Of Decisive Importance: Operation Pedestal
Of Decisive Importance: Operation Pedestal 1942
Also known as the Malta Convoy and the Santa Maria Convoy, Operatiojn Pedestal was a massive convoy operation by the Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm in the Mediterranean in August of 1942. Malta was the destination as it was seen as an integral part of winning North Africa and eventually Italy for the Allies. Supplies, men, and indeed aircraft had to be delivered to Malta in order to build up its status as an island fortress. Once word gout out to the Italians and Germans, Göring emphatically delivered orders to halt all air operations in the Mediterranean and focus solely on destroying the convoy: "[The Luftwaffe] will operate with no other thought in mind than the destruction of the British convoy ... The destruction of this convoy is of decisive importance."
The Fleet Air Arm defended the large convoy day and night against Italian and German attacks from August 10-15, while also delivering Spitfires to Malta. This event seeks to recreate the fierce battles over the fleets during that week in August, 1942.
Allies: 48% / Axis 52%
Order of Battle (Frame 1):
FAA |
Luftwaffe/Regia Aeronautica |
||
Martlet Mk. II (F4F-3) |
- |
C.202 |
- |
Sea Hurricane |
- |
Ju 88 |
MIN 12 |
Hour 2:
FAA |
Luftwaffe/Regia Aeronautica |
||
Sea Hurricane |
- |
C.202 |
- |
- |
Ju 87D |
- |
Order of Battle (Frames 2 and 3):
FAA |
Luftwaffe/Regia Aeronautica |
||
Spitfire Mk V |
- |
Bf 109F-4 |
- |
Martlet Mk. II (F4F-3) |
- |
C.202 |
MIN 12 |
Sea Hurricane |
MIN 12 |
Ju 88 |
MIN 12 |
Hour 2:
FAA |
Luftwaffe/Regia Aeronautica |
||
Martlet Mk. II (F4F-3) |
- |
C.202 |
- |
Sea Hurricane |
- |
Ju 88 |
- |
Loadout Restrictions:
- F4F-3 - No 6x.50 cals
- Ordnance disabled on all fighters.
- 1,800 Kg bomb disabled on Ju 87D.
Notes:
- Fighter Alt Cap: 20K
- Jabo Alt Cap: 14K
Scoring:
- Aircraft - 1
- CV - 12
- CA - 8
- DD - 4
- (Max of 1 fleet in 1st hour)
- All targets worth half value in Hour 2.
- Recommended Skins:
-
806 NAS - Martlet
885 NAS - Sea Hurricane
102 Gruppo - Ju 87
KG 54/77 - Ju 88
JG 77 - Bf 109F
No. 249S - Spit V
Arena Settings:
- - Terrain: italy
- - Fuel Burn: 1.0
- - Clouds: med5kmed15k
- - Icons: 3K Friendly/Enemy
- - Ack: .3
- - Fighter and Bomber warning range: 63360 (about 12 miles)
- - Tower range set to 63360 (for display only to match the above setting)
- - Haze/Fog: 15 miles
- - Radar: Off
- - Enemy collisions: on
- - Friendly collisions: off
- - Killshooter: off
- - Time: 1000 (10AM) Game Clock
- - Formations: On
- - Formation Autopilot: On
- - Bomber calibration: Automatic
- - Wind: 0K-2K NO WIND
- 2K-8K: S TO N - Speed 5
- 8K-14K: SW to NE - Speed 10
- 14K-20K: S to N - Speed 15
- 20K+: 45MPH Downdraft
Area of Operations: