BY THE DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT
American Baptism of Fire
Pacific Theater Flying Fort
Scenario
December 6,
1941 four B-17C’s and two new B-17E’s from the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron and
six B-17E’s from the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron, departed Hamilton Field,
California for Hawaii; enroute to the Philippines as reinforcements. The
aircraft were carrying no ammunition and their guns were stored. Armor was
shifted forward to maintain trim as fuel was consumed. They arrived early on
the morning of the 7th right in the middle of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Fortunately only one of the twelve planes was destroyed and three were
seriously damaged. Initially 14 B-17’s took off two turned back due to mechanical
difficulties.
PEARL HARBOR SCENARIO
This is a
What If Scenario that assumes the flight of B-17’s that arrived in the middle
of the Pearl Harbor attack were armed and able to fight back. You have 12
aircraft organized as follows:
88th Reconaissance Squadron 6 B-17E
Pilot and Landing Field
Major Richard H. Carmichael Haleiwa Field
Lieutenant Harol N. Chaffin Haleiwa Field
Lieutenant Harry N. Brandon Hickam Field
Lieutenant David G. Rawls Hickam Field
Lieutenant Robert D. Thacker Hickam Field
Lieutenant FranK P. Bostrom Golf Course on two engines
>>>Following forty minutes behind<<<
38th Reconnaissance Squadron 4 B-17C and 2 B-17E
Major Truman H. Landon Hickam Field
Captain Raymond Swensen Hickam Field strafed and
destroyed after landing*
Lieutenant Bruce Allen Hickam
Lieutenant Karl T. Barthelmess Hickam Field
Lieutenant Robert H. Richards Bellows Field
??? Wheeler/Hickam Field may have landed at Wheeler
initially and transfered
??? Hickam Field
*Flight Surgeon Lieutenant William R. Shick was aboard,
any crewmen wounded on this plane gets to roll for injuries twice and takes the
better result of the two. Shick was killed by strafing Zero’s.
Landing Totals:
Hickam Field 8
Bellows Field 1
Haleiwa Emergency strip 2
Other 1
This mission
will consist of two zones: (2)Island Approach W/H and (1) Landing Airfield H.
(W=Water, H= Hawaii)
Your Group is
low on fuel, with tired crews who have been airborne 14 hours. They have been
caught by surprise as they arrive in the middle of the Japaneese Attack on
Pearl Harbor. Roll for the Island Approach in the “Non-Designated Target Zone”
for number of waves, any B-17 that is
shot down has the option of a water landing. The Landing Airfield uses the
“Designated Target Zone” for number of waves, all aircraft are considered out
of formation as they separate seeking a place to put down and a B-17 that is
shot down is considered to be over land.
Fw-190’s are considered to be fresh Zero’s arriving in
the second wave with adequate ammo and
fuel, add 1 to number of shell hits.
Me-109’s are considered to be Zero’s low on fuel and
ammo covering the withdrawing first wave, they roll normally for hits.
Me-110’s represent Val Dive Bombers and Kate Torpedo
Bombers
subtract one from number of shell hits minimum of one.
When a Zero is hit by defensive fire add one to the
damage roll to represent no armor or self-sealing gas tanks. (Nose 30 caliber
does not get this bonus)
Bombers in
the Landing Airfield Zone can attempt to land at Hickam Field or one of the
smaller fields after undergoing all fighter waves and friendly anti-aircraft
fire. Before making making the landing roll each aircraft rolls one 1D6: on a
1-4 they may attempt to land; on a 5-6 attacks are to intense, the runway is
blocked with wreckage or the tower has waved them off; modifiers (cumlative) to
this roll are +1 if hit by flak and +1 for Hickam or Wheeler Field. If unable
to land the B-17 must roll for fighter waves and undergo flak before trying
again. The pilot does have the option to change landing areas. Example a B-17
gets waved off of Hickam so diverts to Bellows field hoping the Jap attacks
will be less intense (ie better modifiers) Each aircraft gets three landing
attempts, if waved off for the third time the plane runs out of fuel and the
crew must bail out or crash land: ie the golf course or sugar cane field
option.
Aircraft landing at Hickam or Wheeler add plus one to
the die roll for number of attacking waves and undergo friendly fire
Heavy Flak.
Aircraft landing at Bellows, Haleiwa or one of the
other smaller fields subtract one from the die roll for number of attacking
waves and undergo friendly fire Medium Flack. They also get -3 on
their landing roll due to shorter runways.
Aircraft crash landing undergo friendly fire Light
Flak and get -5 on their landing roll.
Any roll of 16/26/26/36/46/56 represents some of the
few American Fighters that got airborne during the attack. That bomber may roll
for Poor Fighter Cover on its next wave. A 66 roll indicates a brief lull and
that bomber may land without undergoing any further attacks.
BY THE DAWN’s EARLY LIGHT
Sequence of Play
Alternate History 1.0
You have two separate groups of six B-17’s each; your
goal is to land them safely during the attack.
Take off
A.Roll 2D6 for each bomber, that aircraft aborts on a
roll of 7 due to mechanical problems.
B.Roll for Fighter Waves in Island Approach Zone
C.Roll for Light Flak
D.Choose either Hickam or Alternate Field
E.Roll for Fighter Waves in Landing Airfield Zone
F.Roll for Flak
G.Attempt to land
H.If unable to land repeat steps E and F and try again
I.After three attempts bailout or crashland undergoing
flak first
Alternate History 2.0
Assume both groups flew together with 38th as High
Squadron and 88th as Low Squadron. 16/26/36/46/56/66 count as no attackers,
driven off by formation defensive fire in the Island Approach Zone; in the
Landing Airfield Zone the formation disperses and 16/26/36/46/56 represent
friendly fighters and grant Poor Fighter Cover during the next wave. The 66
represents a brief lull that allows a bomber to land without any further
attacks.
OPTIONAL RULES
AIRCRAFT TYPES
Option One (4 B-17D and 8 B-17E)
B-17C’s were upgraded to B-17D standard,
Hess/Johnson/Marshall’s Book Big Bombers of World War II lists the
flights as a mix of B-17C’s and B-17E’s
Option One A (4 B-17C and 8 B-17E)
The B-17C’s are not upgraded
Option Two (12 B-17D)
B-17C’s were upgraded to B-17D standard, Caiden’s Book The
B-17 list both flights as B-17D’s. All aircraft are B-17D variants.
Option Two A (4 B-17C and 8 B-17D)
The B-17C’s are not upgraded
AIRCRAFT AVAILABILTY
Hess/Johnson/Marshall’s Book Big Bombers of World
War II list the original flight as 16 aircraft, make abort rolls for 16
aircraft, if less than four abort you may beef up either of your squadrons with
that many of the earliest model they are flying.
Caiden’s Book The B-17 list the original flight as 14 aircraft, if less than four abort
you may beef up your squadrons with that many of the earliest model they are
flying.
In both cases if more than four abort delete the
appropriate number of aircraft from your starting force.
CREW QUALITY
Consider all US crews as green due to no combat
experience and fatigue as they had been airborne for fourteen hours
The Japaneese Pilots are the cream of their Naval Air
Arm; roll 2D6 for experience: 2 Green (-1 to hit and +1 when fired at) 3-9 Regular no modifiers 10-12 Ace (+1 to
hit and -1 when fired at) Val and Kate pilots due not make this roll.
B-17C Flying Fortress
Gun blisters were innovatitive but not very practical.
They were an attempt to provide the greater field of fire ,of a turret, while
minimizing aerodynamic drag. In service it was found while they gave a
reasonable arc of fire, elevation and depression were very limited and drag was
considerable.
The C differed from the B variant by having the waist
gun blisters removed and replaced with oval shaped windows, with a port, for a
single 50 caliber machinegun in each; the ventral gun blister was replaced by
bathtub like housing for a single 50 caliber machine gun; the dorsal blister
located at the radio operators station was replaced by a flush panel with a
socket for a single 50 caliber machinegun; the nose contained a 30 caliber
machine gun.
Initial models did not have self-sealing gas tanks
Engines 4 x 1200hp supercharged Wright Cyclones
Max Speed 300 mph at 25,000 feet Cruise Speed 227 mph
Landing Speed 84 mph
Climb to 10,000 feet in seven and a half minutes
Max Range 3400 miles Range with 4000 pound bomb load
2400 miles
Armament 4 fifty caliber and 1 thirty caliber machine
guns; up to 4800 pounds of bombs.
B-17C/D GAME MOIFICATIONS TO PLAY
Serial Numbers of the B-17C
40-2042 thru 402079
The Fortress MkI is the British version of the B-17C
and is described in the 90 Squadron Campaign.
These rules modify the variant described in the AH
General Volume 20 Number 6. There are some minor differences. The General
article as written under B-17C actually describes the B/C/D models.
Armament Blisters as described in the V20/N6 were used
on the B-17B. The B-17C had flush gun mounts.
Armament: All gun positions have 15 ammo points
B-17C
Four single-mount fifty caliber machine guns: Dorsal
Mount fired by the Radio Operator, Port and Starboard Waist Guns, Ventral Mount
use BT Gunner Position: field of fire is 6 level/ 6 low/ vertical climb.
One single-mount thirty caliber nose gun hits on six
with minus one to the damage roll.
B-17D
Dorsal and Ventral Positions are increased to twin gun
mounts
Crew: No Tail Gunner or position, these aircraft do
have a navigator.
Fuel Tank Hits 1-3 Fire, 4-5 leakage, 6 Self-Seal on C
variants re-roll 6
Fire Extinguishers put out the fire on 1-2 while 3-6 it
continues burning with three attempts allowed.
>DamageTable Modifications< Pearl Harbor Scenario
No Bombs on board
Fuel Tank hits, reroll leakage 1-3 tank nearly empty no
effect or 4-6 lose remaining fuel shutdown engine.
Armor from the rear of the aircraft was shifted forward
as fuel was consumed.
Radio Operator, Ball Turret, and Waist all add plus 1
when rolling on wounds table.
Superficial Damage to Radio Room, Waist, and Tail
Sections; roll 1D6 on a 1-3 no change on 4-6 reroll damage on appropriate
table. If superficial damage comes up on a re-roll do not re-roll again.
B-17E GAME MOIFICATIONS TO PLAY
The E version is very similiar to the F variant, as
used in the standard game, with following differences. The nose armament is 1
or 2 thirty caliber machine guns, roll a D6 1-3 one gun, 4-6 two guns, which hit
on a six and subtract one when rolling for damage against any fighters. They
can be mounted in the nose or cheek positions. The ball turret is remotely
controlled and sighted through a periscope and only hits on a six and does not
receive the twin gun damage bonus.
Custer’s Last Stand
Pacific Theater Flying Fort
Scenario
Captain Colin
Kelly of the 19th Bomb Group (14th Squadron) stationed at Clark Field in the
Philipines became one of the first American war heros, while flying a
B-17C. On December 10th his aircraft
bombed the Jap Invasion fleet and came under attack by 7 A6M2 Zeros lator
joined by three more. Included in this group was Saburo Saki (who would go on
to become one of Japan’s leading aces with 62 victories). Initial passes killed
the flight engineer and started a fire in the bomb bay. His aircraft was not
equipped with self-sealing fuel tanks, and he stayed at the controls to allow
his crew to bail out, before the plane exploded. He received the Medal of Honor
posthumously.
Custer’s Last Stand I
B-17C bombs dropped and attempting to disengage
Seven Zero’s, one ace, roll on successive attacks table
for initial positions each will make one initial attack and two follow up
attacks; if the B-17 survives three more Zero’s attack in simliar manner to the
first seven. Each Zero is limited to three attacks total due to the aircrafts
limited ammo supply. After all attacks roll for landing the B-17 wins if it
survives. Phyric Victory if the B-17 is shotdown but at least half the crew
survives.
In yet another Custer’s last stand scenario
just four days lator Lieutenant Hewitt Wheless flying a B-17D from the 19th
Bombardment Group became separated from its formation and was bounced by 18
Zeros. After repeated passes they shot out one engine, knocked out the radio,
oxygen system, killed one crewman and scored over 1000 hits. Breaking off due
to low fuel and ammo as well as losing three of their number.
Custer’s Last Stand II
Somehow this bomber survived
One B-17D bombs dropped and attempting to disengage
Eighteen Zero’s, roll on successive attacks table for
initial positions each will make one initial attack and two follow up attacks.
After all attacks roll for landing the B-17 wins if it survives.