3rd June 1941, the Beirut Oil Depot

One of the Western Desert squadrons began as a detachment equipped with the new Beaufighter IC. This detachment consisted of the majority of 272 Squadron, temporarily transferred from 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group (Coastal Command) and crews from 252 another Maritime Squadron. 

Designated 272 Sqn as part of the Desert Air Force they were commanded by Squadron Leader Andrew W. Fletcher.  They were based at Gibraltar giving air fighter cover to convoys, and then the Mersah Matruh airfield after arrival being moved to the Libya front in May 1941, with the intention that they would support the upcoming Operation Crusader

Game One

Fletcher had devised an additional role for the versatile Beaufighter, that of ground strafing. A detachment was sent to Cyprus and, on 3 June, strafed the oil tanks at Beirut, which was under Axis control.  Operation Exporter, the attack on Vichy Syria and Lebanon was underway and 272's attack was intended to damage Axis logistics, prior to Commonwealth forces attacking across the Litani river on 8th June.

Air reconnaissance photographs of the Beirut oil tanks, 1941, although this particular shot is from 11 Squadron's Blenhiems bombing attack during the same campaign.

Beirut lacked anti-air defences, but had Vichy French aircraft.  I used my Italian fiat fighter planes to represent these, but the stats will be those of the  Dewoitine D.510 an aircraft obsolete even in 1939, but still in use in Vichy Lebanon, and Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, a more modern aircraft that still had issues, not least amongst the loyalty of their pilots to the Vichy Regime.

Being Coastal Command trained the Beaufighter crews flew a hair raising 20 feet above sea level, climbing to 200 feet for the final release of bombs.  They used this same pattern later, during attacks along the Via Balbia over the desert.

So I`m using a green felt for the sea, and Italian Fiats for the French fighters.  Seems to work...

Victor Valiant`s Beaufighters over the oil depot, running in at low level.

Victor himself swings back to tackle the fighters and gets a lucky burst in.

The first bomb hits perfectly.  The Beaufighters strafe the Oil tanks.

The target is destroyed and the Beaufighters climb out of trouble. 

V for Victor downs the second French fighter.  As an Ace Victor is a real asset to the British.

Game Two

In a follow up operation on 22nd June the French tanker Adour, which was carrying the entire fuel supply for the French forces in the Middle East, was attacked by the Beaufighters of 272 and badly damaged, effectively winning the campaign.

For the aircraft in the attack I`m using the Beauforts from the squadron on Cyprus.

Vichy will attempt to defend the tanker with the remaining Vichy French aircraft, most having been destroyed on the ground by the Beaufighters by this point.

The Beauforts over the Eastern Med.

With the French Air cover delayed the Beauforts line up a perfect run.  Adour is hit

Cue the Frenchman, who is too high. His mates have all deserted to the Allies so this is the last Vichy French Pilot, Lt Petain perhaps?

Turns out the Beauforts have rear turrets and both got a shot in, one of which in a lucky fluke, downs Lt Petain who swung too close.  I wanted a longer game but that was the end play! The Beauforts were a real challenge to game.