Phantom Leader 7
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Mission 2 in Rolling Thunder USAF - 1967. The first mission did not go very well, let's see how this one works out. Hopefully better as all fresh pilots.
Play started on 2024-03-24, final AAR written March 31, 2024.
Here's the lineup for the campaign:
- newbie: Echo.
- green: Monger
- green: Splashdog
- average: Robin
- average: Smokes
- average: Jagger
- average: Kirin
- skilled: Papa
Linked games:
- First game did not go well, with two pilots shot down and fortunately rescued, and another damaged.
- Third game
Preflight
1. Draw target cards: 6. Close Air Support and 40. Landing Zone Support.
2. Select target and move Politics Counter: We'll go with Close Air Support.
Politics counter moves 1 right. Details:
- WP: 0
- Stress: 1
Small favors.
3. Determine and place sites: This site has 3 bandits on target. I want to
get in and out of this one with as little damage as possible.
4. Assign pilots
These are the only 4 who are still fit I think. The first mission was brutal with all pilots coming off of that aa unfit.
- Echo:
- Monger:
- Kirin:
- Papa:
5. Arm aircraft
Here's the loadout:
Target-bound flight
6. Draw Target-Bound Event card: Predictable tactics, add +1 DRM to all bandit
and site rolls over target.
7. Place Aircraft and Flight Paths: Screenshot maybe next game.
8. Determine and Place Bandits: placed on target, MIGs 17, 19, and 21.
9. Intel Air Defense Destruction: Not enough Intel yet.
10. Draw Over Target Event card: Pilots, allows spending SO point to move
Exit path 1 Pre-appraach space adjacant.
11. Place Turn Counter in "1" box: Turn 1.
Over Target Turn 1 (5 Times)
12. Jettison Decision: nope.
13. Fast pilots attack
- Papa for SA-2 in target area with 2 AGM-45, roll 4, 10 for the hit.
- Kirin for MIG-21, 2 AIM-7, roll 2, 10 for the hit.
14. Return fire:
- M1939, fires on Kirin who evades, roll 3, 10, Kirin take 3 stress total.
15. Slow Pilots Attack
- Echo: fire 3 AIM-7 at MIG-19, roll 6, 8, 8 which is a hit even with +1 DRM.
- Monger: 3 Rockets on the Zu-23-2, roll 1, 4, 5.
16. Aircraft move and adjust altitude
Echo stays in Eastern Pre-approach, everyone else moves to East Approach.
17. Bandits move
- MIG-17 moves to East Approach.
18. Advance turn counter: Turn 2.
Over Target Turn 2
12. Jettison Decision: nope.
13. Fast pilots attack
- Papa fires on SA-2 in South Approach, roll 4, miss.
- Kirin, guns on the MIG-17, roll 10!
14. Return fire
- Hvy MG fires on Monger who evades, roll 2, 6 for no effect and 2 Stress on Monger.
-
M1939 fires on Kirin, but I want to Suppress this with Monger, who fires rocket over there, roll 1 + 3 = 4 which is a miss, M1939 rolls 8 which destroys Kirin.
- M1939 fires on Monger who evades. roll 5, 5 with +1 DRM for 6 which is a damaged aircraft
15. Slow Pilots Attack: Only Echo, who isn't armed for AtG.
16. Aircraft move and adjust altitude Everybody moves toward target.
17. Bandits move: no more bandits.
18. Advance turn counter: Turn 3 upcoming.
Over Target Turn 3
12. Jettison Decision: none.
13. Fast pilots attack
- Papa unloads on the target, 3 Mk. 82se, roll 5, 6, 6 with +4 DRM is 6 hits, which is only 2 VP and no Intel or Recon.
14. Return fire
- M1939 in North Approach on Echo, who evades, roll 2, 0 for 3 stress total.
- Hvy MG in Center on Monger, who evades roll 2, 0 for no hits and +2 Stress on Monger.
- M1939 Center fires on Monger, who evades, roll 1, 9 with +1 DRM, since Monger is already damaged, he's now destroyed.
- SA-2 Western Approach on Papa who evades, roll 3, 8 for +2 stress on Papa.
15. Slow Pilots Attack
There is nothing to do here with 2 pilots down and no relevant munitions.
16. Aircraft move and adjust altitude: Move towards exit area.
17. Bandits move: No bandits.
18. Advance turn counter: Turn 4.
Over Target Turn 4
It looks like the return trip just has to get by a single M1939 on this turn.
12. Jettison Decision: none.
13. Fast pilots attack: N/A.
14. Return fire
- M1939 fires on Papa, who evades, roll 3, 8 for one hit and +3 Stress on Papa.
15. Slow Pilots Attack: N/A.
16. Aircraft move and adjust altitude: move to Southwestern Pre-approach.
17. Bandits move: N/A.
18. Advance turn counter: Turn 5.
Over Target Turn 5
12. Jettison Decision: none.
13. Fast pilots attack: N/A.
14. Return fire
- M1939 Center fires on Echo, evades, roll 4, 7 for one hit and +3 Stress on Echo.
15. Slow Pilots Attack: N/A.
16. Aircraft move and adjust altitude: All in SW Pre-approach now.
17. Bandits move: N/A.
18. Advance turn counter: We're sone with Over Target.
Home Bound
19 Draw Home-Bound Event card: AAA Site!
S-60 attack on Papa, roll 5 for +1 Stress to Papa.
20 Roll for SAR results (if needed)
Kirin:
- Subtract Weight point penalty for target: 0
- Add AtG weight points expended: 0
- Target (+2) or Home (+1) bound: +2
- Net: +2
- Roll: 2 + 2 = 4
- Result: MIA. Bummer.
Monger:
- Weight point: 0
- Target bound: +2
- Net: +2
- Roll: 3 + 2 = 5
- Result: MIA. Bummer.
Debriefing
21 Record mission outcome, victory points, adjust recon and intel counter and special option points
- Mission outcome: Target Damaged for 1 VP.
- Recon: 0.
- Intel: 1R.
- SO: 11 - 0 = 11.
22 Add target card stress to pilots
Target stress: 1.
- Echo: 7, unfit.
- Monger: MIA
- Kirin: MIA
- Papa: 5, shaken.
23 Pilot stress recovery (all pilots)
See worksheet.
24 Move Politics Counter 1 left
Politics at Start.
25 Record Pilot Experience and Stress
See worksheet.
Pilot replacement
- Replace Green Monger with Newbie Cajun.
- Replace Average Kirin with Green Junior.
I didn't account for stress here, it won't be much, maybe just one, no big deal.
AAR
What a shitshow. Two destroyed and MIA, one unfit, and one shaken.
I'm going to have to fly at least one shaken pilot next mission. The next mission will also have two new pilots to replace my MIA pilots. I may run the next mission to abort, learn the abort mechanics.
What I did not do this game:
- Did not fill out pilot worksheets.
- Did not use enough suppression.
- Did not save munitions for Home Bound event.
Next mission will acount for these.