Stuka Raids over Bir Hakeim (4-Jun-42)

by Joe Ferrara

Background: The Free French fortress at Bir Hakeim anchored the southern end of the British 8th Army's "Gazala Line" and blocked Rommel's supply route. After the initial ground assault was beaten off, Stuka dive bombers pounded the fortress in preparation for the next attack. The Desert Air Force mounted a maximum effort, including use of newly arrived Spitfires, to intercept these raids. Huge dogfights resulted and while the Stukas often struck their targets successfully, they also suffered severely. The Free French garrison valiantly held out for a week in the military maelstrom before fighting their way out.

Map

Ground map from Achtung! Spitfire

Game Length

20 turns

Set Up

Allied Ground Target Setup:

All ground target are entrenched (double defense strength)

Axis Aircraft Set Up:

• The Ju-87s begin in three groups of three within six hexes of the west edge of the map, in level flight, altitude 8.0, speed 4.0, wings level, heading East.
• Four Bf109s are set up in tactical formation within 12 hexes and 3.0 altitude levels of any Ju-87. These Me-109s begin at cruise speed in level flight and bank.

Special Rules:

1. Ignore printed terrain. Treat all hexes as clear terrain. Treat all woods and river hexes as clear; treat all town hexes as rough, elevation 1.0.
2. Ju-87s carry SD250 bombs, quantity and fusing as desired by the Axis player.
3. Each infantry unit has the equivalent of a twin Lewis gun.
4. Before play, roll one D10 for each group of the Kittyhawks/Hurricanes. The group or groups with the highest number rolled enter on turn one after all Axis aircraft have moved. If more than one group ties for high roll, roll off to determine which group enters first. Aircraft enter from any map edge (except the western edge) at any legal speed, attitude and bank in the LO altitude band.
5. On turn 2, and every turn thereafter, roll one D10 for each remaining Allied group, and for the remaining German Bf109 group. If the result is less then the current turn number, that group enters.
   • The Kittyhawk or Hurricane flights enter as in note 4 above.
   • Bf109s and Spitfires may enter in either the LO or ML altitude bands from any map edge.

Additional Rules:

1. National Training Standards: Roll for pilot skill level
   • Axis = Good
   • Allies = Good
   One Me-109 pilot is automatically a Aeteran/Ace/Hero/Crack Shot.
2. All fighters are organized as separate flights of 4 (each two pairs)
3. The Ju87s are organized as a staffel (squadron) of three ketten (elements of 3)

ADC Availablility:

• The Ju-87D-1 may be found at Uncle Ted's.
• The Bf109F-4, Spitfire Vb and Hurricane IIC were published in Achtung Spitfire!. An improved Hurricane IIC ADC was published in "Airpower" #42 and should be used if available.
• The Kittyhawk I (a P-40E variant) was published in Whistling Death and Airpower #54.

Variants

• Other Axis Aircraft: For variety, substitute six Ju-88As for the Ju-87s and/or and equivalent number of MC.202s for the Bf109 close escort.
• Italian Strike: Try an Italian Strike with nine SM-79s, escorted by eight MC.202.

Source:

• Bir Hakim, Desert Citadel, Holmes, pp 93, 112-117
• Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean, Scutts, p22
• Fighters over the Desert, Shores, p 121
• Tomahawk and Kittyhawk Aces of the RAF & Commonwealth, Thomas, pp34-38