OTTTEY Mission 16 Prelude to Arras

**tikkifriend** · 09-08-2015 10:14

OTTTEY Mission 16 Prelude to ARRAS.
RFC
2nd Lt Pip Hall Tripe
Lt Grimm Spad
Sgt Reaper Spad Yellow

Central powers
Ltn J Just Halb
Ltn H Hartmam MVR
Ltn H Lex Blue
Ltn M Kahle Strip tail
Vzfwbl A Luer No1
Obltn S Smitt Yellow body

"So Reaper how many hours on Spads?" he CO asked
"12 Sir" He replied
" And you Grimm?"
"None on Spads sir, but 15 on DH2s"
The CO sighed How could you hope to win the war in the air when you the pilots were so inexperienced.
"Right then , get your flying gear together and report to Ltn Hall " He saluted and turned towards his office.
Hall looked at the rookies, fresh faced and eager to please.
" A couple of sorties will take the edge off them" he thought.

The engines ticked over in the background as Pip Hall called the rookies over to him.

"Right listen up chaps, the rules are simple, we are going over the lines .you follow me and if we have the misfortune to spot or be spotted by the Hun we head for our lines and home. Understand, Red flare run "
The rookies nodded. Grimm looked at the Spad and wondered how different it could be to the DH2 he was trained on. He was about to find out.

Hall watched as Grimm struggled to keep the Spad in formation. Reaper on the other hand seemed more confident and was keeping pace with Halls long turns and sharp banking maneuvers .Looking down Pip saw the small town of Pontivy below him. That was the limit of today's foray. Signaling a left turn to his wingmen he commenced a lazy turn.
Then they were there, 6 of them bearing down from directly ahead.

Hall fumbled for his Very pistol loaded the red flare and fired.

The enemy scouts pounced on the RFC planes like a cat on a wounded sparrow.

Reapers Spad was the first to be hit ,smoke erupting from the forward fuselage (4+smoke)

Pip felt the rounds from a second Albatros hit his Tripe (4,0) A short burst at the flight leader struck home before the Lewis stopped abruptly (2+GJ)

Hall felt the rush of air beneath him as Hartmans plane came perilously close to colliding with him, it did however block Justs LOS . A hot blast of air further rocked he Tripe looking to his left he saw the sheet of flames that once was Grimms Spad falling earth. (XP)

A second burst from Hartman tears into the spars and wires of Halls plane. Ahead he could see Reaper, smoke trailing from his engine. Knowing the Spads had a speed advantage and hoping that Reaper would follow his orders Pip Hall threw his plane into a steep right turn hoping to break up the hunters from their prey. It was a noble gesture, worthy of the high ideals and values the RFC encouraged, but it was futile. Pip saw the flames from his severed petrol pipes and felt the thud in his back as the bullet hit him. His vision began to blurr as he drifted into unconsciousness as the Tripe dipped its nose gracefully toward the river. (2+Fire, 3+pilot)

The second flight under Obltn Smitt began to move towards the fleeing RFC plane.
Reaper could see a cloud bank above him and started to climb for it, his engine screaming under the strain of a full throttle .

Looking around the first flight of Germans were some distance behind him. The second flight were obscured by cloud

. A flash of yellow caught his eye as Smitt dropped quietly behind him. The next Reaper remembered was coming to, blood trickling down his forehead clouding his vision (3+pilot)

Then darkness (5+pilot)

Back at the aerodrome the mood was solemn. 4 hours overdue could mean many things , but with a flight of rookies and the buzz on the telephone lines reporting increased Hun scout patrols the outcome was looking more desperate by the hour. The Co rang the mess bell.

"Gather round chaps, I've got some news of Pip Halls flight " His voice trailed off.

Result

RFC

2nd Lt Pip Hall Tripe SD/W/ONFire /ET
Lt Grimm Spad XP/ET
Sgt Reaper Spad Yellow. Killed and shot down.

Central Powers
All planes RTB Total damage 2pts!!!

Mark that one down as a disaster. After 4 moves not turns I was 2 planes down. Not a sniff of a 0 or gun jam for them and a total of 3 pilot hit cards and a boom to boot. It was all over by turn 3 so this has got to be one of the shortest and bloodiest I have flown in years.

An horribly realistic scenario John but happy, if that's the right word,I played it.

If you could check the wreckage please Dave to see if anyone crawled out .

**Archidamus** · 09-08-2015 11:14

That was short and brutal Paul - let's hope and

that the downed Bulldogs manage to crawl out of the wrecks

**tikkifriend** · 09-08-2015 12:09

That it was .

**gully_raker** · 09-08-2015 17:15

Holy Moley! What a Bloodbath!
The Dice Gods certainly gave you the Thumbs Down in that one Paul.

One can only hope for some good news on the possible survival rate.

**fast.git** · 09-08-2015 19:43

That was positively brutal!

Here's hoping the dice are kinder than the cards...

**flash** · 09-09-2015 00:05

Yeouch ! And I thought my outing was bad

Great AAR though and bravely done. Sadly the die rolls didn't do much for you either Paul...

2Lt Pip Hall: SD FLM ET / WIA / 0 Kills
Rolled 2...

-2FLM -1WIA = -1 KIA

2Lt Grimm Spad: EXP ET / 0 kills
Rolled 7 -3 = 4 Severely Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios - Rolled 3 = Skip 3
E&E: Rolled 3 -1 BEL -1WIC = 1 - Captured! The war ended for this pilot...

Sgt Reaper: SD ET/ 2WIA / 0 kills
Paul states KIA - rolling would have had a surprisingly different result...
Rolled 6 -1SD -2WIA = 3 Severely Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios - Rolled 1
E&E: Rolled 9 -2WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 5 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios - Rolled 1. Total skipped 2
Which can be applied if you wish Paul.

Can you clarify which of the German pilots got the victories Paul - Obltn Smitt (can I have a full name) got Reaper at the end, I think Just in the Halb got Hall but I cannot see who got Grimm ? Ta muchly !

**tikkifriend** · 09-09-2015 05:25

Thanks Dave.

Reaper got 2 pilot hits in succession so rules are rules and he is dead.

Sigfrid Smitt got Reaper.
Lex got Grimm,
and Pip Hall was the victim of Just in the Red Halb. Kahle got the first shot 2+fire
Damn their eyes . Revenge me thinks next battle.

Can Thomas Jennings replace brave young Pip please?

**tikkifriend** · 09-09-2015 05:28

OOPs just checked the roster, might need a few more pilots for the grinder at your discretion.

**fast.git** · 09-09-2015 05:37

Originally Posted by flash

Sgt Reaper: SD ET/ 2WIA / 0 kills
Paul states KIA - rolling would have had a surprisingly different result...
Rolled 6 -1SD -2WIA = 3 Severely Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios - Rolled 1
E&E: Rolled 9 -2WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 5 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios - Rolled 1. Total skipped 2

And in an ironic (or not?) twist of fate, the appropriately-named Sgt. Reaper appears to exert some measure of control over life and death.

Go figure.

**flash** · 09-09-2015 07:12

This is some kind of record - no losses until mission 16 and then three in one game

Reaper got 2 pilot hits in succession so rules are rules and he is dead

We haven't played that for a while now - it gets him shot down but most have exercised the option to roll for the pilots survival, after all you don't automatically lose a pilot on an explosion & the crash rules provide for -1 per wound ! Up to you but the option is there.

Originally Posted by tikkifriend

OOPs just checked the roster, might need a few more pilots for the grinder at your discretion.

All six of your pilots and your two seat crew are fit for action in Mission 17, as are six Eagles and their crews - do you know something I don't ?!

**tikkifriend** · 09-09-2015 08:37

Some of them just showed up at the MO tent.

**fast.git** · 09-09-2015 09:06

Originally Posted by tikkifriend

Some of them just showed up at the MO tent.

After days like that, it's astonishing that more didn't choose this option. Interestingly enough, in Somme Success, Peter Hart references British planes carrying a number of 20lb bombs. Obviously intended to be dropped on the Germans, Hart provides evidence that some RFC officers also considered them guarantors of crossing the lines.

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 09-09-2015 10:42

Just started reading Bloody April by Peter Hart. Now that is what I call bravery in the face of certain death for every RFC and RNAS pilot who took to the skies even in Jan Feb and March in the build up to Bloody April.

Originally Posted by fast.git

After days like that, it's astonishing that more didn't choose this option. Interestingly enough, in Somme Success, Peter Hart references British planes carrying a number of 20lb bombs. Obviously intended to be dropped on the Germans, Hart provides evidence that some RFC officers also considered them guarantors of crossing the lines.

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 09-09-2015 10:43

Great AAR Paul pity it ended so badly. I'd take the dice roll on the 2 wounds, we all have. Keep one of your chaps going. He will have some story to tell on his return.

Neil

**fast.git** · 09-09-2015 10:49

Originally Posted by Skafloc

Just started reading Bloody April by Peter Hart. Now that is what I call bravery in the face of certain death for every RFC and RNAS pilot who took to the skies even in Jan Feb and March in the build up to Bloody April.

Bloody April is my favorite of the three (Somme Success, Bloody April, and Falling Aces) so far, though I'm only half way through Somme Success. All are excellent, however, and provide a great look at the evolving nature of the air war over the Western Front 1916-1918. Highly recommended.

**gully_raker** · 09-09-2015 17:26

Originally Posted by tikkifriend

Thanks Dave.

Reaper got 2 pilot hits in succession so rules are rules and he is dead.

Sigfrid Smitt got Reaper.
Lex got Grimm,
and Pip Hall was the victim of Just in the Red Halb. Kahle got the first shot 2+fire
Damn their eyes . Revenge me thinks next battle.

Can Thomas Jennings replace brave young Pip please?

Well that result really "sucked" Paul.
Certainly was "Bloody April" for your Flight!

**tikkifriend** · 09-10-2015 00:27

Originally Posted by Skafloc

Great AAR Paul pity it ended so badly. I'd take the dice roll on the 2 wounds, we all have. Keep one of your chaps going. He will have some story to tell on his return.

Neil

The irony is is that Pip Hall (who never stood a dicing chance) was a character from a previous campaign . So got to be careful with Gresham and Curtis now as they are the last of the very few.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 09-10-2015 01:40

I am appalled by the losses so far in this mission Paul.
I have yet to fly mine and prey that I may come out of it better than that.
Well done for a well written dialogue even if the outcome was far from satisfactory.
Rob.

**tikkifriend** · 09-10-2015 03:12

take a good slug of gin before and during this one Rob.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 09-10-2015 03:26

Of course I will.
This sortie is not going to make me change the habit of a lifetime Paul.

Kyte.

**Stumptonian** · 09-10-2015 22:03

Posting

so I can come back to this post and read it in detail tomorrow

**Stumptonian** · 09-11-2015 09:32

Originally Posted by Stumptonian

Posting

so I can come back to this post and read it in detail tomorrow

Well that was like Bloody April came to life

(or should I say death ...)

But it was a good day to be an Eagle

Similar to my first outing [ here: Live to Fight Another Day ] in that the Bulldogs never even got one shot off.

I picked up a hardcover copy of Bloody April for $3.24 on eBay as a throw-in with a Gotha last year. Guess I'd better dig it out again ...

**diceslinger** · 09-11-2015 09:53

That was bloody, no doubt there. Well written though, even though your planes were like ducks in a shooting gallery, you still made it an interesting read. Not always an easy thing to do! Hope the new recruits have a bit more sand!