Updates and a mission with the 18th Mira

 Been a busy spring.  Managed a 10 day trip to Bavaria which I hope to post something about in a bit.  Am having trouble downloading pictures from my phone.  First, updates:

After over 10 years Grunts Forward finally gets an update!  There is a new post 9-11 officer background table, new FFL background table, two new scenarios and three new scenario generator tables including the requested Soviet-Afghan one. 

Second, I have updated Boom and Zoom to answer several questions from players.  I wanted the game to appeal to novices as well as grognards but failed to realize not everyone will know if a plane has a radial or inline engine. A very good point that I just missed.  This is now noted on the plane data sheets. I also cleaned up the wingman separation sequence and the damage charts.  The math hasn't changed just hopefully a little more clear.  

Lets move on to the 18 Mira. [ I apologize if I slaughter the Greek names and ranks!] 

Yposminagos Camberous was leading a section of PZL 24s over the front lines Feb 1941 on an anti bomber patrol.  Without an early warning system they were doing it the old fashion way in old fashion planes.  His country had done well in the war but another Italian offensive had started and their was talk of Germany entering the conflict.  He was second in command of 18 Mira and has seen plenty of action.  He had a shared kill  had not been killed.  He had done his duty.  On his right wing was Sminias Mexlexis, a typical loud mouth fighter pilot with an ego a kilometer long.  Problem was he actually was a pretty good pilot.  He had no kills because he was always kept as a wingman because no one liked him.  On his left, Yposminias Georgiou.  Brand new to the squadron; first real mission. They are at 5K feet because if they don't find any bombers but they do find a suitable target this can turn into a strafing mission. 

Suddenly...

Bullets swarm all around their aircraft!  They have been surprised!  

Both Camberous and Georgiou sustain wing damage.  As the Italians buzz by Camberous does not recognize the type.  The "V" formation quickly falls apart.  Camberous tries to chase an attacker...

and gets a quick side shot but it misses.  Oh, if only we had our 20mm cannon back!  
These fighters must be the MC 200s.  They are faster than ours but not as maneuverable.  

[ Most kills never saw their assailant.  B&Z has advanced rules that allow for bounces.  Not fair but realistic.] 

So the greeks survive the initial bounce with 2 planes damaged.  They are outnumbered 4:3 against a slightly better plane.  Right now a draw would feel like a win.  
 

Fortunately, only 1 Italian goes before the Greeks. 

As the fighters swirl a MC 200 gets a quick shot at Camberous which does minimal damage.  Mexlexis, almost killed because his officer got him bounced by the enemy,  goes to work. He picks out a target and goes to work.  Soon he is on its tail and... 

is rewarded with hits on its radial engine!  He continues his work when...
 

he is interrupted by another Italian shooting at him and has to break off! The initial attack die actual hit Mexlexis but because of his skill he was able maneuver and minimize the damage. [ He used a veteran re -roll!]   His victim leaves the field smoking.

 Our rookie Georgiou, decides to challenge an Italian and pull out several maneuvers which all fail to give him the advantage.  The Italian replies in kind and...

 soon lines up a very good shot...

which he doesn't miss!  Fortunately, Georgiou bails out safely. However, one more airframe lost. 

At the end of turn 2 the odds really haven't improved. However, with Squadron Forward I get a random event.  The last Italian to fire has his guns jam.  The plane that downed Georgiou loses one of its two MGs dropping its FP to 2!  

Mexlexis gets the initative and decides to keep hunting rather than join up with Camberous.  He quickly . 

gets on the tail of another MC 200 and shatters it cockpit!  Now something extraordinary happens.  It is Camerous' turn.  The smart move is to protect Mexlexis' wing for several reasons.  But would Camerous, an officer do that?  Pro-- Camerous is lazy, his plane is damaged, Mexlexis is a better pilot, they are outnumbered and Mexlexis is on the tail of an Italian.  Con- Officers normally don't let enlisted lead but this is somewhat relaxed in the air, Mexlexis is disliked by the squadron.  Given the above, for those of you who know what AKOT is I gave a "probable" that Camerous would do it this once and...  

he did!  As predicted, another Italian came to attack not Mexlexis, but now the element, to throw them off the tail.  Unfortunately, Camberous failed to protect and the Greeks were knocked off.  The damaged Italian also left the field with his shattered cockpit.  As the dogfight continued to swirl with no advantage Camberous signaled to a pissed Mexlexis that he would now assume the lead.  So they swapped places.  

At the end of turn 3 the odds are even now. But the Italians get the initiative...

 Using their superior speed they make quick attacks on both Greeks.  While no damage occurs the element is broken up.  [ unusual that the element keeps breaking up during the turn.] 

 Camberous, even though damaged, sees an opening[ excellent dice roll] and barrel rolls behind an Italian. He sees strikes on the enemy!

 Mexlexis, using all his skill [ re roll] manages to get the advantage on the other Italian but can't cause significant damage.  

As we end turn 4 the hunted have become the hunters!  Both Greek fighters have advantage going into the last turn.  In addition, the Greeks get the advantage.   

Mexlexis continues to fire and again sees smoke from an Italian fighter.  Much to his dismay, the Italian goes into a shallow climb and outruns Mexlexis.  Three damaged fighters but not one that went down!!

Camberous also further damages his opponent.  The Italian goes into a steep climb trying to loose the Greek... 

but Camberous manages to stay with him.  Between 6-11K ft the MC 200 has a large speed advantage over the PZL 24.  This is too exciting, I have to give Camberous an extra turn to see how this plays out.  If he gets the initiative he has a chance.  If he loses it almost assuredly the MC 200 will pull away.  

He gets it and puts the Italian away!!  

 

Fantastic game!  It was fun to see what you could do with the cards stacked against you and the Mira did very well.  The greeks lost 1 with 1 damaged.  The Italians lost 1 with 3 damaged.  A Win for the squadron!

Camberous attains veteran status and now has 1.5 kills. [ he shared a JU-87 before].  His status goes up with the enlisted pilots because he was willing to put the mission first and support an enlisted man.  The Squadron CO, Sminagos, Andoniou, who is pragmatic, thought is was the right thing to do.  Mexlexis status also goes up to neutral just because he did so well in the battle.  The squadron rep goes up to 1 for winning against MC 200s.  They now have 7 pilots plus Georgiou who misses 1 mission and 5 planes.

For those of you that would like to fly the PZL 24 in B&Z here is a card for you!

It was going to be official until I found 2 sources that stated that the Greeks ran out of 20mm ammo in late 1940 so switched all the planes to 4 rifle caliber MGs.  Hence the written in "4" and note at the bottom. So before the switch use FP 7.  After the switch use FP4.  I will pretty up the card later.  If you use this against the CR 42 the CR-42 agile trumps the PZL agile.  Treat the PZL as nimble.    
 

Enjoy

Joe