Huzzah 2023 – Game 3 – Blunting the Blitzkrieg?
Another well attended game with 7 pilots flying the friendly skies over France in 1940.
The Germans each flew a Me 109E and a Stuka. 109s would respawn and a downed Stuka would be replaced with a Do 17.
The French started with a Bloch MB 152 and could choose from MS 406, Hawk 75, DW 520 or another MB 152 for their respawn.
The Germans were tasked with blasting a hole in the line of French bunkers so their ground forces could quickly move through the sector. Any bomb hitting the target with any damage (D chits) would destroy the bunker. Strafing was harmless so a successful bomb hit was necessary. There were two AA gun emplacements supporting the bunker line. Strafing could damage these.
The Stukas had 2 bombs each while the Do17s had 3.
The German 109 escort leading the Stukas. (One was removed as there were only 3 German players)
The Stukas in the rear with their escort heading off the French.
The French defense, MB 152s.
The fighters quickly engage as the Stukas start to look for their targets ahead.
The French come in fast but well above the Stukas as they had dropped a level or two.
Forgetting about the 109 escort cost this pilot as his 152 smokes.
Even though smoking, this brave pilot stayed after a Stuka. Diving down he leaves the 109 behind and rips the Stuka apart before it could deliver its gift.
Stuka #3 (base #) over shoots a bunker and holds off on its drop as the trailing Stuks heads towards another bunker.
A lone Dornier appears and makes a bee-line towards the bunkers.
A direct hit!
A well planned vertical dive but this bomb failed to take out the bunker.
The Do 17 lines up a bunker as a Stuka searches for another.
On French pilot eyeing the Stuka below.
Pilots busy with their maneuvers.
Raining terror from above! Another bunker is destroyed. (Didn’t show the damage chit but bunkers was destroyed)
Stuka #3 has no bombs left and its time to get out of there. Two French fighters (#6 & #8) are behind not wanting him to get away.
The Stuka cannot escape the duo and is downed.
The smoking 152, reverses just after downing a Stuka and puts the hammer to a 109. 2 shots, 2 kills!
The Dornier takes out a bunker as a frustrated French fighter cannot get in a shot at it.
The Dornier is now under fire from the French fighter but the long range shot isn’t enough and the Do 17 lines up another bunker.
The fighter is just a bit too fast even at slow speed and overlaps, another shot missed. The Dornier’s last bomb is dropped, another bunker is destroyed!
5 German planes were lost to 2 French, and a number of bunkers were destroyed. A clear path was not achieved by airpower alone. The French delayed the inevitable German advance but not for long enough.
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