Big Week "Operation Argument 1944" Frame 1
 BIG WEEK
Operation Argument
History
'The Big Week', (executed under the official name Operation Argument), was a series of maximum effort raids, over a six-day period (hence the name) starting February 20, 1944,
that targeted the Luftwaffe's production facilities. These included key airframe and final assembly facilities of single and twin-engine fighters, as well as anti-friction bearing facilities.
The Allies calculated that the destruction of these target groups would reduce front-line fighter strength more rapidly than others previously attacked.
Allied leaders hoped that Operation Argument, by taking advantage of increased numbers, coordinated attack, and tactics that utilized long-range escorts (P-38s, P-47s and P-51s
all with extended-ranged fuel tanks), would draw the Luftwaffe up to the bombers and into the talons of these long-range escorts. If that failed, Allied fighters were now allowed
to rove the skies looking for the Luftwaffe. Simultaneously, daylight raids by both the 8th and the 15th AFs would coordinate with RAF Bomber Command's night attacks in an
effort to overwhelm German defenders.
Argument was a success. Not only were production facilities being smashed but also now the Luftwaffe was hunted in its own home. Defeat was on the horizon for the once mighty
Luftwaffe. The first steps in the Allied campaign to gain aerial superiority for the D-Day invasion was complete.
Battle Elements and Event Schedule
• Regensburg
• Bernburg
• Frankfurt
Each frame starts at 8pm in the UK, 9pm in France/Germany, 10pm in Finland/Estonia and 3pm EST. The planned length of a single frame is 2 hours.
This is a UNLIMITED life event.
YouTube
B-17 Bomber Mission
http://youtu.be/Z8mJ6ZaqVYA
Frame I
The Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission was an air combat battle in World War II. A strategic bombing attack flown by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army Air Forces on August
17, 1943, it was conceived as an ambitious plan to cripple the German aircraft industry. The mission was also known as the "double-strike mission" because it entailed two large
forces of bombers attacking separate targets in order to disperse fighter reaction by the Luftwaffe, and was the first "shuttle" mission, in which all or part of a mission landed at
a different field and later bombed another target returning to its base.
After being postponed several times by unfavorable weather, the operation, known within the Eighth Air Force as "Mission No. 84", was flown on the anniversary of the first
daylight raid by the Eighth Air Force. Mission No. 1 had only been a shallow penetration of France by 12 bombers of a single bombardment group well-protected by escort
fighters to attack the Rouen-Sotteville railroad yard. Mission No. 84 marked the anniversary with a strike by 376 bombers of sixteen bomb groups against German heavy
industry well beyond the range of escorting fighters.
The mission inflicted heavy damage on the Regensburg target, but at catastrophic loss to the force, with 60 bombers lost and many more damaged beyond economical repair.
As a result, the Eighth Air Force was unable to follow up immediately with a second attack that might have seriously crippled German industry. When Schweinfurt was finally
attacked again two months later, the lack of long-range fighter escort had still not been addressed and losses were even higher. As a consequence, deep penetration strategic
bombing was curtailed for five months.
Mission
Allies (Maximum Effort)
Destroy assigned industrial targets in mainland Germany;
•Primary target (14, 5, 2) Regensburg.
•Secondary target (11,3, 3) V2 Rocket Plant
Aircraft:
A59: B-26, P-51B, P-47D-25 (9th USAAF) Air spawn South
A96: B-17, P-38J, P-47D-11 (8th USAAF) Air spawn South
A97: B-24, P-51B, P-38J (15th USAAF) Air spawn South
AXIS (Reich Defense)
Defend industrial targets over German territories.
Aircraft:
A44: BF109G6, BF109G14, Fw190A5, FW190A8, BF110G2… Air spawn South
Restrictions: All aircraft must carry 100% fuel loads. Drop tanks are optional.
Victory Conditions:
Both the primary and secondary targets must be attacked. The Allies must produce 290 destroyed targets to win the frame.
At least five bomber pilots must RTB successfully.
All Allied aircraft must RTB to A124. One object point will be deducted from the overall object score for each aircraft that
RTBs to any other base at the end of hostilities. The event logs will reveal and account for these deductions.
Arena Setting:
1. Terrain – Germany
2. Icon Range - short
3. Wind – 15 kts NW
4. Time – Start time 0600
5. Fighter and Bomber Warning Range - 36,960 about 7 miles
6. Enemy Collisions - On
7. External view for bombers (F3) - On
8. Visibility – 8
9. Friendly Collisions - Off
10. Fuel – 1.5
11. Ack - .3
12. Kill Shooter - off
13. Tower Range – 36,960 for display to match the above setting.
14. Radar – On
Designer Notes:
SEC Event Designer and Host
Redtail7
Operation Argument
History
'The Big Week', (executed under the official name Operation Argument), was a series of maximum effort raids, over a six-day period (hence the name) starting February 20, 1944,
that targeted the Luftwaffe's production facilities. These included key airframe and final assembly facilities of single and twin-engine fighters, as well as anti-friction bearing facilities.
The Allies calculated that the destruction of these target groups would reduce front-line fighter strength more rapidly than others previously attacked.
Allied leaders hoped that Operation Argument, by taking advantage of increased numbers, coordinated attack, and tactics that utilized long-range escorts (P-38s, P-47s and P-51s
all with extended-ranged fuel tanks), would draw the Luftwaffe up to the bombers and into the talons of these long-range escorts. If that failed, Allied fighters were now allowed
to rove the skies looking for the Luftwaffe. Simultaneously, daylight raids by both the 8th and the 15th AFs would coordinate with RAF Bomber Command's night attacks in an
effort to overwhelm German defenders.
Argument was a success. Not only were production facilities being smashed but also now the Luftwaffe was hunted in its own home. Defeat was on the horizon for the once mighty
Luftwaffe. The first steps in the Allied campaign to gain aerial superiority for the D-Day invasion was complete.
Battle Elements and Event Schedule
• Regensburg
• Bernburg
• Frankfurt
Each frame starts at 8pm in the UK, 9pm in France/Germany, 10pm in Finland/Estonia and 3pm EST. The planned length of a single frame is 2 hours.
This is a UNLIMITED life event.
YouTube
B-17 Bomber Mission
http://youtu.be/Z8mJ6ZaqVYA
Frame I
The Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission was an air combat battle in World War II. A strategic bombing attack flown by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army Air Forces on August
17, 1943, it was conceived as an ambitious plan to cripple the German aircraft industry. The mission was also known as the "double-strike mission" because it entailed two large
forces of bombers attacking separate targets in order to disperse fighter reaction by the Luftwaffe, and was the first "shuttle" mission, in which all or part of a mission landed at
a different field and later bombed another target returning to its base.
After being postponed several times by unfavorable weather, the operation, known within the Eighth Air Force as "Mission No. 84", was flown on the anniversary of the first
daylight raid by the Eighth Air Force. Mission No. 1 had only been a shallow penetration of France by 12 bombers of a single bombardment group well-protected by escort
fighters to attack the Rouen-Sotteville railroad yard. Mission No. 84 marked the anniversary with a strike by 376 bombers of sixteen bomb groups against German heavy
industry well beyond the range of escorting fighters.
The mission inflicted heavy damage on the Regensburg target, but at catastrophic loss to the force, with 60 bombers lost and many more damaged beyond economical repair.
As a result, the Eighth Air Force was unable to follow up immediately with a second attack that might have seriously crippled German industry. When Schweinfurt was finally
attacked again two months later, the lack of long-range fighter escort had still not been addressed and losses were even higher. As a consequence, deep penetration strategic
bombing was curtailed for five months.
Mission
Allies (Maximum Effort)
Destroy assigned industrial targets in mainland Germany;
•Primary target (14, 5, 2) Regensburg.
•Secondary target (11,3, 3) V2 Rocket Plant
Aircraft:
A59: B-26, P-51B, P-47D-25 (9th USAAF) Air spawn South
A96: B-17, P-38J, P-47D-11 (8th USAAF) Air spawn South
A97: B-24, P-51B, P-38J (15th USAAF) Air spawn South
AXIS (Reich Defense)
Defend industrial targets over German territories.
Aircraft:
A44: BF109G6, BF109G14, Fw190A5, FW190A8, BF110G2… Air spawn South
Restrictions: All aircraft must carry 100% fuel loads. Drop tanks are optional.
Victory Conditions:
Both the primary and secondary targets must be attacked. The Allies must produce 290 destroyed targets to win the frame.
At least five bomber pilots must RTB successfully.
All Allied aircraft must RTB to A124. One object point will be deducted from the overall object score for each aircraft that
RTBs to any other base at the end of hostilities. The event logs will reveal and account for these deductions.
Arena Setting:
1. Terrain – Germany
2. Icon Range - short
3. Wind – 15 kts NW
4. Time – Start time 0600
5. Fighter and Bomber Warning Range - 36,960 about 7 miles
6. Enemy Collisions - On
7. External view for bombers (F3) - On
8. Visibility – 8
9. Friendly Collisions - Off
10. Fuel – 1.5
11. Ack - .3
12. Kill Shooter - off
13. Tower Range – 36,960 for display to match the above setting.
14. Radar – On
Designer Notes:
SEC Event Designer and Host
Redtail7