Early Doors Scenario 9 - Last Gasp Of The Somme 15 Sept 1916 (Archidamus - Entente)
On the morning of the 15th Captain Frank Palmer briefed the two pilots assigned to him for the morning's sortie. He told Fred Styles and Algy Gates that their mission was to protect the new Entente super-weapons (called tanks for some reason that escaped him) as they drove the Germans back.
Fred and Algy were assigned two of the squadron's Nieuport 17's, but after his past experience with the type Frank refused a third and preferred his trusty DH2. Thirty minutes later they were across the main German trenches and approaching the tanks, which were about to breach the enemy's reserve trench line along with their supporting infantry battalions. In the distance Frank spotted five Hun machines approaching - he wasn't certain, but two looked like the new Halberstadt machines, and another looked like the Fokker bi-plane, but there were two he couldn't recognise.
Rocking his wings, he led his wingmen towards the enemy, passing over the tanks as they breached the trench-line.
Flying towards the British breakthrough attack, Oberltn Hans Hubner was flying one of the new twin-gunned Albatros fighters, accompanied by Albert Hahn in the only other Albatros the Eagles had received to date. Karl Fleischer and Georg Treiber were flying two Halberstadt machines, whilst Erich Jensen had been given Hans' old Fokker DII. His briefing to all the pilots had been forceful and clear - the priority targets were these British super-weapons (whatever they were) and the infantry supporting them! Even if enemy scout planes turned up, they were to concentrate on breaking up this dangerous breakthrough on the ground.
As the Bulldogs closed with the enemy Frank realised that there were definitely two examples of a previously unseen type .
Then the two lines of machines flashed through each other, exchanging shots.
Frank targeted the Halberstadt piloted by Treiber, and was rewarded by the sight of flames trailing the enemy machine. He did not escape unscathed, however, and the DH2 began to trail smoke.
Algy engaged the Halberstadt piloted by Fleischer at close range, with both pilots landing telling hits on their opponent.
Fred found himself facing the Fokker of Jensen and the Albatros piloted by the fearsome Hubner. As he exchanged shots with the Fokker both machines began to trail flames! Although Hubner's burst passed just astern of his machine Fred was horrified to realise that the new enemy machine mounted two machine guns!
Having passed through the Bulldogs all of the Eagles targeted ground targets, with Hubner, Hahn and Jensen shooting up some of the supporting infantry, whilst Treiber and Fleischer shot up the tanks - but with no appreciable effect. Meanwhile, Frank Immelmanned and continued his attack on Treiber's Halberstadt until his gun jammed on the final rounds in the Lewis's pan.
As Treiber, Jensen and Styles began to weave their respective planes to combat the flames they met with varied success. Treiber managed to keep the flames at bay, but both Jensen and Styles saw their planes consumed by flames
Karl Fleisher manoeuvred his plane into position and made another pass at some infantry with some success, but the Eagles were finding out how difficult it was to keep slow-moving ground targets in their sights.
The Eagles found themselves clear of opposition as the Bulldogs were caught out of position. Georg Treiber managed to mow down all of the infantry behind one of the monstrous tanks, although his gun jammed at the end of the extended burst. Albert Hahn also wiped out the infantry following another tank, and then Hubner's twin machine guns found a weakness in one of the tanks, and it ground to a halt as smoke poured from every opening!
Fire continued to consume all three planes that were on fire - Jensen, realising that his Fokker was in danger of disintegrating, broke for home and safety.
Fred Styles watched the flames consuming his Nieuport with some nervousness as he remembered Frank Palmer's comments about how fragile they were. Unfortunately, this became a moot point as he traded shots with Hahn's Albatros. Hahn's burst tore the Nieuport from the sky, and wounded Fred in the process - although his return fire also shredded the Albatros machine. Karl Fleischer also got in a burst at the Nieuport, but the damage had already been done. Fred staggered from the wreck of his machine, and was rescued by British troops following up the breakthrough.
Both Eagles' guns did jam however.
While Hubner targeted another tank to no effect Frank managed a burst at Treiber's Halberstadt and was rewarded by the sight of it spiralling into the ground
Palmer now managed to get on to the tail of Hahn's machine, and shredded his tail and rudder - but the Eagles continued to press home their attacks on the tanks and infantry. Hubner's twin machine guns caused more casualties amongst a tank's supporting infantry.
He then targeted another tank, and was rewarded by the sight of another monster slewing to one side and grinding to a halt just as his guns jammed - followed by a massive explosion as it's ammunition blew up. Jensen attacked the infantry whose tank Hubner had previously disabled, but then he was past the fight and put his nose down to get to safety.
Frank's pursuit of Hahn ended as he emptied his second pan of ammunition into the Albatros - he was rewarded by the sight of Hahn jerking in his cockpit as one of the rounds creased his shoulder
Undeterred, Hahn attacked another group of infantry and wiped them out, and then Fleischer followed Jensen and attacked the orphaned infantry, wiping them out.
Hubner and Hahn both attacked more enemy tanks to little effect - but Hahn's concentration on his ground target allowed Algy Gates to pummel his Albatros with a long-ranged burst of fire....
..... then the two machine made a close approach, trading bursts of fire. Algy felt a burning sensation in his left leg as Hahn's fire hammered the Nieuport, but watched with satisfaction as the last rounds from his Lewis' drum tore the Albatros from the sky (little did he realise that he had also wounded Hahn for a second time, but he was later to learn that British troops had pulled the severely injured pilot from the wreckage, and he was recovering in captivity).
For several minutes the remaining combatants manoeuvred for position and drew breath, then the Eagles recommenced their attacks on the tanks and infantry below.
Karl Fleischer's attacks on the tanks had little effect, and then his gun jammed. As he began the process of clearing the stoppage Frank opened fire, causing some damage to the Halberstadt but jamming in turn.
Meanwhile, Hans Hubner mounted another attack on some infantry and wiped them out with an extended burst of fire
With fuel and ammunition running low all four remaining combatants turned towards home. As they turned both Hubner and Fleischer took a last chance to attack the remaining ground targets - Fleischer's burst scattered some more infantry, whilst Hubner's last attack crippled a third tank. He was later to learn that the British attack stalled following the destruction of three of their super weapons!
THE BUTCHER'S BILL
The Tanks and Infantry - three tanks destroyed, five infantry support groups wiped out
Erich Jensen, Fokker DII: RTB / - / 0 kills
Karl Fleischer, Halberstadt DIII: RTB / - / 0 kills, 1 Infantry Support wiped out
Georg Treiber, Halberstadt DIII: SD FLM NML / - / 0 kills 1 Infantry Support wiped out
Crash Roll: 11 -2FLM -1NML = 8 Bruised Skip 1 Scenario
E&E Roll: 9 -1FLM +1NML = 9 They Didn't Even See Me
Total Miss 1 Scenario
Albert Hahn, Albatros DI: SD NML / 2 WND / 1 Kill, 2 Infantry Supports wiped out
Crash Roll: 7 -1SD -2WND -1NML = 3 Severely Injured Skip 1d6 Scenarios Rolled 1
E&E Roll: 3 -3WND +1NML = 1 Captured, The War Is Ended For This Pilot
Hans "Tank Killer" Hubner, Albatros DI: RTB / - / 0 kills, 3 Tanks destroyed, 1 Infantry Support wiped out
Algy Gates, Nieuport 17: RTB / 1 WND / 1 Kill
Roll: 10 +3 Aerodrome Landing -1 WND = 12 All's Well
Fred Styles, Nieuport 17: SD FLM NML / 1 WND / 0 Kill
Crash Roll: 8 -2FLM -1WND -1NML = 4 Severely Injured Skip 1d6 Scenarios Roll 3
E&E Roll: 11 -2WND -1FLM +1NML = 9 They Didn't Even See Me
Total Miss 3 Scenarios
Frank Palmer, DH2: RTB / - / 1 Kill
Reply With Quote
Sorry I had to vary the planes a little - I only have two Halbs so decided to sub a Fokker DII which I don't think changed the balance any - and obviously had to sub a DIII for a DI and a Nieuport 16 for an N17. Palmer stuck with his DH2 
) and stopped the advance with his tank-killing skills to rack up a victory for the CP. I wonder if the Kaiser will take note of his success?
Holy Toledo! What a furball that was.
Originally Posted by gully_raker
Well done sah ! 
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