Marshal Ney
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Malta CampaignHere is an idea for a campaign I've put together that my group is going to play. It is generally historical in nature with adjustments made for the game. I've kept this as simple as I can, and I wouldn't mind getting some additional eye balls on it. This post will be in three notes. Though the descriptions are lengthy, they are simple. Let me know what you guys think.
Malta Campaign
This campaign is based upon naval engagements that took place between the United Kingdom and Italy / Germany between 1940 and 1942. The naval engagements simulated include both surface and convoy actions that took place around the island of Malta.
The campaign is comprised of six scenarios, two surface action and four convoy action. Each scenario has a set number of points available to each side for purchasing units. Convoy ships are provided as a part of that scenario. Air power is available to each side representing CV and land based aircraft with the following conditions:
* For scenarios one and two, UK CV's may only carry Swordfish Torpedo Bombers. Fighters are available for purchase as a part of the CV build in scenarios three through six. All AC to be deployed on CV's must be purchased as a part of the force build.
* Aircraft are not available from the Malta land base until the first aircraft ferry successfully delivers its cargo to the island. Once it does, the Malta land base may employ 5 aircraft. This limit will not change for the entire campaign. The initial 5 AC deployed from Malta are provided for the first scenario they are available. AC losses due to air combat are not replaced until the arrival of the next AC ferry.
* Italian AC are available for all scenarios. Land base limit is set at 7 aircraft, and will remain at this level over the course of the campaign. Initial AC deployment is provided as a part of the first scenario. The Italian player may choose at no cost his initial AC deployment. All losses incurred during a scenario must be purchased as a part of his force build in the next scenario. Note that replacement purchases do not have to be the exact same AC that was lost.
* German AC become available to the Axis in scenario four. Land based limit, initial deployment, and loss replacement are the same as those rules that apply to Italy. Only JU87 Stuka and Me109 may be used. JU87 Stuka will be granted Press the Attack SA.
Each side begins the game with a set force pool of units that remains fixed for all six scenarios. All builds must be made from this force pool with the following exceptions:
* Scenarios three through six provide cargo ships as a part of the initial set up. All cargo ships are represented by USS Jeremiah O' Brian. Some scenarios list fast convoys as a part of the initial deployment. The ships will have movement 2 (Slow 1 SA) rather than movement 1. Cargo ships may deployed 2 per hex and will be treated as one ship for stacking purposes.
* Some scenarios provide CV's as AC ferries...HMS Argus (proxied with HMS Fencer), HMS Formidable (proxied with HMS Illustrious), and USS Wasp (proxied with USS Yorktown). Note that these ships may not launch AC in their own defense.
During each scenario, ships will be damaged, crippled, and sunk. Damaged vessels are returned to the force pool and are available for purchase for the next scenario. Crippled vessels will be unavailable for purchase in the next scenario, being returned to the force pool for the next scenario after that. Vessels that are sunk are removed from the force pool for the remainder of the campaign.
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Marshal Ney
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Re: Malta CampaignScenarios
NOTE: For each scenario, Allied and Axis players have the same number of points available for force builds. There are no limits to the size or class of vessel purchased. The only requirement is that ships be purchased from the campaign's available force pool
Scenario 1: Surface Action (10 turns)
This scenario is loosely based around the Battle of Calabria.
100 points available to each side.
Scenario 2: Surface Action (10 turns)
This scenario is loosely based around the Battle of Spartevino.
150 points available to each side
Scenario 3: Convoy Action, AC Delivery (10 turns)
HMS Fencer (proxy HMS Argus) plus 4 Cargo Ships
UK CV's may carry Fighters.
Vichy French and German Subs Available
150 points available to each side
Scenario 4: Convoy Action, AC Delivery (10 turns)
HMS Illustrious (proxy HMS Formidable), 6 Cargo Ships
German AC Available - Land Base 7. AA Cruisers available for UK (USS Atlanta)
200 points available to each side
Scenario 5: Dual Convoy AC and Cargo Delivery (10 turns)
From Alexandria: HMS Fencer (proxy HMS Argus) 4 Cargo Ships
From UK: 4 Fast Cargo Ships (movement 2 per cargo ship (Slow 1 SA))
200 points available to each side
Scenario 6: Dual Convoy AC and Cargo Delivery (10 turns)
From Alexandria: HMS Fencer (proxy HMS Argus) 4 Cargo Ships
From UK: USS Yorktown (proxy USS Wasp) and 4 Fast Cargo Ships (movement 2 per ship (slow 1 SA))
250 points available to each side
Objectives: Objectives for UK and Axis are assessed at the end of the campaign. Success or failure for each side will ultimately determine if an airborne invasion of Malta will take place.
UK Objectives:
Successfully move half or more of the cargo ships to Malta.
Successfully deliver two of four aircraft ferry's to the island of Malta
Axis Objectives:
Sink half or more cargo ships en route to Malta.
Establish air superiority over Malta – reduce number of AC on Malta to two aircraft or sink three of five of the CV's ferrying AC to Malta.
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Marshal Ney
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Re: Malta CampaignUnited Kingdom Force Pool
X1 HMS Ark Royal
X1 HMS Illustrious
X1 HMS Fencer (HMS Eagle)
X1 HMS Nelson
X1 HMS Hood (HMS Renown w/out Fatal Flaw SA)
X2 HMS Warspite (includes HMS Malaya)
X2 USS Tenessee (HMS Royal Sovereign, Ramillies)
X7 HMS Kent
X7 HMS Ajax
X7 HMS Exeter
X4 USS Atlanta (Scenario 4)
Unlimited HMS Javelin
X10 HMS Truculent
Unlimited Swordfish, Sea Hurricane
X2 HMAS Sydney
X1 HMAS Canberra
Axis Force Pool
X1 Litorio
X1 Vitorio Venito
X2 Giulio Caesare (includes Andrea Doria)
X4 Zara
X4 Bolzano
X6 Eugino D' Savoi
X6 Duca D'Aosta
Unlimited Destroyers – All Classes
Unlimited Ambra
Unlimited Torpedo Boats
Unlimited JU87R2, Sparrowhawk, Folgore
X2 Vichy French Submarine
X6 U66
Unlimited JU87, Me 109 (Scenario 4)
Of Note:
HMS Fencer Proxy – Fighter Cover 5 SA not available
German JU87 Stuka – Press the Attack SA Applies
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Okie
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Now this sound's fun!! 
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Kurskgunner
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Nicely organized. I'm saving this for future use. I've been looking for an opportunity to use my rather large collection of Italians, thanks for the opportunity.
K.g.
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Aquarius
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We're planning on playing this next Monday, and I'm looking forward to it a lot.
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Marshal Ney
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We did a small scale play test today and I have made some tweaks. My group will be playing the revised version tomorrow. Any additional tweaks will be included in the final version of the campaign.
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Cmdr_Clint
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This sounds like a hell of a lot of fun! 
Thank you for sharing this with us!
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BasicBob
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Marshal Ney the Emperor would have been pleased with your work. Very nicely done!!
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Sire Fred
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How is your playtesting going? I think I read somewhere that the UK needed more starting points to counter the italian advantage of 7 free aircrafts. Are you playing this way?
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Marshal Ney
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| Sire Fred wrote: | | How is your playtesting going? I think I read somewhere that the UK needed more starting points to counter the italian advantage of 7 free aircrafts. Are you playing this way? |
Yes we are and it balances things out nicely. It creates a challenge for both sides with neither having the advantage.
I have played on both sides of the table. In both instances, I told my opponents to do a hard court press. These games revealed some weaknesses in the UK build...HMS Argus Ferry was too slow and not enough CV's were available. I adjusted HMS Argus to Speed 2 (slow 2) and added HMS Formidable to the force pool.
Our final play testing will be Monday. I believe I am very close to having it complete. Once I do, I will post it here.
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