The Red Sands of Buq Buq: Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 20h00 GMT on the ATAG Server

[ATAG_Snapper]

Alright, chaps - stow away your cold weather flight gear and dig out your desert shorts and short sleeved shirts! We're back in North Africa for The Red Sands of Buq Buq on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 20h00 GMT on the ATAG Axis vs Allies Public Server.

Thanks to Pernix for designing and contributing this exciting event!


Army Red


TOBRUK: 'THE RED SANDS OF BUQ BUQ'
Mission Designed By Pernix
Royal Air Force - RED
Date: September 16, 1940
Time: 07:40
Weather conditions: clear
Wind speed: 1 m/s from the NORTH


RAF MISSION BRIEFING
Situational Report
The Italians have occupied Buq-Buq, and are eagerly preparing to occupy Sidi El Barrani.
At the moment, our columns are retreating both to the coast, to the plateau and inland.
Our armored vehicles are flowing towards the front, but we currently have no tanks. Only armored cars and trucks.
Our troops are therefore faster across the ground and we need to deploy them to delay the advance of the Italian General Graziani, who is engaging all our air forces with superior Italian fighters.
Our coastal airfields have already fallen into enemy hands, so all aircraft are ordered to transfer to Sidi El Barrani.
After the latest air duels with the ItalianAir Force, we only twenty five Hurricane I-FB/Trops remaining and these must not be thrown away in futile attacks.
All Pilots please note:
1) Before attacking any target on the ground, identify it! Remember that:
- if they are fast-moving vehicles it means that they are our columns retreating towards the east.
- we have no tank vehicles at this time.


2) No.33 Squadron: Sidi Barrani No 1,
Hurricane 1-FB/Trop, Kittyhawk
Objective: At 9:15, two squadrons of Blenheim IV / Trop will depart from Sidi Barrani to attack the enemy airfield at Bir El Beira N°1
Hurricanes and Kittyhawks from will make two rendezvous with the Blenheims. At:
a) Buq Buq Village, 9:51 AM, Angels 11.
b) Sollum, 9:59 AM, Angels 11.
Aircraft available: 25 x Hurricane I-FB / Trop for each Hurricane pilot and 25 Kittyhawks
As fighter-bombers these aircraft will be able to help the Blenheims in their attack on any enemy column.
Any tank moving east is a valid target!
Once the bombs are dropped, patrol the front to support our ground units.
Be mindful that you will only have two planes for each pilot, and only four Hurricanes can fly at the same time.


3) No. 112 Squadron: Bir-el-Molla
Gladiator II / Trop
Objective: Maintaining control of the sky will mostly fall on you.
In case of retreat, cover our columns from enemy attacks.
Whilst the enemy is equipped with faster planes than yours, no one can compete with you in terms of maneuverability!


4) No 14 Squadron: Sidi Barrani West
Blenheim IV / Trop
Wellinghton 1a Late
You pilots are the only ones capable of delaying the advance of the enemy's columns.
Remember that every minute gained will allow our troops to organize a second defensive front.
Any tank moving east is a valid target!


God Save The King






Army Blue


THE REGIA AEREONAUTICA MISSION - BLUE


Mission Designed by Pernix


Date: September 16, 1940
Time: 07:40
Weather conditions: clear
Wind speed: 1 m/s from the North


Situational Report
Our advance continues successfully along the entire land front. The airfield at Buq-Buq is now under our control. Our next objective must be to capture the town.
The attack will continue on three fronts:
a) Army Group North will have the task of conquering the town of Buq-Buq before continuing eastward to harrass the enemy, who are retreating towards Sidi-El-Barrani.
b) Army Group Centre, after having taken the Sawani el-Quascir airfield, will continue to push northwards towards Nimbeiwa.
c) Army Group South will enter deep into the desert behind enemy lines and after taking the Si Habata Airfield, will continue advancing towards the southern airfield of Sidi-el-Barrani. (Bir-el-Molla)
To prevent unneccessary losses, light vehicles must not travel at the front of the column but will follow our tanks at a safe distance.
The task of our air force will be to strike retreating enemy columns and provide support to our tanks as they advance eastward.
Any fortifications, artillery positions and minefields must be attacked by our Cr.42s and Br.20s.
Once the bombs are dropped, the Cr.42's will join the G.50's to protect the tanks from possible enemy attacks.
Our G.50s are definitely our most effective aircraft but we only have eight left. They must be used with great care!


Attention all pilots:
Before attacking any ground targets, identify them first. Remember that:
- if they are "light" it means that they are probably enemy columns in retreat


1, Amseat 2
77th, 78th, 73rd and 83rd Squadrons - Brutus 1, Brutus 2, Falke 1 and Falke 2
25 Cr.42 / Trop, 25 Bf109 E7
As fighter-bombers you will have the opportunity to assist the Br.20s in attacks against enemy positions and columns.
Every retreating truck or blockhouse is a valid target!
Once the bombs are dropped, patrol the front to protect our troops.


2, Bir el Baheira N.1
6 Squadron / 2 groups / 150th squadron - Diamant 1
G.50
Your task will be to escort our Cr.42s and maintain air supremacy.
You are certainly our fastest fighters, but be careful that you will only have two G.50s each and that only four G.50s can fly at the same time.


3, Gambut N.2
35 squadron / 86 group / 191st squadron - Diamant 2
Br.20 / Trop
Your task will be to attack retreating enemy columns, fortifications or minefields.
but above all the airfield at Sidi el Barrani Ovest.
Thanks to your load of bombs you will be able to devastate the enemy ranks.
Our informants report the presence of barges with drums of aviation petrol in the small port of Sidi-el-Barrani and also a minefield to attack in M11-2


Long live the King and May the Madonna of Loreto Accompany You!!!


Notes by the Mission Builder Pernix
ATTENTION Pilots: I have attempted to keep this mission as historically accurate as possible with the same limitations and aircraft used at the time. Only twenty five Bf109E7s and twenty five Kittyhawks, (provided by the Allies for tests and evaluation in the Desert scenario), participated in the battle. (A necessary contribution to the gameplay of the mission).
About this campaign, an old Italian soldier would have said:.....If I were asked; ...what effect did the defeat of the 10th Italian Army in Libya have on the African Campaign?
I would answer......
The nature of the aviation war in Libya was completely changed.
We find evidence in the notes of the 5th Air Squad led by General Felice Porro and also
in the minutes of the diaries of the Italian Supreme Command, which refers to the importance of Italian aircraft being deployed in an anti-tank function.
This became neccessary because Italian troops did not have effective cannon to use against medium and light tanks. For much of the time they also had no armour piercing shells and so were vulnerable to attack by heavy tanks.
As a result, Itaian High Command in Rome gave directives to its Air Squadrons stationed in Libya to cooperate with land forces, by using their aircraft in anti tank sorties.


Pilots - Please Note:
In this mission, there will be no air-spawns provided.
You take off, and land, to finish the mission...as you were taught in flight school!
Fair Winds!!