Great Lee Turkey Shoot - Sparrowhawk, Eagle and Thunderbird Aerospace Fighters.

Mass Dogfights were the norm in the
Great Lee Turkey Shoot

Since the beginning of the division between the flyboys and the ground pounders in the late 40’s there has been a rivalry around who is actually capable of winning wars.  Of course history has proven that air power alone can not defeat an enemy - ultimately all the technology in the world just allows you to kill the other guy faster and more effectively.  In the end it comes down to one guy digging the other out of a hole in the ground.  

This history lesson was lost on the Capellan chancellor during the early years of the 3rd Succession War when the head of House Liao bet big on massed aerospace cover for an action above Lee in the federated Suns - an action which would be recorded in history as the “Great Lee Turkey Shoot”.

Thunderbird in Action

The Capellans mounted an attack against the system of Lee following success using massed aerospace assets in a previous attack against House Marik in 2952.  Coincidentally the Federated Suns Prince Peter Davion had been building up his own aerospace assets as a means of countering the power base of Mechwarriors feudal lords.  Federated Sun's intelligence was able to discover the pending attack allowing the Davion forces to prepare a proper defense, including their own aerospace regiments.

The Capellans committed over 200 aerospace fighters to the attack, although sources indicate over 6 regiments were committed.  Under Capellan organization schemes four full regiments would be 200 aerospace; indicating some level of understrength status among the aerospace regiments.  Among the attacking forces were elements of the 2nd Kearny Highlanders of the renowned Northwind Highlanders. As the Liao forces approached the world the Davion forces, including the 5th Davion Guards, met the massed aerospace fighters in orbit.  The resulting aerospace battle rendered nearly 40 of the Liao aerospace fighters destroyed with scores damaged so badly they could not be put back into action.  As a result the Liao battle plan which depended upon massed aerospace attacks to pave the way for the lighter ground attack force had to be abandoned.  The Davion Guards, led by their prince, were able to repel the Liao forces in the 3-day battle.

Eagles defending the Dropships in Orbit

The Thunderbirds and Eagles of the Capellan forces, including those of the Northwind Highlanders, were soundly beaten by the more maneuverable (and one presumes more numerous) Davion Sparrowhawks.  Losses were so heavy for the Capellans that the massed aerospace strategy had to be abandoned and restricted the older Eagles and Thunderbirds of the Capellans to a defensive role.

The original Battlespace
box set

Given the nature of the battle over Lee taking place primarily in the space surrounding the planet I felt it was appropriate to use the Battlespace scale models for this project.  I used sparrowhawks painted in the Royal Blue of the Davion Guards (army painter speed paint blue) with freehand striping on the wing.  I used army painter speed painting gray for the Northwind Highlanders.  I had considered trying to do some kind of Northwind heraldry but on this scale it was out of my skill level.  I saw some of the photographs from one of the recent sets of rule books detailing advanced aerospace rules using multiple aerospace fighters on each base to represent the squadrons at this scale and love the idea, so I adapted something similar.  I used some wire I found at Michaels typically used for making jewelry or other crafts to create the multiple aerospace look. I really like this aerospace/battlespace scale.  

Sources:

House Liao Sourcebook

House Davion Sourcebook

House Davion Handbook

House Liao Handbook

Northwind Highlanders Scenario Pack