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First game of What a Tanker!

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MiG-19 paper model shared by Vlad for free on papermodelers.com as used in our Clash of Interceptors game. Thank you for a clean model, Vlad!

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Douglas F4D Skyray paper models. One of Stahlhart's excellent recolours used in our Clash of Interceptors game.

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MiG-15 Fagot paper model as used in our Clash of Interceptors game.

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Cuban Missile Crisis – Clash of Interceptors – AAR

071900Tfeb14 Trumpeter Club Night at Bonsor

Three of us got together for our first game of AirWar C:21. I was keen to try out this promising set of rules and the planes I have been building over the last months.

Situation

Two US Navy F4D Skyrays are on combat air patrol (CAP) just outside Cuban airspace. They are standing by to assist low-level reconnaissance flights (not played). Both Skyrays are armed with 4x AIM-9B Sidewinders. Rules of engagement prevent the Americans from firing unless in self-defence or if the Cubans commit a hostile act, such as tailing in gunnery range.

Two MiG-15 of the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR) had been trying to engage a reconnaissance flight that had violated Cuban airspace but could not keep up. Noticing the slower Skyrays, the MiGs decide to switch targets. The damage from any resulting “incident” could surely be explained as an honest mistake. Should the tables turn, a flight of MiG-19s is on two minute alert at an airstrip just miles away.

Setup

Second MiG not shown.

MiG-15s start in the F4D’s 7 o’clock position, outside of gun range, flying at top speed. The F4Ds fly at 400 knots (speed 8) and are not allowed to change speed until they spot the MiGs. Neither side may fly special manoeuvres until the other side is spotted.

Tony piloted the Skyrays, call signs Lightning (good) and Cowboy (average). Duncan piloted the MiG-15s, call signs Machete 1 and 2, both Czech-trained (average).

Gameplay

The MiGs quickly closed the distance to the Skyrays and soon spotted their prey. The Skyrays, although failing to spot the MiGs, started to turn hard on instructions from their ground controller who had seen the bogies on his radar.

Following a Break Turn manoeuvre, the lead MiG peeled off a sustained burst at extreme range, scoring one hit on Cowboy’s Skyray. (Note: this was a rules mistake. No attacks or missile launches are permitted when attempting a Break Turn.) 

The second MiG fumbled its turn and both lose much needed airspeed.

Now painfully aware of the Cuban’s presence, the Skyrays push on the throttle and accelerate away from danger.

Realizing that running at the first sign of trouble is not good for morale, the Skyrays pull clean Immelmans to face the MiGs. Aggressive manoeuvring on both sides follows, with neither side able to get into firing position.

As both flights turn into a head on approach, the scrambled MiG-19s scream onto the scene at top speed, 800 knots (speed 16). Callsigns El Gato and El Ratón (both poor) are piloted by me.

Seconds later, the MiG-15s and Skyrays are rolled up in a fur ball. Both MiGs let fly with long bursts at Cowboy, who returns the favour. Shells rip into fuselages. Machete 2 is crippled, Cowboy loses power and is on fire.

The MiG-19s continue to streak towards the battle.

Machete 2 was flying near top speed. The strain is too much for the crippled airframe and his machine disintegrates. Scratch one MiG.

The MiG-19s circle the Skyrays – attempting tight Break Turns but frequently failing due to the only rudimentary training received in China. Lightning manages to keep his tail clean but cannot get a firing solution for his missiles. Cowboy desperately battles the flames threatening to engulf his plane through a string of Split-S manoeuvres.

The battle ends as the Americans on fire or on bingo fuel and the Cubans quickly running out of “plausible deniability”. 

Result

We called this a draw. The outnumbered US Navy destroyed one MiG-15 but one Skyray is facing imminent destruction from the raging fire (one damage point left).

Conclusions

The disadvantaged setup and equal high manoeuvrability of the planes made it very difficult for the Skyrays to get into the MiGs’ rear arc and let fly the missiles. A shame, as I had built neat markers for them. Next time, we will have to fine tune setup and pilot skill distribution to give them a better chance.

I believe we all enjoyed the game and look forward to the next instalment.

Models

All planes are paper models, printed reduced to 1:444 scale on 176g/sqm paper and coated with semi-gloss Krylon.

MiG-15s and F4D Skyrays: Fiddler’s Green 

MiG-19s: Vlad’s creation on the papermodelers.com forum

Links to models in separate blog entry.

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Cuban Missile Crisis – Clash of Interceptors (pre-game)

February 1962. The F4D Skyrays of VFAW-3's combat air patrol are following their racetrack holding pattern just off the Cuban coast as usual. They are standing ready just in case the Cubans – or their Soviet "advisors" – want to try some funny business with the recon birds that keep a close eye on the missile sites under construction on the island. Then, Lt. Nankivil notices a short flash of silver at 7 o'clock, low. And another. Was that reflection off a fishing boat - or have the hunters become prey?

Such ran the short briefing for our first game of AirWar C:21 at a Trumpeter club night. Duncan and Tony had signed up as (test) flight leaders ahead of the evening. My preparations ran into late the previous night, finishing the final model and gathering all required gaming equipment.