Mission 9 - The Last Gasp of the Somme - 15th September 1916 - by Teaticket
The German airfields were frantically throwing aircraft into the air. The Eagles were no exception.
Oberleutnant Fabian Moeller had rounded up Lt.s Daniel Hagen, Maximilian Biele, Lutz Hebrang and Dominik Siemens. His brief had been short, the Entente are attacking our frontlines in large numbers, they appear to have some secret weapon supporting their push and our lines are faltering. Our job is to locate and stop this secret weapon, don’t worry I have been told we won’t miss it, just look for something large accompanying their infantry.
The new Entente tanks had started the big push. Infantry and tanks started to make their way across No-Mans Land. Air cover was provided by three N17s flown by Lt. Milton Herbert, Lt. Stanley Hamilton and 2nd Lt. Clive McDonald.
It wasn’t long before the Eagle formation arrived. Obltn Moeller signalled to attack, guns were cocked and the attack began.
Lt. Hamilton spotted the Eagle’s and signalled the rest of his formation.
Obltn. Moeller dived and open fired at the infantry.
Lt. Hagen was about to dive when he spotted Lt. Hamilton’s N17 coming straight at him. Suddenly bullets flew in both directions.
Along the line Lt. Siemens engaged 2nd. Lt. McDonald.
Lt. Herbert felt outnumbered as he was attacked by Lt.s Biele and Hebrang.
Suddenly Obltn. Moeller spotted something he had not seen before and decided that must be the target. Without hesitation he opened up and fired until his gun jammed. With a smile he noticed the target had stopped and was smoking heavily.
Lt. Hagen also noticed the intended target but his shots had no effect.
The rest of the Eagle’s also identified their intended targets but unfortunately their bullets just bounced off.
Lt. Hagen ripped into the infantry doing considerable damage. He was so glad he was up here and not down in the mud but this was not the time to dwell on the harshness of war.
Up and down the line the Entente infantry was being cut to pieces as German bullets rained down on them from above.
Lt. Biele had another attack on the tanks but to no avail.
The infantry came under another hail of bullets as Lt. Hebrang dived in.
Screaming along No-Man’s land Lt. Hagen spotted a tank and poured hot lead into it until it exploded.
The Entente were breaking through but not before Lt. Biele made their infantry regret getting so far.
Spotting the Entente breaking through Lt. Hebrang fired but it didn’t stop them.
The Eagle’s continued their ground attacks and was surprised when the Entente air cover regrouped and attacked.
Avoiding a collision with a N17, Lt. Biele fired on a tank but no effect was seen.
Lt. Siemens was suddenly aware the enemy air cover had returned as bullets flew past him. Looking to his right he spotted a N17 attacking him.
As Lt. Siemens attacks the infantry Obltn. Moeller tracks the N17 and just at the right moment opens fire.
Lt. Hagen finds another tank and blows it to pieces.
Now he was familiar with the Entente secret weapon it wasn’t long before Lt. Hagen found another tank and quickly dispatched it.
Lt. Herbert got behind Lt. Biele and opened fire but failed to do any damage.
Another Entente tank met its doom as Obltn. Moeller and Lt. Siemens simultaneously attacked it.
The crew of an Entente tank flinched as they heard bullets bouncing off their machine.
It wasn’t long before Obltn. Moeller found himself head to head with 2nd Lt. McDonald. Bullets were exchanged with McDonald getting the better deal.
Two Eagles attacked, one aiming for the tank and the other the infantry. Some of the infantry were wishing they were in the tank.
The Entente were having a bad day, the attack was failing and the air cover was not having a lot of luck.
Lt. Herbert found himself on the tail of Lt. Hebrang, opening fire he saw the Halberstadt start to smoke just before his gun jammed. What he didn’t know was that Lt. Hagen was on his tail. He soon found out as bullets ripped into his tail.
As Lt. Siemens attacks an enemy tank Lt. Hamilton opened fire on him causing his aircraft to catch fire.
The air battle continues as Obltn. Moeller fails to hit an oncoming N17.
Lt. Siemens desperately fights the encroaching fire.
Lt. Hamilton targeted Lt. Hebrang and opened fire only to find his gun jammed. As he tried to unjam it he was shocked as his aircraft was bounced by two Eagles and bullets ripped large chunks out of his aircraft.
2nd Lt. McDonald came to the aid of Lt. Hamilton and managed to rip into Lt. Hagen’s Albatros.
Lt.s Hagen and Biele continued their combined attack on the N17 and jamming both their guns in the process.
The air war increased in intensity as Lt. Hebrang and 2nd Lt. McDonald came head to head. They both unleashed hell, the fire was so intense that both aircraft were set on fire.
Pilots on both sides were doing their best to control the fires which were consuming their aircraft.
Unfortunately for Lt. Hebrang, the fire was too much for his aircraft and it quickly lost height until it crashed into a field.
Lt Hagen suddenly found a N17 on his tail and its bullets shredded his rudder.
2nd Lt. McDonald fired on an incoming Albatros, due to the angle he only managed to damage the rudder. Obltn. Moeller a more experienced pilot had a much better angle and his bullets ripped the N17 apart.
With fuel and ammunition low, the attack repulsed both squadrons broke off the engagement and headed home. Lt. Siemens fire got out of control and his aircraft crashed close to the airfield.
The Butcher’s Bill
Obltn. Fabian Moeller / RTB / 1 x Kill N17 / 2 x Kills Tanks
Lt. Hebrang / FLM / FT
7 + (Flamer: -2 ) = 5
Injured - Skip 2 Scenarios
Lt. Daniel Hagen / RTB / 3 x Kill Tanks
Lt. Maximilian Biele / RTB
Lt Dominik Siemens / FLM
12 + (Flamer: -2 ) = 10
All well when you land well!
2nd Lt. Clive McDonald / FLM / 1 Kill (Hebrang)
4 + (Flamer: -2 ) = 2
KIA
Lt. Stanley Hamilton / RTB / 1 Kill (Siemens)
Lt. Milton Herbert / RTB
Only tank to survive the attack
Central Powers Victory
Well that was a real fur ball of a battle, I had quite a bit of luck with getting the tanks. The Entente were not so lucky with their firing or it could have been a different result. I think Lt. Siemens going down was part my fault, I picked two straight cards while he was on fire and the penalty results were very painful. A great scenario to play but it took quite a long time due to the amount of aircraft involved but was excellent fun.
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