Reply...
Good evening,
Here are another couple of missions that are finished...but two of the three are only partially historical.
"title_string"=Dodecanese campaign - Troubles at Gadvhos Island
"summary_string"=Besatzungen, aufgepasst! Two British convoys are pushing their way westward along the south coast of Crete, and will pass through the narrow waters just north of Gadvhos Island. We will join up with Ju-88s from Sicily and make a simultaneous strike on both convoys to overwhelm any fighter defense! Passen Sie auf sich auf!
"objective_string"=This mission is an amalgam of several small strikes within a four-day period from 21-24 March, 1941. During the four days, convoy AN-21, heading from Alexandria to Pirarus, passed through this narrow Channel between Crete and Gadvhos Island, while the Malta-bound convoy MW-6 passed through the area the next day at about the same time, turning southwest right between Gadvhos and Gavdopoula. During that period they were attacked by several small flights of German Ju-88s, as well as He-111 torpedo bombers.
"intelligence_string"=Following takeoff, fly toward the western end of Crete. These two convoys should be heading west just off of the coast near Gadvhos Island, located directly south of Souda Bay. You will be attacking the convoy closest to the island, while the Ju-88s will dive-bomb the merchant convoy close to Crete. This Malta-bound convoy is heavily defended with cruisers, along with the carrier HMS Formidable. Your job is to get hits on either the carrier or one of the British cruisers, hopefully sending at least one ship to the bottom! Hals und Beinbruch!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Heinkel He-111h-6
"airfield_string"=Rhodes - Calato
"title_string"=Dodecanese campaign - Evening over Kythrea Strait
"summary_string"=Männer der Luftflotte! A Piraeus-bound convoy is about to round Crete & will be passing through the Kythera Strait in a couple of hours. You are being sent out to assault the convoy before it can reach the safety of the Aegean Sea! Get in, get your hits on the convoy, and get back to Sicily in one piece!
"objective_string"=On 3 April 1941, British convoy ANF-24 was in the process of moving through the Kythera Strait when nine Ju-88s from Sicily attacked the convoy. Two merchants were sunk; the Northern Prince and the Cyprian Prince. The former merchant was carrying several thousand tons of explosives, which ignited after the fires started by the bombing couldn't be contained.
"intelligence_string"=After getting airborne, reduce your engine power to slow cruise settings to converse fuel. However, Kythera Strait is much further to the north & west than previous assaults far to the east of Crete, so fuel consumption isn't as much of priority. Earlier raids indicated that the convoy is only guarded by two destroyers, so attack these merchants without hesitation. If needed, you should have the fuel to make another pass. Score hits on these merchants, avoid the flak, and get back to Sicily in one piece!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Junkers Ju-88a-4 (Italian)
"airfield_string"=Sicily - Gerbini
"title_string"=Dodecanese campaign - Schnellbomber range testing
"summary_string"=Guten Tag, meine Herren! Today, we will head out to attack a Egypt-bound convoy which is presently rounding Crete. We hope to catch it in the narrow channel near Gadvhos Island, and send as many of the ships to the bottom as we can! Reconnaissance work by other Ju-88s indicate that this convoy is lightly defended, so get in, get hits, and return to Sicily! Viel Erfolg!
"objective_string"=On 2 April 1941, British convoys ASF-22 & AS-22, made up of nine empty merchants and seven empty troop ships, passed through the Kythera Strait and by early evening was moving just north of Gadvhos Island. At that point it came under a heavy assault by six dive-bombing Ju-88s, which paralyzed both the Homefield & the Koulouros Xenos. This mission is a representation of that attack, combined with several smaller raids on this convoy that happened earlier in the day & on similar convoys during this period.
"intelligence_string"=After getting airborne, reduce your engine power to slow cruise settings for the lengthy flight from Sicily to the convoy. This convoy is steaming east, but is within range of Malemes, so British fighter cover is a possibility. Earlier attacks revealed one cruiser & two destroyers guarding the convoy, so you should be able to bomb accurately & use your speed to clear any anti-aircraft fire. Make sure to keep an eye on your fuel, if this mission uses less fuel than anticipated, we may try raiding convoys even further east!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Junkers Ju-88a-4 (Italian)
"airfield_string"=Sicily - Gerbini