TITAN FURBALL: 3 July 1940

by Nowfel Leulliot

Background: Following the fall of France, the British Royal Navy launched Operation Catapult to neutralize the French Navy and prevent its possible use by Germany. At 6:20 pm on 3 July 1940, the first wave of British aircraft, Swordfish bombers from No. 810, 818 & 820 squadrons and Skua escorts from No. 800 & 803 squadrons, took off from HMS Ark Royal to attack the battleship Strasbourg in Mers El Kebir. These were intercepted by a patrol of Curtiss Hawks from Fighter Group GC II/5. The scenario below depicts the second of too many occasions when French and British planes fought each other. After a first brush with French fighters, the Skuas face another French attack.

Map: Blue Sky

Set Up: Place the lead Swordfish in hex 2815 facing E, wings level, at speed 2.0, and altitude 9.0. Set up the rest of the formation behind. Place the Skuas in formation within 12 hexes of the leader, both facing E, wings level at altitude 9.0 and speed 3.0. A 3-plane French section enters the map on turn 1 from the W edge (facing E, wings level, altitude level 11.0, players choice of speed), followed by the rest of the Hawks on turn 3 (same conditions, altitude 12).

Game Length: 20 game turns.

Notes:

1. The Swordfish are each loaded with two 250lb. bombs (4 load points), making them loaded. Their only aim is to survive, with their bombs if possible. If a Swordfish decides to jettison its bombs, both must be dropped.

2. The Skuas are flying escort (no bombload) and have to try to live up to the "fighter" part of their official role. They have just had a brush with some other Hawks, so subtract 1D6 of W gun ammo (already expanded).

3. The British score points as usual but each bomb still carried by a Swordfish at the end of turn 20 is worth 1.5 bonus point.

4. The French score normal points for the Skuas only and gain 1.5 VP per British bomb jettisoned. For the Swordfish themselves, roll a die, flip a coin or whatever before the game starts and keep the result secret : there is an even chance of (a) scoring points only for bombs dropped and (b) scoring normally for shot down/damaged planes in addition. If the Swordfish open fire, the French immediately go to condition (b).

   This reflects the fact that French fighters were definitely not flown aggressively on this day. British pilot reports who often mention French planes not firing despite their advantageous position. This changed soon after one battleship was sunk and two other damaged with heavy losses.

5. All crews from both sides are regulars. Roll for special pilot characteristics. Both sides use the RAF early war formation rule in Achtung Spitfire (page 51).
6. The Skua ADC is available from Uncle Ted's ADC Collection.
7. The Swordfish ADC was published in Art of War #23 and Air Power #43. For those who do not have it, the data cards for the Swordfish, Gladiator, Macchi MC.200 Saetta and Fiat CR.42 Falco are available as a free sample from Magweb.

8. The Hawk 75A3 ADC was published in Air Power #49.

Aftermath: Spotting the French fighters, the Skuas turn, carry out a frontal pass against the lower section and then engage in a turning dogfight. They disengage after the second section joins the fight. As the Swordfish show no hostile intentions (towards the fighters), they are left to continue and carry out an unsuccessful bomb attack against the Strasbourg. One Skua and one Hawk were seriously damaged but no planes were shot down (although one Skua which went into a spin to disengage after its guns jammed was claimed by the French).