French West Africa Carrier Operations, 1940

[Rami]

Dombral,

Dans l'intérêt de finir quelques choses pendant que je travaille sur la bataille de France, je ai eu à travailler sur vos missions de Dakar, en particulier le raid britannique du 7 Juillet, puis ceux de Septembre dans le cadre de "Menace."

Dans cet esprit, je voulais vous demander si vous aviez une peau français pour le Potez 540. À l'heure actuelle, je ne ai que la peau d'origine de la guerre civile espagnole, et il semble très stupide quand vous voler.

Je ai ajusté les missions pour utiliser les aérodromes de Thiès et de Ouakam, et je ferai en sorte d'inclure l'attaque de la Marine royale, sur le Richelieu. En ce moment, je suis presque fini avec les textes de mission pour les cinq missions juillet, et je ai fait des progrès sur les missions "Menace."

Voici quelques textes de la mission ...

"Title_string" = Catapult (Dakar) - Suivi de l'Hermes
"Chaîne de synthèse" = Attention! Après la Colombie a ouvert sur notre flotte à Mers-el-Kébir, nous ne serons pas surpris ici à Dakar! Vous partirez du port sur une patrouille au large de la côte, à la recherche de tout signe de les navires britanniques. Bonne chance à toi!
"Objective_string" = Le 7 Juillet 1940, les navires de la Royal Navy ouvert sur la flotte française ancrée à Mers-el-Kébir après que les Français ne ont pas répondu à l'ultimatum britannique à abandonner leurs navires, estimant qu'ils pourraient tomber dans italien ou mains des Allemands, ne réalisant pas la marine française avait pas l'intention de collaborer avec l'Axe. Le lendemain, la Royal Navy a également lancé une attaque contre le Richelieu après avoir également refusé de se rendre et a même tenté de fuir au nord de Casablanca quelques jours avant. Ce scénario suppose hydravions de reconnaissance français ont aperçu le transporteur britannique une journée entière avant qu'elle a lancé son attaque et a fait une première tentative pour l'arrêter avec ce qu'ils avaient disponibles.
"Intelligence_string" = Si vous trouvez les navires britanniques, signaler ce que vous voyez. Nous soupçonnons que la Royal Navy pourrait envoyer un petit détachement plutôt que la plus grande force qui a frappé Mers-el-Kébir. Une fois que vous déclarez sur ce que vous trouvez, vous pouvez attaquer ces navires avec vos bombes, mais attention aux combattants britanniques sur la flotte. Ce bateau de vol, vous serez d'exploitation ne est pas adapté pour les combats!
"Player_aircraft_name_string" = Latécoère 302
"Airfield_string" = Sénégal - Dakar (hydravion)

"Title_string" = Catapult (Dakar) - interception Espadon

"Summary_string" = Attention! La Royal Navy a attaqué la flotte française ancrée à Mers-el-Kébir, et Dunkerque a été fortement endommagé. Notre reconnaissance trouvé hier le transporteur britannique Hermes, et aujourd'hui, les Britanniques ont envoyé la flotte française un ultimatum; rendre la flotte ou risque total anéantissement! Montrons les Britanniques que nous ne serons pas intimidés!
"Objective_string" = Poursuivant sur la prémisse que ces forces navales françaises avaient découvert les navires britanniques avant l'assaut historique le 8 Juillet 1940, le français a envoyé des patrouilles de combat de l'Escadrille GC 1/6 pour défendre la ville. Sur cette patrouille les Français ont eu la chance de trouver Colombie Espadon à venir dans une attaque à la torpille sur le cuirassé Richelieu français. Dans l'assaut réelle, l'espadon a causé des dommages importants à la partie arrière du navire, y compris les deux arbres d'hélice tribord, violant gravement la coque, et inflige des dégâts de choc considérable sur les systèmes de contrôle de tir.
"Intelligence_string" = Après avoir décollé, voler un court patrouille au sud pour couvrir les principales approches du port, en gardant une surveillance pointue pour les avions et sous-marins britanniques en essayant de se faufiler à travers nos défenses et attaquer le Richelieu. En raison de l'ultimatum britannique, si vous faites des avions ennemis de rencontre, vous avez la permission de tirer. Soyez sûr de voir d'éventuelles escortes avec l'espadon. Surtout, assurez-vous que le Richelieu demeure sécuritaire!
"Player_aircraft_name_string" = FR_D.510
"Airfield_string" = Sénégal - Dakar (Ouakam)

Dombral,

In the interest of finishing up a few things while I work on the Battle of France, I have been working on your Dakar missions, specifically the British raid of 7 July and then those in September as part of "Menace."

With this in mind, I wanted to ask you if you had a French skin for the Potez 540. Right now, I only have the original skin from the Spanish Civil War, and it looks very silly when you fly it.

I have adjusted the missions to utilize the airfields at Thies and Ouakam, and I will make sure to include the Royal Navy attack on the Richelieu. As of right now, I am almost done with the mission texts for all five of the July missions, and have made progress on the "Menace" missions.

Here are a couple of mission texts...

"title_string"=Catapult (Dakar) - Tracking the Hermes
"summary_string"=Attention! After the British opened up on our fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, we will not get suprised here at Dakar! You will depart the harbor on a patrol off the coastline, looking for any signs of the British vessels. Good luck to you!
"objective_string"=On 7 July, 1940, Royal Navy vessels opened up on the French fleet anchored at Mers-el-Kebir after the French didn't respond to the British ultimatum to surrender their ships, believing they might fall into either Italian or German hands, not realizing the French Navy had no plans to collaborate with the Axis. The following day, the Royal Navy also launched an attack against the Richelieu after she likewise refused to surrender & even attempted to flee north to Casablanca a few days before. This scenario supposes French recce seaplanes sighted the British carrier a full day before she launched her attack and made an initial attempt to stop her with what they had available.
"intelligence_string"=If you find the British ships, report what you see. We suspect that the Royal Navy might send a small detachment rather than the larger force which hit Mers-el-Kebir. Once you report on what you find, you may attack these vessels with your bombs, but watch out for British fighters over the fleet. This flying boat you will be operating is not suited for dogfights!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Latécoère 302
"airfield_string"=Senegal - Dakar (Seaplane)

"title_string"=Catapult (Dakar) - Swordfish interception
"summary_string"=Attention! The Royal Navy has attacked the French Fleet anchored at Mers-el-Kebir, & the Dunkerque was heavily damaged. Our recce yesterday found the British carrier Hermes, and today the British have sent the French fleet an ultimatum; surrender the fleet or risk total annihilation! Let's show the British that we will not be intimidated!
"objective_string"=Continuing on the premise that these French Naval forces had discovered the British ships before the historical assault on 8 July 1940, the French sent out fighter patrols of Escadrille GC 1/6 to defend the city. On this patrol the French were fortunate enough to find British Swordfish coming in for a torpedo attack on the French Battleship Richelieu. In the actual assault, the Swordfish caused major damage to the aft section of the vessel, including both starboard propeller shafts, badly breaching the hull, and inflicting considerable shock damage on the fire-control systems.
"intelligence_string"=After taking off, fly a short patrol to the south to cover the main approaches to the harbour, keeping a sharp lookout for British aircraft & submarines trying to sneak through our defenses & attack the Richelieu. Because of the British ultimatum, if you do encounter enemy aircraft, you have permission to fire. Be sure to watch for any escorts with the Swordfish. Above all, make sure that the Richelieu remains safe!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FR_D.510
"airfield_string"=Senegal - Dakar (Ouakam)
And to Gaucho_59...yes, I know my French is a little rusty.

[Rami]

Dombral,

Disons tremper dans le domaine du possible. Supposons que le porte-avions "Béarn" n'a retour continuer vers l'Europe ou l'Afrique de l'armistice, depuis son équipage étaient apparemment Vichy-penchée. En route, ils apprennent de l'attaque de Mers-el-Kébir et atteignent Dakar avant la Hermes fait.

Cela donnerait à la Bearn un avantage décisif. Avec vingt-sept P-36 et six Hawks Brewster Buffaloes désigné pour la Belgique, elle pourrait se envoler vers les aérodromes de Dakar, plus avec quarante-quatre Helldivers, elle aurait pu anéantir l'Hermes.

De plus, le Français avait ordonné quatre-vingt un G-36 Wildcats. Aurait-il été concevable qu'elle puisse de Had huit de ceux qui sont prêts pour l'action? Avec ou sans eux, je dirais que les Britanniques, équipées de Swordfish et labbes, aurait été en grave danger.

Est-ce la peine d'essayer, ou est-ce trop exagéré?

Dombral,

Let's dabble in the realm of the possible. Suppose the aircraft carrier "Bearn" did continue back toward Europe or Africa following the armistice, since its crew were apparently Vichy-leaning. While en route, they learn of the attack on Mers-el-Kebir and reach Dakar while the Hermes continues her presence off-shore.

This would give the Bearn a decisive advantage. With twenty-seven P-36 Hawks and six Brewster Buffalloes designated for Belgium she could fly off to the Dakar airfields, plus with forty-four SB2U Vindicators, she might have been able to annihilate the Hermes.

Plus, the French had ordered eighty-one G-36 Wildcats. Would it have been conceivable that she could of had eight of those ready for action? With or without them, I would say the British, equipped with Swordfish and Skuas, would have been in grave danger.

Is this worth attempting, or is this too far-fetched?

[dombral]

En effet le Béarn transportait au moment de l'armistice les avions que vous décrivez et s'il avait rallié Dakar ça aurait fait une sacrée force . Mais c'est très théorique car il aurait fallu amener les pilotes et le personnel au sol . En fait ça a été le cas au moment de Menace et avec le résultat que vous connaissez .
Pour le Potez 540 il est vrai que celui qui est utilisé n'est pas bon . Il fait vraiment son age . Je me suis contenté de lui mettre des cocardes françaises . Par contre il existe un autre Potez pourCFS1 encore plus ancien mais que l'on peut repeindre . Je lui ai donné les couleurs de Vichy en Syrie et en Indochine.



Bon courage et bon vol

Dombral

[Rami]

Dombral,

Any chance I could have that skin?

[UncleTgt]

Rami,

I don't think the G-36 Wildcats would fit the timescale, seeing as the Brits didn't get them until October '40.

Also, carrying a/c as a ferry is one thing, operating an airgroup is quite another.

Bearn originally carried 12 torpedo biplanes, 12 scouts & 8 fighters. This suggests she'll have a hard time with an airgroup larger than 32 a/c, & that's if they're as small as the originals.

The 44 SBC4 Helldivers are carrier-ready, but the 6 Buffaloes were stripped of naval equipment prior to shipping for the Belgians, so they can't be used as the VF component.

There might be some V165F Vindicators left in Nth Africa, but as Bearn had already been assigned to ferry tasks at the start of WW2 because she was too slow - I doubt their crews would relish being transferred back onto her again.

So you would have a nacent airgroup of SBC-4 Helldivers, but these would have to search, defend, strike & escort. Mind you, I have no idea what airgroup the smaller Hermes might be operating at this time...probably just 12 x Swordfish, so not exactly a Pacific Carrier Battle style line-up for either side ...

[Rami]

Rami,

I don't think the G-36 Wildcats would fit the timescale, seeing as the Brits didn't get them until October '40.

Also, carrying a/c as a ferry is one thing, operating an air group is quite another.

Bearn originally carried 12 torpedo biplanes, 12 scouts & 8 fighters. This suggests she'll have a hard time with an airgroup larger than 32 a/c, & that's if they're as small as the originals.

The 44 SBC4 Helldivers are carrier-ready, but the 6 Buffaloes were stripped of naval equipment prior to shipping for the Belgians, so they can't be used as the VF component.

There might be some V165F Vindicators left in Nth Africa, but as Bearn had already been assigned to ferry tasks at the start of WW2 because she was too slow - I doubt their crews would relish being transferred back onto her again.

So you would have a ancent airgroup of SBC-4 Helldivers, but these would have to search, defend, strike & escort. Mind you, I have no idea what airgroup the smaller Hermes might be operating at this time...probably just 12 x Swordfish, so not exactly a Pacific Carrier Battle style line-up for either side ...

John,

Swordfish and Skuas. Even if the Bearn flew off the P-36s and Buffaloes and they operated from land, that combined with the Vindicators and SBC Helldivers might be enough.

[Rami]

John,

Also, my research materials indicated that the first British use was with 804 Squadron NAS, in August of 1940 defending Orkney.

This would make them theoretically possible for the "Menace" Operations, but only by a month.

[UncleTgt]

Oh I think you're stretching things a tad, this from http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/ai...letwildcat.htm

"The first Wildcat used by the Fleet Air Arm were 53 Grumman G-36a Martlet I, and 6 Grumman G-36a Martlet III diverted from a French order which had not been delivered before the Fall of France in 1940. The aircraft were all delivered to the British Purchasing Commission on 23 August 1940 and transferred to the first FAA unit 804 Hatston on 7 September 1940 (eg AX827), 778 squadron at Arbroath in September 1940 (eg AX826), 759 squadron at Yeovilton in October and November 1940 (eg BJ555) and 802 squadron at Donisbristle on 23 November 1940 (eg AL237)."

Delivery to the BPC does not necessarily mean in theatre, on base, in use...

Anyway, Hermes is hardly a match for an SBC-4 airgroup, this from http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/hermes.html

Two FAA Squadrons were embarked on HMS Hermes:
710 Squadron (detachment), May 1940 Walrus I
814 Squadron, Sept 1939-Feb 1942, Swordfish II

[Rami]

John,

I stand corrected about the Skuas, then.

[dombral]

Dombral,

Any chance I could have that skin?

Je peux bien sur les uploader avec le dossier complet mais j'ai perdu le nom de l'auteur ; il me pardonnera ?

[Rami]

Good afternoon,

Hey guys. In an effort to finish up all work in the Med, I am getting close to having a mission pack (seven Vichy French, two British) ready for release for Operation Menace, the successful Vichy French effort / British failure to capture the port of Dakar, Senegal.

Tobob did the scenery for this some time ago, and we have most of what we need. However, I have a few requests.

1) Is there a better model of the HMS Hermes available than the IS4G model?

If not, would Usio's Eagle be an acceptable substitute?

2) How about a new coat of paint for the Farman F.222 by Bismarck13?

Aircraft: http://simviation.com/1/download-fil...p&fileId=32568

4) And lastly, a Vichy French repaint for the Potez 540? (Dombral posted a pic once, but I can't find the download)

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...ns-for-Dombral

Thanks in advance,

[UncleTgt]

Farman 222 repaint by Dombral

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...d=151&id=19421

[Rami]

John,

That's for the Pakyman (you know, the Brazilian dude) model, not the multi-lod model by Bismarck13. Thanks though!

[Allen]

Nothing?...

[UncleTgt]

Well I've started redrawing the Farman F222

I think Stuart277 is the only one that could rustle up a more detailed Hermes. This carrier is so small I don't think even Eagle is a valid replacement.

Potez 540 - I know Paul Clawson subsequently released an updated model for FSX, I wonder if it can be extracted using MCX & made multi-LOD...

[Rami]

Potez 540 - I know Paul Clawson subsequently released an updated model for FSX, I wonder if it can be extracted using MCX & made multi-LOD...

UncleTgt,

It's possible, but if push comes to shove, I'd rather see Shessi spend his energy on a new fleet of multi-lod Beauforts using the Alphasim model as a base.

Thank you for the Farman!

[Rami]

John and Stuart,

The HMS Hermes is really the only carrier left for the Fleet Air Arm that hasn't been updated or has an equivalent.

Collin did the HMS Furious, and with a different paint job, that can suffice for the HMS Courageous and the HMS Glorious, and you could always tweak the .dp for a 1939 / 1940 AA setup.

Dino Carancini and Maurizio Laurenti did the HMS Argus for CFS2.

Baldy did the HMS Audacity for CFS2.

Stuart277 has done the HMS Unicorn and the HMS Attacker-class.

Collin did the HMS Ruler-class, and the Colossus-class.

UncleTgt did the VN Illustrious-class overhaul.

The Virtual Navy did the HMS Ark Royal, which looks good with a repaint.

And of course, Usio did the HMS Eagle.

[UncleTgt]

Thank you for reminding me, now I recall you wanted me to look at repainting the Ark Royal...

Don't forget Baldy did a MAC carrier & HMS Audacity too

TBH Eagle also needs doing so she can have her Pedestal convoy camo painted on ...

[Rami]

John,

Yeah, that's right. He also did the HMS Gadila as well as the FNS Bearn.

The only problem with the FNS Bearn is she tends to go faster when she's running at full astern.

[UncleTgt]

Pics of one from the Phoney War period of 1939.

In 1940 the underwing serials were painted over, & maybe the roundels too. As these a/c were used as night bombers, almost all stayed in chocolate brown overall colour.

Next will be putting Vichy markings on, but what period?

September 1940? (no photos, but assumed to be nothing extra but a white line on the fuselage (possibly))
Early 1941? (the only photo captioned as this period shows no underwing markings except for Blue/White/Red diagonal stripe, and no other Vichy identifiers eg. yellow tail)
Later 1941 (no photos, assumed to be yellow tail only)
1942? (no photos, assumed to be yellow nose, yellow/red striped fwd engine cowl & tail)

It will have to be an "interpretation", as I can't find any photos of F222s wearing any Vichy style markings at all, only photos of the F223s (inline engines, twin tails, daylight camo, used as transports mostly). I'm assuming they were not brightly marked for use on night ops, & quickly became obsolete as the French focused on defensive aircraft such as fighters & recon birds.

[Rami]

John,

"Menace" was September of 1940: http://www.aircraft-insignia.com/page9.htm

[dombral]

John,

"Menace" was September of 1940: http://www.aircraft-insignia.com/page9.htm

2 F222 de l'escadrille 10E étaient à Dakar en Juillet 1940 , ils avaient été retirés en septembre pour rejoindre le groupe de transport GCI.15 .

F222 GBI.15 France 1939 40

F22 esc 141 Indochine 1940
F222 .2 GBI.15 France 1940

F222. 10E (aéronavale) 1940

[dombral]

John,

"Menace" was September of 1940: http://www.aircraft-insignia.com/page9.htm

F222.2 10E 1940cFrance puis AFN

F222 GT.I15 Syrie 1941

F222 GT.I15 Rabat 1942


F222.2 GTI15 Rabat 1942

[Rami]

Dominique,

Are those for the Bismarck13 model? If so, could you please upload them?

[Rami]

Good evening,

Had to do a little .dp tweak on the Blackburn Skua to allow me to drop leaflets over the city. Worked out pretty well if you ask me...it's a shame you can't throw open the back canopy and let them waft out in a stream, but this works.