6th BIG Battle of Britain Briefing

BIG Battle of Britain #6 

Saturday 11 August 1940/2018
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4:00 pm: Early Bird Arrivals
4:30 pm Official Arrival Time
5:00 pm Aircraft in the air; sooner hopefully.
10:30 pm Finish turn in progress
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Scenario: "Kanalkampf

Venue: Home of Bill/Dorothy Protz, Brown Deer, WI
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CHOW

Please bring a small chow or beverage item to share.

Dorothy is preparing Swedish meatballs again.

We'll eat on the run turn by turn.

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DICE

Bring your favorite six-siders.

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CAMPAIGN

Chuck S. and Bill P. will track pilot and aircraft losses.

Reasons: 

Fun.

Experience attrition.

A little more historical immersion/play.

The next BoB will be affected by aircrew and aircraft losses.

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IS ANYONE DROPPING OUT?

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ROYAL AIR FORCE

1 Bill Protz

2 Lewis S. (Bring move templates and 1x Blenheim or more)

3 Jim H.

4 Dan E. 

5 John B. (Bring splash markers)

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LUFTWAFFE

1 Chuck S. {Commander in Chief}

2 Nick K. (Flying bombers)

3 Dave G. (Flying bombers)

4 Chuck L.

5 Bob B.

6 Todd C.

First Row Left to Right: Chuck S., Todd C., Bob B., Nick K. and me Bill P.
Second Row Left to Right: Chuck L., John B., Dave G. Lewis S. Jim H. and Dan E.

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RECONNAISSANCE PHOTOS
     Click on images to make them larger.

West Sector/Extreme Right: Southern England Main Table.

Looking south to The English Channel.

France is in the far distance.

 West Sector: Southern England Main Table.

Looking south to The English Channel.

France is in the far distance.

Previous image is to the right.

Center Sector: Southern England Back Table.

Looking south to The English Channel.
France is off the top of the image.

Center Sector: The English Channel Main Table.

Looking south into The English Channel.
Notice scattered convoy CW 9.

France is in the far distance.

East Sector: Southern England Back Table.

Looking south into Dover Harbor and The English Channel.

France is in the far distance.

East Sector: Southern England Main Table.

Looking south into Dover Harbor and The English Channel.

France is in the far distance.

East Sector: Southern England Between Back and Main Tables.

Aircraft may "jump" from left to right and back without expending movement rate.

Another Free Fly Over Gap is on the Luftwaffe side of the gaming area too.

Allows a 2' wide expansion of gaming area.

CLOSING REMARKS

(1) This is our 6th BIG Battle of Britain. 

(2) Long flights and returning home to base with "frantic" combat in between.

(3) A new emphasis is being placed on air crew and aircraft losses, retention and repair. The next (early 2019) 7th BIG BoB will find squadrons looking different due to action in the 6th BIG BoB. Chuck S. and I have introduced this so games have more meaning long term. This is a new and evolving concept. For me I'm thinking RAF pilots should return to their same squadrons in 2019. Thus, throwing away aircrew and aircraft as if tomorrow does not matter will be harmful six months from now.  

(4)  Comments and questions are welcome.

(5) Good luck!

(6) Thank you sincerely in your interest to fly in our 6th BIG Battle of Britain.

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4th BIG Battle of Britain Game

PILOT BRIEFING #2 {FINAL}

 

Date: Saturday August 26, 2017

[I] SCHEDULE
3:00 pm             Tom C. and Lewis S. Meeting
4:30 pm             All Pilots Arrive {Okay to arrive a little earlier}
4:45-5:00 pm    Turn 1
11:00 pm           Finish Turn In Progress If warranted

Need to arrive late or leave early? We'll adjust your mission(s).
Need to cancel? Please tell us a couple days before the 26th.

[II] PLEASE BRING
Small snack or beverage to share; ethnic if doable/easy
Metric Tape Measure
John B.: Your RAF Aircraft
Matt L.: Your RAF Aircraft
Keith J.: Battle of Britain Music Record if doable/easy
Chuck S.: Pipe Cleaner Damage Markers and 1-2 AA

[III] LET'S FLY 12 TURNS --- HOW? --- PLEASE:
1. Stay on task.
2. Watch developing situations making your next plans concurrently.
3. Then you will be ready to move quickly seconds later.
4. Save rules debates, soliloquies and long history conversations for later.
5. No game stoppage for a 1/2 hour chow time. Eat when you are pausing.
6. Maybe maintain formations for an extra turn or more.
7. Shooters: Throw dice for more than one plane by dice color at the same time.
8. Defenders: Gather defense dice for more than one plane by color early. Don't wait.
9. Mark damage with bright ink pens on aircraft damage charts.

[IV] 1940 Formations
Luftwaffe Fighters: Finger 4s and Pairs.
Luftwaffe Bombers: Kettes of 3 aircraft and Pairs. {Bag The Hun p. 61}
RAF: Vics {V Formations} of 3 aircraft.
Movement stands need not always be touching but should be close.

Luftwaffe Bomber Pilots: Nick K., Keith J. and Bob M.
Other Luftwaffe Pilots: Chuck S. {Flight Ops.}, Bob B. {Asst.} and Dan E.

RAF Pilots: John B. {Flight Ops.}, Lewis S. {Asst.}, Matt L., Chuck L., Jim H. and Bill P.

[V] Rules
1. Bombers will not veer out of formation because Air Gunners fire poorly.
2. Aircraft suffering a second D4 loss? You are done. See Chart 15.
3. Any MG Jammed: May still fire 50% of dice rounded down. See Chart 12
4. Bomber MG Jammed: Don't have to fly straight/level to unjam. See Chart 12.
5. Low on fuel? Turn for a friendly field so you can get there.
6. Heavily damaged? Pilots historically turned for home. Please do so.
7. No kamikazes.
8. Bogeys remain undetected if shooting from behind. Otherwise put out the planes.
9. Bogeys will be represented by large pieces of paper. Poker chips are out.
10. Let's have companionable fun.

[VI] Zones
1. East: Holland {NEW} to the Hyde River.
2. Center: Calais to Brighton Beach Area.
3. West: Le Havre onto Main Table near the stairs.
4. Luftwaffe: 2 Pilots per Zone.
5. RAF: Ditto but there may not be enough players so one per zone minimum.

[VII] Questions? 
Please contact Bill P.
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4th BIG Battle of Britain Tour

4th BIG Battle of Britain Game

PILOT BRIEFING #1 
{Please Take This Tour With Red Flight}

Game Date: Saturday August 26, 2017

Main Table Northeast Corner Looking Southeast --- Port of Miniver

Holland Is Far Away Off The Top Of The Photo

 Red Flight Still Headed Southeast --- Port of Miniver Is Behind Them

Red Flight Rounds The Lighthouse At St. Margaret's At Cliff

Now Headed West Along The Southern Coast of Britain
Approaching The River Hyde

The Foe Is Not Navigating Along The Hyde To Industries Inland Yet

Red Flight Continues Westward

Brighton Beach Is Ahead

All Clear At Brighton Beach For Now

Calais and Luftwaffe Airfields Are To The Left Across The Channel

No One Is Bathing At Brighton Beach Due To A Raid On

The Radar Installation

Continuing Westward

Red Flight Arrives At The Main Table's Southwest Corner

Turning North At Rocky Point
Landing At Kenley, Main Table Northwest Corner Above

Center Of The British Back Table At Tangmere Field
Village of Whitchurch Is Farther North

British Back Table Extreme Southeast End
Port of Dunstable

CLOSING REMARKS

1. Thank you for flying Combat Air Patrol with Red Flight.

2. Almost everything is imagineered. Easier/faster that way.

3) Prodigious thanks to pilots adding terrain to mine. Chuck L., John B., Lewis S. and Chuck S. 

4) A very important and final briefing will occur several days before the game --- right here.

5) Your remarks are welcome at Comments below.

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The Day Of Battle

Several photos sent by Chuck S. vanished. I put them in again and after awhile they vanished again. I have no idea why. 
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Date: 28 January 2017 (Summer 1940)
Location: South Coast of Britain
Situation: 3rd BIG Battle of Britain Game
Pilots: RAF 6 and Luftwaffe 6 = 12
Scale: 1/285 and 1/300 (About 75 aircraft)
Terrain: Imagineered
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Thank You Father and
Thank You Everyone Who Prayed For Moderate Weather For Us
Using General Patton's Third Army December 1944 Prayer.
We Did Have Moderate Winter Weather
The prayer appears again in Closing Remarks
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Click on photos for larger viewing.

BEFORE THE GAME BEGAN

Main Table (6'x28')

The cumulus cloud and fog bank arrived before the game as a surprise for all pilots.
France is off image to the right. (2'x20')

Our imagineered Port of Dover and The White Cliffs too.

British Back Table (6'x20')

A different area of Britain. It's a little foggy there too. The tentish looking things in the background are player name cards.

Here are the same name cards rearranged so you can see how RAF pilots can pick up their box of aircraft and then go to their airfields. Assignments were not made when this photo was taken.

Another look at the RAF carrying boxes with D4 dice, action cards, movement templates, smoke trails, aircraft charts, Bogey Chips and more. Two players have not placed aircraft they are bringing.

 Commands for Nick and Chuck S. were similarly organized at Calais, France.

Ditto for Rob and Chuck L's Stukas and ME 109s in the red box lid.

For Bob and Morgan their commands were hidden from spies and spotter aircraft.

MY "FLIGHT" OF HURRICANES

Fighter Command ordered my six Hurricanes scrambled on a southeast heading to intercept Bogeys coming north over The White Cliffs of Dover.

My flight was held farthest north from the coast given our inexperience; two veterans (blue markers) and four sprogs (green markers). My chaps needed to brace up today learning from two experienced leaders whilst summoning the utmost from their personal skills.

Aircraft are GHQ 1/285 models on Check Your 6 flight stands. We are not using speed and altitude pointers. Altitude dynamics would make a big game like this unplayable.

Close up of Green Heath with four ME 110s coming in. (Courtesy of Chuck S.)
The White Cliffs of Dover are in the upper right of the photo.


JU88s oncoming too. (Photo courtesy of Chuck S.)

"Brown Deer Leader to Flight. --- Form two Vics."
(Two "V" formations)
"Follow me --- an' stay close!"

It did not take long for eight Ju88s to appear to our front northeast of Green Heath. The bombers are GHQ 1/285 aircraft on CY6 flight stands. The latter are double sticky taped to 3" wide Litko clear acrylic hexagons.

Section 4 headed in obliquely whilst Section 5 flew at 'em broadside. Luckily one JU88 had been downed by ACK ACK or a Flight of Spitfires off image in the upper right.

Nick K's JU88s had three Top Ace (red markers) and five Veteran (black markers) pilots.

As we flew in, the JU88s began to split their formation.

Aerial combat soon became chaotic as ME110s commanded by Chuck S. intervened. Another JU88 crashed as did an ME110. White smoke indicates an aircraft is sufficiently damaged requiring it to return home. Two of my Sprogs and one ME110 will be doing so on their next movement card.

We use Bag The Hun (Too Fat Lardies) movement cards to activate aircraft and many other entertaining circumstances.

Not far to our southeast, a Section of three 1/300 Spitfires commanded by Dan E. took heavy damage from another four ME 110s (not shown) commanded by Chuck S. Dan still had three more Spits which would intervene with the JU88s already seen. (Photo courtesy of Chuck S.)

The white marker designates a Junior Ace. The latter successfully bailed out to fly another day.

Five of my Hurricanes dangerously low on fuel pass through the foe. 

"Brown Deer Leader to Flight. Land at Hornby Aerodrome." 

"Roger Brown Deer Leader."

So we headed for the airfield seen a few photos back spending our very last gallons of petrol. All my pilots lived to fly another day.

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CLOSING REMARKS

1) Here we are....

Seated left to right: Morgan E., Dan E., Chuck S., Jim H. (beard), Nick K. in a cloud! and John B. Standing left to right: Lewis S., Bob B., Matt L. and yours truly Brown Deer Flight Leader Bill P.

Not pictured: Rob O. and Chuck L who had to leave. On sick call: Bill K.

2) Ten pilots flew in three sectors; East where I was, Center and West. Each Sector had their own deck of activation cards playing at their own speed. I did not record prodigious actions occurring outside my own sector. My duties as Host, Rules Officiator, Mover of Clouds and Fogs and Music Disk Jockey precluded me from doing so. I can say that there were combats a plenty from 5pm to 10:30pm everywhere.

3) On the 29th I wrote to our pilots as follows:

Thank You very much Pilots,

For making yesterday's 3rd BIG BoB Game entertaining, visually appealing and playable. You chaps are terrific! I also appreciated chow and beverages provided by you. 

Additionally, John and Lewis supplied a lot of terrain to make the whole come alive. Plus, Matt, John, Chuck S. and Chuck L. had a lot of their aircraft in the game. 

I am very grateful for your interest and enthusiasm.

Respectfully,

Bill

Chuck S. wrote back saying....

Hey, Bill!

Last night was a blast. I think the game moved right along. 

Thanx again for last night. 

Chuck

Matt said....

It was lots of fun Bill thanks!

Matt

Nick wrote....

Hi Bill and All,

     I had a ball playing last nite. Everyone seems to have a good handle on the rules and cards, so play went smoothly last nite.  I hope to make the Big Battle of Britain IV game later this year. And hopefully at least one game before then also.

Talk soon,

Nick

4) Here is just one example of how our lads came together to make this a visual treat.

 After the game I consolidated John's 6mm structures and vegetation. Thank you my dear fellow.  Lewis provided another three dozen. We need more! Rob and Lewis also brought shipping.

5) Here is the stuff clouds and fogs are made of.

From a Michael's craft store. (USA)

6) Our prayer for moderate weather (and we got it) --- was adapted from....

GENERAL PATTON'S DECEMBER 1944 PRAYER
Our 3rd BIG Battle of Britain game on 28 January 2017 is in the winter. I hope for good weather by a modified version of: General Patton’s Third Army Prayer written by Chaplain O’Neil on 14 December 1944.

 “Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain [this] immoderate [winter] with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather…. Graciously hearken to us as [your children] who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may [arrive and return home safely after our activity].”

Feel free to privately pray this, if you please - anyone - reading this on the planet.

7) What rules did we use? Please scroll down through a couple of postings to find out. Lots of details there to give you the basics.

8) Can you do what our group did? Sure you can. Get cracking!

9) Your remarks are very welcome below at Comments.
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3rd BIG Battle of Britain Pre-Game

Date: Saturday 28 January 2017
Game Time: 5-11pm
Early Arrival: 4:30pm (Let's get one mission airborne before 5pm)
Pilots: 13
Areas: East, Center, West and A Western Side Approach Area
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Geography: Fictional, greatly compressed and "imagineered"
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This a "Spectacle Wargame" made possible only by the cooperation and interest of more than a dozen gamers pooling their resources. Anyone can do this too. Never say never.
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Luftwaffe:
1. Chuck S. CinC
2. Bob B.
3. Chuck L.
4. Rob O.
5. Morgan E.
6. Nick K.
7. Bill K.
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RAF
1. Bill P.
2. John B. (Flight Controller)
3. Lewis S.
4. Jim H.
5. Dan E.
6. Matt L.
*****

Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
1 player is aloft and formed up no closer than 30cms to the table edge.
The other is taking off from the airfield.

Dynamics:
1-2 RAF Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
RAF aircraft are on the Back Table airfield waiting for orders.
Not Shown: More terrain to the right of the factories.

Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
Aircraft are aloft and formed no closer than 30cms to the table edge.

Dynamics:
1-2 RAF Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
RAF aircraft are on the Back Table airfield waiting for orders.

Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
Aircraft are aloft and formed no closer than 30 cms to the table edge.

Dynamics:
1-2 RAF Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
RAF aircraft are on the airfield seen here waiting for orders.

Dynamics:
This table is 6'x28'.
France is off image to the right.
Foreground: West Sector (Waters leading into Southampton)
Center: White Cliffs of Dover to The Beach
Far Away: East Sector
Somewhere: RAF aloft on Combat Air Patrol

Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
Aircraft are aloft and formed no closer than 30 cms to the table edge.

GENERAL PATTON'S DECEMBER 1944 PRAYER
Our 3rd BIG Battle of Britain game on 28 January 2017 is in the winter. I hope for good weather by a modified version of: General Patton’s Third Army Prayer written by Chaplain O’Neil on 14 December 1944.

 “Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain [this] immoderate [winter] with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather…. Graciously hearken to us as [your children] who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may [arrive and return home safely after our activity].”

Feel free to privately pray this, if you please - anyone - reading this on the planet.
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Equipment To Bring Please:

Tape measures in metric

Bring your own D4s and D6s, if you wish. 

Rob O. (Watercraft)

Lewis S. (D4s, Movement Templates, Watercraft, Train)

Your personal aircraft.

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Please Bring To Share

One small item of chow

or

Small amount of beverage

Can be British, French or German ethnic --- or not.

We will eat as we fly.

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Playability And Game Tempo 

 Game is a hybrid between tactical and strategic 

 We fly at the same combat altitude; unplayable otherwise 

 Meant to be a spectacle 

 Long flying times and return to friendly bases 

 No long debates or long speechifying --- please 

 Stay on task 

 Plan ahead and be ready when your cards are drawn 

 Vital Importance: Let’s play a lot of turns; get in two missions for some pilots too. 

 Have fun. Laugh. “Carry on.” 

 Don’t congest areas with too many aircraft. Reason: Bogs down (hurts) the game.

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 Coordination Between Player Pilots 

 Disallowed after takeoff. (You do this and I’ll do that) 

British ground can communicate with pilots. (That's John B.)

 Follow mission orders – hopefully written clearly 

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Formation Flying 

 RAF: Three aircraft minimum 

 Luftwaffe: Usually four, but three or two are okay 

 Formations Are Broken When: Minimum # of aircraft are not maintained Doing a Barrel Roll or Immelmann 

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Fuel Consumption (New) 

 When The Fuel Card Is Drawn Fighters and Stukas mark off one fuel box 

 Does not affect bombers or ME 110s.

 Fuel low? Must break off. Return to a friendly airfield.

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Tactical Tips

 “Make decisions promptly.” 

 “Act quickly even if your tactics are not the best.” 

 “Go in quickly – Punch hard – Get out!” This is how aces survived 

 Our home version of Bag The Hun is meant to be: Fast paced. Please play that way. Chaotic, sudden and very unpredictable. 

 All aircraft Bogeys move 60cms; ships 45cms). (No extra D4 movement) Be one as long as possible. Reason: To fly longer distances more quickly

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Respectfully,

Bill P.