Early Doors Mission 6: "Oh Canada"-- Flashes Battle of Mount Sorrel - 8th June 1916

[flash]

The Hun has been busy in the Ypres salient, battering the Canadians and forcing them back; the Canucks rallied and their spirited counter-attack regained some but not all the ground the Hun had wrested from their grasp. A counter by the Germans leaves many more dead but the lines are held. The bloodied warriors pause for breath and eyed each other warily for the next thrust or counter-stroke.
The Canadians make plans to regain the positions of Mont Sorrel and Tor Top, but due to preparations for the Somme offensive no new troops are available to the support the Canadians. To make up for the lack of infantry, the Canadian command decide to use more artillery barrages to soften up the German positions. In order to do that, large supplies of shells are stocked in a number of central depots in the rear. These depots have been spotted by German reconnaissance, and the general opinion is that destroying even one of these depots could significantly change the outcome of what is to come…

2Lt Claude Back has been tasked to show the new boy 2Lt Barry Cade the ropes and that morning they have been tasked to patrol behind the lines in the Ypres salient to keep an eye out for Hun recon kites and see them off where possible.
Claude, with his public school background wasn't quite sure what to make of this new chap, him being Australian and all, but he was such a likeable chap he couldn't but get on with him and his colonial charm. Everything being 'fair dinkum' and so on, but his predilection to call senior officers 'mate' would have to be addressed soon before he got them into trouble !
Barry himself had 'no worries', he found some of the Poms to be stuffed shirts but didn't much care - he was here to fight and so long as they all rubbed along well enough he'd be able to do most of that in the air. Claude was warming to him he could tell and a good patrol today may help that along.
They clambered into their Nieuport 16's, Claude taking F for Freddie, Barry in J for Johnnie, and took off on patrol shortly after the dawn patrol had returned, the weather was good and the skies clear.


Their trip out was uneventful and they patrolled the sector without incident for twenty minutes until they saw puffs of white Archie seemingly approaching them from the east - a sure indication they had company - they nosed round in that direction and moments later their enemy appeared - an Albatros C.I escorted by a red Eindecker rapidly approaching an encampment below them


Barry was a little behind and lower than Claude so swung out left climbing as he did so to see if he could get on the two-seater's flank as Claude side-slipped his way towards the Hun pair


The Huns came on, the red Fokker climbing a little higher, straighter; the Albatros maintaining altitude and wriggling its way across the sky


As they rushed over the encampment Barry could see gunners below rushing to man the AAMG dotted around the site


A seemingly lazy stream of tracer arced up from the front position and whip-lashed across the red Eindecker - flamed plumed from its engine "Leave something for us mate!" shouted Barry


It was to no avail as a second stream clattered through the Eindecker and it seemed to staagger in the air as if its engine missed a beat


Barry dropped his nose and opened up on the Albatros but his efforts seemed to bring no result, he saw Claude Immel in an attempt to get on the now flaming Fokker


Barry whipped round behind the Albatros, fully expecting the gunner to have a go but nothing came, glancing at his enemy he realised to his horror this was no recon flight - the bloke in the back was hefting a bomb into position over the side


There's nothing they can do as the bomb is launched over the side and slams into the ground amongst some boxes and canvas below - dust and smoke are sent into the air as a fire break out.


The next AAMG barks and more tracer finds its way into the ailing Fokker even as Claude looks for an angle on him.


And before he can even lay his sights on him the gun sends a second and fatal burst into the Eindecker sending it spinning towards the ground




The red Fokker is not the only one to run afoul of the AAMG as the back stop takes on the Albatros whilst Barry flounders about trying to get a bead on him..


Before diving to escape the attentions of the gunner at close range


After more snaking about by Barry the gunner takes a pot shot at him but his gun fortunately jams before he can do any major damage


Barry just can't get on him and as the Albatros heads back for his target Barry rolls round behind him as Claude Immels and heads to cut them off


Closing fast Barry takes a shot but again nothing seems to happen, the Albatros' gun winks at him briefly before stopping with another jam


Barry squeezes the trigger again and again and is pleased to see splinters fly as Claude closes in fast from his right




Claude then opens up his account, stitching rounds through the two-seater


There's no return fire because the gunner is busy, not clearing his jam but manhandling another bomb into position and over the side




Even as the bombs strike home Claude is opening fire - his close range burst finds its mark and sends the Albatros crashing to the ground


But the damage is done and the secondary explosions rock the ammo dump and a conflagration begins


Butchers Tally:

Vzfwbl Herbert Bowski & Ltn Ludwig Lenz

Vzfwbl Herbert Bowski: Rolled 6 -1SD = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios; Rolled 1 = skip 1
E&E: Rolled 3 -1 BEL = 2 Captured! The war ended for this pilot...
Ltn Ludwig Lenz. Rolled 5 -1SD = 4 Severely Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios; Rolled 1 = skip 1
E&E: Rolled 8 -1BEL =7 Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario. Skips 2 Total.

Ltn Konrad Strunklenberg:

Rolled 9 -2FLM = 7 Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario.
E&E: Rolled 6 -1FLM -1BEL = 4 Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios; Rolled 2 = skip 1 - Skips 2 Total


2Lt Barry Cade - RTB / 0 Kill


2Lt Claude Back - RTB / 1 Kill (Alb C.I)


Machine Gun Corps: 1 Kill (Red E.III)


Mission success for the Hun, mission fail for the Tommies. One day I'll win one !
Nice scenario, next time I may use three N.16, limited ammo and do away with a couple of AAMG.

[tikkifriend]

Look on the bright side Dave you got a Hun and you got back alive. Seemed like a quick bit of action up there out of curiosity how many turns did it take?

[flash]

That's true, at least that's better than last time ! Not sure how many turns Paul - about seven I think, I didn't post all the pics in the AAR, there's a few more in my albums

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Corker there Dave. 50/50 but the ammo dump got it. Still no pilots lost.

[gully_raker]

Very interesting AAR that one Dave.
Boy those Machine Gunners on the Ground gave out some damage.
I think they must have been Aussies they way they dealt with that all Red Fokker.
Shades of things to come in 1918 eh!

[flash]

I think you might have been right about the gunners Baz !

[tusekine]

Nice mission and AAR, Dave! Did you think it was too easy on the Germans? It looked ok to me as it was touch and go on whether the Albatross got to drop or was dropped...

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Never seen such shooting from the ground Dave.
How old will those Gunners be in 1940.
I could use them in Malta.
Rob.

[flash]

Nice mission and AAR, Dave! Did you think it was too easy on the Germans? It looked ok to me as it was touch and go on whether the Albatross got to drop or was dropped...

It's all in the cards Anthony, if you get big hits or special damage then you'll probably stop him, as the AAMG did with the Fokker in this case - why didn't they shoot the blue one ?! - but there are a lot of 1's and 0's in the B deck ! I've played it three times now, the last with three N.16 as I mentioned, and each time the bomber got through but then I had rubbish cards, low numbers, jams, no special damage. If I were to suggest a change I would move the dump westwards so its a couple of rulers in from the edge and/or start the Entente closer to the CP or from the north /south edge maybe - this would allow them to engage earlier for a little longer and also maximise the use of the table. If I get time later I'll give this a go and let you know how I get on.

[tusekine]

It's all in the cards Anthony, if you get big hits or special damage then you'll probably stop him, as the AAMG did with the Fokker in this case - why didn't they shoot the blue one ?! - but there are a lot of 1's and 0's in the B deck ! I've played it three times now, the last with three N.16 as I mentioned, and each time the bomber got through but then I had rubbish cards, low numbers, jams, no special damage. If I were to suggest a change I would move the dump westwards so its a couple of rulers in from the edge and/or start the Entente closer to the CP or from the north /south edge maybe - this would allow them to engage earlier for a little longer and also maximise the use of the table. If I get time later I'll give this a go and let you know how I get on.

Flash, changed the scenario per your suggestion and moved depot to the middle of the western half; I think that is a good change. I was worried that the Germans have enough room to turn around for a second pass, but half a WoW map surface should be plenty.

[Archidamus]

Great AAR Dave - Fritz may have bombed the target, but they paid a heavy price

Can't wait to fly this one (maybe next week after SWMBO goes back to work)

[flash]

Flash, changed the scenario per your suggestion and moved depot to the middle of the western half; I think that is a good change. I was worried that the Germans have enough room to turn around for a second pass, but half a WoW map surface should be plenty.

Still playing it out - I have posted a note in your BRF !

[Marechallannes]

Great AAR, Flash.

I like the planes you use for this mission, especially the blood red Fokker. (...you roasted)

[flash]

Thanks Sven - the dirty red Fokker is one of my favourites; the N.16's are from Balloon Busters sets stripped of rockets, repainted as RFC & the Alb C.I is a S/ways... Just occurred to me I painted all of the aircraft I used in this scenario !
I can see I will be doing the same when the N.11 finally arrive from Ares as there are only French & Italian paint jobs.

[Marechallannes]

That's why I thought I knew this strange wing struts.

Did the same with one of my Nieuports, Dave.

[flash]

Found it was the way to go or I would hardly ever use the N.16 otherwise ! With mine I popped the struts out, removed the rockets then swapped the sides when I replaced the struts so the 'cut off' bit was inboard - - must now mount the rockets onto a piece of plasti-card so I can mount them on something else as a temporary fitting.

[johnbiggles]

Nice AAR and nice planes Dave.
I'm glad you suggested the change of location, It gave me more time to put off the hun when I flew the mission last week

[Brambo]

A thrilling AAR Dave and as Wellington said, a close run thing. It could have gone either way at the end but you made us pay for the victory.