Operation Chunky Bandit

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1715 on 24 July 1990 in the country of South Leon.  We are with the Cuban Air Force's 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron, deployed to South Leon several months ago.  So far there hasn't been much to do, just some routine Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and close air support missions every now and again for the grunts, but no air-to air engagements to date.  The squadron, also known as "The Flying Boxcars," is led by Major "Viper" Culero, a former US Navy fighter pilot that earned himself four kills and the Estrella de Bronce (Bronze Star with 'V') during the Cuban War of Liberation.  He normally keeps a two-ship CAP up, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but this morning he had bumped it up to four on account of a bunch of chatter about something major going on up North.

What the good Major then found out is that the Communist Army from Federation Socialiste Nationale de Leon (FSNL), South Leon's malignant neighbor to the north, launched an all out invasion of South Leon, and they are rapidly rolling towards that nations capital.  Accompanying them is an all out blitz by FSNL's Air Force, and the Flying Boxcars are now involved in some of the most intense aerial action since WWII.

To kick off their offensive, the FSNL Air Force put 6 x MiG-21s in the air on a classic fighter sweep, looking to clear the skies for follow on strike aircraft, while the Cubans answered with four F-4 Phantoms of their own.  The results were indecisive, with the Communists losing three MiGs and the Cubans losing two Phantoms.

The enemy returned to base and launched a strike force with fighter escort a couple hours later.  Major Culero sent two flights up to meet them.  The Cuban fighter pilots did well, downing three MiG-21s and five Su-22s to only one lost Phantom, but they did allow one enemy bomber through.  The Su-22 bombed the SLA HQ in the nation's capital, causing substantial damage (10/30).

It's a few hours later and the bad guys are keeping up the pressure.  The Cubans scrambled two more flights to meet the enemy strike force.
   

F-4 Phantoms close on the enemy strike element.


And begin feasting!


Some fun dogfighting.


But not all is peachy in South Leon.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2019/07/operation-chunky-bandit-19-air.html?m=1

That's it for the batreps this week, gotta hold you guys to two or ya start getting too demanding   But I'll post some recent paintings stuff (WWII 6mm) in a couple days, then post the next batrep on Monday.  This weekend I plan on playing another KG Klink (WWII Fall of France in 10mm, if you're not familiar), then some more of these dogfights. I also have a hankering to play some Vietnam skirmish action, thanks to my buddy Joe Legan over at the Platoon Forward blog.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Art you trying to make yourself unpopular with the better half, again, Jack.

Great report. 

Cheers - Phil

[mmcv]

RIP Logjam

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice one Jack

[bigjackmac]

Thanks guys!

And regarding Logjam, we'll see, he's only MIA, so maybe he'll surface and we'll get to see a rescue attempt.  I like blending the air and ground campaigns when I can.

V/R,
Jack

[mmcv]

Thanks guys!

And regarding Logjam, we'll see, he's only MIA, so maybe he'll surface and we'll get to see a rescue attempt.  I like blending the air and ground campaigns when I can.

V/R,
Jack

Plot twist!

[bigjackmac]

Maybe

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0815 on 25 July 1990 in the country of South Leon.  We are with the Cuban Air Force's 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron, deployed to South Leon several months ago.  So far there hasn't been much to do, just some routine Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and close air support missions every now and again for the grunts, but no air-to air engagements to date.  The squadron, also known as "The Flying Boxcars," is led by Major "Viper" Culero, a former US Navy fighter pilot that earned himself four kills and the Estrella de Bronce (Bronze Star with 'V') during the Cuban War of Liberation.  He normally keeps a two-ship CAP up, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but this morning he had bumped it up to four on account of a bunch of chatter about something major going on up North.

What the good Major then found out is that the Communist Army from Federation Socialiste Nationale de Leon (FSNL), South Leon's malignant neighbor to the north, launched an all out invasion of South Leon, and they are rapidly rolling towards that nations capital.  Accompanying them is an all out blitz by FSNL's Air Force, and the Flying Boxcars are now involved in some of the most intense aerial action since WWII.

To kick off their offensive, the FSNL Air Force put 6 x MiG-21s in the air on a classic fighter sweep, looking to clear the skies for follow on strike aircraft, while the Cubans answered with four F-4 Phantoms of their own.  The results were indecisive, with the Communists losing three MiGs and the Cubans losing two Phantoms.

The enemy returned to base and launched a strike force with fighter escort a couple hours later.  Major Culero sent two flights up to meet them.  The Cuban fighter pilots did well, downing three MiG-21s and five Su-22s to only one lost Phantom, but they did allow one enemy bomber through.  The Su-22 bombed the SLA HQ in the nation's capital, causing substantial damage (10/30).

A few hours later the bad guys are back in force.  The Cubans scrambled two more flights to meet the enemy strike force.  It was a helluva fracas: the Communists lost a total of three MiG-21s and five Su-22s, while the Cubans lost four of their six F-4s committed.  More importantly, they lost a pilot MIA, and another for about a month due to wounds.  But Boxcar 14 was on fire, racking up four kills and being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  The one enemy bomber that made it through made a successful bombing run on the SLA HQ, again causing substantial damage (19/30).

Now it's the next day, and the bad guys are keeping up the pressure.  The Cubans scrambled two more flights to meet the enemy strike force.
   

The Squadron Commander, "Viper," is up, but he's only got two Phantoms with him.


Against all that...


The Commie pilots definitely ate their Wheaties this morning.


But the F-4s get some licks in, too.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2019/07/operation-chunky-bandit-20-air.html

This is the first of the next three fights I played.  I'm playing and posting more as soon as I can, stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Super report, Jack !

Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Good report Jack

[bigjackmac]

Thanks, fellars

V/R,
Jack

[Terry37]

Love it!

Terry

[bigjackmac]

Thanks Terry!

V/R,
Jack

[sunjester]

Those little aircraft are very tempting. Nice batreps.

[bigjackmac]

Thanks, Sunjester, but don't do it!  Someone has to be the voice of reason, we can't go on like this, everyone collecting everything until we are disowned by our significant others and wind up in debtors prison!

V/R,
Jack