Ploesti 1944
USAAF bombing raid on the refinery
1. Introduction
Oil fields and refinery near Romanian city of Ploesti were one of the most important sources of oil for the Axis war machine throughout the war. No wonder they also quick became top priority targets for USAAF 15th Air Force stationed in North Africa. Numerous bomber missions were launched against Ploesti including infamous "Operation Tidalwave" on August 1st 1943, but due to fierce defense all failed with heavy losses and poor results. In spring 1944 15th AF started another offensive against oil fields. Between April 5th and June 10th American heavy bombers flew 8 massive raids against Ploesti. Once again they encountered stiff defence of heavy flak and Romanian and German fighters. This scenario portrays one of those raids.
(Not all locations and settings are 100% historically acurate but they are not to be discussed. I just wanted this scenario to be simple, playable and entertaining for every pilot taking part.)
2. Order of Battle
Romanian IAR81C's of Grupul 6. Vinatore defending Ploesti preparing to scramble
against incoming enemy bombers.
AXIS ORDER OF BATTLE (35% of pilots):
- f2 - Me110G2 1 squadron*
- f16 - IAR81C (Spitfire Vc) 1 squadron
- f17 - Me109G-6 and G-6/R6 1 squadron
- f18 - Me109G-6 and G-6/R6 2 or 3 squadrons**
- f30 - Me109G-2 and G-2/R6 1 or 2 squadrons**
*4 to 6 planes per squadron
**depending on number of players
USAAF ORDER OF BATTLE (65% of pilots):
- f25 - P38J 10% of pilots
- f28 - P51B 25% of pilots
- f29 - B24D 30% of pilots
3. Rules of Engagement
- Scenario starts on signal given by CM, all planes may take off at the same time. End of scenario is called 2 hours later (take offs suspended) and 15 minutes after that all planes still flying are counted as losses.
- All pilots have 2 lives. Pilots bailed or ditched over friendly territory don't loose their "life" and may replane freely. Pilots cheating and using more than 2 lives per frame will be kicked from arena and their side will be punished with doubled penalty in scores.
- USAAF bombers must be divided into at least 2 groups. 2nd group must take off with at least 2 minute delay.
- Maximum altitude for USAAF bombers before dropping bombs on target is 15.000ft. Any bomber exceeding this altitude before dropping bombs (evidence needed - screenshot or track) will earn penalty points for its side.
- USAAF Bombers must fly to target in a roughly straight line (deviations not exceeding 3 sectors are allowed but bombers cannot cross the Turkey coast line). After dropping they payload they can return any route but please remember we don't have whole night to play this scenario ;).
- USAAF Bombers may take any bomb load but all bombs must be dropped in 1 salvo! Bombers caught sniping targets with single bombs (evidence needed) will earn penalty points.
- Downed USAAF pilots who lost their 1st life report on special channel and wait in tower. They will be formed in a new fighter squadron and assigned for new tasks by USAAF commander (propably escorting returning bombers).
- USAAF fighters cannot carry and use any air-to-ground ordnance.
- Axis planes cannot cross the horizontal "3" line on the map (marked on the scenario map above). Planes caught doing it will earn penalty points for Axis.
4. Arena Settings
- Map: Big Mediterranean
- Lives: 2 for every pilot
- Radar: normal
- Icons: no enemy icons, friendly icons d12 (ID + range)
- Time: Dawn on take off (for screenshot purposes ;)), noon for the duration.
- "Blank" fields fire at everyone.
5. Scoring
- score for bombing = % of refinery structures destroyed (max. 100 points)
- downed fighter - 2pts
- downed heavy bomber - 5pts
- penalty - 10pts
difference by 5% points or less: draw
difference by 6%-15% points: marginal victory/marginal defeat
difference by 16%-30% points: victory/defeat
difference by 31% or more: decisive victory/crushing defeat
Messerschmitt Me109G-2 of Bulgarian top ace Lt.Stoyan Stoyanov, Sept. 1944. Bulgarian fighters were
usually first to face USAAF formations heading towards Ploesti.
Designed by Stec, idea by Ramzey and Stec, 302 (Polish) sq -Poznanski-
