קמפיין מאלטה תדריך משימה מס' 4 - יום ה' 7.11 בשעה 21:30

The weather is closing in for this mission with 'blind' conditions and a cloud base at 1700mtr forecast
making ship attacks difficult but a necesity

This is a work in progress but here is the draft plan





MALTA AIRCRAFT - 22
4xWellington(IL4) - 60% + Torpedo - IAF
Attack ships 30km west of Malta (confirmed 3xCA + 4xDD) estimated speed is 36km/h

4xSwordfish - 80% + Torpedo - EAF
Attack ships 20km south of Malta (estimated 3xCA + 4xDD) estimated speed is 36km/h

4xHurricane Mk.IIC - 100% + DT - JG77 -
First line of the CAP

6xHurricane Mk.IIA - 100% - IAF
Malta CAP - scramble when alerted by radar

2xMaryland (Blenheim Mk.I) - 100% + Photo Recon - IAF
Recon targets to be confirmed

2xBeaufighter - 100% + 2x500lb - EAF
Primary mission is to CAP Grand Harbour, secondary search and destroy - east of Malta


GIBRALTAR / CONVOY AIRCRAFT - 10
4xBeaufighter - CV CAP - 100% - 102nd
4xBeaufort - Ship Attack - 80% + Torpedo - 102nd
1xSea Hurricane - CV CAP - 100%
1xSunderland - 100% - Photo Recon - target to be confirmed

Tonights mission is made up of various elements split amongst various squadrons

Shipping Attack
Malta CAP
Local area recon
Recon
Convoy CAP


So in detail

Shipping Attack - 12 + 2 a/c - Viff to lead and direct please.
4xWellington (IL4) - IAF pilots
4xBeaufort (DB7) - 102nd pilots
4xSwordfish - EAF pilots
2xBeaufighter - EAF pilots

The Beaufighters are not to attack the ships
they are the spotters with an airstart and high speed to locate the ships

The primary target is the group to the west of Gozo
the primary attack force is the Wellington and Beaufort flights
These two flights attack as one large force of 8 aircraft under Viffs direct command
The Swordfish is the reserve group to attack last
If the primary group of ships is suitably damaged then attack the secondary group of ships
located 20km south of Malta

The Beaufighters get an airstart and should immediately split up
in an attempt to position themselves near the two groups of axis ships
and then loiter and shadow the ships
doing so will allow Viff to see the correct locations on the radar screen and direct the bombers into action

The torpedo attack must be made as quickly as possible
as we can be sure they will send fighters to mount a CAP

Once the attack is over the Wellington and Swordfish should land on Malta
The Beauforts should perform an unarmed recon flight to the south-east of Malta
The Beaufighters stay at Malta to act as CAP


Malta CAP - 12 + 2 a/c - In my absence, Devill or Uross to direct please
4xHurricane IIC - JG77
4xHurricane IIA - IAF
2xHurricane IIA - IAF
2xBeaufighter - EAF

The Hurricane IIC should be split into two pair and be positioned with one pair north-east of Malta
and one pair to the south to investigate incoming radar contacts
remember avoid combat with enemy fighters just identify and shadow

The Hurricane IIA must wait on the ground until scrambled by radar control
The Beaufighter are here to destroy bombers so stay at 5,000ft or less to see low level aircraft in the bad weather


Local Area Recon - 1xMaryland (Blenheim) - IAF - 10 photos
You have 3 targets as indicated on the picture above
Ship Recon #1 - 4 photo
Ship Recon #2 - 3 photo
Lampedusa Airfield - 3 photo

Recon - 2 a/c1xMaryland (Blenheim) - IAF - 10 photos
1xMaryland (Blenheim) - 102nd - 10 photos
You are to search the areas marked 'Recon Area 1+2
each aircraft should search both areas and fly different routes or at different times/heights
You are looking for ships if you find a group of ships take at least 5 pictures
If you cannot find any ships then take pictures of airfields
5 pictures on each airfield will return good intel

Convoy CAP - 5 a/c
2xSea Hurricane IB
3xBeaufighter
Our convoy is heading back towards Bone harbour and is currently located in sector BF24/25
The Beaufighters should cover the convoy for 30-40mins
and then move towards Pantelleria where you will find our own war ships
no doubt they will be under attack by enemy bombers
Use the radar, the weather and your airspeed to best effect
make slashing attacks against the bombers before extending away
Land at Malta

The Sea Hurricane must not takeoff unless radar picks up incoming hostiles
if anything is detected you must takeoff and climb hard to block the enemy recon machine from finding our ships
If enemy a/c are detected on radar then the Beaufighter must also help
Land on the carrier at mission end