As it was chucking it down with rain for part of yesterday I dragged out my aircraft & decided to give one of the Hannovers a blooding to see how it would perform under AI control against a couple of predators flown by me.
Shooting is peg to peg and I used my own altitude rules.
I put the Hannover piloted by Fwbl Alois Engler & crewed by Ltn Willy Rabe in the middle of the table and using a D12 diced for the approach of the Camels, placing both within two rulers range.
2Lt Clark Ellis came in high at one o'clock
& 2Lt Eddy Blake high at six
'Hannover in a Camel sandwich' I thought....
I knew there was going to be trouble by the end of the first turn ...
"Hey he was here a second ago "
Ow ! Ellis gets battered by Rabe as he passes
Both the Camels haul themselves round in tight right turns and it looks as though they will drop on the Hannover's tail but Engler had other plans hauling his aircraft into a tight left turn - Blake catches him but alas no damage and a gun jam to boot
As they circle out of harms way Rabe gives Blake a parting gift !
The Camels haul themselves to the right in order to cut off the Hannovers turn ...
yeah that didn't work out too well either as Engler gets in on the action and peppers Ellis' kite !
The Hannover passes between the two Camels without any further shooting and reefs into a tight left turn, as Engler opens the turn out he is caught by Ellis who has pulled a one eighty turn and extracts a small measure of revenge
Both of the Camels mis-read Englers intentions and the aircraft part company - a couple of turns follow as the Camels try again to circle back onto their target, however the Hannover snakes between then again and Rabe gets to work over Ellis' Camel again - he's lucky this time !
Ellis now gets onto the Hannovers tail but his luck is mixed !
In the opening of the next turn Ellis overshoots the Hannover as they turn and his luck turns to all bad; Rabe fires a long range burst that wounds him badly enough to make him head for home (house rule)
As Blake curves in looking for an advantage Rabe sends Ellis packing with a final burst
Turning left is not advantageous for the Camel and Blake takes a burst as he struggles to get on the Hannover's tail
Englers sharp turn catches him out and Rabe finds his target again - his rounds crashing through the rotary engine and causing some major damage
That engine damage will see him home but before Blake can dive away to safety Engler stalls his aircraft and Rabes' opens fire for the final time ..
Butchers Tally
Hannover piloted by Fwbl Alois Engler & crewed by Ltn Willy Rabe RTB 1 Kill
Camel 2Lt Clark Ellis RTB/WIA/ 0 Kills
Camel 2Lt Eddy Blake SD-EXP- ET/0 Kills
So there you have it - further evidence, if you need it, that the Hannover should not be taken lightly !
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