Issue #31 ADG 'sPlanes in Flames I Farnborough Report Jan/ Feb 1994

and USMC aircraft (love those Corsairs!). As for The Speed Of

Heat, reaction to the game has been mixed and sales disappoint-
ingly slow. COA has sold as many or more of TSOH as any
other of their previous games but they still have a lot in stock.
The Vietnam air war apparently is not as interesting to the
general gaming populace as we had hoped. However, to support
TSOH, a module adding European aircraft of the '50s, '60s and
'70s, is being planned. This module will include 16 new
aircraft, 140 counters, new scenarios and more SAM and
weapons data. Whether it will be produced for Origins remains
to be seen. One item that will definitely make Origins is Larry
Bond's long awaited naval miniatures rules for WW2. It is
called Command at Sea and I mention it because aircraft are
From the Cockpit
'

heavily featured in it. Like Harpoon, Command at Sea in-

cludes an incredible amount of source data which will be useful
It's 1994! Happy New Year! And here we are to gamers and other designers as well. For 1995, you can plan
kicking off YEAR SIX of publication and yessir, on the release of Air Superiority II, the modern half of TSO H
this promises to be a good one for air combat with 2d edition rules and tables (our motto: no more errata).
gamers. Planes are in again, so let's just take a quick From TAHGC: The Avalon Hill Game Company has been
look at the latest news and what's coming down the rather weak lately for air combat games but has given us Craig
pike for us to enjoy. Taylor's Mustangs, an entry-level WW2 air combat game. It
From GMT: Dan Verssen's Rise of the Luftwaffe features impulse movement and is suitable for beginning play-
has hit the streets, to be followed by Danger Zone, ers. They are planning to release a large expansion set for it
a module for Hornet Leader which will be re- which may add as many as 32 new aircraft. This is sorely
printed due to excellent sales. Rise of the Luftwaffe needed, as the current mix of aircraft is very small. Mustangs
is a simple beer and pretzels card game which is good for a quick is fair as a game but not a simulation. One TAHGC representa-
change of pace and a yuk now and then. It also has high potential tive told one of our readers that if they wanted greater detail,
as a tool for introducing non-gamers to strategy gaming and, they should imy Air Force/Dauntless (reality check needed
more importantly, to air combat gaming. Danger Zone will here). The big question is, whatever happened to MO? As in Mo
introduce F- l 4s and A-6s to the Hornet Leader game system. Morgan, designer of Flight Leader and Tac Air, both well-
GMT's colorful house organ magazine, "C3I" will feature received games among the ranks of AH gamers. Mo had two
regular articles and new campaign scenarios for Rise of the games in the works with TAHGC, one titled Jihad (an expan-
Luftwaffe and Hornet Leader. Delayed but still in the plan- sion to Tac Air), and the other Iron Hand (a solitaire game on
ning are Phantom Leader and Corsair Leader. Phantom the air war over North Vietnam). Both have faded into the
Leader will cover the war over Vietnam and Corsair Leader woodwork.
will cover the Pacific. An 8th Air Force late-war version of Rise From S&T: Zeppelins anyone? Appearing last spring was
of the Luftwaffe will follow as well. a magazine issue game on the Zeppelin war against England in
From Clash of Arms: My own Over The Reich is slowly WWI. Good design work by Bill Koff, but poor decisions by the
making its way to the stores and initial responses are good (no developers, post-design changes, and poor graphics left it dull
surprise here in this newsletter considering how much hype and useful only for a one-time exercise in frustration.
we've put out for it). Over The Reich will be followed this fall From 3W: WWW re-released Aces High in 1993 with
by Achtung-Spitfire!, which will cover the RAF in WW2 from improved graphics, and will add an expansion game (module?)
the beginning of the war to 1942 with a heavy emphasis on the featuring the American aces in 1994. Designer Mark Seaman is
Battle of Britain period. Achtung-Spitfire! will not feature the responsible for the soon to be released 12 O'Clock High
French or the Italians. Those air forces will be added in future (former title: Spitfire!). No information on that one yet.
modules as will the Soviet Air Force. Down the road the Pacific
version will be released which will have the Japanese and USN Well, that's it for now, JDW
AIR POWER Year Six! Issue# 31
Pakistan has around two dozen Huey Cobra attack helicopters
India-Pakistan 1990s Addendum and India deploys the Hind. Neither party has what would be
considered "heavy" armor at this time, since the Pakistani T-59
MBT and the Indian "Vijayan ta" and T- 72 MB Ts are too lightly
by Bob "Grossman" Gross
armored by today's standards to be considered more than
"medium" armor. The Indians are working on a modem MBT
INTRODUCTION:
known as the "Arjun" which evidently uses a 120mm rifled gun
Due to a lack of space in issue #30 of Air Power, the similar to the British Chieftain, and judging from its size, would
following sections had to be deleted. They are included here fit into the "heavy" category along with the M-1, T- 72, Leopard
along with some additional scenarios to finish off the India- II and Challenger. It is not known when the Arjun will see
Pakistan 1990s Air Sup. I TSOH write up featured in issue #30. deployment in the Indian Army.

PAKISTANI PILOT QUALITY:

More Pakistan Air Force Scenarios
Pakistani pilots would be average (0) for initiative. How-
ever, other special considerations need to be made in regard to by Bob Gross
pilot quality. All "first-tour" pilots (those fresh from training)
are almost invariably sent to a Chinese aircraft squadron (F-6, Floggers On The Border! 13 Sep. 1988
F-5, A-5). The Mirage and F-16 pilots have a minimum of 2 to
3 years of experience in front-line flying before they are Background: S/L Khalid and his wingman of No. 14 Squad-
assigned to these types. Roll on the "other" table (Desert ron were scrambled to intercept intruders 20 miles inside Paki-
stani territory. Attaining radar contact, Khalid found himself
Falcons) for F-6, F-7, and A-5 pilots and, on the South African
tailing six Afghan Floggers. The MiG-23s were operating inside
table (Desert Falcons) for F-16 and Mirage pilots. Use the
Pakistan to attack Afghan rebels camped on the border. Khalid
"Limited" and "Good" National Training Standard Tables, lined up on one Flogger that began deploying flares. After three
respectively, with The Speed of Heat). The P AF Combat attempts to get a good lock he managed to shoot the MiG-23
Commanders School researches and develops weapons sys- down with an Al M-9 from a range of only 1.3 miles. Noticing two
tems and tactics and disburses their findings to the rest of the Floggers abreast of him seconds later, he converted to the six
P AF. The CCS Air Combat Curriculum is considered unique in of the wingman and shot it down as well. This was a good day
terms of the freedom allowed the student pilots in planning and for Khalid, scoring a double kill against obviously indifferent or
docile opposition. What if the MiGs had decided to be more
executing their missions. Obviously, Tactics Masters charac-
aggressive?
teristic should be allowed due to this.

©"
Maps: (Air Sup.)
INDIAN PILOT QUALITY:
TheIAFis limited in initiative (-1); treat the pilots as "Other"
(Limited in TSOH) for quality. Some readers may argue, but the
IAF has been pressing for a new advanced trainer since the late �
seventies, and the situation is so serious that some sources say Aircraft: Map Hex Fae. Alt. Spd. Cont. Load
that there may be a pilot shortage by the end of 1992 and that it
may take years to recover once this occurs. This is contrary to F-16A #1 D 0416 w 34 6.0 CL 4
the Pakistani training situation. Also, a parts shortage may
F-16A #2 D 0517 w 34 6.0 CL 4
affect the abilities of the Baaz (MiG-29), Bahadur (MiG-27),
MiG-23BN #1 c 0322 w 34 5.0 1/2 10.5
MiG-23BN #2 c 0423 w 34 5.0 1/2 10.5
and Vijay (MiG-23) squadrons. India does have the "Tactics MiG-23BN #3 c 0522 w 34 5.0 1/2 10.5
and Air Combat Development Establishment" so Tactics Mas- MiG-23BN #4 c 0623 w 34 5.0 1/2 10.5
ters could be rolled for. MiG-23BN #5 c 0722 w 34 5.0 1/2 10.5
MiG-23BN #6 c 0823 w 34 5.0 1/2 10.5
INDO-PAK. GROUND UNITS AND DEFENSES:
Game Length: 20 game turns.
The Pakistani army uses the Stinger, Crotale, and a semi- Notes:
mobile (Chinese-built) variant of the SA-2 for its surface-to-air 1. F-16As are the export model of the Air Sup data card. They
are air sup gray. The MiG-23BN was published as part of the
missile defenses. They also deploy the ZU-23, OLK-35, Bofors
Eagles of the Gulf material in Air Power (issues 11, 12). They
U60, M-39, and S-60AAAguns.For SAMs,India uses theSA-
are camouflaged. The MiGs begin sighted, the F-16s unsighted
2, SA-3, SA-6B, SA-7B, SA-SB, SA-9, and as a recent addition, but detected by Afghan GCI radar (MiGs free to maneuver).
the SA-11 and SA-16. To replicate the SA-16 in play, use the 2. Aircraft loads: F-16 Stations 1, 2, 8, 9= AIM-9P IRM. MiG
SA-14 but with a flare vulnerability of 2. The Indians deploy the -23 station 1= Soviet DDS pod with 20 flares (2d ed. PPL= 0-4-
ZU-23, ZSU-23-4, Bofors U60 and U70, and the CZ M-53 in 0). Stations 2, 4, 5= Medium RP with small rockets (see Air
their AAA units. Strike, or use UV-16-57 in TSoH). Station 3= 600L FT.
3. Pakistiani initiative modifier= 0, Afghan= -2.
For those wishing greater detail in the ground fighting, 4. The play area is fixed. MiGs may only exit north side of map

2
The Journal of Air Combat Gaming Year Six! Issue #31
A. The F-16s may not exit that side, nor may they fire missiles down regardless of VP totals.
which would pursue MiGs across that side. This represents the 5. The play area is fixed as in the Flogger scenario, with the
Afghan-Pakistani border; if a MiG were destroyed across it or if same exit and shooting restrictions.
an F-16 violated it, the Afghans would gain considerable propa- 6. Advanced Rules: Weather= clear, contrails at 30. Pilot
ganda value. Thus, if either case happens, the Afghan player Quality: F-16s= R, R (excellent confidence). Afghans= R, N, N.
wins regardless of points. All Afghans have poor confidence. Fuel: F-16 start= 21 O, bingo=
5. To win, the F-16s must destroy one or more aircraft. The 80. Su-22 start= 390, bingo= 185.
MiGs win if all six aircraft exit the north edge of map A (regardless
of damage state) or they shoot down at least one F-16 regard- Frogfoot Hero Meets F-16A, 04 Aug. 1988
less of points. The loss of an expensive F-16 might have forced
the Pakistanis to become more reticent about intercepting future Background: In the summer of 1988 two F-16s were
intrusions. Note the MiGs may not fire their RPs air-to-air. All scrambled from Kamra at dusk following a series of border
they have are their guns. intrusions tracked on radar. The initial intruders fled so the
6. Advanced Rules: Weather= clear, contrails at 35. Pilot Falcons were put on CAP in the area. An hour later four aircraft
Quality for F-16s= R, R. For MiGs= R, N, G, R, G, G. None on returned to the area to bomb Mujahadeen positions. They
either side have special attributes or characteristics. Fuel: F-16 crossed the border and the Falcons moved to intercept. The
start= 210, bingo= 60. MiG start= 200, bingo= 150. leader, warned by GCI, broke right to flee but the lead Falcon
closed, identified the target as ari Su-25, and fired an AIM-9L,
Fitters On The Border! 03 Nov. 1988 shooting it down. The pilot was captured and turned out to be
Col. Alexandrov Rutskoi, Hero of the Soviet Union and a Sniper·
Background: Only weeks after the Flogger incident, three pilot. This little setback in his career didn't get him down though
Su-22M-2 Fitters violated the Pakistani border. S/L Khalid was - he later rose to the rank of Major General and became Boris
the wingman for this intercept. The F-16s caught the Su-22s, but Yeltsin's right-hand man and Vice President of the new Russia.
the Falcon leader had a missile malfunction. Khalid assumed the S/L Ather, the pilot who shot him down, is now an instructor at
tactical lead and fired two AIM-9Ps at one of the Fitters which the PAF Combat Commander's School.

Ji]
broke in two. The Afghan pilot, Captain Hashim, was taken
prisoner. Hashim said he had tried to get away but that the F-16s Maps: (Air Sup.)

ctN
proved to be too fast. His GCI controller told him to turn hard and
fight itout, but the message was too late and he was hit by the
missiles first. This was Khalid's third kill, putting him on par with
USAF-Capt. Thomas Deitz (who shot down three Iraqis during
the Gulf War) as among the higher-scoring pilots currently on
active duty outside Israel. Khalid (as of 1992) is currently an
instructor at the PAF Combat Commander's School. Aircraft: Map Hex Fae. Alt. Spd. Cont. Load
F-16A #1 D 0523 E 5 6.0 DT 20

d>
Maps: (Air Sup.) A
F-16A #2 D 0422 E 5 6.0 DT 20
B
Su-25 #1 c 0518 w 27 4.0 DT 22
Su-25 #2 c 0520 w 27 4.0 DT 22
c Su-25 #3 c 0522 w 27 4.0 DT 22
Su-25 #4 c 0524 w 27 4.0 DT 22
Game Length: 20 game turns.
Aircraft: Map Hex Fae. Alt. Spd. Cont. Load Notes:
F-16A #1 c 1020 N 26 6.0 CL 4
1. This is a night scenario, use all night rules and restrictions
F-16A #2 c 1125 N 26 6.0 CL 4
(but it may be played as a day combat if desired). F-16As are the
Su-22M #1 c 1002 s 26 5.0 1/2 14
export model of the Air Sup data card. They are air sup gray. The
Su-22M #2 c 1101 s 26 5.0 1/2 14
Su-25s are camouflaged. The Falcons have the Su-25s under
Su-22M #3 c 0901 s 26 5.0 1/2 14
radar contact but not sighted, the F-16s are unsighted but
detected by Afghan GCI radar (Su-25s free to maneuver).
Game Length: 15 game turns. 2. Aircraft loads: F-16 stations 1, 9= AIM-9L IRM, stations 2,
Notes: 8= AIM-9P, stations 4, 6= 2200L FT. Su-25 stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 7,
1. F-16As are the export model of the Air Sup data card. They 8, 9= Med. RP with small rockets (UV-16-57 in TSoH), stations
are air sup gray. The Su-22's are the M-2 variant given in Air 5, 6= 600L FT. Frogfoot DDS load= 60 flares (PPL= 0-5-0).
Power #6. They are camouflaged. The Su-22s begin sighted, 3. The play area is fixed as in the previous two scenarios with
the F-16s unsighted but detected by Afghan GCI radar (Fitters the same restrictions and limits.
free to maneuver). 4. The victory conditions are the same as in the Fitter
2. Aircraft loads: F-16 Stations 1, 2, 8, 9= AIM-9P IRM. Su- scenario above. Pakistani initiative rnodiere O, Russians= -1.
22 stations 1, 3, 4, 6= 8001b. HE bomb. Stations 7, 8= 600L FT. 5. Advanced Rules: Weather= clear, contrails at 29. Pilots: F-
3. Pakistiani base initiative modifier= 0, Afghan= -2. 16s= R, R. Su-25s= V(CH, TM), R, R, N. Fuel= F-16 start= 300,
4. Victory: The F-16s win if they destroy at least one Fitter, bingo= 140. Su-25 start= 285, bingo= 210.
have no losses, and the Afghan VP total for damage to F-16s is 6. Note: The Su-25s may fire their rockets air-to-air per the
less than that for damage to the Fitters. The Fitters win if all three Desert Falcons or The Speed of Heat rules.
escape off the north edge of map A, or at least one F-16 is shot Bob "Grossman" Gross

3
AIR POWER Year Six! Issue# 31
England Spain Fillmore Love
RADAR 5421 W.93dSt. #301
CONTACTS! Phillip Atcliffe Jaime Puig Los Angeles, CA, 90045
Faculty of Engineering Pl. Diamante, 8 1 °
It's that time again! Here is Univ. of West England Barcelona, Spain, 08012 Curtis (The Weasel) Maki
a current listing of all our sub- Fenchay, Bristol 4442 Bakman Ave.
scribers brave enough to share BS16 lQY, England United States Studio City, CA, 91602
their addresses in the hope of 818-762-3581
finding nearby opponents. Bryn Jones Arizona
Without further ado: 49 Deucharst Jesmond Dana Moreland
Newcastle Upon Tyne Elliot Hopkins 17905 Welby Way
Australia NE2 lJX, England 4545 N.15th St. #107S Reseda, CA, 91335
Phoenix, AZ, 85016
Mark McLean Nick Bloomfield 602-240-2493 Matt Sickler
10 The Boulevard 17 Cosmish Rd, Stockwood 323 S. Cordova, St.
North Balwyn, Victoria Bristol, Avon Rob Pruden Alhambra, CA, 91801
3104, Australia BS14 8LU, England 4660 N. Tonalea Trail 818-281-1433
613-859-3819 Tucson,AZ,85479
Graham Worsfold 602- 7 49-0949 Dale Y arnamoto
Mark Palmer 93 Munster Rd. Fulham 1405 Marino vi ch Way
687 Palace Str. London Arkansas Los Altos, CA, 94024
Petersham, NSW SW6 5RG, England
2049, Australia Noel Wright Colorado
France 514 Drexel Ct.
Evan Powles El Dorado, AR, 71730 Paul Kaan
215 Rossrnoyne St. Jean Forget 501-862-1614 6355 Ashton Pk. Place
Thornbury, Victoria 7 Rue Du Donjon Colorado Springs, CO, 80919
3071, Australia Liancourt, St. Pierre California
Chaumont en Vexin Phillip Thomas
Canada 60240, France Ed Allen 8160 Piute Rd. #231
1629 Dwight Way Colorado Springs, CO, 80926
Lowell Dueck Pedro Rodriguez Berkeley, CA, 94703
#102-6525 Telford Av. 54 Rue De Varsouie 415-848-9495 Connecticut
Burnaby, BC Salon de Pie
U5H 2Y9, Canada 13300, France Dan Carlton Greg Kuntz
9900 Acacia Av. #49 269 Humphrey St. #2
Steve Dulepka Germany Garden Grove, CA, 92641 New Haven, CT, 06511-3934
60 Lillico Dr. 203-498-1813
Ottawa, Ontario Rolf Bliersbach Karl Fischer
Kl V 9L6, Canada · Rathenaulatz 23 4324 W.Pt.LomaBlvdApt. P Charlie V ousden
5000 Koln San Diego, CA, 92107 2 Park Place Apt. 9H
Martin Hubley Koln, Germany 619- 226-3466 Hartford, CT, 06106
Co 105 Melrose Av. 0221-21-81-99
Halifax, NS Stan Freisen Delaware
B3N 2E6, Canada Norway 5035 Hayter Ave.
Lakewood, CA, 90712 George, Jeffrey R.
John Kuehn Nils Gregor Johansson 310-408-4726 3309 Society Dr.
#404-3835-107 St. Josefinesgt 22B Clayrnont, DE, 19703
Edmonton, ALB Oslo, Norway, 0351 Randy Grundstrom
T6J 2N7, Canada 2032 Junewood Ave. Ted Schnitzler
Scotland San Jose, CA, 95132 1182 Presidential Dr.
Mike Traynor Greenville, DE, 19807
175 Mc Gillivray St. Ian James Lacey Scott Jewell
Ottowa, Ontario 139 Dochart Terrace, 1900 E. Almont #06
KlS 1K7, Canada Menziehill Anaheim, CA, 92805
Dundee, Tayside 714- 776-5152
DD24ET, Scotland

4
The Journal of Air Combat Gaming Year Six! Issue #31
Florida Maryland Chuck Turner Vermont
2702 Lopane Ave.
Pete Darling Kirk Bonnevier Middletown, OH, 45044 Jeff Miller
2070 62d St. N. #1312 Star Rt. Box 10 513-425-0903 POBox244
Clearwater, FL, 34620 Leonardtown, MD, 20650 Montpelier, VT, 05601-0244
Pennsylvania
Russ Kinnell Robert McDonnel Virginia
1877 Mizell Ave. Box 422 Payne Rd. Bud Russell
Winter Park, FL, 32789 Patuxent, MD, 20670 PO Box 1477 Dave Racey
Easton, PA, 18042 224 N. Church St.
Indiana Michigan Woodstock, VA, 22664
Dan Foxman
Steve Seyboldt Jeremy Caulfield PO Box 3163 Terry Rooker
10609 US 24 West 4105 Lexington Dr. Westchester, PA, 19381 3904 Doran Rd.
Ft. \Vayne,IN',46804 Trenton, MI, 48183 Fredericksburg, VA, 22407
Dave Gogatz
Iowa Tracy Monthei Spring Ridge Apts. #V-22 John Vasilakos
· 3332 Grange Whitehall, PA, 18052 3705 Forrest Grove Dr.
Bruce Bender Trenton, MI, 48183 Annandale, VA, 22003
1301 Knollcrest Dr. Paul Kaczmarek
Fort Dodge, IA, 50501 J.D. Webster 484 Mapleton Ave. Washington
515-955-7111 1395 Kelly Green Dr. Pittsburgh, PA, 15228
Ann Arbor, MI, 48103 Dave Demick
Kansas Russ Lance 3947 N. 29th St.
Minnesota PO Box 364 Tacoma, WA, 98407
Chuck Glascock Shillington, PA, 19607
412 Garst St. Lance Lange Dave Mcleod
Wichita, KS, 67209 1456 Fremont Ave. Texas 8728 209th Pl. SW
316-945-8654 St. Paul, MN, 55106 Edmonds, WA, 982020
Bill Broussard
Allen Hartzell North Carolina 1621 Cheshire Lane Military Addresses
2930 SW Oakley #3 Houston, TX, 77018
Topeka, KS, 66614 Chuck Parrot 713-957-0877 CW2 Scott Abbott
913-273-6424 734 Marshall St. PSC 303 Box 46
Roanoke Rapids, NC, 27870 Utah APO, AP, 96204-0046
Jim Owens
2081 S. Fieldcrest Mike Phelps David Bywater Major J. Moore
Wichita, KS, 67209 Rt.2 Box 64-K-35 4892 Heath Ave HHC CMTC Box 371
316-729-7578 Youngsville, NC, 27596 Kearns, UT, 84118 Unit 28208
APO, AE, 09173
Louisiana Ohio

Malcolm Pipes Mike Daniel

RR No.l Box 37 329 Corning Dr.
Choudrant, LA, 71227 Bratenahl, OH, 44108
Radar Contacts is a free service offered to Air Power
subscribers to help them find opponents. It appears on an
Massachussetts C.H. Featherstone
irregular basis depending on space available in each news-
606 Cuyahoga Ct.
letter. Air Power will list clubs, meetings, tournaments, and
Mike Andrews Columbus, OH, 43210
sale offers. Air Power is not responsible in any way for the
PO Box 214 614-293-9167
caliber of opponents that may respond.
Mahapoisett, MA, 02739
Mark Pawlak
Neil Galarneau 8005 Woody Hollow Dr.
898 Massachusetts Av. #63 Cincinatti, OH, 45241
Arlington, MA, 02174 513- 779-4453

5
AIR POWER Year Six! Issue# 31
readers: the JAS-39 Gripen was making its first public appear-
FARNBOROUGH ance, Dassault was bringing the Mirage 2000 and the first
prototype Rafale, BAe had the Harrier GR.7 and two Hawks,
INTERNATIONAL '92 and there were the usual stalwarts like Tomados, the AMX-T,
assorted trainers and missiles, and lots of equipment. However,
By Phillip Atcliffe one of the main talking points at the show was something that
wasn't there-the EPA, which failed to fly in time for what was
If the month is September and the year number is even, to the planned to be its public debut. EPA should fly at Paris '93, but
aerospace business (and a lot of enthusiasts) that means but one now that the Germans have pulled out of the production phase,
thing - the Farnborough Airshow ! Second only to the Paris the survival of the project may well be problematic.
Salon as a major aerospace trade fair and unequalled even by its
French rival as a flying display, Farnborough is the place to go The RUSSIANS: Old enemies. New partners?
to keep up with what's happening in the aircraft business, both The MiG-29 Fulcrum is by now a familiar sight at
civil and military. Farnborough is very much a trade show. It Farnborough, having made its international debut here in 1988.
runs for eight days, and although the public can get in on the last However, the aircraft that came in 1992 were not what had been
weekend, the first five days are reserved for people in the seen before. For a start, both were carrying the new RVV-AE
business. Going on a trade day (as the author did) can be (alias AAM-AE, or possibly AA-12?) "AMRAAMski" AHMs
something of a mixed blessing: on the one hand, there are fewer on all of their wing pylons. Of the two, the MiG-29S (or -29C
people there, so there is a better view of the aircraft on the in Cyrillic characters - not to be confused with the Fulcrum-
ground and in the air; on the other, there are also fewer (or, in C, on which it is based) had the less radical modifications .. It is
most cases, no) people around the static park to talk to, and those described by Mikoyan as a high altitude version of the aircraft
that are there are concerned with the business of selling or with that is 50 per cent more operationally effective than earlier
getting the aircraft ready to fly, so that casual questions are less variants. Quite what this means, they do not say; in game terms,
likely to have a receptive audience. the main (known) change would seem to be the capability to use
The 1992 show promised to be one of the best yet, despite the the new AHMs. The aircraft is in production and in service with
lack of any major U.S. presence (the F-16 was the only Ameri- two fighter regiments.
can fighter flying, and the display aircraft was built in Turkey!) The arrival of a fly-by-wire version of the MiG-29 has been
for a very simple reason: the Russians were coming, and in awaited with keen interest. The MiG-29M (also referred to as
force. Since the breakup of the USSR, the Russian and Ukrai- the MiG-33, although that designation is unofficial) is the latest,
nian aerospace industries have been desperate for money, and by all accounts deadliest, member of the Fulcrum family.
which these days means export sales. Farnborough '92, as one The quadruplex analogue flight control system has been com-
of the "big two" airshows, is an opportunity to show the world bined with major structural redesign, aerodynamic improve-
what they have to offer, and they brought their newest and best; ments and weapons systems enhancements to produce a true
this included almost everything that they have, or want to have, multirole fighterof great capability. To try out an Air Superioirty
in production, and certainly everything that they're currently game version of this new MiG, make the following changes to
prepared to export. The military line-up included the MiG-31, the Fulcrum-C variant from the revised data card in AP #19:
improved versionsoftheMiG-29, theSu-27 and theSu-25, and,
making their first appearance in the West, the Tu-22M-3 Mods. to MiG-29A data card to represent MiG-29M:
Backfire-C, the Su-24MRFencer-E, the Yak-38 Forger and the
Yak-141 Freestyle. In fact, they brought so many aircraft that 1. Add stations #0 and 8 outboard of existing #1 and 7.
Jess than a third of them could be fitted into each day's flying Stations 2 and 6 now have same weight limits and allowable
display- thereby inventing a new form of Russian roulette for loads as #3 and 5; stations 0, 1, 7 and 8 have weight limits
those who could attend only once. increased to 1100, with allowable loads as for current#! and 7.
· Overall weight limit for aircraft is not changed.
It was interesting to see the new nationalism within the 2. Internal fuel increased to 475 points.
former USSR express itself in the aircraft liveries. Most aircraft 3. Add to technology list: Fly-By-Wire, Multi-target (4);
built in Russia featured hastily-applied Russian flags or white- Terrain Following-B; V.A.S.; Laser Designator-B; Laser Spot
blue-and-red stripes over their standard military camouflage or, Tracker; TV/IR Optics. Bombing system is now Computed-2.
in the case of the MiG-31, the special air show paint job; most Double the capacity of DDS.
of the civil types had replaced their CCCP registrations with 4. Reduce gun ammo to 3.
RA- prefixes, and even the Antonov freighters had Ukrainian 5. Aircraft may carry AAM-AE AHMs on all wing pylons,
flags painted on their rudders. The Su-24 took this idea to and may carry AS-12, AS-14 and Kh-3 IP ARMs on stations 2,
extremes by appearing in a dazzling scheme, rather reminiscent 3, 5 and 6.
of that of the F-16 prototypes, featuring the colours of the
Russian flag. The details that Mikoyan have released about this new
The ex-Soviets weren't the only attraction for Air Power variant also provide some information about current Fulcrums.

6
The Journal of Air Combat Gaming Year Six! Issue #31
The fuel capacity of the MiG-29M is said to have been increased amazed people - once they noticed it, because it wasn't
by 1500 litres to a total of 5700 litres. This indicates that the particularly prominent - was the Ferranti Thermal Imaging
Fulcrum-C's internal tankage is some 4200 litres, or about 350 and Laser Designation (TIALD) pod hanging under the Su-35' s
points (as near as I can work it out) so the fuel figures for earlier starboard engine nacelle! In a remarkable example of how
variants may need to be revised. The original MiG-29 has been former enemies have become partners, if not friends, GEC have
described by its pilots as being useful for air defence over the applied to the British Ministry of Defence for permission to
airport beacon but nowhere much else, so reducing the data card export the pod to countries that buy the Su-35, although not to
figures by 120 points may be an appropriate correction. the CIS. The TIALD system itself first saw use on Tomados in
Operation Desert Storm, prototype pods being rushed into
The ammunition of the 'M's cannon has been reduced to 100
battle in one of those mad panics that the British do so well. In
rounds. Mikoyan spokesmen describe this as providing enough
game terms, it can be treated as an LP incorporating TV/IR
for 5- 7 shots, so standard operational procedure would appear
Optics and Laser Designator-C technology: weight= 460, load
to use what Air Superiority players would call snapshots.
= 1.5. RAFTomado GR.l's (IDS variant) can carry the system
By contrast with their Mikoyan rivals, the two Su-27s were internally: weight= 350, load= 1.
the same aircraft that came to Paris in 1989 and '91 and to
For some time, W estem equipment and avionics manufac-
Farnborough in 1990. The Flanker's display flight was as
turers have been offering users of older Soviet fighters modem
impressive as ever; the usual manoeuvres were there - the
systems (especially avionics) to update their aircraft. The GEC-
tail slide, the Cobra ( this time with a roll off to the left at the peak,
Sukhoi link-up can be seen as the first indication of a growing
which may or may not have been intentional) - but a new
trend for them to offer "updates" for modem front-line types. If
highlight for this year, which emphasised the aircraft's remark-
this idea takes off, the combination of Russian airframes with
able aerodynamics and tremendous power, was the "quiet
W estem electronics could produce some very nasty aircraft
loop", performed with the engines in idle!
indeed - for instance, one company has already proposed
However, lurking over in the static park was the Sukhoi replacing theMiG-29 Slot Back radar with the F-16's APG-66.
OKB's answer to the new MiGs: the Su-35 "Super Flanker". For gamers, this gives us the opportunity to hang just about
Outwardly identical to its predecessors except for the small anything we like on any Soviet/CIS airframe!
canards originally seen on the naval Flanker-D, the new variant
The Su-24 on display was rather an odd choice; the Fencer-
features a digital FBW flight control system and introduces
E is a reconnaissance variant without the attack radar. Replac-
multi-role capabilities from improved nav/attack equipment,
ing it are a navigation radar and a sideways-looking airborne
upgraded radar with ground attack/mapping modes and a "glass"
radar (SLAR), daylight and IR cameras, TV and a wideband
cockpit. Other visible changes include an in-flight refuelling
datalink. This particular aircraft was a development model with
system, a larger IRST "ball" and the replacement of the wingtip
an ejectable pod for delivery of recce data, which may have had
missile stations with ECM pods. The author's guess at modifi-
to do with why it was parked away from the rest of the Russian
cations to the Su-27 Air Superiority data card to produce the
contingent and up near the civil area, not far from the omnipres-
Super Flanker is as follows:
ent turboprop DC-3 conversions; Sukhoi are apparently trying
to push the aircraft as a tool for commercial aerial surveying,
Mods. to Su-27 data card to produce the Su-35:
using the radar and other sensors for ground mapping and
1. Delete stations #1 and 8. meteorological work. The mind boggles slightly at the thought
2. Lower turn drag figures are used at all speeds. Aircraft is (and the cost!). The Fencer-E can also carry a variety of pods,
STOL capable. including laser linescan and electronic intelligence (elint) equip-
3. Radar values are now Search= 400/60, Track= 300/60. ment. It doesn't carry any offensive weapons (no attack system)
Add multi-target (6) technology. May use AAM-AE AHMs. but the Farnborough aircraft had two AA-8 Aphids on its port
4. Bomb system is now Computed-2. wing glove station. One missile was on a side-mounted rail on
5. Internal fuel increased to 1150. Aircraft is capable of air- the pylon rather like that on an F-lll, and this may also be present
to-air refuelling. on more aggressive Fencer variants. An Air Superiority game
6. Internaljammer is AJM-C (2nd edition, BJM-C4), RWR version of the Fencer-E can be created by making the following
is -C. May carry Kh-3 lP ARMs. changes to the Su-24 data card:
7. Aircraft has canted seat ( + 1 modifier to GLOC rolls).
Mods. to Su-24 data card to produce Fencer E:
The radar values given above are speculative. Sukhoi claim
1. Delete radar (nav. only) and all technology. Bomb system
that the Su-35 can track multiple targets at a range of 225
is Manual-0.
nautical miles ( !) which, if you believe it, would mean a Track
2. Allowable loads on stations are now: #1 and 4: EP; #2 and
value of something like 750/50 at least, and the maximum
3: IRM, EP, OP, LP; #5 and 6: EP, PP; #7 and 8: EP, FT.
search range would be 900+ hexes. This seems a trifle exagger-
3. Delete gun. Aircraft carries cameras and datalink system.
ated, although it is not impossible.
4. Aircraft may carry one IRM on stations 2 and 3 in addition
All of that is interesting enough in itself, but what really to any other store.

7
AIR POWER Year Six! Issue# 31
There is also a specialised ELINT version of the aircraft,' the altitude, and combat radius is around 1350 miles.
Su-24MP Fencer-F. This variant replaces therecon gear of the
A Tupolev spokesman managed to clear up the mystery of
-E with specialised avionics and may be distinguished from
the Tu-22M designation and how it relates to the Tu-22Blinder,
other Fencers by the multitude of antennas with which it is
which is an entirely different aircraft. It seems that the Backfire
festooned. In game terms, this version of the Su-24 is the same
was originally presented to the Soviet military as an improved
as the -E, but without cameras; it may also have a variety of
version of the older 'plane (M stands for modificatsirovanyi =
internal EW systems, but exactly what is not known. Neither
modified) because the design bureau thought that they'd have
variant has been produced in large numbers or exported.
a better chance of getting funding that way. It worked, but the
The Yak-141 supersonic V-STOL naval fighter was the designation stuck, to the confusion and chagrin of intelligence
focus of much attention. It still appears to be in limbo as far as agencies and aircraft enthusiasts all over the world.
production goes; Flight International reports that the Indians
The highlight of the Russian (in fact, the entire) flying
are still interested in joining the program, as are the Chinese and
display was the diminutive Su-29T aerobatic aircraft. The pilot
even the United Arab Emirates, but nothing official has emerged
(Yurgis Kairis, the current World Unlimited Aerobatic Cham-
yet. The Russians weren't taking any chances with the sole
pion) did things with that little aeroplane that had the Farnborough
remaining prototype, which didn't fly in the Show displays until
commentator, a veteran of air displays since before most of us
Thursday despite being nominally scheduled to do so on at least
were born, exclaiming in amazement! It was hard to believe
two previous days. The pilot suited up a number of times but the
some manoeuvres were possible; how does a 7-turn torque roll
Yakovlev people insisted on "perfect weather" (not the most
(one day he was reported to have done eleven!) while hanging
likely of prospects in England in September) before they would
motionless at the top of a vertical climb grab you? Sukhoi have
let it fly, so most visitors were disappointed. When the Freestyle
plans to put the aircraft into production as the Su-31, and quite
did fly, its display was lacklustre by comparison with other
a few Western pilots want one, so watch out for it on the North
military aircraft: in particular, the turn radii were huge, presum-
American and European aerobatic circuits,
ably because they didn't want to bend it. The aircraft demon-
strated its hovering capabilities with a Harrier-like exhibition,
THE EUROPEANS: V/STOL and canard-deltas.
but couldn't show off its vertical take-off and landing perfor-
mance because the Farnborough airport authorities wouldn't let British Aerospace are on "home ground" at Farnborough
it; they were concerned that the hot, high-velocity jet from the and make an effort to put on a good show. The uncertainties over
vectoring engine would damage the run way! The heat from the EFA rather put a damper on their military side this year, but they
engines is obviously a problem for the designers because the managed to rise to the occasion with the first Show appearance
underside of the fuselage was covered with some sort of heat- of the Harrier GR.7 and a spirited flight display by the Hawk
resistant coating; this "gunge", which has the consistency of l 00 and 200. The GR. 7 is the RAF' s new night-attack version
putty, could well put major operational restrictions on the Yak, of the Harrier II; it features an NVG-compatible cockpit, nose-
depending on how well it stands up to the rigours of life at sea. mounted FLIRand largerLERX(which produced visibleF-16-
The Freestyle's stable-mate, the Yak-38, was also on show. It like vortices during the flying display). To represent the GR.7
didn't fly much either, which may have been a blessing because in Air Strike game terms, add TV /IR Optics to the GR.5 data
the Forger is widely recognised as the noisiest aircraft ever card and use the lower tum drag figures at all speeds. There is
made. It demonstrated that in a unique manner during the pre- also an interim variant, the GR5A, which is a GR.5 with the
show practice sessions, when it was so loud that it set off dozens FLIR ( i.e., the TV /IR Optics). Both versions may useASRAAM.
of car alarms! All GR.5 and SA will be upgraded eventually to GR.7 standard.
The Backfire didn't do much, just loomed over everything The Hawk 200 data card from Air Strike requires some
smaller than the An-124; Flight wrote that it took over the updating. The prototype and initial production version carry an
Vulcan's old static-park role of sheltering dozens of people improved APG-66 radar; the Blue Vixen was offered, and could
from the rain. The aircraft flew once or twice, and its sheer size still be installed, but nobody has yet said that they want it. To
and power made it impressive to see, but without a data card modify the data card, use the radar data and technology from the
(hint, hint...), it was only really possible to note a few points of F- 16A card, and add Track-While-Scan technology.
interest. The bomb-bay doors stayed closed, concealing the
Also making its Farnborough debut was the JAS-39 Gripen.
rotary launchers for cruise missiles, but their complex tapered
With the Cold War perceived as over, Sweden has become
shape indicated where the semi-conformal mounts for AS-4 or
much less worried about selling armaments to someone who
AS- 16 ASMs were. Each wing glove was fitted with a massive
.might actually have to use them, and has begun a heavy sales
weapons beam, capable of holding up to six conventional
drive for advanced weapons systems such as the Gripen; visits
stores. The tail area contained a plethora of defensive systems,
to the Show by King Carl Gustaf and the Swedish Prime
including the twin-barrel 23mm cannon with its associated Box
Minister and Defence Minister (who arrived in a Viggen, no
Tail and Swift Rod radars, RWR antennae on the wing gloves
less) were but part of the hard sell. The Germans were prime
and fin, and about two dozen triple chaff/flare launchers. A
targets, and the Swedes are reported to have released classified
nearby data board gave some basic performance figures: maxi-
information about the Gripen to them.
mum take-off weight is 273,000 lb, top speed is 1250 mph at

8
 OVER THE REICH -ERRATA & CLARIFICATIONS: PAGE 1

GAME RULES • Rule 6.1 • Climbing Flight: Climbing while in an Inverted Bank
(clarification) - The + 1 decel per increment penalty for climbing
• Rule 3.4 • How Aircraft Move: HalfFPs (clarification) - When
inverted is only assessed when a VFP is actually expended with the
referring to any chart or play-aid, always consider only the aircraft's
wings inverted or in an inverted bank and only for the increments
listed speed and not any carried half FPs. For example: An aircraft
gained with that VFP. If an aircraft completes banking fro:m an
with a speed of7 .5 having a 0.5 FP carry has 8.0 FPs to use in a game
inverted bank to an upright bank with a VFP, the inverted penalty still
tum but its power available, turn and maneuver requirements, and
applies (the rule-of-thumb is to use the bank angle in effect before the
any required proportioning of FPs is still determined based on its
VFP is expended).
speed of 7.5.
The restriction on entering vertical climbs from a zoom only applies
• Rule 3.6 - Level Flight: Inverted Level Flight Restrictions, & if the aircraft ends a tum of zoom climbing with an inverted or inverted
Rule 6.6 - Negative-G Pushovers: Negative-G and Non-Fuel bank attitude.
Injected Engines (note) - All of the 24 aircraft included in the Over
The Reich box have fuel injected engines. These rules are for aircraft • Rule 6.2 - Diving Flight: Steep Dives (addition) - If only one VFP
that will be added in later expansions which do not have F.I. engines. is expended during a steep dive, a minimum of 2 altitude incrernents
must be lost (as per the Play Aid).
• Rule 4.5 - Stalls and Spins: Stalled Moves (addition) - Stalled
flight is considered a steep dive for purposes of determining what • Rule 6.3 - Changing Between Flight Types:• From a Vertical
aircraft may do after recovering from a stall. Dive (errata) - The 2d paragraph should read as follows: "With the
wings inverted or in an inverted bank, the aircraft may only continue
• Rule 5.1- Angle of Bank: Banking FPs (clarification) - You a vertical dive unless the previous turn was the second consecutive tum
may begin banking in one game tum and finish in the next game turn of vertical diving, in which case the aircraft may push-over (negative-
if desired. Simply note any banking FP requirement already met in G) into a steep dive (still inverted). If it pushes over inverted, it must
the Tum Carry line of the aircraft log as you would when carrying expend at FPs 2". 112 its speed as VFPs."
a tum. (This also applies to Slip/Skid FP requirements).
M Class Fighters: (addition)- An M class fighter with a gifted pilot
Note: Banking, Turning, and Slip/Skid FP requirements carried
may use vertical climbs and vertical dives.
forward must be used at the beginning of the tum they are carried into
or they are lost. • Rule 6.4 - Reversal of Aircraft Facings: Combined Flight
Example (errata): The Fw 190A-8 actually turns to face NW and then
Banking, Turning and Vertical Climbs and Dives (clarification)- reverses to SE (Not NNW and SSE as written).
You must declare an angle-of-bank each time banking (with its
requisite facing change) is accomplished while in a VC or VD. The • Rule 8.1-The Initiative Phase: e) Tailing Aircraft (clarification)
declared angle-of-bank can be any, irrespective of the direction of - The "Tailer" must be in the "Tailee's" rear arc or the two borderlines
the change of facing. The declared angle may be changed with each of the rear arc. An aircraft in the same hex as another, or in the other's
facing. If an aircraft does not bank during a VC or VD, it may not right or left rear arcs cannot declare tailing.
declare a new angle-of-bank. The last declared angle-of-bank in
• Rule 10.2- Special Combat Considerations (addition): Friendly
effect is what is used to determine the inversion of a bank angle when
Aircraft in Field of Fire: Friendly aircraft do not, in any way, inhibit
a VC or VD Facing Reversal is accomplished (see Rule 6.4).
friendly gunfire.
• Rule 5.3 - Additional Turn Considerations: Carrying Tums
• Rule 10.5 • Bomber Defensive Fire: Defensive Gunfire Arcs
Forward (addition) - If an aircraft's speed changes from one game
(errata) - The diagram on page 23 had its light gray arcs washed out.
tum to the next such that its Turning FP requirement for the rate-of-
A correct diagram is reproduced on the next page.
tum being carried would be met by the turning already accomplished
the previous game turn, it must still expend at least one FP before • Rule 11.2 - Special Damage Considerations: • Engine Damage
facing (There are no instant facings allowed in this game). ( clarification) - Shutting down or feathering an engine is declared at the
beginning of a game tum. The die is rolled at that time. The attempt is
Turning while in an Inverted Bank (clarifications) - To get the
considered complete at the beginning of the next tum. Fire worsening
inverted tum FP requirement reduction, you must use a steep dive
and explosions are still possible on the tum of shutdown and the deeel
and be in the inverted bank angle by the time you start tumin2. Mixed
penalty for a windmilling is still applied during the tum of feathering.
moves are allowed. For example, you could begin turning while
upright banked (using the normal turn requirement), roll to an • Multi-Engine Aircraft Considerations (clarification) - The in-
inverted bank while turning, and upon· completing the first facing crease in minimum speeds and the reduction in max attainable level
change, continue the turn using the inverted bank reduction. The speeds for damaged, shut down or knocked out engines is cumulative
rule-of -thumb is to use the bank angle in effect when each portion with the additions and reduction in speeds caused by being loaded/
of turn is commenced. over-loaded, and for being severely damaged. An easy to refer to table
is provided below.
Note: When reducing the FP requirement on the tum mode chart
for being inverted, the 3-2 mode becomes a straight 2, and the 2-1 4-Engine Bomber Min I Max Attainable Speed changes
mode becomes a straight 1. Non-loaded Loaded Over-loaded
If in level flight, the 2 extra decel penalty for turning while B-17/24 all eng. up +0.0 I -0.0 +0.5 /-0.5 + 1.0 I -0.5
inverted applies if any FP expended to meet the tum requirement is B-17/24 1 eng. out +0.5 I -1.0 +1.0/-1.5 +l.5/-1.5
expended with the wings inverted, even if the aircraft rolls to an B-17/24 2 eng. out* +0.0/ -2.0 +0.5 I -2.5 +1.0/-2.5
upright bank before the turn is finished and even if it can bank B-17/24 2 eng. SS* + 1.0 I -2.0 +1.5 I -2.5 +2.0 I -2.5
upright and do a tum with the same FP (the rule-of-thumb is use the B-17 /24 3 eng. out + 1.0 I -3.0 +1.5 I -3.5 +2.0 I -3.5
bank angle in effect before the FP is expended). B-17/24 4 eng. out +0.0 I -4.0 +0.5 I -4.5 + 1.0 I -4.5
 OVER THE REICH - ERRATA & CLARIFICATIONS: PAGE 2
• If bomber severely damaged, add +0.5 I -1.0 to all values.
• The P-47s in introductory scenarios "Meat on the Table" and
• SS= 2 engines same side. Max reduction for engines out may not
"Rescuing a Straggler" are P-47D-5s and not P-47D-10s.
reduce value below aircraft's non-loaded minimum speed in a given
altitude band. This chart also takes into account asymmetric thrust FIGHTING WINGS AIRCRAFT TURN CHART
minimum speed increases.
• Aircraft Stalls and Spins - Add note that stalled flight equates to
Example: A loaded B-l 7F's speed range in the HI band is 3.5 to 5.5. steep diving for the tum.
If severely damaged and loaded it's 4.0 to 4.5. With an engine out,
severely damaged, and loaded it is 4.5 to 3.5 (obviously a problem FIGHTING WINGS FLIGHT RULES SUMMARY: PAGE 2
because excess speed decel must be applied). In the last case, the B-17 • Over Loaded A!C Effects Summary - Add 5th bullet: "Reduce
could salvo its bombs returning to a non-loaded, severe damage status maximum level and safe dive speeds by 0.5."
with a speed range of 4.0 to 4.0.
• Severe Damage Effects Summary- Change 4th bullet to read: "For
• Rule 13- Aircraft Loads (addition): Jettison or Release ofLoads climbing, treat clean A/C as if loaded and loaded aicraft as if over-
- At the Tactical or Operational scale of play, tanks, bombs, etc. may loaded. Add I per increment to climb decel." Also, add 5th bullet:
be jettisoned or dropped from aircraft by declaring the act at the end "Increase minimum level and tum speeds by 0.5 and reduce total
of their movement in a game turn. At the Combat scale, the act of available power by 1..
jettisoning, firing or dropping stores is declared in the combat phase,
after all movement is complete (the aircraft is considered to still have Note: Loaded and over loaded penalties are not cumulative, one or
the loads until that time). For aircraft with bomb bays, the bay doors the other applies. Severe damage penalties are cumulative with loaded
must be open at the start of the game tum in which any stores are and over loaded penalties.
released. It takes one tum to fully open the bays and another turn to • Changing Between Flight Types; From a Vertical Dive-Delete the
close them. On any tum in which the bays are being opened, remain sentence: "If wings inverted, the A/C may enter a steep dive with
open, or are being closed, the aircraft in question incurs 1 decel (like wings upright."
flaps, see chapter 20 note).
• Changing Between Flight Types; Bombers - The last sentence
• Rule 15.5 - Operational Scale Movement (addition): The act of should read: "M class fighters may use inverted bank attitudes and if
taking-off and being placed in an allowable altitude band over its base having a" gifted" pilot, they may use vertical climbs and vertical dives
constitutes a formation's or aircraft's movement for that game tum. as well."
Normal movement on the OMT may not begin until the tum after
takeoff. Formation join-ups and force assemblies may be done on the FIGHTING WINGS A/C CRITICAL HIT TABLES
tum of take-off. • Equipment Criticals Table; die roll 3 result - Change to read:
• Rule 16.2 - Attacking Ground & Naval Units: Ground Attack "Hydraulics hit. Landing gear trails down; reduce maximum speeds
Modifiers, Target Type Effects (errata) - 3rd sentence should read: "If by 2.0 and incur decel = to current speed per game turn. If fixed gear,
it is an armored vehicle, it is a hard-point target." (Bunkers are not then it is only damaged.
hard-point targets). AIRCRAFT DATA CARDS
• Rule 20.2 - Combat Scale Take-Offs & Landings: Combat Scale
• Bf 109G-10/K-4: The average rate of climb numbers should be
Start, Taxi, Take-Off(additions)- Ignore the power penalties for being
(from VL to EH): 4800, 4400, 3800, 3000, 2200, 1400, 800.
loaded and over-loaded until actually airborne. When an aircraft
becomes airborne, its altitude is set at 0.1 for no decel cost. An aircraft Thanks to all who helped with finding errata. JDW
may declare itself airborne when start speed equals or exceeds its
adjusted minimum speed but no later than when its start speed is at its Replacement Diagram for Page 23.
adjusted minimum+ 1.0 (adjusted for load and flap setting).
Flap and Gear Settings (clarification) - Raising and lowering the
gear and flaps are distinct and separate actions, each of which takes one
game tum to accomplish. The act is declared at the beginning of an
aircraft's tum and the act is considered completed by the start of the
next turn. The reduced minimum flight and tum speed benefits of
lowered flaps may not be utilized in any turn they are being lowered
or raised. However, the decel penalties for lowered landing gear and
or flaps is incurred even on the turns they are being raised or lowered.
For assessing whether lowered flaps are damaged by excess speed
check the aircraft's start speed on any turn the flaps are being lowered,
are down, or being raised. If the speed is> 1.5 over listed minimum,
then the flaps are damaged (listed minimum ignores load and damage
status).
Gear and Flaps Down Effects (change) - An airborne aircraft with
its gear down or in transit incurs decel = to its start speed. An airborne
aircraft with its flaps down or in transit incurs 1 decel point in addition
to increasing all turn decel by 1. The original penalty of 5 decel etc.,
is replaced by this new rule.·

GAME SCENARIOS & PLAY AIDS

 Bf 109G-14/AS "Gustav" Country: Germany Service Entry Date: July 1944

A/C Type: Short Range Day Fighter

Engine(s): One Daimler-Benz DB 605ASM
Eng. Pwr: 1435 - 1800 HP, Liquid Cooled
A/C Crew: Pilot

Maximum Speed: 412 MPH at 26,200

Maximum Ceiling: 39,000 I 31,200 I 21,200 Feet
Defense Factor: 5 Size Modifier: 0
Damage Factor: 8 I 12 Endurance: 60
Cockpit View: Fair Blind Area: Rear

Protection: Cockpit +2 Fuel + 1 Engine +O

Climb Decel I Dive Accel: 3.0 I 1.0
1, 100 I 2 - 5
�·
Weight and Load Limit:
Wpn. Stations Weight Allowed Loads
1, 3 250 Gun Pod, ATA Rocket
2 550 Fuel Tank, Bombs Class: F Victory Points: 5 - 10

AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CHART

Altitude Minimum Maximum Maximum Min. Min. Min. Min. Altitude Average
Levels Band Speed Speed Dive Spd. TT (4) HT (5) BT (6) ET (7) Band Levels Rate Of Climb
-----..---,...-.-----,-,.....----.,_.-

25 - 30 HI 3.5 11.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 HI 25 - 30

4.5 8.5 MH
"

19· 24 MH. 3.0 11.0 6.0 7.5 19-24

13 • 18 ML 3.0 11.5 4.0 5.5 7.0 a.o ML 13-18 .�
7 - 12 LO 2.5 7.5 10.5 3.5 5.0 6.0 7.0 LO 7 - 12 3,800
1 -6 VL 2.5 7.0 9.5 3.0 4.5 5.5 6.5 VL 1 - 6 4,500

FIRE POWER CHART POWER VERSUS SPEED CHART

Guns Type Weapons Ammo Criticals Levels Band 1.0 - 4.5 5.0 - 7.5 8.0 - 9.5 10.0 + Band
N1 Two 13mm MG-131 11 3 43+ UH UH
N2 One 20mm MG-151 6 2 37 - 42 EH 3/- 1/- EH
R6=W1 One 20mm MG-151 pod 5 2 31 - 36 VH 5/- 2/- VH
R6=W2 One 20mm MG-151 pod 5 2 25 - 30 HI 7/8 4/5 2I1 HI
19 - 24 MH 9 I 10 6/7 3/4 MH
GUN ATTACK FACTORS
13 - 18 ML 9 I 11 6/7 ML
Range N1 N2 W1 W2 (Total} 7 - 12 LO 9 I 11 6/7 LO
1 - 6 VL 9 I 11 6/7 VL
0 18 26 26 26 44/ 96
1 13 20 20 20 33 I 73 Banking FPs: 2 3 5 7
2 9 13 13 13 22 I 48 Side Slip FPs: 3 5 6 8
3 6 9 9 9 15 I 33
4 4 6 6 6 10 I 22 NOTES AND VARIANTS:
5 3 4 4 4 7 I 15
• Bf 109 G·14/R1: Variant with station 2 for one 5501b. bomb or one ER-4
6 2 3 3 3 5 I 11
adapterforfour 11 Olb. bombs. The R1 variant can be combined with the R6.
7

,;a;
• Bf 109 G-14/R3: Variant with station 2 for a 669 fuel tank. The R3 variant
WEAPON STATIONS DIAGRAM can be combined with the R6 variant.
• Bf 109 G-14/RG: Variant with two fixed underwing MG-151 cannon pods,
;:::.
one each at stations 1 & 3. Add in gun data for weapons W1 & W2. Use the
attack factor totals after the slash. This variant was seldom used.
(Die roll s 4 to have):
-: I
• All: Slatted wings, MW-50 boost equipped.
1 2 3
Bf 109G-1 O/U4 & K-4 "Gustavs" Country: Germany Service Entry Date: G-10 March 1944
K-4 October 1944
A/C Type: Short Range Day Interceptor
Engine(s): One Daimler-Benz DB 6050CM
Eng. Pwr: 1600 - 2000 HP, Liquid Cooled
A/C Crew: Pilot
Maximum Speed: 452 MPH at 19,600
Maximum Ceiling: 41,000 I 32,800 I 22,300 Feet
Defense Factor: 5 Size Modifier: 0
Damage Factor: 8 I 12 Endurance: 55 •
Cockpit View: Fair Blind Area: Rear

Protection: Cockpit +2 Fuel + 1 Engine +O

Climb Decel I Dive Accel: 3.0 I 1.0
Weight and Load Limit: 1, 100 I 2 - 5
Wpn. Stations Weight Allowed Loads
1,3 250 Gun Pod
2 550 Fuel Tank, Bombs
Class: F Victory Points: 5 - 1 O

AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CHART

- -
Altitude Minimum Maximum Maximum Min. Min. Min. Altitude Average
· Levels Band Speed Speed Dive Spd. HT (5) BT (6) ET (7) Band Levels Rate Of Climb
-::.. Off
4.6 8.0
.
10.$ "' EH
31 - 36 VH 4.0 8.0 10.5 5.5 7.5 9.0 VH
25 - 30 HI 3.5 8.5 11.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 HI
19'- 24 MH' 3.0 8.5 (9.0) 11.0 4.5 6.0 7.$ 8.5 MH
13-18 ML 3.0 8.5 11.5 4.0 5.5 13.5 8.0 Ml
7 - 12 LO 2.5 8.0 10.5 3.5 5.0 6.0 7.0 LO 7 - 12 4,400
1 - 6 VL 2.5 7.0 (7.5) 9.5 3.0 4.5 5.5 6.5 VL 1 - 6 4,800

FIRE POWER CHART POWER VERSUS SPEED CHART

Guns Type Weapons Ammo Criticals Levels Band 1.0 - 4.5 5.0 - 7.5 8.0 - 9.5 10.0 + Band
G:N1 Two 13mm MG-131 11 3 43+ UH UH
G:N2 One 30mm MK-108 4 1.5 37 - 42 EH 3/- 1 I- 1 I- EH
31 - 36 VH 5/- 3/- 1 /- VH
K:N1 Two 15mm MG-151 12 3
25 - 30 HI 7/8 5/6 3/4 HI
K:N2 One somm MK-108 4 1.5
19 - 24 MH 9 I 10 7/8 5/6 MH
GUN ATTACK FACTORS 13 - 18 ML 9 I 12 7/9 5/7 ML
Range G: N1 G:N2 K:N1 K: N2 (Total GI K) 7 - 12 LO 9 I 12 7/9 5/7 LO
1 -6 VL 9 I 12 7/9 VL
0 18 19 32 19 37 I 51 Banking FPs: 2 3 5 7
1 13 15 21 15 28 I 36 Side Slip FPs: 3 5 6 8
2 9 11 16 11 20 I 27
3 6 7 10 7 13 I 17
4 4 4 7 4 8 I 11 NOTES AND VARIANTS:
5 3 3 5 3 6/8 • Bf 109G·10 & K-4: Similar except for weapon differences. Both had
6 2 3 2/3 station 2 for a 66g fuel tank. K-4 max. speed at VL & MH = 7.5 & 9.0.
7 • Bf 109G-10/R1: Fighter bomber with station 2 for one 5501b. bomb or

;a;.
one ER-4 adapter with four 11 Olb. bombs. Engine protection = + 1.
WEAPON STATIONS DIAGRAM
• Bf 109G·10/R5: Variant with two underwing MG-151 cannon pods,
one each at stations 1 & 3. Add W1 & W2 weapon data of Bf 109G-6/R6.
• Bf 109K-4 Late model: N2= 30mm MK-103 cannon instead of MK-108.
I Ammo= 3.5, Crit.s= 1.5, Firepower (range Oto 7)= 23, 18, 12, 8, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Firepower totals (range O to 7)= 55, 39, 28, 18, 12, 9, 6, 2.
/ I �
• All: Slatted wings, MW-50 boost equipped.
1 2 3
 The Journal of Air Combat Gaming Year Six! Issue #31
Saab was keen to stress the versatility of the JAS-39, and the Its display was exciting and enjoyable to watch without con-
example in the static park (the third prototype) was surrounded taining any show-stoppers; the Gripen's sloppiness in roll also
by stores meant to show off its multi-role capability. As well as appeared to be a problem with the Rafale, so it could be endemic
the ubiquitous drop tanks and gun ammo, these included to the canard-delta layout, or possibly an optical illusion pecu-
ASRAAM, AMRAAM, Active Skyflash, the AIM-9L liar to that configuration.
Sidewinder, Mica, the AGM-65A Maverick, the RBS-lSF anti-
The precise status of the Rafale programme is somewhat
ship missile, the S225X AHM project and the DWS 39 dis-
confused: there is no doubt that it will go ahead, but the mix of
penser pod (of which more later).
single- and two-seaters for the French Air Force seems to
The Gripen was the first fighter to fly each afternoon, so the change every other week. Current plans call for a total buy of
pilot went all out to make his display a memorable one. He did 250, but no-one seems to know how many will be single-seat
a good job, too - nothing particularly outstanding in terms of interceptors (Rafale C's) and how many two-seat multirole B
fancy manoeuvres, but lots of good, energetic flying and some models; the most recent figure, as of the time of writing, was 25
really tight 360° turns within the boundaries of the airfield! single-holers and 225 twins. Just to complicate things (more
About the only criticism that could be made of the aircraft's alphabet soupl), the B and C variants are sometimes known
display was that its behaviour in roll seemed a bit mushy. The collectively as the Rafale D (for Discret, or stealthy). The naval
Gripen was almost as manoeuvrable on the ground as in the air version, the Rafale M, will definitely be a single-seater, and the
- after a very short landing roll, the aircraft showed off its Aeronavale expects to receive 80 of them to replace its Crusad-
nosewheel steering and small size by doing figure-8's across ers and Super Etendards. Enough is now known about the
the runway! production Rafale to update the Air Strike data card.
After the Gripen came Dassault' s Mirage 2000 and Rafale C.
Mods. to Rafale data card to represent the Rafale C:
The French are also desperate for exports and a possible order
for Mirage 2000-5's from Taiwan was another of the Show's 1. Add stations 13 and 14 under the rear fuselage aft of #12.
talking points; despite Chinese protests and threats, the French Weight limit and allowable loads are as for stations 9-12.
government has cleared the sale, but it is only likely to go ahead 2. Overall aircraft load limit is 13,200. Overload limit (no ET
if Taiwan can't get the F-16C's that it wants. The 2000-5 is an turns) is 17,600.
upgraded, multi-role export version of the basic Mirage 2000; 3. Add HMS and TV/IR Optics technology.
a game versio'n·would have the following differences from the 4. Aircraft has air-to-air refuelling capability. Probe is fixed
normal data card: and removable on B and C models; M has retractable probe.
5. Aircraft has canted seat(+ 1 GLOC modifier applies).
Mods. to Mirage 2000 data card to produce 2000-5:
Variant: Rafale B - two-seat trainer/multi-role aircraft.
1. Radar is the Thomson/CSP RD Y: Arc = 150+; Search = Add observer/weapons system operator to crew.
200/40; Track= 120/40; Lock-on= 8. Technology per original Variant: Rafale M - naval version. Delete station 9.
data card. Variant: Initial production standard (first 20 aircraft for
2. Fuel increased to 350. both services). Delete Terrain Following, HMS and TV/IR
3. Stations 3, 4, 6 and 7 may carry Mica AHMs and/or Matra Optics technology. DDS is type -A.
Super 5300 or Skyflash RHMs.
ORDNANCE: Advanced AAMs, ARMs and pods.
The-5 in the aircraft's designation indicates that it is the fifth
On the weapons side, the item of most interest was the
version to be offered for sale, although someone looking at the
appearance of the AMRAAMski. Both MiG-29's carried
· alphabet soup of Deux Mille variants might doubt that. As well
mockups under their wings while in the static display, although
as the 2000C fighter, 2000B two-seat trainer and 2000N nuclear
they were removed before either aircraft flew. In sharp contrast
strike aircraft, there are the 2000E and 2000H export versions,
to 1990, when the Fulcrums were surrounded by weapons with
and the 2000D and 2000S attack variants. Fortunately, in game
copiously-labelled placards, there was virtually no information
terms, most of these can be treated as one of a very few sub-
about any of the missiles that appeared on Russian aircraft, but
types: the Eis the standard export version; the His the Indian
some few details could be gleaned from press briefings; enough
licence-production model; the D is an N without provision for
to make a stab at evaluating some of them in game terms for
the ASMP nuclear missile, but still presumably with some
players to try out. So, in 2nd edition (TSOH) format:
nuclear capability because the S (for strike) is described as a
conventional attack version of the D - which means that both AAM-AE "AMRAAMski": Wt= 385; Load= 1; Seeker=
variants can be treated as N's for gaming purposes. The Rafale AH; Launch G = BT; Launch Roll= 8; Tum rate= ET/4; Flight
C.01 (i.e., the first single-seat prototype for theArmee de ['Air) time = 4; Visibility = 9; ECCM = 3; Chaff= 4; Flares NIA;
performed the difficult feat (for an aircraft with Dassault lines) Launch envelopes: front= 90-3, side= 60-3, rear= 75-2; Base
of actually looking sinister while sitting in the static park in its speed = 18-0 (1st ed: 16 18 20 22 22); Active range= 24; HOJ/
dark gray warpaint. Like the JAS-39, it was surrounded by MCG = Y/Y; Roll to hit: direct= 6, proximity= 8; Attack roll:
weaponry on the ground but flew clean save for wingtip Magics. direct= 7, proximity = 4.

9
 AIR POWER Year Six/ Issue # 31
TheET/4 turn rating may surprise people, but the "endgame" the Kh-3 lP ( export designation X-3 lP), a rocket-boosted,
manoeuvrability of the AAM-AE is one of its big selling points ramjet-powered ARM with the primary role of attacking
· (the AE stands for "advanced, export"). The missile does not AW ACS aircraft from a range of 60 miles or more. The
have thrust vectoring and gets its remarkable performance from designers, Zvezda, also claim that it can home on and destroy
its latticewing rear fins. The "potato-mashers", as they were any Western air defence radar, especially that of the Patriot.
christened, consist of many small lifting elements making up a This monster presents something of a problem in deciding how
rectangular shape with internal "cross-hatching". Deflecting a to rate it in game terms: it's certainly an ARM, but it also has an
fin exposes a greater or lesser number of these elements, air-to-airmode.Ahighly-speculativegameversion(i.e.,mostly
generating higher pitching forces than a normal single surface. guesswork) of the missile is as follows:
The designers claim that the missile can hit a target that is
pulling l 2g, which is quite a claim; mostly for the fun of it, the Kh-31P: Weight= 1320; Load= 3; Flight time= 10; Seeker
author has accepted this statement and rated the missile accord- arc= 120+; Range= 6-200; Launch roll= 8; Speed=20; Attack
ingly. strength: soft= 8, hard= 4; Frequency coverage= LF, MF, HF,
VF, MW; Self-defence mode= yes; Target switch= yes; Target
ASRAAM lives! Having finally been selected by the Minis-
memory= yes; Turn rate= ET/2.
try of Defence to replace the Sidewinder in RAF service, the
much-maligned AIM-132 had a high profile at Farnborough.
Those figures are for the missile in air-to-ground mode;
Current MoD plans are for the missile to arm Harriers and EFA,
estimated stats for air-to-air operation are given below, but J .D.
but not Torn ados or Sea Harrier FRS.2' s. British Aerospace, as
will have to come up with rules for ARM attacks on airborne
prime contractor, had ASRAAM well to the fore, displaying it
targets before they can be used properly [I will?!]. The HOJ
on the EFA mockup and alongside the Hawk 100 and Harrier,
rules could be used to cover shots at AW ACS with operating
and Saab had the missile in the collection of stores surrounding
radar, but what happens when they shut down? Anyway, the
the Gripen. Both companies also had mockups of a new AHM
Kh-31P could look something like this when used as an AAM:
currently in joint preliminary design. The S225X is a wingless
tail-controlled design that uses Thomson-CSP' s stealthy seeker
Kh-31P: Weight, load, flight time and launch roll are as
and either a rocket or ramjet motor. Design range is 100 km, or
above; Seeker= ?; Launch G = HT; Visibility= 9; ECCM = 2;
62 miles (186 hexes). The missile is intended to be a stealthy
Chaff, Flare NIA; Jammers = 3; Launch envelope= 200-6 from
rival for the AMRAAM, but it may be a bit late to compete in
all angles; Base speed =20-8; Active homing NIA?; HOJ/MCG
the current economic and political climate.
= YIN; Roll to hit: direct=4,proximity =7; Attack rating: direct
Area dispenser pods are starting to proliferate, particularly = 9, proximity = 4.
(in the light of Tornado losses over Iraq) in stand-off versions.
So that was Farnborough '92. There was more - the F-16
The assortment of weapons clustered around the JAS-39 in-
display, obviously flown by a pilot who was determined to
cluded an unfamiliar boxy shape with a streamlined nose, small
show that anything that the Gripen and Rafale could do, he
wings and an X-tail. This turned out to be the DWS 39, one of
could do at least as well; the Ilyushin II- 78 tanker conversion in
a family of stand-off air-to-ground weapons produced by a
Aeroflot livery (a double non sequitur-Aeroflot doesn't exist
consortium of German, British, Swedish and American compa-
any more, and their civil aviation activities didn't involve
nies. The DWS design uses a series of modules to provide a
tankers); the static lineup ofU.S. Desert Storm veterans, includ-
range of specialised weapons from a few basic components: the
ing an F-15C and F-18 with three kills between them; the
main body can contain two dozen or more submunitions, or a
Argentinian jet trainer that had to be rushed 8000 miles to the
single warhead for hard, fixed targets; the nose can hold TV or
U.K. after its sister crashed at a local display a few days before
IR seekers and inertial and satellite navigation systems; and a
the start of the Show - but what you have just read is about all
small turbojet can be mounted in the (normally empty) aft
that could be put into game terms.
section to give a range of 150+ miles. Not far away from the
Gripen, the AMX-T (two-seat trainer/attack conversion -
Phillip Atcliffe
changes from the basic aircraft as described in the data card are
the extra seat and reduced fuel capacity of 260) was carrying
Editor's Note: The sheer size of this excellent article pre-
two Skysharks under its wings. The Skyshark has been in
vented us from running it sooner. However, Farnborough '94 is
development for some time now, but Alenia announced at the
just around the corner, Phillip, so do your stuff again. We look
Show that they were studying powered versions with either
forward to another excellent job and we'll try to run your article
rocket or turbojet propulsion depending on the desired range.
sooner next time.
The rocket engine gives a range of 20 miles, and that of the jet
variant is said to be over 350 miles. Unfortunately, that's all that
the manufacturers were willing to release about either series of AS Tournament Trivia: The Air Superiority record for
weapons, so game versions will have to wait for a while. rolling bad dice still stands with Dan "Dragon" Foxman
As well as the TIALD pod, the Su�35 was carrying a large red who managed four 1 Os in a row at a critical moment one year
missile on the inboard pylon of each wing. This turned out to be at Origins. Can anyone beat this bit of bad luck yet?

10
The Journal of Air Combat Gaming Year Six! Issue- #31

World War Two combat at sea or in attacks on ships in port. Each naval combat
is considered either a surface or a naval air engagement; since
the choice ordinarily goes to the player with the most air-to-sea
factors available, the importance of these factors goes beyond
their immediate combat effects. Units with non-zero air-to-sea
strengths may also serve to escort shipping, reducing the
effectiveness of sub attacks on convoys. Strategic born.bing
attacks are aimed against factory or resource hexes and, when
successful, reduce enemy production. Other air missions in-
clude interception and escort of the aforementioned missions by
Air Combat Gaming fighters, as well as air transport and resupply missions by A'TRs.
All of these missions may be thwarted by intercepting
ADG's Planes in Flames fighters. Air combat involves splitting each side's forces into a
group of bombers and a group of fighters; air-to-air combat
values are based on the rating of the "front" fighter (or bomber,
A Review By John "Vulture" Caraher
if there are no escorts), which will bear the brunt of any combat
losses, with modifiers for extra FTR or CV backing up the front
INTRODUCTION:
fighter. Each player rolls on a 2-dice table based on the differ-
Along with Avalon Hill's Third Reich, Australian Design ence in net air-to-air value and results are applied; these include
Group's World in Flames is one of the most popular strategic- destroying one opposing air unit, forcing a mission abort, a
level treatments of World War II. In 1992, ADG released a "miss," or "clearing through" enemy bombers to the target (a
supplement to provide a more detailed treatment of the air war, blown intercept). Air combat proceeds in rounds until either all
Planes in Flames. This review is intended to highlight the bombers abort or "clear through" or one side cuts its losses and
strengths and weaknesses of the expansion - both its rationale aborts the remainder of his forces ( common after losing a good
and its execution. FTR to hot dice).
To understand the significance of PiF to the WiF player Overall, standard WiF gives air power a very prominent
requires a grasp of the use of air power in the basic game. Each role. It determines the character of every naval engagement, can
air unit in the standard game represents 250-800 aircraft, all of cause the paralysis of hostile armies through ground strikes, and
one of the following types: fighter (FTR), tactical bomber often tips the combat chart that extra column or two in favor of
(TAC), strategic bomber (STR), naval bomber (NAV), and air the attacker or defender. The strategic bombing threat is great
transport (ATR). enough that the Axis player(s) cannot afford simply to ignore it,
but not so great as to cause Axis collapse if the Allies are slack
WIF AIR UNIT MISSIONS: in otherwise prosecuting the war. The early-war effectiveness
of the German TAC is crucial to duplicating in game terms the
Each air unit has four ratings in the standard game: air-to-
success of the Blitzkrieg, while the late-war combination of
air, tactical bombing, naval bombing, and strategic bombing.
quality and numbers for American air power can ensure the
Range is determined by type and, secondarily, by nationality
success of the Allied endgame. Most of the realism problems
and year. (US and Commonwealth STRs have longer ranges
are easily forgiven in a game played at this scale.
than other STRs, and all aircraft get a range bonus beginning in
1944.) Carrier-based aircraft are handled in a more abstract A few gripes remained for purists, though. The uniformity
fashion; each CV unit gets a single number based primarily on in range within a type, the ability of long-range bombers to fly
the size of the constituent CVs' air groups; that value (with right over fighter bases en route to distant targets without fear
modifications) may be used either as an air-to-air value or as any of interception, and a few other nagging complaints surely
of the bombing values in combat either against enemy ships or formed part of the impetus for PiF. In addition, the previous
coastal hexes. Land-based aircraft all employ their full combat upgrade of the counters saw naval units acquire historical
strengths against any target within their range; the survivors designations and dates indicating the order in which the capital
may return to any hex (within terrain and stacking limits) within ships were built. ADG decided to do much the same thing for
their range of the target after completing the mission. Each air the air units - and PiF was born.
unit may only fly one combat mission per turn (though within
a per-impulse allotment, air units which have not yet flown PLANES IN FLAMES EXPANSION KIT:
missions may "rebase" any number of times each turn).
The PiF expansion includes 600 of the top-quality counters
Tactical bombing factors may be employed either in "ground recent WiF buyers have enjoyed (replacing all the air units of
strikes" (which occur at the start of an impulse and disrupt the standard 5th Edition set), rules and scenario modifications,
enemy land units) or as "ground support" (in which the strength an extra 5th Edition combat chart and a chart to track pilots,
is directly added to that of the friendly ground units involved in reserve, scrapped and lend-lease air units. The counters are
a battle). Naval bombing factors may be applied either in simply stunning; ADG clearly went overboard on the artwork
11
AIR POWER Year Six! Issue# 31
(what else can you say about painting detailed camouflage and lost in combat, the owning player may choose to "scrap" that
insignia on aircraft illustrations for 1/2 inch counters?). Further, class of aircraft (usually 1-3 units), thereby raising the average
the amount of information on each counter has exploded; in combat strength of units available to be built.
addition to the original four strengths, range is now printed on
the counter (which may be extended for some units at the cost AAA EFFECTS:
of some combat effectiveness), air-to-air ratings are subject to
Another significant change in PiF is the addition of flak
numerous modifiers (black circles indicate night fighters, which
effects. Previously, only naval air combat include the effect of
fight at full strength at night - oh yeah, missions are now
anti-aircraft fire. The flak rules have been beefed up to give
designated as either day or night missions - while bracketed
factory hexes an intrinsic AAA capability as well as introducing
values indicate unarmed aircraft ranging from transports to
dedicated AAA units. In addition, some results now destroy air
Mosquitoes), some are designated "tank busters," and flying
units; previously, naval anti-air results merely aborted bombers
boats have been added. Aircraft types represented by a counter
to reduce the strength of an attack.
are now fairly homogeneous - while before you could think of
a German FfR counter as a mix ofMe-109s and FW-190s of
NEW AIRCRAFT RANGES:
unknown marks, in PiF it makes all the difference in the world
whether you just drew the Me-109 E2 or the FW- l 90A (since By far, though, the most far-reaching change in PiF is the
the latter is credited with twice the range). Overall, the new variation in aircraft ranges. This Achilles heel of the Luftwaffe
counters provide the WWII air combat neophyte some appre- is made manifest in a way that straight WiF cannot reveal. In
ciation of the differences among the capabilities of various WiF, German air units are the equal of any of the Allies' (save
Allied and Axis aircraft and vastly expand the decisions each perhaps for STR and NAV); in PiF, while numbers like FfR
player must make in the proper use of air power. air-to-air ratings are still excellent, these units are crippled by
short range. Coupled with the PiF rule limiting interceptors to
PILOTS, TRAINING AND SCRAP HEAPS: attacking bombers within 1/2 the fighter's range (to simulate
the limited reaction time of the scrambling fighters), the vast
A less visible but no less important change in PiF is the
majority of German fighters see their effective combat radius
need to train aircrew. Airframe costs are reduced somewhat
reduced from 4 to 2 hexes. (For instance, all Bf-109s are rated
from the standard WiF values, but that price no longer includes
'3' for range, ha! ved to 1.5 and rounded up to 2 for intercepts.)
the pilots needed to fly them. A single-engine fighter unit costs
Allied aircraft are generally much better; for example, of new
4 build points (BP) to put into action in either game, but the PiF
German air units added to the force pool in 1941, only one
cost is split into 2 BP for pilots and 2 BP for the aircraft. One
single-engine fighter type gets a range rating greater than 3
consequence is that players may now have excesses of either
(FW-190A). By contrast, four US single engine fighters be-
pilots or planes. If there is a pilot shortage, the player must
come available at that time; the worst range is the P-390 at 4
choose which aircraft to place in the "reserve pool," which may
hexes, with two P-40s rated at 7 and a P-38 good for 12 hexes.
enter play as pilots become available. Excess pilots are simply
Japan gets a badly-needed boost from PiF, as their range-13
recorded until enough airframes to keep them busy arrive.
Zeroes and long-legged (not to mention overrated) flying boats
Accurately predicting the correct ratio of pilots to aircraft is
will be the scourge of the Pacific in the first year or two of war.
necessary to maximize build efficiency; this may sound trivi-
Range effects are even more dramatic in increasing the poten-
ally simple, but it is complicated by the fact that not all aircraft
tial devastation of a surprise paradrop; while in WiF air trans-
losses result in pilot losses. Unfortunately, there is no account-
ports all were of range 6, PiF ATRs are typified by the C-47s
ing for changes in aircrew quality as a function of combat
rated at 15 hexes! (By contrast, he poor Germans are saddled
experience, training or the Joss of elite pilots in battles; every
with range-5 Ju-52s.)
pilot is as good as every other. Given the scope of the game,
though, any rules designed to reflect these factors would be To offset this somewhat, an optional interception rule has
prohibitively cumbersome. been introduced in errata allowing en-route interceptions (in
contrast to the standard rule, where everything is based on
Another result of separating pilot training from aircraft
which units can actually reach the target hex). Still, air defense
production is that the modernization of air forces throughout the
is a much more difficult proposition, especially for Germany.
war happens more naturally. Because of the reserve pool, there
is always some incentive to continue to buy new aircraft even
FINAL COMMENTS:
when you feel that the overall size of your air force is adequate,
as aircraft that become available for production later tend to In general, play balance is tilted toward the Allies by PiF.
have better ratings than the older models. Even if you can't The Germans make hay in Poland in straight WiF largely on the
afford to pair up a pilot with each new plane you may still want strength of using their excellent tactical bombers to paralyze the
to buy new aircraft to let your existing pilots remain competitive Poles; with weaker planes in' 39 in PiF, ground strikes that used
with your opposition's best. A further mechanism to bring to be automatically successful are now chancy. In general, the
about modernization is the "scrap heap." In WiF, destroyed early German air superiority is less useful than the later Allied
units are returned to a pool of units available to be built; new aerial supremacy, not only giving the Allies a better chance to
builds are draw at random from this pool. In PiF, as aircraft are hang on early but also handing them an overpowering advan-
12
The Journal of Air Combat Gaming Year Six! Issue #31
tage as they drive the fascist forces back. '

Current Events
I should note that these comments are directed primarily
toward the original edition of PiF; a second edition was released NATO ''DENY FLIGHT" ORDER OF BATTLE:
at Origins '93 which includes some minor rule changes, some France:
more aircraft (mostly late-war models which rarely see game - Mirage 2000C, Cervia AB, Italy, 10 fighter aircraft (NFZ)
action), and slight revisions to some counters (mostly reflecting - Mirage 2000D, Cervia AB, Italy, 6 ground attack aircraft
errata). I understand that some aircraft have been re-rated in the (CAS)
"Gold" edition, particularly that the tactical bombing strengths - Mirage F-1, Istrana AB, Italy, 5 reconnaissance aircraft
of the early-war Luftwaffe are higher (though I have not - E-3F, Avord, France, or Trapani AB, Italy, 1 airborne early
verified this myself). This would be a welcome change. Many warning aircraft
of the early bombers are also heavily overrated for strategic - C-135, lstres, France, 1 air-to-air refueling aircraft
bombing; the B-17s and B-29s of 1945 get ratings of 8-9 - Jaguar, Istrana AB, 8 ground attack aircraft (CAS)
compared to ratings of 4-5 for many comparatively pathetic - Super Etendard 4P, aircraft carrier Foch, 6 fighter-bombers
French and Soviet bombers available in the '30s. Actually, on (CAS)
the subject of unit ratings, a general gripe is that everything is - Mirage Fl CT, Istrana AB, 4 ground attack aircraft (CAS)
based very heavily on easy-to-research statistics - number and
caliber of guns, top speeds, size of bomb load, etc. The result is The Netherlands:
somewhat distorted combat effectiveness for many individual - F-16A, Villafranca AB, Italy, 8 ground attack aircraft
units - maneuverability is somewhat discounted in fighter (CAS) ·
ratings, and aircraft like the Me-163 end up being excessively - F-16A, Villafranca AB, 6 fighter aircraft (NFZ)
effective against escorting fighters because of the failure to take - F-1.6A, Villafranca AB, 4 fighter aircraft (reconnaissance)
account of its significant operational limitations.
Turkey:
CONCLUSION: - F-16C, Ghedi AB, Italy, 18 fighter aircraft (NFZ)
I suppose the Axis player's lament in any strategic-level
WWII game is inevitably that as more changes occur in the United Kingdom:
name of realism, the worse their chances of ultimate victory get. - F-3 Tornado, Gioia del Colle AB, Italy, 8 fighter aircraft
PiF is actually less realistic than the WiF air game in many (NFZ)
respects. For instance, composite units are a more accurate - K-1 Tristar L-1011, Malpensa Airport, Italy, 2 air-to-air
depiction of aircraft deployment than the single-type units PiF refueling aircraft
offers at this scale, especially on fronts with low airunit density. - Sea Harrier, HMS Ark Royal, 6 dual-role capable aircraft
Also, since carrier-based air is ignored by the expansion, the (CAS/NFZ)
interaction of land-based and CV air is artificially skewed; - RAF Jaguar, Gioia de! Colle AB, 12 ground attack aircraft
before 1941, the best CVs beat the best FfRs in air-to-air (CAS)
combat, while by the end of the war the CV s are helpless against
modern fighters, solely because CV strengths are static per the United States:
original WiF. But despite these weaknesses, the changes wrought - USAF F-16C, Aviano AB, Italy, 12 dual role capable aircraft
by PiF convey much more of the flavor of the strengths and (CAS/NFZ)
weaknesses of the combatants' air forces. And those counters - USMC F/A-18A, Aviano AB, 8 dual role capable aircraft
are pretty cool, too .. (CAS/NFZ)
- F-15E, Aviano AB, 8 ground attack aircraft (CAS)
"Vulture" - USN F/A-18C, USS Saratoga, 12 dual role capable, or F-14
fighter aircraft (NFZ)
- USN FlA-18C or A-6E, USS Saratoga, 6 ground attack aircraft
ATTENTION WRITERS!
(CAS)
- USAF KC-135, Pisa, Italy, and Istres, France, 10 air-to-air
AIR POWER HAS ADDED A FAX MACHINE TO
refueling aircraft
OUR INVENTORY NOW AND WE ALSO HAVE
- USAF 0/A-10, A viano AB, 12 ground attack aircraft (CAS)
SOFTWARE AVAILABLE TO READ DOS FOR-
- USAF EC-130, A viano AB, 5 Airborne Battlefield Command
MA ITED 3.5" DISKS WITH OUR MAC MACHINES.
and Control Centre ale.
SO IBM USERS MAY NOW WRITE FOR US AS
- USAF AC-130, Brindisi AB, Italy, 4 gunship aircraft
MUCH AS THEY DESIRE. HAVE AT IT, SEND
ARTICLES AND ORDERS BY DISK OR FAX! Notes:
1. Some AEW and support aircraft have been omitted.
AIR POWER PUBLICATIONS FAX: 313-761-9041 2. (NFZ) = assigned to No Fly Zone enforcement
3. (CAS) = assigned to Close Air Support
Source: AFSOUTH fact sheet, 11 March 1994

13
AIR POWER Year Six! Issue# 31
contains a few serious errors. So, when I designed OTR, I chose
"'OVER THE REICH" to combine the Bf 109G� 10 and the K-4 onto a single data card
since they are very similar in weight, design and performance
- THE FIRST FIX UPS - and since they used the same engine. The toughest thing I ran
into in designing the Bf 109 cards is that there are so many damn
And a new Bf 109G just for GRINS! variants of them and so many different combinations of engines
ByJ.D.W. and fuel that were used on them. Well, to make a long story
short, I took Green's data for the K-4 at face value (wrong
Over The Reich has been out now for three months and sales
move) and used it to make the G-10/K-4 card. Green's data
reports from COA indicate that it is moving extremely well. If
attributes phenomenal climb rates to the K-4 compared to other
all the positive letters and feedback I have been receiving here
models of the 1090. After much discussion on GEnie, and after
at Air Power are any indication, then this series is going to be
going back into my books, I have decided that the climb data he
hot. People are really enjoying it. The good news for Air Power
gives for the K-4 must actually be for the K-14, which used the
is that we are getting a lot of new subscribers who are interested
DB 605L engine with a large two stage supercharger and 96
in World War Two as well as jets (and some who could care less
octane fuel, and probably carried the high altitude GM-1 boost
about jets, but hey!). The new subscribers have been a shot in
sytem as well.
the arm and the extra money coming from them has allowed us
print our own mailing envelopes with the super-cool F-16- Since the G-1 O/K-4 card in the game depicts the one equipped
coming-in-to-land logo on them. Of course, now that I have a with the DB 605DCM engine, which had an only a slightly
World War Two game published we will have to expand our
bigger supercharger than that carried on earlier O models and
coverage of that era. which utilized the low altitude MW-50 boosting instead of GM-
1 I had to downrate its listed climb ability a lot. Basically, the
With that in mind, this issue's centerspread includes the two DCM engine provided about 14 to 20 percent more power than
pages of errata, clarifications and changes that I have compiled the engine on the G-6 (depending on relative altitudes), so I
since the game has come out. And, for Bf 109 lovers the world
figured that the G-10/K-4, which is nearly identical to the G-6
over, I am including a revised and corrected Bf 109G-10 data in weight and wing area, could not have much more of an
card and a brand new Bf 109, the G-14. increase in climbing ability than 20 percent. The new numbers
ref! ect that.
Over The Reich Errata: Apparently, the efforts of Karl
Mueller, John Caraher, Steve Rawlings and many others to Bf109G-14: Given thatthis Bf 1090 variant is so similar to
minimize the typos in the original draft has paid off. Although the G-1 O which appears already in the game, one might ask why
I have put together two pages of stuff, most of it is clarifications I even bothered. Two reasons. First, it was an extremely easy
to some of the rules that were not so clear, as well as a minor card to create since most of the data for it had already been
change to how landing gear and flaps work, along with a handy researched and I had it in hand while rechecking the G-10/K-4
table to help you figure out just what happens to a four-engine card. The second reason is much more important, however, and
bombers when it is loaded up and begins to take engine damage that is that the G-14 model was produced in greater quantity
and losses. The game itself has displayed no glaring holes in the than the G-10 and served in more units.
rules or anything else which severely impacts play. In fact, most
of the complaints coming in about the game have concerned The book Messerschmitt Bf 109 F,G, K Series, by Jochen
other people's opinions on how things should have been done Prien and Peter Rodeike, is very well researched and indicates
or on how they would have handled such and such rule differ-
that about 5,500 Bf 109G-14s of all types were produced during
ently. Hey, I'm the designer and I did it my way! What's in the the last year and a half of the war, compared to fewer than 3 ,000
game works for what I was trying to show. In any case, the errata 0-1 O models and the few hundred K-4s which made it off the
and clarifications should help smooth over any rough spots.
assembly line before the end of the war.
Bf 109G-10: This issue of the newsletter includes a cor-
My best guess as to the reason for this, considering that the
rected data card for the Bf I 09G- l 0, since the one in the game G-1 O entered production a month or two earlier and was a better
is grossly over-rated in its climb ability. Other than that, the
aircraft, is that the number of G- lOs made was tied to the
revised card is identical to the one originally provided in the
number of DCM engines that could be produced. Far more DB
game. The original should be tossed. 605AS engines were available, hence the greater number of G-
l 4s. In fact, several hundred G-lOs were produced with the DB
I must be the first to confess that in cranking out the 24 cards
605AS engine and were, for all practical purposes, identical to
for Over The Reich that I didn't always have time to cross
theG-14s. Enjoy the data cards. Have fun with the game. I'll be
check my references, and in this case I got bitten. The book
back with more fun stuff every issue for the Fighting Wings
Aircraft of the Third Reich by William Green, which is my
series. (Jet jocks, don't worry, there will be stuff for you, too).
primary reference source, is in fact just about the only source �f
good performance data on German aircraft. Unfortunately, it
Best, JDW
14
The Journal of Air Combat Gaming Year Six! Issue #31

Incoming! Questions & Answers

Dear Sirs, FIGHTING WINGS RULES - OVER THE REICH
Air Power is a fantastic publication that I enjoy from cover 1. Can an aircraft carry FPs from turn to turn toward
to cover. Keep up the good work and let's see some new banking, slipping, and skidding as well as for turning?
counters and data cards (especially theF-22 and bomber types). • Affirmative.
Sincerely, David Pickert, Austin, Texas
2. If an aircraft is in an inverted bank and steep diving,
Dear J.D. and its normal turn requirement is 3/2 or 2/1, does its turn
requirement get reduced to 2/1 and 1/60 respectively?
Looks like I'm getting short so sign me up for another 2 yr.
hitch. I really like Air Power! I especially enjoyed the Over the • Nein! Nein! Dumbkopf! When using the inverted bank
benefit while steep diving, a turn requirement of 3/2 would
Reich articles and am looking forward to getting it when it's
become just a straight 2, and a 2/1 would become a 1.
released. Also I liked the UFO/Dragon scenarios for a change
of pace. I have "heard" from two separate sources that F-4s 3. Why can't an Fw 190 use snap rolls to increase its rate
enroute to Southeast Asia had "Contact" with some type of of roll like other aircraft. Couldn't it be allowed to say, bank
UFO over the Pacific in the late 60's. Ever hear of this? Keep twice with one FP, (e.g.: from level to an inverted bank),
up the good work, I'm looking forward to the next issue. skipping the upright bank step?

Take care, Bob Best, Concord, CA • The rules state that a bank requirement can never be
improved beyond a 1. The Fw 190A is rated as a 1 to begin with.
Dear J.D. Its rate of roll is so good that in effect it is snap-rolling and doesn't
have to pay the 3-decel point drag penalty for snap rolling that
Please sign me on for another go 'round with Air Power. I am other aircraft must pay to reduce their bank requirement.
pleased to see you are now including articles about other game
systems, especially for WWI. I cut my aerogame teeth on 4. The rules cite specific penalties for aircraft powered
Richthofen's War too many years ago, and still remember the by non-fuel injected engines that do negative-G maneuvers
joy of piloting a-Sopwith Pup against a Pfalz. It made those trips or fly inverted. However, I am unable to find anywhere in the
to Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York to see the real vintage ADCs any indication of which are non-fuel injected.
aircraft there that much more meaningful and fun. Regarding • Actually, don't panic. That is because all of the aircraft in
Over The Reich, I hope you don't go too far with the detail and Over the Reich have fuel-injected engines. The rules for fuel
"chrome" so that playability suffers. My idea of realism is injection are included because of planned aircraft expansions
squarely on the side of "simple yet elegant", the best enuncia- within this newsletter and by COA which will include aircraft
tion of which was in the Designer's Notes for the Command without fuel injection. Such aircraft are designated by the follow-
Decision game. I'm still looking for players in the Connecticut ing: "(non-F.I.)," which appears next to their engine type on the
aircraft data card.
area - anybody out there? It's good to hear that Luke AFB and
its F-16s survived your conversion course. And by the way, I
thought Rob Kasten's review of TSOH in issue #24 was both
positive and fair. Judging from the letters you received maybe ANNOUNCING!
he's not the one who needs thicker skin. Anyway, keep up the
THE BILLY MITCHELL MEMORIAL
good work.
AIR POWER TOURNAMENT
Sincerely, Greg Kuntz, New Haven, CT

Dear J.D. WHEN: April 8th, 9th, 10th, 1994

WHERE: Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology
I picked up GMT's Down in Flames-Rise of the Luftwaffe
game. In some ways, it may well be the best introductory air Friday, April 8th, Flight School - Learn TSOH or OTR
combat game ever. The only problem with it is that after a while, Saturday, April 9th, AS!fSOH tournament
you begin to long for something with more substance that isn't Sunday, April 10th, OTR scenarios.
so mindless. I've had Over the Reich on order from a game-
Sponsored by the MIT Strategic Games Society
store since mid-November when COA announced it was avail- For Info: Contact Ethan McKinney at 617-225-97 56 or
able. Waaugh, I'd rather do unescorted B-17 raids like the one at mckinney@mit.edu (E-mail)
Tony Stanfl described in Air Power 28 than play Down in
Flames on these cold snowy evenings. Tell those guys in King
of Prussia to take a laxative and stop the constipation! It's been
two months for crying out loud ... AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT ORIGINS 94!
Check Six! Bob Gross, Lewistown, PA 7 -10 JULY 1994, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

15
AIR POWER Year Six! Issue :JI 31
Jan I Feb 1 994
UPCOMING CONS: BIG KAHUNA J. D. Webster.
£JK�AJtVlJM.L-C([))N 94� EDITORS
STAFF
John Caraher, Karl Mueller.
Bill Koff, Dan Verssen
(South Kansas Area Mud Movers) Tony Stanfl (Illustrator).
Hosted by our very own Jim Owens: AIR POWER is published two or more times a year (six
When? May 7th, and Sth, 1994. usually). All rights on the contents of the journal are reserved. No
part of the journal may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without
Where? Sunny Wichita Kansas prior consent of the publisher. Portions of the journal may be
explicitly released from these restrictions. Use of a product
• Featuring an Air/Superiority I name without reference to its company or trademark does not
Speed Of Heat Tourney. constitute a challenge to its trademark status by that company.

For more info and registration call BACK ISSUES are available at US $3.00 for domestic
subscribers and US $3.50 for overseas subscribers, postage
Jim Owens at 316-729-7578. included. Some back issues are original prints, some are photo-
copies. All issues still available.

WJrJNGS (Q)JF WAIR rn SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Any previously unpublished

material is welcomed. Articles, reviews, scenarios, etc. should
Hosted by our very own Bob Gross: be submitted on 8.5 x 11 white paper, typed and double-spaced
When? May 21, and 22, 1994. or submitted as text only files on a Macintosh formatted 3.5"
diskette. Artwork should be full or double-sized, on white paper,
Where? Super-8 Hotel Conference and camera-ready. All submissions become the property of AIR
room, Rt. 322, Burnham, PA. POWER Publications. Contributers receive credit for one free
issue for each 3 pages (or less) of their work which is published
• Featuring Air/Superiority I Speed per issue.

Of Heat I Over The Reich Tourneys. Send letters, comments, questions, sugges-
tions, etc., with SASE for reply, to the address
Pre-reg. cost $10.00. For more info
listed below. Your feedback is welcome!
and registration write to Bob Gross:
SUBSCRIPTIONS: All payment must be made in US
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16