RULES/SET-UP
Gotha was on automatic play, i.e. turning over one manoeuvre card at a time, and shuffling them back in when there is one right and one left turn.
SCENARIO
Gotha had to fly full length of countryside (3 mats) and back to succeed. Fokker is his escort. Entente forces, a Sopwith Camel and a Spad XIII, have to prevent that outcome.
THE ACTION
The Gotha had been heading left gradually, but the Spad had been keeping aligned. Eventually they were front on and exchanged fire. The Gotha’s shot was off the mark, but the Spad’s was damaging with smoke billowing from the Gotha.
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As they passed, the Gotha’s rear gunner got off a close range shot at the Spad, damaging its rudder.
The Gotha continued veering to its left, such that we had to choose the opposite turn to the manoeuvre card turned up to keep the plane on the table.
The Camel, getting closer all the time to the group of three planes, engaged the Fokker from behind, setting it on fire.
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A little later the Fokker was able to shoot at the Camel, but did no damage.
Getting closer to its point of turn, the Gotha, Fokker and Camel were flying in formation. The Spad attacked the Gotha from the side, but the exchange of shots resulted in no damage to either plane.
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But then the Spad got into the Gotha’s rear blind spot and got off another shot, but still no damage. However on turning, the Gotha could shoot at the Spad, and set it on fire.
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Then they traded shots manoeuvre after manoeuvre, with the Gotha pilot being injured, damage being done to the aircraft, and the Spad’s guns jamming.
In the midst of all this, the Camel attacked the Fokker from long range, but did no damage.
The Camel and the Spad were now on the Gotha’s tail, but with the Spad’s guns jammed there was only a threat from the Camel. However, the Gotha hit the Spad hard and the damage from the fire was mounting. Down went the Spad.
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However there was no respite for the Gotha, because the Camel was right there, doing significant damage and injuring the front gunner. At the same time the Camel pilot was injured when struck by a shot from the Fokker. The Camel gained ground on the Gotha and shot from close range. The damage was enough to bring the Gotha down. However, it was a bitter victory, for the Gotha rear gunner got a direct hit on the Camel, causing it to explode.
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While the Fokker was free to fly home unchallenged, the mission had been unsuccessful.
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