Learning to play Downtown - Scenario D1 "Surfin' Bird"

Downtown has a recommended sequence of scenario to enable new players to learn the game through play.  The sequence gradually brings all element into play but all of a sudden you find yourself into the big leagues and are about to tackle a Rolling Thunder scenario.  This can be off putting and even the earlier scenarios can be daunting if you are new into Air Combat games generally and specifically something at this scale where you could be representing the actions of upto 40 aircraft without a understanding of the level of integration needed to defend a target or attack one with a reasonable chance of success.

So I decided to put up some examples of play using the suggested scenarios but also include the tactical considerations.  I am not an expert and these are just my take on the game.  Second caution is that I play almost exclusively solo.  This changes my perception of the game and means that I play the defenders options in a way that a human player may not choose to do.

In nearly all games of Downtown the US is looking for success in the amount of damage it can cause on a target.  For the DRV success is reducing the amount of damage.  This isn't necessarily by shooting down attackers but by causing aircraft to miss or decide to abort their mission and seek an easier target.  The DRV have a combination of Anti Aircraft Artillery (AAA), Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs) and Interceptor aircraft which to defend their airspace.  The attacker is drawn from the USAF and USN forces operating in the region and their composition changes as lessons and tactics evolved during the war.

First up is the introductory scenario D1 "Surfin' Bird".  This scenario pits a small US force of a flight of A-4C Skyhawks conducting an armed econnaissance mission to locate a suitable target before launching an attack against it.  The DRV have a limited DRV ground defence supported by a flight of aircraft which aim to shoot down or drive off the US attacks.

This is what you should have set up on your board/vassal if you have read the set up instructions and the rules sections specified.

• I have a ready MiG at Kien An (which can only take off in the direction of the Red Arrow)
• My flight of A-4Cs is undetected at Medium altitude in column 39
• A Hidden AAA is in hex 3116
• I have put some markers on the road where DRV ground units are likely to appear.