Former Allies

An Aces High © Event

 

Date: TBA

Background:

Its September 1943, in Greece both the Italian and German occupation corps are present.

8 September:  Italy firms an armistice with the Allies, the orders for the Italian soldiers are: “Cease the hostilities against allied forces, react to any aggression”.
By the way in  continental Greece any reaction is quite impossible: all the Italian troops are captured by the stronger German forces or disband, joining the local partisans.
But  in two Aegean islands, Cephalonia and Corfu, the Italians decide to resist, the former allies have become enemies.

15^th September, the battle begins: a German invasion flotilla  is repelled by Cephalonia coastal batteries; the Italians engage German troops, after one day of combat the German garrison of Corfu have to surrender.

But the tables are soon going to be turned by the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine, pounding the Italian positions from  air and sea, and preparing a second invasion flotilla to reach the islands with their panzers.
The Italians desperately ask for air support and supplies.
But although they declared that: “..Any Italian attempt to resist to the Germans will receive our help..” no allied plane or ship will take part  in this battle.

The only help can come from the newborn Italian cobelligerent air force, its fighters and fighter-bombers take off from their bases in southern Italy to search air and sea targets.

 

                        

                          Reggiane Re2002 with cobelligerent markings

                                               

                                     

How it went in history:

The Luftwaffe lost 2 bombers and 1 fighter in the air, while  2 Arado  seaplanes were damaged beyond repair.
The Italian Cobelligerent air force lost 2 fighter-bombers and 2 rescue flying boats.
Several ships were sunk.

On the 23^rd of September the last Italian forces had to cease fire and surrender, 1250 soldiers died in combat, similar losses were suffered by the Germans.

But on a total of more than 11500 Italian soldiers  in the islands the survivors were only 2135.
Hitler ordered to take no prisoners, 5139 prisoners were killed by firing-squads, 1496 more died in the deportation, 1480 in the Lagers.
 

Arena: SEA

Forces:

Germans - 60% of attendees

JU-88s roll from field 19 - 20% of German forces

Me109G-6 escorts roll from field 8 - 20% of German forces

PT Boats roll from field A40, 3 lives,  60% of German forces

C47s free take off from A40

 

Orders: PT Boats are to attack P32 coastal targets.   JU-88 and  are to attack P32’s inland targets, returning then  back at any friendly field with their escorts, rearming and taking off again for a second run.     The 109s are to escort the bombers. 

Restrictions: 20,000 cap on bombers. Refuel/Rearm is disabled at A40.

Italian Cobelligerent  air force- 40% of attendees

Macchi C.205s from field A38

Reggiane Re.2002s (f6f) with 2x250 lbs bombs from field A38

Ostwinds from port P32

Orders:  The operations area is P32. Ostwind will defend the port from enemy ships. C205 will engage enemy aircrafts.   Re.2002 will have the primary task to destroy enemy invasion vessels. They can rearm and refuel at any friendly field but A39.

Restrictions:  Refuel-rearm at field A39 is disabled.

Fuel: 1.0 modifier

Icons: Short

Radar: Friendly with sector bars for enemy

Victory Conditions:

If the Harbor is captured by Germans they win, if not they lose.

The type of victory//defeat is influenced by side casualties bulletin:

2/1  kill/death ratio =  minor losses
1/1 k/d = acceptable losses
1/2  k/d = high losses
1/3  k/d =  defeating losses

Designers Notes:
 The Reggiane Re.2002 is here simulated by the F6F. The Re.2002 was an Italian fighter and fighter bomber with performances very similar to the Hellcat, click on this links to compare Re.2002 and F6f characteristics.
RE2002                                      F6F

                  

The bomber used  by the Luftwaffe during this battle wasn’t the JU-88 but the
JU-87 Stuka.

This is a “one life” event for all the units but German PT BOATS and C47s.

-         PT BOATS will be launched in 3 waves  from  A40, any player who finds a free spot in a PTB mission can take it.
(1^st  PTB mission starting at time +0:00; 2^nd +15:00; 3^rd +30:00)

-  C47s can take off freely from A40.    

*If a death, bail or ditch occurs the player may not replane, but may join as a gunner if desired.

Scenario Design by BuSc and 1° Gruppo Caccia.