OVER THE LINES: France 1943
OVER THE LINES: France 1943
The Combined Bombing Offensive had been reafirmed at the Quebec Conference as a prerequisite to the success of the invasion of "Fortress Europa". Since 1942 both USAAF and RAF bombers had been striking targets in Occupied Europe from bases in England. The USAAF daylight bombing strategy had been dealt a serious setback after the Schweinfurt-Regensburg raids of August 1943. VIII Fighter Command in England continued to grow in strength as more P-47 and P-38 units were formed to make the American daylight strategy possible. Meanwhile the RAF reorganised to form its tactical air forces under one command. These units conducted their own operations into Occupied Europe alongside Air Defence Great Britain (ADGB) fighter squadrons that supported both British and American offensive efforts.
The increased Allied activity brought reinforcements for the Western based Luftwaffe. Fighter units from the Eastern Front and Italy were transferred West along with the strengthening of exisiting JagdGeschwaders defending the German frontier. Along with the anticipated Allied invasion of France Luftwaffe combat power would continue to refocus West.
This FSO recreates the air war in Western Europe in 1943 as Allied and Luftwaffe forces are drawn into an ever larger air contest.
Country Percentages:
Axis 50%
Allied 50%
Field Assignments:
Axis Bishop
Allied Knight
CM Rook
OOB:
Axis (Luftwaffe):
Fw 190A-5
Bf 109G-6 (min 36)
Bf 109G-2
Allied (RAF/USAAF):
P-47D-11
P-38G
Spitfire IX (max 36)
B-25C
B-17G
Recon Aircraft: Mosquito PR IV (Mosquito VI, 3 per frame) * Special mission aircraft
Special Rules and Ordnance Restrictions:
* All aircraft must be used by a minimum of 12 *players*.
* The B-17 and B-25 are limited to 24k max alt.
* Formations are available for all bombers.
* Bombs are disabled for all Allied fighters.
* The B-25C has strafer option disabled.
* The recon missions are OPTIONAL.
* The Mosquito has ordnance disabled.
* Recon missions are filmed (ALT-R) over a strike target at 20,000 feet or ABOVE by T+60.
* Axis fighters are not permitted to fly "feet dry" over Britain.
* ALL AIRCRAFT ARE TO BE LANDED AND THE PLAYERS TOWERED OUT BY FRAME END OR WILL BE CONSIDERED SHOT DOWN AND THE CREWS KIA.
Scoring:
Aircraft Pts
------------
Bomber = 20 pts
Fighter = 5 pts
Recon Mosquito = 25 pts
Landing Bonus = 2 pts
Target Pts
----------
Gun = 0.5 pts
Hangar = 25 pts
Recon Mission = 25 pts
All Other = 3 pts
Arena Settings:
- BoF44 terrain
- Fuel burn 1.0
- Icons friendly 3k/enemy 3k
- 0.5 Ack
- Fighter and Bomber warning range 42,000 (about 8 miles)
- Tower range set to 42,000 (for display only to match the above setting)
- Haze/fog full visability (17 miles)
- Radar off
- Enemy collisions on
- Friendly collisions off
- Killshooter off
- Time: 15:00 ( 3PM ) Game Clock
- Formations: On
- Formation Autopilot: On
- Bomber calibration: Automatic
- Wind: 0K-2k NO WIND
2K-18K W TO E - Speed 5
18K-24K W TO E - Speed 10
24K+ W TO E - Speed 15
Designers notes:
*The B-25C was the Mitchell Mk. I in RAF service.
*The Mosquito PR IV was the Photo Recce model of the Mosquito B IV
Design by Warloc