AAR - Flash And Fire In The Clouds

[flash]

This is another solo AAR based on Carl's WGF WF03 - Fire in the Clouds (WGF historical scenario for 3-8+ players)
"Ecourt-St. Quentin, 2 September 1918: The morning brought patchy rain and cloud to the skies over northern France as British and Canadian troops pushed forward towards the Canal du Nord. Above the battlefield the RAF stacked its squadrons to support the advance, with DH.4s escorted by Sopwith Camels at low level and SE.5a's providing top cover. About 1100hrs cloud banks separated the RAF formations allowing Jagdgeschwader III (JGIII) to concentrate their force against the low level British aircraft attempting to reconnoitre the German lines."

Tommy:
Lt Guy Griffin & observer 2Lt Earl Guthrie in the DH.4
2Lt Arlo Hook in Camel #7 & 2Lt Dan Gillies in camel #8


Top Cover by Seamus Hicks in SE5a G - George & 2Lt John Stark in H - Harry


The Fokkers:
Jurgen Stegner on the Left, Hans Janke centre & Karl Rupp on the right


The Germans dive into the attack


The Tommy machines scatter and the Huns have no target - as the DH.4 turns Guthrie gets a burst into Janke as he slides past


The Fokkers whip round lightning fast but the Tommy has the same in mind and rounds fill the air - little damage is caused but Gillies stops one and Guthrie's gun jams


Stegner has a go at the DH.4 as Guthrie frantically works to clear his jam, Hicks will claim later that his diving shot put the German off.


The SE's catch up and the Tommy's call the play - Stegner's machine is hammered, and Rupp's stops one as Janke tries a shot on the DH.4


His gun cleared Guthrie staggers Stegner's machine with a hard hitting close range burst that causes suficient damage to see him off


As Stegner breaks off Janke steps into the beach to trade shots with Guthrie


Janke latches on and scores a solid hit but Guthrie's aim is accurate and his rounds damage the German's radiator


Stegner is looking for a way home when he meets up with Hicks - a snapshot damages the Englishman's motor & he must make for home.


Janke presses home his attack but already his engine has an odd note and thin smoke trails from his exhaust


His final effort comes to nought as his gun's jam and he is forced to break off with his sick engine.


Looking for a way home Janke's crippled machine is jumped by Hicks who has seen him trying to sneak off but no damage is caused


Rupp has a go at Gillies' Camel but after a short burst his guns jam.


Hicks manoeuvres left behind the limping Fokker and has another go at Janke as he seeks to escape the battle area


When he gets in behind him he shows no mercy





Meantime Rupp has been chasing the DH.4 round and round and now the rest of the cover has caught back up with them and joined the muddle - Rupp ducks under Stark as he Immels - the DH4 looking ripe for the picking.


Rupp blows past the cover and gets a shot on the DH.4 but no damage done


Stark returns the favour as Rupp rolls round behind them


Suddenly Gillies is on Rupp in a beam attack that sees his rounds smashing through the Fokker's fuselage & wounding the pilot


Gillies presses home the attack and knocks the Fokker down before the stunned pilot knows what's going on .




Butcher's Tally:

Jurgen Stegner RTB / 0 kills
Farl Rupp SD-FT / WIA / 0 kills - a bit knocked about, will be out of action for a month
Hans Janke SD-FT 0 kills - pancaked into a field and walked away from the wreckage none the worse for wear.



Arlo Hook (Camel 7) RTB 0 kills
Dan Gillies (Camel 8) RTB/ WIA 1 Kill (Rupp). Minor wound treated by the medico on return & declared fit for flying.
Seamus Hicks (SE5a G) RTB 1 Kill
John Stark (SE5a H) RTB 0 kills
Guy Griffin & Earl Stark (DH.4) RTB 0 kills


Played with my altitude rules & D8 charts for the AI - all went quite well for the Tommy on this occasion, the DH.4 had a charmed life and got away with it.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Harry Hun copped a pasting that time out Dave.

How did the card draw go regarding the SE5as? Did you manage to get them in the fight from the end of the first turn or did they have to stooge around a bit at altitude?

[Stumptonian]

Great to see D.VIIs in action - can't wait until we can use them in OTT.
They didn't fare very well in this one, though!
I really like the paint on Stegner and Rupp.

[gully_raker]

Great effort there Dave!
That gave the old Hun a rather Bloody Nose!

[flash]

Harry Hun copped a pasting that time out Dave.

How did the card draw go regarding the SE5as? Did you manage to get them in the fight from the end of the first turn or did they have to stooge around a bit at altitude?

They spotted the Hun more or less straight off the bat which I thought was a bit quick but never look a gift horse in the mouth as they say !
If I do this one again I will either change the draw number required and/or only draw if within a couple of rulers range, or, something like that just to keep them up there a while longer.

[flash]

Great to see D.VIIs in action - can't wait until we can use them in OTT.
They didn't fare very well in this one, though!
I really like the paint on Stegner and Rupp.

The cards were not with them, they got loads of shots on the DH.4 but six 0's took the steam out of the attacks, whereas the Tommy's dropped some big numbers and damage on them. That's the beauty of this game though, we could play this tomorrow and have a completely different result.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Very neat little action Dave.
It is always good when you get a bit of luck with the cards.
rob.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

They spotted the Hun more or less straight off the bat which I thought was a bit quick but never look a gift horse in the mouth as they say !
If I do this one again I will either change the draw number required and/or only draw if within a couple of rulers range, or, something like that just to keep them up there a while longer.

How about must draw a card depicting special damage? I am going to have a chop at this one on the weekend, I'll try that out.

[flash]

Yep, that might do it, I can't recall what the ratios are in the B deck vis a vis numbers, zeroes and Special damage. I was thinking of pulling a 1 or a 2 (which is what I actually pulled) though there are fewer 2's than 1's so that might be too harsh.

[Windy Jack]

Your pictures show some very close flying, Dave. It's a wonder there was not at least one collision.
Thanks for the AAR.

[flash]

Thanks Doug, I was playing my altitude rules (similar to Zoe's) so there was vertical separation in all the close encounters, not much, but enough !