are in the Supremacy box. This worked
well. The low angle heavy flak prevents the destroyer engaging
anything other than the attacking bombers, whilst the small arms
barrage provides some flak opposition but it doesn't interfere
with the main AtA action occurring above. Despite the remarkably
poor German fighter cohesion rolls we felt that the US were
possibly a bit overpowered, and reduced the number of sweep P–
38 squadrons from 3 to 2 for the final run-this also avoids the
P-38 sweep functioning as a Balbo and reduces the tally modifier
as (see suggested victory changes below)it is no longer a
formation both of which potentially help the US.
On our final run the Americans lost 9 fighters and 2 bombers
against German losses of 9 single engined and 4 twin-engine
fighters together with 9 transports. The bombers achieved 4 hits
on the auxiliary for heavy damage whilst 2 of the transport
squadrons were broken and 1 disrupted. Final VP were +13.5,
again a German victory as written but overall felt more like a
draw or, possibly, marginal US victory (see suggested victory
changes below). It certainly felt harder going for the US
fighters, and we thought probably the addition of an additional
veteran for the US was not unreasonable.
Final suggested changes:
Reduce the number of sweep P – 38 squadrons to 2.
And 1 additional veteran to the US force.
Change the ships to: DD1 in G0, Aux 1 in the K0; delete the PG
The German transportS set up in W1, X1, Y1 & Z1–this makes
things a bit less crowded by enforcing some altitude separation
between the US bombers and the German transports and also avoids
significant interaction between the transports & the ship’s
flak..
We also thought it might be worth basing victory conditions on
exiting unbroken transport squadrons and preserving the
auxiliary. It's otherwise a bit fiddly to calculate the victory
points, and this has the merit of focusing both players on the
historical objectives– either stopping the supplies getting to
North Africa or ensuring that they get through.
Suggestion would be that the Germans get 1 victory point for
each unbroken transport squadron that exits the left map edge
together with 1 victory point if the Aux 1 has no more than than
minor damage. Suggested thresholds would be:
German victory: 4 or more VP
Draw: 3 VP
Us victory: 2 or fewer VP
#Post#: 82--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: pilotofficerprune Date: September 12, 2018, 10:21 am
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The current VP outputs for plays are:
Andrew/Gordon 1st = 7.5
Andrew/Gordon 2nd = 46.5
Andrew/Gordon 3rd = 13.5
Average = 22.5
#Post#: 184--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: Elias Nordling Date: September 21, 2018, 3:47 am
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Mediterranean Melee V 0.2
Players: Elias Nordling (Solo)
This is an interesting, unusual meeting engagement, but I had
trouble getting the historical narrative. In short, the Germans
had trouble affecting the bombers, and the US had trouble
killing the transports.
One difference between my playing style and Gordon/Andrew:s
might be that I split heavily. The Germans have very few turns
affecting the bombers, but got 6 attacks on them before bombing
in total, none of which caused disruption. The bombers took
first opportunity to climb to altitude 2, which allowed them to
cruise above all available flak. This allowed them to bomb with
-1, and with 3 attempts, they acchieved two 10% results for 4
damage on the aux.
The P38 escorts and German CAP largely used up each other, so
the US had 2 squadrons and 2 flights of fighters to attack the
transports with, against a greater number of Germans escorts and
CAP. They were able to minimize the damage to the transports by
reacting and dogfighting. A total of 5 attacks were made on the
transports. Thanks to lucky cohesion rolls, one was broken, but
few transports were lost.
Final score was 3 unbroken transport squadrons exited, boat
heavily damage, for a draw at 3 points.
In case you plan to change the scoring again, the regular score
would be:
US: Bombing 7 points, 3 single-engined German fighters, 4
twin-engined, 3 transports: 19 points.
German: 16 points for exiting, 6 P38, 3 B25: 31 points.
Suggestions:
Disallow the US bombers from climbing to altitude 2.
Set up the German CAP closer to the destroyer.
Weaker German escort for transports. Either reducing quality,
quantity or both.
Possibly no splitting for Germans.
Presumably the Ju52s can't climb or dive? It's a bit tricky when
the scenario is both bomb and non-bomb.
#Post#: 189--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: pilotofficerprune Date: September 22, 2018, 2:49 am
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Okay, going on your recommendations I'm a gonna do the following
for the next release and see what effect this has:
- Force the B-25s to attack from altitude 0
- Move the CAP left by two columns
- Limit splitting to the Americans (this may affect the escort
significantly, so I won't weaken the escort just yet)
- Reduce the Germans Veterans by one marker (this may impact the
escort if the Germans pack their veterans into the CAP)
#Post#: 288--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: Elias Nordling Date: October 4, 2018, 12:33 pm
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The special rule forcing the B25 to attack from altitude 0 still
allows them to climb out of range of the Flak of the DD before
diving to attack. The DD has low angle guns. I'd suggest
prohibit the B25:s from climbing instead.
#Post#: 293--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: Elias Nordling Date: October 4, 2018, 2:31 pm
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Mediterranean Melee V 0.2 (modified in that I did not allow the
B25:s to change altitude)
Players: Elias Nordling (Solo)
It played more or less like last time, but with less extreme
results. The Germans were able to break one B25 squadron before
bombing, which is probably as good as it gets for them. It
didn't help. The US bombed at -4, -1, -1 modifiers, and got 10%,
0%, 100%. Close, but still sunk.
The Germans were more successful in disrupting the P38:s, and in
fact, if you as the Germans conceed that you are unlikely to
stop the bombs from hitting, you will probably spend your cap at
wrecking the P38 escort instead.
When the escorts and sweep caught up with the transports, they
were weakened but not ineffective. The escorts were still able
to dive down on them and use that speed advantage to engage the
P38:s in dogfights. There were still a bunch of attacks on
Ju52:s unprotected by fighters, but the US fighters ran out
before the german fighters did. Most importantly, the US had
trouble getting enough favourable morale results to break the
Ju52:s. In the end, 2 Ju52 squadrons were disrupted and one was
broken.
Score: 3 unbroken transports exited. A draw.
Losses, for regular track keeping:
US: 3 B25, 7 P38.
German: 3 Bf109, 4 Bf110, 2 Me210, 1 FW190, 9 Ju52.
Suggestions: Prohibit altitude changes for the B25:s.
Possibly reduce the German escort slightly more. Perhaps making
some of the squadrons flights.
I still have no good solution for making it easier for the
Germans to save the Aux. Perhaps by having only 2 bomber
squadrons, if that works within the historical framework?
#Post#: 296--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: pilotofficerprune Date: October 5, 2018, 6:35 am
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I'll take another look at the Aux 1, as I agree it's a problem.
I wonder whether we should start by reducing the B-25 escorts,
as well as (maybe) reducing the B-25s themselves. Maybe reduce
the bombers/escorts by one squadron each? Let me look at the
bomber average bomb outputs, as that would be a guide.
#Post#: 303--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: Elias Nordling Date: October 5, 2018, 7:28 am
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If we reduce the B25 Escorts there will be no one left to attack
the transports, but moving squadrons to the sweep could work.
Removing one B25 could create a gamey tactic in that the bombers
could circle in their setup areas while the escorts cleaned out
the CAP. As it is now, the CAP is more likely than not to tally
the bombers because they are a large formation, but with 2
squadrons, this could be a valid plan for the US.
#Post#: 311--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: pilotofficerprune Date: October 6, 2018, 4:13 am
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Fair enough. For the next release I'll try shifting one P-38
squadron from the escort force to the sweep and see how that
works.
#Post#: 400--------------------------------------------------
Re: E22 Mediterranean Melee
By: Elias Nordling Date: October 24, 2018, 12:45 pm
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The scenario rules stillallow the bombers to avoid the flak by
climbing, then dive back down for the bombing.
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