Imperial Skies: British vs Colombian

After a period of sabre rattling, relations between HM government and the Republic of Colombia have rather taken a turn for the worst. Admirable Trigo de Cobre of the Colombian Aeronef fleet had been threatening to disrupt British rubber suppliers from Brazil, so the British Admiralty despatched an aging Albion class carrier (which had been modified so it's command tower was to the right of the flight deck, instantly cutting landing casualties by 85%), with two Cossack class frigates as escorts to Ascension Island. They were to be joined by Force H, three cruisers from the Antilles, and a stronger, battleship based Force B from the Cape any moment. 

The Colombian admiral has mobilised almost the entire fleet, seeking to strike down a soft British target before heavier reinforcements could arrive.

The vanguard of the Colombian fleet, two gunships, two bombers, three patrol craft and the airplane tender had been on an intercept course, hoping to trap the carrier, forming up as soon as the British contingent had been sighted, and moved to attack without waiting for heavier reserves 

The patrol boats, bombers and gunships, sensing an opportunity, swung out right after the British Cossack escorts, while the aircraft tender raised extra steam to soar quickly across the sea to pin the Albion 

Almost instantly, the lead Cossack opened up on a patrol boat, forcing it into the blue of the Atlantic.

The Colombian bombers and gunships spread out, while the fighter of the British fleet sped to intercept.

The Colombian fleet tender tried to 'Cross the T' on the Albion carrier, while the two Cossack frigates crossed to bring their guns against the patrol boats of the Colombians.

The gunship and bomber tried to target the incoming Sopworth fighters, only scoring one hit.

A second patrol boat was sent spiralling down into the briney deep.

Meanwhile, the experienced Sopworths, targeted by as much Archie fire as the Colombian fleet could bring forced some flights to retire, refit and rearm on the Albion, but others struck hard on the Colombian bombers, sending one into scattered splinters. 

They also pounced on a gunship, ripping into the airframe.

Carriers exchanged fire, but one of the cossacks was brought down, while the last patrol boat was being chased by the last cossack. 

Again, the Spoworths showed how lethal they can be, stopping it from bombing the Albion.

With the demise of the last patrol boat, the Colombians brought in their light cruiser and a destroyer, plus more bombers and gunships but these two were brought low by Sopworth strikes. The Colombian heavier assets dealt massive damage to the carrier, slowing her right down. The Albion was chewing lumps out of the destroyer. But in the distance, the main battle fleet of the Colombians arrived. Two light battleships, another cruiser, two more destroyers and the final patrol boat. The reinforcing British fleets were nowhere in sight...

This was too much for the British, their second and third wave had not arrived to engage this threat, and the Cossack and the Albion were shattered by highly accurate long and medium range fire from the Colombian big guns.

Victory for the Colombians (345 vs 355), they lost 240 points of heavy planes, and 105 points of patrol boats, but no capital assets (the tender and destroyer will need substantial repairs), versus British losses 165 points for the carrier, the two cossacks at 90 points, and knowing the fighters would not have a safe place to return to without the Benbow class battleship doing something interesting with her capacity of one flight of planes, equates was another 100 points lost. The loss of prestige for the British would be harder to bear...

 Fantastic game, great laughs and two other club members have fleets too so more action lies on the horizon (and I suspect the Colombians will be investing in fighter aircraft soon too).