Background: Shore-based Royal Navy Martlet fighters of
No. 805 Squadron were tasked with escorting a small formation of Maryland light
bombers to raid Bardia. After violent maneuvering to avoid a mid-air collision
with several other escorts, the Martlets noticed three Italian G-50bis fighters
on a course to intercept the bombers. The Martlets fell upon the unfortunate
Italians. In the ensuing dogfight, Sub-Lieutenant Walsh emerged with the first
Martlet victory over Italian aircraft.
Map: A!Sp Ground Map
Aircraft:
FAA/RAF
=
3x Grumman Martlett II (F4F-3) 3x Martin Maryland II
Regia Aeronautica
=
3x Fiat G.50bis
Set Up:
Set up the Marylands in hexes 3013, 2912 and 3112 at speed 4.0,
altitude 12.0, headed east in level bank and level flight.
The Martlets are set up in hexes 3006, 3105, 2804 and 2703 at speed
5.0, altitude 11.0, headed east in level flight.
Three G.50bis are set up in hexes 3410, 3409 and 3510, headed SSE at
speed 5.0, altitude 12.0, in level flight and a left bank.
Game Length: 20 game turns.
Special Rules:
The Marylands are loaded with four 250 GP bombs (load 5.5).
The Marylands are in fixed formation and always move first.
All fighters are in early war flexible formation.
On turn 1, the G.50s lose initiative to the Martlets.
Each undamaged Maryland still capable of bombing that exits off the
west edge of the map in controlled flight is worth 1 VP. Otherwise score VPs
normally.
Additional Rules: Pilot Quality - Training Standards:
FAA
Martlet: Good
Maryland: Average
Regia Aeronautica
G.50bis: Average
Variant:
"The Full Monty": Add three more Marylands in hexes 3012, 2911 and
3111. Add three Hurricane Is in hexes 3021, 2920 and 3120 in level flight,
speed 4.0, altitude 12.0 and three Hurricane Is in hexes 3002, 2901 and 3101 in
level flight, speed 4.0 and altitude 15.0. The Italians win if they inflict any
damage at all on a Maryland and either G50 survives or exits the map in a
flyable state. Otherwise, the Allies win.
If you do not have the F4F-3/Martlet ADC, use the Hurricane I from
"Achtung Spitfire" or either the Tomahawk IIC (P-40C) or Hurricane IIb
(tropical) from Airpower #46
ADC availability:
The Martin Maryland and
Fiat G-50 (including the G-50bis variant) are
available frorm Uncle Ted's.
The Martlet II is a variant of the F4F-3 "Wildcat", published in
Airpower # 46.