Battle of Britain (Rowan)

The Battle of Britain started on July 10th 1940. It was the beginning of a campaign by the Luftwaffe to destroy the defensive capabilities of British Fighter Command.

The ultimate aim was a sea-based invasion of southern England in an operation codenamed Sealion. But it was recognised that air supremacy was vital if that operation was to succeed.

Although there were expectations in Germany for a quick victory, the air campaign lasted for well over two months. The battle went through a series of phases, that culminated in a major air battle over London and southern England on September 15th 1940. That event is still celebrated in Britain as 'Battle of Britain' day.

Two days later German plans for Operation Sealion were shelved. In a technical sense the battle continued into a new phase through October 1940, but this simulation ends with the events over London in mid-September.

Rowan's Battle of Britain is one of the most ambitious simulations of aerial war ever produced. A player can take the role of a commander on either side of the conflict and can follow the entire campaign from July 10th to September 15th 1940, or can take part in one of twenty-eight specially designed individual flying missions. Some of the Luftwaffe's 1,000 aircraft raids are reproduced, affording a unique insight into what it might have been like flying against, or with, such numbers of aircraft.

In 'Campaign' Mode the player can select one of four starting points to enter the air war. The campaign begins with attacks on British coastal shipping by the Luftwaffe, who then move on to attacking radar installations, coastal facilities and airfields.

This is followed by concentrated attacks against the RAF’s major airfields and aircraft factories, which leads on to the final showdown during the 'Blitz' of London in September 1940. Players can take the role of a commander dealing with the strategic overview of the conflict using authentic campaign maps.

The specially designed quick-missions take the player from 'Basic Training', which involves starting the engine and learning to take off from a grass strip, to the advanced areas of formation flying and dog-fighting.

A number of historic missions are based on actual engagements, and these culminate in a massive simulation of the final raid of the war on September 15th 1940 - Battle of Britain Day.