Zeppelin Raid On Ashford Part 3

[Archidamus]

Yesterday saw the third in our series of Zeppelin raids on poor old Ashford

This time there were five players - Flash/Dave flying his AFB-1; Chequers/Mark, Paul & John/Capt. Hurst flying Brisfits; and yours truly flying a DH4. As usual, anyone shot down (and believe me, we were shot down a lot) re-joined the action at the start of the next turn.

The action lasted into the 11th turn, and a total of three DH4's, eight Brisfits and two AFB-1s fell from the sky by that time. However, the Zeppelin was stopped short of Ashford by points damage, and had also lost six crew and had six gas cells completely destroyed, another on fire, and a further four damaged to some degree (house rule used here is that the two mechanics can try and patch gas cells / put out fires whilst they still have some points left, but once they have reach zero they are kaput).

It was a very enjoyable game (as always) and Clipper's magnificent Zeppelin took centre stage again.

AAR below as soon as I can type it up

[Archidamus]

Zeppelin Raid On Ashford

Sirs,

I once again have the honour to report on the recent attempted raid on Ashford by an enemy Zeppelin. Due to the recent decision by High Command to increase our Home Defence establishment we were able to intercept the Zeppelin as it crossed the Kent coast with a flight of three Bristol Fighters, supported by a single DH4 and an experimental Scout plane designated AFB-1


Closing on the Zeppelin

The AFB-1 commenced the engagement by exchanging fire with one of the rear gondola gunners - and both guns immediately jammed!


Guns jam

Meanwhile, the DH4 strayed into the range of no less than five of the Zeppelin's gunners, and took heavy damage as a result! Almost immediately after this the Zeppelin gunners ranged onto a Bristol Fighter, and observers on the ground were horrified to see it explode in flames and fall from the sky.


Mark's first Brisfit explodes!

Another of the Brisfits was also damaged in this exchange, and the AFB-1 suffered some rudder damage as it passed behind the Zeppelin and into it's rear gunner's sights. Not everything went the Zeppelin's way however, and the two Brisfits - aided by the DH4's rear gunner - managed to score some hits in return


First damage on the Zeppelin

The AFB-1 was soon seen to stagger as it's pilot was wounded and the airframe then peppered by the accurate shooting of both the Zeppelin's rear gunner and rear gondola gunner.



Dave's AFB takes a pounding

The third Brisfit then strayed into range and immediately caught fire as it came under attack - although return fire set one of the Zeppelin's gas cells ablaze!


John's Brisfit catches fire - a fell from the sky on the next turn

Elation was short-lived, as the Brisfit continued to take fire and fell from the sky in a ball of fire. However, our gallant aircrew finally started to find the range, and another five gas cells were soon either destroyed or on fire - although at the cost of a Brisfit taking engine damage


Paul's Brisfit take engine damage

Our planes continued to press home their attacks, despite a mounting tide of damage to both aircraft and crews - two Bristol Fighters suffered more damage, and one of the pilots was wounded in the next pass - but their tenacity was rewarded as the Zeppelin took more damage, and another gas cell caught fire (although it was noted that the Zeppelin's crew were successfully tackling some of the blazes)


Paul's Brisfit pilot is wounded


Mark's second Brisfit is damaged


Zeppelin takes more damage and another gas cell burns

Despite the mounting damage, the Zeppelin's gunners continued to inflict punishing damage on their attackers - the AFB-1 finally succumbed to mounting damage, and the DH4 took severe damage, but their return fire set yet another gas cell ablaze


Dave's AFB-1 takes heavy damage (and fell from the sky next turn), and Brian's DH4 is pounded

Heartened by the sight of more British planes falling from the sky, the Zeppelin's gunner seemed to re-double their efforts, and accurate fire set a Brisfit ablaze, and forced another down


Mark's second Brisfit catches fire - elsewhere Paul's first Brisfit falls from the sky

The DH4 was the next to fall, having taken yet more damage from the accurate fire the Zeppelin's gunners continued to pour into the attackers - and this was shortly followed by a Brisfit falling in flames! However, return fire continued to savage the Zeppelin, and one of the top deck gunners was seen to slump over his gun.


Brian's first DH4 goes down - elsewhere Mark's second Brisfit falls in flames

Despite heavy losses - our defenders had so far lost four Bristol Fighters, a DH4 and an AFB-1 - I am pleased to report that our aircrews continued to attack the Zeppelin with bravery and skill. Sadly, although the damage to the enemy continued to mount, more of our gallant defenders paid a heavy price.

A second DH4 drove directly at the enemy, but in the first exchange it took fire directly to the fuel tank and exploded! meanwhile, a Brisfit was seen to stagger as it took heavy damage and it's pilot was wounded - shortly after this 3 Zeppelin gunners concentrated their fire, and the Brisfit fell apart under the hail of bullets


Paul's second Brisfit takes damage


Brian's second DH4 enters the fray and immediately explodes!


Paul's second Brisfit takes 18 damage!!!!! and falls from the sky

The tide of damage taken by our pilots continued to rise - a second AFB-1 caught fire, a Brisfit took severe damage and it's rear gunner was killed, and a third DH4 had it's rear gunner silenced as well - however, this sacrifice had led to significant damage on the Zeppelin, which now showed signs of heavy damage

I regret that the Zeppelin continued to inflict a heavy price on our gallant airmen - another Bristol Fighter was shot out of the sky, and the DH4 was set ablaze, and all the remaining planes also took damage, and this led to a second Bristol Fighter and then the DH4 falling in flames


Brian's third DH4 catches fire


John's second Brisfit falls (shortly followed by Paul's third Brisfit, then Brian's third DH4 succumbs to fire damage)

Nonetheless, the Zeppelin continued to take damage, and despite a second AFB-1 and an eighth Brisfit being shot down, it finally succumbed to damage well short of it's target


John's third Brisfit falls


Zeppelin damage in the turn

Zeppelin Butchers Bill


Zeppelin Gas Cells


Zeppelin Crew

[Badin23]

wow what a great AAR!

[andron234]

Great Photo story

[Flying Officer Kyte]

That certainly took a lot of doing Brian.
It was a good job you had an inexhaustable supply of "Biffs" thanks to the new production line.
A great encounter, and very entertaining.
Thanks for posting it.
Rob.

[Archidamus]

That certainly took a lot of doing Brian.
It was a good job you had an inexhaustable supply of "Biffs" thanks to the new production line.
A great encounter, and very entertaining.
Thanks for posting it.
Rob.

Just hope we have an inexhaustible supply of aircrew as well Rob - that was 11 two-seaters and a couple of scout so 24 crew to replace as well as the machines themselves. Given the (lack of) value of Ashford, this was almost the dictionary definition of a Pyrrhic victory

[clipper1801]

Very well played indeed! Glad to see the Zepps in action!

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Great game. They do take a lot of shooting down and they take their revenge on the amount of aircraft they take with the, too. great pics of the action.

[RJG173]

Are those Zeppelin damage sheets in the files?

[Archidamus]

They used to be, but appear to have disappeared - but I have them as files so can PM them to you if you want

[flash]

Another great day of action over Kent Brian !

[Archidamus]

Another great day of action over Kent Brian !

Says the man who skulked around overlapping the beast's base (or flying on the side with the silenced gunners) whilst some of us got shot 3,4 or 5 times in a single turn

[fast.git]

...and a total of three DH4's, eight Brisfits and two AFB-1s fell from the sky by that time...

2 flights worth of kites!?!

A costly evening for the RFC...