Go, go Gotha!

[Biggles downunder]

This Monday night we decided to try something a little different - two colliers and a light cruiser at anchor, defended by 2 AA guns and 2 Sopwith Babies. The attacking force comprised a Gotha G.1 floatplane loaded with 6 bombs (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotha_G.I) and a Macchi as escort.

The mission was played on the coastal mat plus a Sails of Glory mat.

After the inevitable race from each side of the mat, the Gotha drew first blood - those gunners have a very clear field of fire!




The Macchi pilot turned out to be not the sharpest pencil in the pencil box and repeatedly blundered into the path of the Gotha - I am thinking that the vast difference in speed and manoeuvrability had something to do with it!




And this distraction allowed one of the Sopwiths to get in a shot.




Finally the Gotha had a clear run at a ship...




...and inflicted minor damage with its first stick of bombs.

Meanwhile the Macchi at last contributed something to the mission and shot down one of the Sopwiths.




But then promptly blundered into the path of the Gotha while trying to get at the other Sopwith.




Leaving the Gotha gunner to take out the other Sopwith.



But in the process missing the ship completely!

Mission over with an indecisive victory to the attacking force.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Good to see something with a different flavour for a change Wayne. also seeing two Baby's pitted against a Gotha.
I take it AA fire did not contribute much to the show.
Nice game.
Rob.

[matt56]

Great to see the Topside minis in use again, Wayne! Love the 'unusual' planes you chose for the scenario, too

All the best,
Matt

[Dan-Sam]

Everytime when I see WoG or SoG mats I wonder how easily they add third dimension into the game. Nice pictures, Wayne

[Baxter]

As one of the downed pilots still swimming back to blighty let me say ....... Those gothas pack a mighty punch

Well done Wayne.

[Stumptonian]

Interesting read. I hadn't really thought much about ship targets for WWI - might have to take it under consideration.
(Might be a way to hook a nautical-geek friend to the ways of WoG)

[Biggles downunder]

Good to see something with a different flavour for a change Wayne. also seeing two Baby's pitted against a Gotha.
I take it AA fire did not contribute much to the show.
Nice game.
Rob.

Hi Rob

The AA fire was no-where near as destructive as it has been in previous games - the Gotha took a couple of hits but both were zeroes (phew!)

[Biggles downunder]

Just a quick addendum:

We used the dice to track damage on the ships - the colliers at 4 and the light cruiser at 6. We simply turn the appropriate face upward to show the current level of damage, moving the dice out of the way when they would interfere with an aircraft base.

[gully_raker]

Nice one Wayne with interesting Aircraft.
What models did you use for the Baby's?

[Baxter]

I bought the Gotha and the Sopwith Babies from jsmwarplanes on Ebay. James McLintock will make just about anything you want to any scale from Balsa and ship it anywhere. Good prices and only had a couple damaged that he quickly replaced. The main problem was finding the plane cards for them. I also have Hansa, Rumpler and Short Seaplanes from him. I have bought a Felixstowe and a Curtiss flying boat too.