Issue #2 of Combat Comix Italy: tonight's episode - Misn 9, Redemption.(Screens)

[Enforcer57]

Ok, this took an obscene amount of time. Misn 9 was primarily a naval battle in the ongoing battle for Italy, with the valiant Luftwaffe eagles achieving most of thier objectives despite the rather annoying and increasing "quirks" of the SEOW program.

[Enforcer57]

This is a captured photo of my bomb hit, recovered when a British combat photographer was recovered from the water by an E boat after the battle. He had been blown off the deck by later hits. I don't think any of the crew is drinking tea at this point, as they were putting a storm of steel in the air.

Badaim makes a high side attack, dive bombing the ship. I was unable to determine the result from the track, as the track system doesn't always seem to record explosions and such.

Badaim pulls off target after adding to the inferno on the PoW. He unfortunately is badly hit by AA, and struggles back to our nearby base. He crashlanded, but he survived to fly and fight another day.

Then the He-111s arrived without escort (we didn't have any). I tried to find them as they came in, but never located them. I shoulda stayed over the ships, but the AA made that kinda hard. Here Greyknight is attacked by a gaggle of

[Enforcer57]

Klinger makes his determined attack, as he and JP are under constant attack by a never ending relay of Spits and Jugs, their gunners spraying lead at the attackers. The allies seem almost powerless to stop the Luftwaffe's best though.

The fighters would make repeated passes, each plane making a run on JP then continuing to Klinger. To their credit, they flew through their own rather intense AA fire. The damage kept accumulating on the bombers, but like the light brigade in the crimea, onward they charged.

Doubletap riddles JP's bomber as Klinger pulls of target after delivering his bombs. DT is able to do this since his arch enemy Psycho was absent, having flown a Stuka this misn and planting a bomb on the PoW. Rattler is still busy keeping the 51s busy, and I'm still hauling ass back to get in the fight.

[Enforcer57]

Meanwhile, I finally find the furball, and just as I arrive to assist Rattler, an AI 51 jumps me, though I was sure he was human flown at the time.

I dive into a cloud formation hoping to lose him, but since he is a Borg AI pilot, he can still see me, and I cannot lose this guy no matter what I do.

As I was pulling out to avoid hitting the deck, Rattler jumps the 51, forcing him to break off. I've lost count of the times he and Psycho have saved my aryan keyster in this cmpn.

The Borg drone pilot is very good and climbs out back into the clouds. I couldn't believe how fast these guys climbed outta their, but I had my own problems at this point. The 51 tries to lose Rattler in the clouds, but out of the mist comes one of our most lethal pilots.

His cannon fire turns the Mustang into a cloud of aluminum bits. It's kinda hard to catch these explosions at this point btw.

It blew right in front of his face in a spectacular explosion. I'm sure the borg AI pilot enjoyed getting "blown" by Pete. Heh heh. He is so affectionate to allied pilots that way. This gets him a date with Sophia Loren, who lives in a village near the base. I'm sure she

[Cold_Gambler]

A most EXCELLENT read and pictorial layout, Herr Enforcer... I was just barely holding my kite up, but SO DAMN close to putting my bombs on her

[Tonar]

I believe I am the unidentified 47 pilot.

[JensenPark]

good...serves you right Tonar.

[Klinger]

Bloody hell m8, that must have taken you ages.

[Rattler]

Very cool, Carl.

[Logos]

Herr Karl

You have an extreme talent at dissecting these SEOW tracts. This is also equaled with your commentary explaining what is actually taking place in each picture. I agree that I remember the Tirpitz being intact through most of the mission.

I didn't have much else to do while laying upside down on the freakin' runway with my bomb. ARGH. Yes, I will be intent on killing some red scum come next mission. I don't know why things get missed in this SEOW but, I am quite confident that they do as a result of your homework mate. It's too bad that happens. Collin has prepared a very nice campaign. Who would have thunk we we be going into our 10th week with no clear winner in sight.

That's one reason I really hate technology. It is unreliable. BadAim, can I get an AMEN? Computers are great sources of information and entertainment but, they are major pains in the azz when they go female. Ya' know what I mean guys. Like they get PMS and go freakin' whacko some times for no logical reason. Knock wood, my rig has been a real work horse with barely any tech issues since new in 2005.

Blah, Blah, Blah. Thanks again Herr Karl. You provide great insight into the SEOW campaign and it's deficiencies. Over all, I can't think of a more balanced campaign scenario. Just give us back our Tirpitz and we will call it even.

[Enforcer57]

Um, I think i probably shoulda posted this in the general forum so everybody can see it, like from ohter forums etc.

[GreyKnight]

Nice work Enforcer, lets hope the next SEOW mission we run provides you with plenty more pictures of exploding Allied aircraft, ships or tanks.

[Rattler]

Will do, Carl.

[Painless]

~S~ Carlos,

You really are

[Friar]

too kind sir, too kind

[Enforcer57]

Yeah, ditto Friar. I got the email about the problems (both political and technical) caused connected to SEOW, and I gotta say that this is the BEST SEOW cmpn by far I've flown, mainly from the design level. I felt the plane selection was pretty realistic for a 43/44 scenario. The performance of guys like Rattler and Psycho (among several aces) in the 109 and FW indicate that the plane selection is not too one sided.....to me anyway.

I also am impressed by the ground forces and general set up of it all.

I kinda got a bit miffed by the ship quirk because I thought the SEOW engine had just mis interpreted the events. I had never seen anything just re-appear after being destroyed, so that just made no sense to me, at least until you said you saw both ships sinking.

I even found a shot of the Tirpitz rotating on its own axis as it changed course and retreated.....truly odd. The interface between the two programs must cause some conflicts sometimes, but now that we know alot of this stuff, it will certainly help in the next one.

I wouldn't worry too much about folks getting a bit upset sometimes........I think that's an American thing; you should see people go nuts and argue over ball games from high school to pro events;