Dixie vs HS, BoB 41

[Dixie]

Once again I'm taking on HS in a BoB campaign, regardless of what he's telling you elsewhere he was losing the 1940 campaign so now he's trying the '41 game where he'll have more forces [:D]

That should be enough that he can't read any more of my posts...


The Luftwaffe and their Italian Allies are a much stronger force numerically than Fighter Command, and my best weapon, the Spitfire V, is outclassed by the FW190. So I'm going to have to try and pick and choose my battles, in order to conserve my forces I'll be pulling squadrons away from the South Coast. The main defensive line will run between Bristol in the west and London in the East with a minimal number of fighters based below that line.

The general tactics will involve launching my fighters to patrol along the likely inbound paths of Luftwaffe raids in order to (a) minimise the amount of time they spend over water and (b) provide more chance to gain height before entering combat. 13 Group will be the exception to these rules, most of their area is the North Sea and fighter opposition up there will be minimal. Depending on losses those units in 13 Group may find themselves being equipped with Tomahawks in order to free more of my Spits and Hurris for the battles down south.

[Dixie]

Day 1 (& 2)

A mixed bag of raids on day 1, sector airfields, power stations and aircraft factories were targetted during the day with raids against Cardiff, Leeds, Chelmsford and Manchester during the night. Total losses were 15 LW planes for 11 RAF losses, not a great exchange rate but it'll do for now. The damage to the Hawker factory at Brooklands was minimal and raids againt Saro and Westland factories caused no damage so I'm expecting HS to try again in the nest few days.
Luckily most of my engine factories are far from the South Coast, out of the way of all but the most determined raids. Ideally any production dispersal will move up to the Midlands as well.

Day 2 brought bad weather so the LW stayed at home giving me a chance to recover some strength and continue to move squadrons about. Units are being moved North as and when I can, both to protect the industrial areas to the north and to move them away from the vulnerable airfields on the South Coast.

[Dixie]

Day 3

Plenty of action today as HS seems to have sent his entire bottomless bag of LW bombers against England today in a series of 25 large raids plus a few night-time efforts. [:(] Biggin Hill, Kenley, Exeter, West Malling, Portreath and Redhill AFs are out of action for now. Eastleigh and Hawker AFACs are both put out of commision as well. The RAF patrols didn't do too well either, several raids got through unhindered as the patrols charged of against the first raid they saw.

Losses were 29:36 in my favour, although that margin will lead to defeat in no time. There's more movement of the RAF afoot as well. Hopefully some bad weather will appear and give me some more time to shuffle the squadrons around.

[Dixie]

Turn 4

A quiet day again, just two Ju86 overflights which I can't do much about. Two NF squadrons are moved from West Malling, they were going anyway but the damage to the base has moved the schedule forward a bit. As I don't have to move many squadrons away from wrecked bases there's a chance to improve some AA defences slightly. Perranporth gains 4 barrage balloons, slightly risky for my fighters but I don't imagine they'll be there too much longer and the balloons might bring down a fighter or two. Most of the movement points are used to move some heavy AA to the General Aircraft factory. I'm in two minds on AA defence strategy, either provide some defence to everywhere or mass it in a few locations to provide a good kicking to the LW when they visit.

11 Group has been almost stripped of nightfighter squadrons now, most units are concentrated around the Midlands and Western England. From here they can manage to patrol over London if needs be whilst they are safer from air attack and being caught on the ground. Eventually, if the battle allows, I want to disperse them further from their original bases and seperate them to one on each base to minimise any intruder effects. One squadron of Beaufighters has also been moved to Scotland to defend Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Defiant squadron at Ayr is too short legged to achieve a decent defence on their own. There has been some NI activity mostly concentrated around the starting NF bases in 12 Group, if this carries on then the NFs will be moved soon and replaced with barrage balloons to bring down any low flying intruders.

Day fighters are still being shuffled, the arrival of Army-Co-operation Tomahawks in 13 Group will free up some Hurricane squadrons for movement south if they're needed. In addition there are several Spitfire Ia squadrons due to turn up inside the next two weeks, the plan is to keep all the MkI Spits/Hurris in the North where fighter opposition is minimal thus providing a better reserve of newer types for 10/11/12 Group. After yesterday's piss-poor performance the patrol lines are being moved to North London, from here the squadrons should be able to gain height safely and will be more controlable.

Clearly HS will have his own plans, which are probably far better than mone so we'll see how things actually pan out... Probably my best hope is to let him tire himself out with masses of raids [8|]


A quick view of Fighter Command's ready strength at the end of each day so far, the drops in numbers are due to combat and movement of squadrons.

[Dixie]

Day 5

0600-0800: Radio activity climbs to around 300 before dropping off again followed by radar contacts heading for Devon and Cornwall. With activity dying off again I'm fairly happy to scramble fighters from Cornwall, South Wales and Bristol to face the raiders. The patrols form up over the Bristol Channel whilst the incoming raids become more distinct.
With only 6 squadrons available and 6 raids incoming something has to be sacrificed and decisions made, on that basis the raids heading towards Plymouth are targetted. A series of skirmishes with the Italian air foce spring up over the moors leading to 4 Italian planes falling for the loss of a Hurricane although the pilot safely escaped.
As those raids are heading for home a fighter-bomber raid is spotted at low level heading for Perranporth, 66 Sqn scramble half a dozen fighters but are unable to make contact before their base is hit.
Another raid is detected over the channel, probably heading for Perranporth as well, luckily 263 Sqn are airborne in their Whirlwinds and bounce the Heinkels over the Channel before the escorts know what is happening and three German bombers plunge into the sea.
Plymouth Docks and oil storage, Dartmouth and Hawk's Tor radar are hit by the It bombers.

0800-1000
German bombers inbound in the Portsmouth/Southampton area, everything from 10 Group that can get airborne is sent up to intercept. Early signs indicate 4 seperate raids, possibly heading for the aircraft industry near the coast, or maybe the airfields further inland.
A low level raid hits Tangmere causing some moderate damage, whilst the first of the Portsmouth are raids hits Hyth Oil storage and turns for home. The other raids hit Avon Rubber, High Point and Chattis Hall. RAF fighters manage to cope better today than recently bringing down a dozen planes for 6 losses.

1000-1400
More raids towards the Hawker factories south of London, nothing too bad really as the factories were already out of commision. Inconclusive dogfights spread across Kent with most combats resulting in damaged aircraft rather than destruction.

1400-1600
Three more raids detected heading for Kent. Fighters are already airborne from 12 Group airfields and are vectored to intercept. The raids hit a selection of targets near SE London but get shredded by AA fire in return, unfortunatley the RAF manages cock all in addition.
The raids are followed up (again) by a low level FB strike on Westhampnett but this time Spitfires get aloft from Tangmere and harry the raiders on their way home shooting down one and damaging another.

Night-time
Raids on Forth, Bristol and Cardiff cause minor damage. RAF Beaufighters shoot down half a dozen raiders in the south. Near Forth Defiants damage several bombers but none are destroyed.