יום א' 15 פברואר, משימת ים התיכון, נפגשים ב-TS בשעה 20:45

Hi all

Please read this briefing carefully, it is quite complex
Needless to say the main focus of this mission is protecting our convoy from Alexandria
Any ship that survives this mission will transfer into the Malta sector at the end of it

To that end we have the following Combat Sorties planned

From El Adhem

1x Tomahawk
Immediate takeoff, arrive convoy for CAP at t+40 minutes
RTB Malta

4x A-20
Immediate takeoff, bomb Benghazi, arrive convoy for and CAP t+40 minutes
RTB Malta



From Malta

2x Mosquito BMkIV
These are to operate singly and along with the Benghazi-bound A-20s
attempt to catch the enemy bombers on the ground in Sicily and Tunisia/Libya
If this is not possible then targets of opportunity and recce is the order of the day
RTB anywhere

4x Spitfire Vc
Delay takeoff for at least five minutes, CAP over the TF Alpha
Save fuel, RTB Malta

2x A-20
Immediate takeoff, CAP over Task Force Alpha as it nears Malta
Alert the Spitfires to incoming bandits. Dump bombs if no ships threaten the convoy
Be ready to intercept bombers after spits run out of fuel
RTB to Malta



From Sidi Rezegh

1x Beaufighter
Immediate takeoff, arrive convoy for CAP at t+40 minutes
Dump bombs if no ships threaten the convoy
Be ready to intercept bombers after spits run out of fuel
RTB Malta


None of these aircraft are to deviate from their course and target except for one thing
Axis capital ships that DIRECTLY threaten the convoy
All other shipping must be ignored, apart from reporting the sightings
Our primary goal is to have aircraft over the convoy for as long as possible
and to knock down enemy bombers while avoiding their fighters

Discipline must be absolute - do not be lured away from the ships


New Convoy from Gibraltar
On top of this, a convoy from Gibraltar (Task Force Sneaky) has entered the map an hour ago
It is heading for the passage between Sicily and Tunisia
All ships that survive this mission will be able to enter the Med sector at the end of the next AI mission
This is the enemy's only chance to attack this convoy with player-aircraft on this map


To provide CAP for these ships we have

From Gibraltar Air-Start

4x Spitfire Vc
There is no specific briefing for this flight, so if they head directly towards Malta
they will find the convoy (Task Force Sneaky) within 30km of the start
We do not expect the Axis to have discovered this convoy although
they are in the habit of sending recon planes along the western edge of the map
The Spits will cover the ships as long as their fuel holds out
RTB Malta - make sure you land at the Allied Exit to Malta Sector runway


ALL CAP AIRCRAFT ARE TO CONSERVE FUEL IN ORDER TO
STAY ABOVE THE SHIPS FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

Cut throttle and lean mixture where possible
The enemy bases are close to the ships, raids can be expected anytime during the two hours



SYNOPSIS

With the TF Alpha convoy so close to Malta, and close Axis bases, the enemy might well revert to
previous tactics of sending in the fighters early in order to draw off our CAP
then follow it up with several bomber raids. The drawback to the Axis here is that our ship AAA
has improved to such an extent that small raids are far more vulnerable than before
If he sticks with last week's tactic of a mass raid then his timing will be all important
the window of opportunity is much bigger than last time

Alternatively, if TF Sneaky HAS been spotted then the Axis have to decide whether to split their forces
or indeed send all of their effort against Sneaky. If they do this then we'll be at a severe disadvantage
but will have the satisfaction of getting Alpha into the Med Sector
I'm willing to take the chance that they will want to finish off Alpha
even if they have spotted Sneaky

We have several loose ships roaming about the map as well
I have introduced a cruiser (CA) from Gibraltar that is recceing the Italian west coast
It will be off northern Sicily at the end of this mission, well-placed to bombard the coast
and join up with TF Sneaky after the AI mission

There is another cruiser (CA) from Alexandria
which is following the Libyan coast right the way down past Benghazi
It should finish off anything the bomber boys have left and be ready for a new deployment in the AI mission

Shelling the coast during the AI missions is working well
the subs and DDs are picking off fuel dumps and factories quite happily
I'm hoping that the two cruisers will do even more damage


Here's the map of ship movements




PRELIMINARY PLANE ALLOCATIONS

242Sqn
Mosquitos, Beaufighter and Tomahawk

IAF Squadrons
Spitfires over TF Sneaky

102nd Squadron
Spitfires over TF Alpha

The 6x A-20s can be allocated on the night, depending on pilot numbers

GOOD LUCK!