Hitcher, Cobra, thanks for the positive responses thusfar. You are certainly one of the few.
Perhaps a few notes on what the campaign is about would be useful. The campaign is based on the battle of Britain using 2 sectors to simulate this epic struggle in the summer and fall of 1940. UK_Cannon's Channel 1940 and The Bay of Biscay. Every effort has been done to simulate the historical situation, in the air, at sea and on the ground should it come to it. I think that is the main difference between previous BOB's, in this campaign the Axis, as an option, can launch Operation Sealion. It's going to be risky as hell, but, given a coherent strategy from the start, it might just pay of, who knows? That's what I would like to find out.
Apart from this center piece, there is the option to have 2 additional Mediterranean sectors. The Libya map and the Mediterranean map. These maps would simulate the effort to supply Malta and the Italian desert offensive, followed perhaps, with the British counter offenive which prompted German intervention early in 1941. Both sides will have the naval, air and army forces available to simulate this series of combats and obviously can give there own interpretation to it but within the possibilities of historical capabilities. Beyond that, it is up to the players to reinforce the Med. with what they think is needed to prevail, but especially for the British, keeping in mind the more important struggle in the Channel.
Some key features of the BOB part of the campaign:
1. use of factory plates to simulate the infrastructure of airfields. These can be bombed and reduce the capacity of an airbase or shut it down all together. Damage sustained will also reduce the fuel supplies of an airfield procentually to the damage done.
2. use of factory plates for sector HQ's. As above these can be bombed and damage or destruction will increase the time it takes the SEOW radar screen to refresh. The refresh button has been disabled. Above and beyond destroying radar stations, this will make radar less effective, simulating the historical problems due to damage to the sector HQ's.
3. Factory plates in city centers simulating terror bombing.
4. Historical correct loadouts for the available planes.
5. Historical correct plane set where possible.
6. Some 1500+ factories have been added, 90% of them smaller building to allow smaller bombs to be used and still have effect. IT will be possible for the Axis to bomb aircraft factories and other armaments to reduce output.
7. Ports will have a maximum capacity assigned and can be damaged or destroyed reducing or preventing unloading all together.
8. There will be night missions and the use of beacons will be possible.
9. The historical amount of ships, on both sides, will be present allowing for bombing of ships in port. Although the ships will be heavily protected by flak and, obviously by enemy air units. IT's players choice to keep them where they start or withdraw them to a safer location.
10. Loss of pilots can have an effect on seat distribution.
11. Apart from historical correct plane sets, both sides will be forced to field different plane types per historical percentages. This means that if the Axis bomber force is 30% Ju-88 and 70% He-111, the Axis will need to respect these percentages in their planing. The same obviously goes for fighters. Some execptions will be available.
I think the above allows for the Axis player all the possibilities that were actually pursued during the historical campaign. It is certainly possible that either side breaks during the campaign if the loss ratio is sufficiently disproportional, however, if this would not be the case, the campaign will be won or lost on points. Points can be earned in a variaty of ways, through losses but also through achieve victory conditions. The exact victory conditions will be briefed to the commanders before the campaign starts but the opposing conditions will not be known.
As mentioned, Operation Sealion will be possible and I am fully aware it didn't happen historically. But it was an option and the British took it very seriously at the time. A debate whether Hitler ever seriously intended to execute Sealion would, no doubt, be entertaining but in the final analisys those at the the tip of the spear, expected to execute the invasion, and die if necessary trying, took their task at hand very seriously and with typical German Army toroughness. For a VERY interesting read on how far the Germans progressed with their preparations find a copy of Peter Schenk's, Invasion of England 1940, The planning of Operation Sealion. It comes wholehaertedly recommended!
I expect planning to be reasonably light but the strategic element, within a sector and overall, to be very high. An overall plan WILL be needed. Certain sectors will be more important than others and will see more combat then others, but overall victory will be determined by the result of ALL sectors combined.
As much as I would have liked to keep it completely historical, obviously some abstractions will be needed and some rules as well to keep this within the bounds of realism. These will be available before the start of the campaign.
As mentioned, the maximum potential is 4 sectors. 2 sectors are taken by the Spanish community, and 2 by the Italian. That leaves 4 sector commands open if the campaign sees it's full potential. Every body is welcome to participate, first come first served.
Cobra, to answer your question. If the Med is included, there will certainly be the option to have one sector for US based pilots. It does, however, depends on interest and numbers.
Cheers,
Petr
