Background: During Operation Cerberus, the breakout of three German capital ships from Brest through the English Channel, the most immediately available torpedo bombers were the six Swordfish of No. 825 Sqdn. Led by Lt. Cmdr. Eugene Esmonde, who had commanded the attack from Victorious against Bismarck the previous May (for which he received the DSO the day before 11-Feb-42; see Sink the Bismarck Round 1 ), this green, half-formed unit had been moved to Manston in the beginning of Feb., 1942 and practiced coordinated night attacks with MTBs and the Beauforts of No. 217 Sqdn under the light of flares dropped by Hurricane fighter-bomber.
However, the German flotilla was discovered already off Boulogne at 1040 hrs by patrolling Spitfires. The flotilla had left at night and through ill-luck and inefficiency, none of the radar-armed RAF patrols at night spotted them. It was perfect weather for a breakout – low, thick cloud-cover, rain and snow showers to hamper flying and vision
After a delay in convincing authorities that the breakout was occurring, units were madly scrambled and thrust into action.
Even in the mad scramble to react, the vulnerability of the Swordfish was recognized, and 5 squadrons of Spitfires were detailed as escort – but only the 10 Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron made the rendezvous on time.
No. 825 Sqdn, with its small escort pressed on into terribly filthy weather – about 2,000 ft ceiling, with rain and snow squalls until German capital ship and its escorts – both on the sea and in the air - appeared out of the gloom.
Map
Use any all-blue map (mid-Channel)
Length
20 turns or when all F4Fs leave the melee
Aircraft:
Royal Air Force
=
6x Fairey Swordfish Mk I
10x Supermarine Spitfire Mk V
Luftwaffe
=
8x
Messerschmitt Bf109F-4
16x Focke-Wulf FW190A-2
German navy (see setup)
Set Up
On the Surface :
Set up the target by rolling three D10s and consulting the following chart:
DR
Capital Ship
Escort Ships
Initial CAP
1-2
Scharnhorst
1 DD
1 Schwarm on map; add one every four turns
3
Gneisenau
1 DD
1 Schwarm on map; add one every four turns
4
Gneisenau
1 DD, 2 E-boats
1 Schwarm on map; add one every two turns
5
Gneisenau
1DD, 1 TB, 1 E-boat
2 Schwarm on map; add one every four turns
6
Prinz Eugen
1DD, 1 TB
2 Schwarm on map; add one every three turns
7
Prinz Eugen
2 E-boats
2 Schwarm on map; add one every three turns
8
Prinz Eugen
1 TB, 1 E-boat
3 Schwarm on map; roll turn number or less for other after Turn 4.
9
Prinz Eugen
1 TB, 1 E-boat
3 Schwarm on map; roll turn number -2 or less for other after Turn 6.
10
Prinz Eugen
1 TB, 1 E-boat
4 Schwarm on map.
Capital Ship: which capital ship is in view for attack. Escort Ships: which vessels are available for escort in the direction of the attack Initial CAP: The number of Schwarms (flights of 4) that are available on the map at the time of the attack. See Special Rules for adding other schwarmen during the game.
Place the initial Schwarms on the map. Schwarms must be set up within loose formation parameters; flight elements must be within visibility limits. Select facing, but not speed or altitude.
Select the map edge for the British entry per 15.10.
Place the German ships as follows:
Capital ship in the middle of the map.
Escorts can be no nearer than 10 hexes from the capital ship.
Escorts must be at least 8 hexes from the edge of the map.
DDs must be 6 hexes from any other vessel
TBs must be 4 hexes from any other vessel
E-boats must be at least 3 hexes apart.
German vessels are all traveling at 28 knots (1/2) headed E.
Determine Cloud Ceiling: 1.6 + 1D6 of increments (1.7-2.3). Above is a cloud layer 1500 feet thick.
Select Speed and altitude for initial CAP Schwarms. Any altitude below the ceiling; any level speed up to dash speed (the Capital ships had radar aboard, and included Luftwaffe fighter control teams).
RAF select entry times, locations, and altitudes. The Spitfires and first flight of Swordfish can enter at the same time, or one unit can be delayed up to three turns as desired. If either side is delayed, write down its initial speed, altitude and location.
The Spitfires can enter as one unit or can split off a flight. The second flight can either enter with the second Swordfish flight or can select a separate entry time (D5 delay after previous unit in the sequence).
The Spitfires can start at any altitude between 1.0 and the ceiling, in an upright bank in level flight up to their max level speed.
The Swordfish must enter as by flights, D5 turns apart. The flights may be shifted an entry point for a cost of a 2 turn delay per entry point.
Special Rules:
Roll for visibility as if this was a moonlit-night. Treat all warships except e-boats as four-engine bombers for determining visibility. Treat Eboats as 1 engine bombers for determining visibility range.
When selecting Schwarms, select randomly from the flights remaining (Bf109 or FW190).
When additional Schwarms enter, select the board edge randomly as defined for initial RAF entry. Max altitude is up to the ceiling; Luftwaffe player may select a start speed of up to max level speed in level flight; players choice of any upright bank.
If rolling for entry of the last Schwarm, they enter on any turn after the player rolls the turn number or less (modified). For example, if on turn 6 a 7 is rolled, the Schwarm does not enter; if on turn 7, 7 or less is rolled, the Schwarm may enter. See Special rule 2 for entering Schwarms.
Scoring:
The British score the point value of any Swordfish that survive to leave the map after an attack.
The British score 5 points for launching a torpedo in range of a German capital ship.
The British score 20 points per Torpedo hit.
The Germans score points normally for shooting down British aircraft.
The British win if they sink a capital ship regardless of any other outcome.
Additional Rules:
National Training Standards: No. 825 Sqdn was building
up from nearly scratch under LCdr Esmonde:
Luftwaffe: Good
RAF Fighters: Average
FAA Crews: Pilots are (in order): Esmonde Vet/Hero, Green, Green, Reg, Green, Green. All gunners are Regulars
Roll for additional pilot characteristics as desired.
The Swordfish are organized into 2 flights of three
The Swordfish are carrying a torpedo; treat as Loaded.
Fighters are organized in pairs and flights; the Spitfires have an extra pair.
Variants
Small Form: For smaller game, reduce the sides to:
1 flight of Swordfish;
1 Schwarm of Luftwaffe fighters (roll to determine type);
Better Escort Service: Assumes that the RAF did a better job coordinating the escort.
Small version: subtract two schwarms from Germans
Large version: add 10 Spitfires to the RAF
Better Coordination: Assumes that the RAF did a better job coordinating all available units; No. 217 Sqdn at Thorney Island launches its 7 available Beauforts at the same time, and arrives just as Esmonde reaches the German Flotilla:
Small version: Add 1 flight (2 pair) of torpedo-armed Beauforts. Coordinate this flight as if it was a third Swordfish flight.
King-size: Use a double-size board (80x80), with the German flotilla set up in the middle. Can be played out with any of the other variants.
Place the major vessels in (approximate) line ahead, 10-15 hexes apart. Set up a lines of DDs 1000 yards to either side, with 2 ahead and behind. Set up the TBs and eboats outside of the destroyers.
Place the Luftwaffe Schwarms on the map at 1.5+D5 alt.
Select a first RAF entry area.
Select Luftwaffe headings.
Multi-media: Have Esmonde and the Dover MTBs attack at the same time. Use AH Submarine or CoA’s Command at Sea to game out the sea battle and coordinate the air attacks.
History
The German preparations had been through and secret. The British were taken by surprise by the movement of the the three capital ships. Leaving by night did require hitting the Dover Straits at mid-day. The plan was banking on shock and confusion. The German plans called for constant air cover from the Luftwaffe, complete with Fighter Direction teams aboard the large ships.
Esmonde’s attack was suicidal – in slow attack aircraft limited to 90 knots coming in from behind warships moving at nearly 30 knots with limited escort. The AAA would have done them in (probably) without the fighters.
Worse, they arrived at a point in time when the shifts of fighter cover (always at least squadron strength) overlapped, and the vessels’ weapons were fully manned. There had been an attack by MTBs a few minutes earlier.
All 6 Swordfish were destroyed. There were 5 survivors, four wounded; the officers received DSOs and the enlisted gunner earned the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.
Lt. Cmdr. Esmonde made the best attack already on fire – a second or two before his aircraft was destroyed by a direct hit from heavy AA 2700 yards out – but his torpedo was dodged. Cdr Esmonde was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
The gallantry and steadfastness of No. 825's attack amazed both the Germans and British, sailors and airmen, who witnessed the attack.
ADC Availablility:
Supermarine Spitfire Mk V and FW190A-2 were published in Achtung! Spitfire.
Fairey Swordfish Mk I was published in Air Power #46.
Messerchmitt Bf109F-4 was published in Air Power xx.