Staffelvorwarts - a CY6/Squadron Forward campaign Introduction

What is this ‘Staffelvorwarts?’
Staffelvorwarts is my campaign applying the Squadron Forward! campaign and character development system from Joseph Legan of the Too Fat Lardies to the Check Your 6! Air combat ruleset from Scott Fisher from Skirmish Campaigns. Staffelvorwarts should show that not only is it ‘the man, not the machine’ that counts in aerial combat, but that ‘the man’ is a person, with a personality, living his life.

The grand intention of the Staffelvorwarts campaign is to follow a unit of Luftwaffe fliers from the early days in the Spanish Civil War, through WWII and (if the pilots are lucky) to the end of the war in Europe (maybe even beyond if they survive?)

The CY6! Rule set is great for representing aerial combat in detail and Squadron Forward is a fun product providing scope and systematic randomness of to create and develop a fighting unit of men with backgrounds, relationships and lives off the wargames table-top.

Introduction: Der Spanienflieger
Laughter and jovial conversation emanated from the mess hall as Feldwebel Max Mitschke, at 24 years old a junior pilot in the newly formed Luftwaffe, opened the door to enter. At one trestle table two officers and a Feldwebel were noisily discussing the merits and demerits of various night spots around Berlin. Max recognised his Staffelkapitan Oberleutnant Paul von Uslar, a perfectly military-looking man from a military family. Oberleutnant von Uslar had a square jaw and a serious but friendly attitude. Max also knew the other two pilots at this table. Oberfeldwebel Richard Fuchs was a short fellow with positive attitude, while the unusually-named Oberleutnant Iro Peterson was a reputed bon vivant or play boy of sorts. At another table two other pilots were engrossed in a slightly more subdued conversation. Max moved over to the less crowded of the two tables.

Wilhelm ‘Willi’ Kittel, an Unterfeldwebel with a youthful face and blond hair, stood and greeted him warmly, as did Leutnant Gustav Taeger, a somewhat older pilot with a broad smile who Max thought in some ways seemed to resemble the Luftwaffe Commander-In-Chief, shook his hand and invited him to sit. The conversation revolved around politics and the rationale for their recent deployment. Leutnant Taeger alternately beamed and clenched his teeth as he distributed political wisdom and expounded on the virtues of the national polity. He emphasised a point about the necessity of preventing a Communist takeover in Europe with a downward chop of his hand. As he listened to the phrases and terminology that Herr Taeger seemed to be have assimilated directly from the Party newsletter, here, thought Max, was a fanatic. Young Willi Kittel listened intently to this charismatic and forceful officer, enthusiastically providing his agreement on some points and apologising for his naivety while he questioned others. Max Mitschke contributed little aside from brief interjections and laconic responses to questions but followed the conversation with interest – these were the comrades he would soon be serving alongside as part of the Jagdstaffel of the Condor Legion in Spain. It would be prudent to know them well.

Jagdstaffel von Uslar, J/88 – Order of Battle
Let's have a look at the Spanienflieger and their Squadron Forward generated characteristics...

Oberleutnant Paul von Uslar (Staffelkapitan)

Personality: Optimistic
Motivation: Engineering
Skill: Veteran (+2)
Background: Military family (+1 offs, +2 Maj<=)
Notes: A strongly positive leader, he is a scion of a noble family from central Germany. Age 24

Oberleutnant Iro Peterson (Staffel Adjutant)

Personality: Likeable
Motivation: Alcohol
Skill: Veteran (+2)
Background: Privileged (+1 all dealings)
Notes: Epicurean son from a wealthy capitalist family. Age 25
 

Oberfeldwebel Richard Fuchs (Flieger)

Personality: Jovial
Motivation: Engineering
Skill: SPROG (+0)
Notes: Just a happy fellow. Age 21.

 

Leutnant Gustav Taeger (Kettenfuhrer)
Personality: Fanatic
Motivation: Position
Skill: Average (+1 ‘Skilled’)
Background: Privileged (+1 all dealings)
Notes: Desperate to be the one who gains glory for the Reich. Age 29.

 

Unterfeldwebel Willi Kittel (Flieger)

Personality: Optimistic
Motivation: Position
Skill: SPROG (+0)
Notes: Hopeful and ambitious – he always wanted to be a famous fighter pilot. Age 20.

 

Feldwebel Max Mitschke (Flieger)

Personality: Sensible
Motivation: Government
Skill: SPROG (+0)
Notes: Mild mannered pragmatist. Age 24.

Unit development

I generated the above half-staffel initially to test the waters. The pilots’ personalities and skills turned out as I expected (my assumptions based on their names). Paul von Uslar even comes from a military family as one would expect. No special skills were rolled unfortunately. Two of the officer pilots turn out to be ‘privileged.’ I guess that might help explain how they scored the Spanish excursion.

For developing skill I used the Luftwaffe Skill Table 1939-40 in the Squadron Forward book but added +1 to my die rolls to represent the fact that none of these pilots have previous experience in actual combat.