Over Athens: 22-Jan-41

Background: After a few weeks of lull in winter, the Italians picked up their air offensive in the third week of January. By now, however, their air picture had changed with the addition of several squadrons of the RAF, as well as time to integrate the Greek and British command facilities. (See, those English school boys suffering through learning classic languages was worth something after all!)

On 22-Jan-41, at about mid-day, groups of CANT Z.1007bis attacked Athens. Athens was too far south of any Italian fighters to reach, so the fighters were alone. The first flight of four got through relatively unscathed, coming in 3000 ft over the patrolling Gladiators. By the time a second flight of five had appeared, the RAF had reset their defenses…

Map: Achtung Spitfire Ground Map

Game Length: 20 turns

Setup

• Set up Bombers first in hexes 2008, 1907, 2107, 1906, and 2105 heading East at alt 13.0, Speed 4.0, in level flight, level banked.
• Set up the Gladiators in flexible fixed formation parameters with the leader in 2824 heading SW at alt 15.0, speed 5.0, in a shallow dive.
• At the beginning of the game, the RAF playr rolls a D5 and jots down the number. This is the turn when the Blenheims will enter. The Blenheim flight will roll a D10 for direction using the TMG, and appear on the board with the leader 10 hexes from the nearest bomber in the direction rolled, at alt 16.0, speed 5.5 in a shallow dive. Player may select bank.

Additional Rules

1. Pilots: Either use presets or roll for pilot skills
   1. a. Presets: Italians: all average
      RAF: Glads: 2Vet, 2 Reg, 1 Green
      Blenheims:2 Reg
   2. National Training Standards:
      • Italians: Average (gunners can be Average or Green only)
      • RAF Gladiators: Good
      • RAF Blenheims: Average
      Roll for skill levels and additional characteristics as desired.
2. Bombers are loaded, and fly in fixed formation.
3. Gladiators are in two elements (3,2); the Blenheims a pair. All RAF can fly in flexible formation.

Special Rules

1. This can be played solo. If playing solo,
   • Fly the Italians in a straight line across the board.
   • Bombers with severe damage drop their bombload, turn, and try to exit the nearest board edge
2. Italians gain points for each loaded bomber that exits the board in fixed formation. If playing solo, subtract the points for Italians that exits the board. The RAF loses if their total is negative

ADCs

• Blenheim IVF was published in Achtung!Spitfire
• Gladiator II was published in Air Power #46.
• Cant Z.1007bis by Jim Caraher is available from Uncle Ted's.

History

The RAF shot down one Cant and shot up the other four. One Gladiator caught fire and tried to land, but his fuel (and aircraft) blew up on final landing approach.

Sources

Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece, and Crete by Shores, Cull, and Malizia