OTT Early Doors Mission 9 - The Last Gasp of the Somme - 15th September 1916
The morning of the 15th of September saw the Eagle Squadron in a state of chaos. Recently their beloved CO, Hartwig Alder, had been killed in action. Their leading ace and new CO was away in the hospital recovering from wounds. An influx of new 5 new pilots without a CO put them under the control of the squadron 6 miles to the north.
On this morning a flurry of reports came in of a new British attack. It seemed the British weren’t quite done with their Somme offensive. Today something was different though, the reports were desperate. The attack had broken the front trench line but that was not all. After a barrage, leading the attack were some lumbering beasts that had never been seen before. Metal monsters full of troops, cannons and machine guns that slowly crept forward, unwavering, unstoppable!
No time to sort things out, orders are to get every available man up as soon as possible. The Eagles were to attack the British on the ground while other squadrons would intercept and British flyers.
Ltn Herman Beck and Ltn Konrad Schroeder were to fly the new Albatros DI as they had the most flying experience. Ltns Theodore Schwartz(camo DIII), Hugo Werner(brown DIII and Wilhelm Fischer(white DIII) would pilot Halberstdt DIIIs. They were told by the dispatch rider that it was imperative for them to help break up the attack. Their hard pressed infantry were retreating before the monsters and British infantry were following close behind. The second line must not be broken or a breakthrough by the British was possible. Reserves were being rushed to the sector but time was of the essence.
Just returning to the Bulldog Squadron was Commander Lt Agustus Owen. His absence had been sorely missed since his wounding several months ago. He was itching to get back in the air with his boys.
The briefing Lt Owen gave his pilots was short. Today was the beginning of a new assault that could change the war completely. While away he was informed of the attack plan and the new weapons that will be used. If this attack works, the Germans my not recover.
The squadron was to provide air cover, pure and simple. Every pilot was to do his best to avoid getting entangled in any fights away from the ground battle. All six available pilots are to take off in 15 minutes. Lt Owen(silver N17), 2Lt William Tuffield(N17 red stripe), 2Lt David Haines(green N17) and Sgt Ronald Wortley would be flying Nieupotr 17s while 2Lt Cyril Farquahar and 2Lt Richard Rice-Owen would fly 2 seat 1 ½ Strutters.
5 miles from the battlefield the Bulldogs were jumped by 6 German machines. Sgt Wortley and the two Strutters took them on while Agustus led Haines and Tuffield on to the mission.
Crossing the lines they could see the Tommies going over the top with the new ‘tanks’ in the lead.
They could also see they were not alone above the battlefield. Approaching the lines below them directly ahead were five German machines.
Hermann Beck was in command of the flight. His plan was to attack to the south and sweep the line towards the north. When the smoke and shells of the front line came into view he slipped south next to Hugo giving hand signals where to start the attack run. Konrad Schroeder did not follow and stayed north. Either he did not understand the plan or more likely his lone wolf instincts led him on his own path.
As they were about to adjust to their final approach the southern four Eagles were jumped by British Nieuports! Hermann, Hugo and Theodore escaped any damage but Wilhelm’s plane was badly torn into. At least he thinks he saw his opponent flinch so maybe he wounded him, but jamming his gun first shot was troubling.
Hugo jammed his guns returning fire and Hermann found his mark.
“Bad luck old boy”, Agustus thought, wounded immediately after months of recovery! At least it was just a scratch. He felt good about putting a hurt on his Hun. He also noticed the Hun hammering at his gun when he passed under.
Tuffy thought after last mission’s two kills his third was moments away. In his excitement he came in on target but a bit too fast and missed.
Haines lined up his EA but his gun jammed on the first round!
As the Nieuports quickly passed by, the Eagles knew they would have some time to attack the ground before the British could get back on them. Theodore again fired on the monsters but there was no effect. Hermann and Konrad straffed the infantry with deadly effect to the poor bloody infantry out in the open.
(I show the German die roll for their target choice and place number chits (a die can be used) to show the infantry hits. When 6 is reached I turn over the tank card to the side with no infantry, showing a smoking tank)
After the initial pass both sides maneuver for the next, clearing their guns while there is time. Konrad tears into the infantry again, stripping away its support for the beast.
Theodore keeps a watchful eye on the British flyer while trying to set up another run at his ground target.
Hugo and Wilhelm were so engrossed with their prey on the ground they were inattentive to each other’s position and collided! Hugo’s undercarriage hit Wilhelm and badly hurt him while also crushing the side of his Halberstadt.
Even with the collision both kept their prey in the crosshair and fired at the monsters, sadly to no effect. Konrad and Hermann also fired at the beasts but nothing happened. Tuffy got off a long range shot and scored on Hermann.
Hermann, Konrad and Hugo again fired at the monsters, frustrating them with no visible effect. Agustus scores minor damage to Wilhelm and Theodore missed a long shot at Agustus.
Wilhelm and Theodore concentrate on the beasts below, doing no harm, as does Hugo. But, Hermann and Konrad watch with glee as the monsters below them belch out smoke and stop in their tracks. Men scamper out and run back towards their own trenches! 2Lt Haines gets in an unhampered shot at Hermann and scored an oil line as smoke starts spewing out from around it.
With his plane in tatters and in serious pain, Wilhelm decides to head back to the aerodrome.
Hermann and Konrad keep firing at the monsters but both curse as their guns jam in unison. David Haines also keeps his eye on his target and tears into Hermann’s Albatros. With the smoke about him Hermann loses sight of David while trying to clear the jam. David also losed Hermann in the smoke and bears in too close and they touch wings.
Just after David clears the smoke Agustus gets a shot into Hermann. Coming out of the smoke David has lost his bearings and is horrified to see Agustus right in front of him. Both planes take massive damage as they collide. Agustus’ plane cannot withstand the impact and immediately goes down while David’s starts to smoke heavily.
The two smoking planes approach each other with David the only one able to fire, but that ends as his gun jams. Up north Tuffy sets Konrad on fire.
Hugo scatters some infantry while Hermann fires on the beast in vain. David’s smoke blinds him and he veers right at Hugo. At the last second Hugo dives under the ball of smoke hurtling at him.
In avoiding the smoking Nieuport Hugo ended up with a perfect position to strafe the infantry again with deadly accuracy. Herman also picks off some infantry. Tuffy stays on Konrad and the Albatros’ engine sputters with erratic vibrations.
Hermann again hits the mudsloggers hard and strips them away from their monster. Tuffy doesn’t let up and keeps on Konrad’s tail. Konrad feels more than just the heat and knows he must try to get out of the fight. Trying to put out a fire is one thing but to do so with a damaged engine and an enemy on your tail is not what one trained for!
Theodore misses his target but the beast under Hugo stops dead, stuck in a large shell hole that it cannot free itself from.
Theodore misses again but Hermann finds David’s Nieuport and rips off some canvas. Tuffy’s great aim again hits Konrad’s leaky fuel line and re-ignites the fire.
David turns his green Nieuport to avoid Hermann and fires on Theodore. Theodore noticed some stiffness in his rudder but is happy to see the mud swallow up a beast below him. Konrad just can’t shake Tuffy as the fire intensifies with more hits to his engine.
Tuffy is relentless and finally downs the burning Albatros. David gets in a clean shot at Theodore but Hermann rips into him from behind sending the green Nieuport into a spin that sends him into the ground.
The three remaining Germans all attack the same monsters but can only jam their guns. With their unsuccessful last effort Hermann signals Hugo and Theodore to head home.
Tuffy, after watching his burning foe tumble to the ground turns to see three Germans heading for home in the distance. He is too far away to give chase so heads home himself.
Butcher’s Bill
Lt Wilhelm Fischer RTB WIA dr 3 +3-1 =5 injured dr 1 miss 1 scenario
Lt Theodore Schwartz RTB
Lt Hugo Werner RTB
Lt Hermann Beck RTB 1 Kill
Lt Konrad Schroeder SD FL dr 3-3 = 0 KIA
2Ltn Agustus Owen SD EXP FT dr 7 -3 -1 = 3 severely injured 4 = miss 4 scenarios
Ltn David Haines SD FT dr 6 – 1 = 5 injured dr 4 = miss 2 scenarios
Ltn William (Tuffy) Tuffield RTB 1 Kill
British ground forces lose 4 tanks, one of the remaining tanks has no infantry support, ending in a German victory.
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Originally Posted by Teaticket
What an absolute screamer of a mission Peter.
I know how you feel Peter. Played this today & about the 3rd Turn realised I read your instructions re the German planes wrong!
. Noticed the mistake & brought on another D.1 & 2 more Halberstadt's using the story line that German reinforcements had arrived as by that time the British planes had passed through the first wave of D.1's. Stupid me!
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