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Thread: Bloody April centenary epic

  1. #1

    Default Bloody April centenary epic

    The Nunawading Wargames Association hosted a most sizeable game this Saturday been. This was one day shy of 100 years since the beginning of the Bloody April aerial campaign, part of the Battle of Arras.

    Forum member Roger Wilco spent great efforts organising a detailed sequence of missions. He also provided all period-appropriate planes (almost all bloody-well unavailable otherwise) and we used his exquisite terrain. He tells me it is the world's largest 3D gaming terrain made solely for Wings of Glory, and while I haven't broken into the home of every WoG player on Earth to verify this claim, I find it to be feasible. So, if you like this report and feel kindly inclined to gift some reputation, please send some his way also.

    The battlefield as viewed from the west. The river parellel to no-man's land marks the no-fly zone for German aircraft.

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    And viewed from the east. The railway east of the river marks the no-fly boundry for the British.

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    Detail of no-man's land. Entente zig-zag trenches in the foreground (west), and Central Powers cog-tooth trenches in the background (east).

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    Detail of river and railway:

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    Detail of the French town deep in German occupied territory:

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    Rogue's gallery. This was, as I recall, an eight player game, with each player piloting two or three planes at a time. Forum member Xen was also in attendance.

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    As with all battles, the individual combatant knows only his part. My role in the first stage was to down the two German observation balloons, using two rocket-armed Nieuport 16 scouts. This was my briefing:

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    This was the starting position of the British planes. The two-seaters were taking observation photographs over or slightly beyond no-man's land, and the other scouts were escorting them. Lost planes were not replaced. The British out-numbered the Germans, but being focussed on objectives other than combat, each British plane lost was a serious setback.

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    Ze German first wave, in D.II Albatri.

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    Long shot of the approach:

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    Battle is joined. The camo-pattern D.II moves to intercept the Nieuports, while the others turn south to attack the DH.2 pair and all other followers.

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    The brown Nieuport and D.II fire on each other. The Nieuport takes 5 damage and the pilot is wounded...

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    ... but the D.II explodes! The Nieuports approach the northern balloon unopposed. The occupants of both balloons parachute, and the balloons begin to descend.

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    The Sopwiths that had shadowed the Nieuports in case of trouble turn south, and the brown Nieuport fires both its rockets.

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    The balloon starts to burn.

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    Meanwhile, vicious conflict has broken out over no-man's land, and an attempt is made to destroy the southern balloon.

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    Back in the north, the lead Nieuport performs an Immelmann turn, the balloon burns, and the green Nieuport fires its rockets. The balloon explodes!

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    The successful Nieuports begin the long flight home, careful to stay north of the dog-fighting swarm. To score victory points for any mission completed (and repair damage), the planes had to safely return to their base.

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    The smoking D.II makes no attempt to engage, and we instead salute. With pistols.

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    The southern balloon has grounded itself. The British reconnaissance missions have succeeded, with a few planes lost on both sides.

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    Aerial photographs returned to British HQ, the artillery bombardment commences!

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    Part 2 coming soon.
    Last edited by Muerto; 04-11-2017 at 00:23.

  2. #2

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    That is a very impressive table, absolutely outstanding effort!! I cannot wait to see the rest of the action. Looks like a great time was had by all.

  3. #3

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    Truly amazing terrain, and a great gaming effort by all involved!

    I too look forward to the next instalment.
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  4. #4

    Thumbs up


    Fantastic Effort by all concerned & the Terrain Map is Awesome.

    Rep inbound.

  5. #5

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    Thanks guys.

    The wait was not long! Here is part two. I'm afraid photos are a bit more sparse, as by the time the second set of missions began we were in to the fourth hour of six. My attention thus slipped a bit.

    With the artillery strike successful, most remaining planes returned home. Two Spad VII pushed forward towards the kaiser. The British now had two objectives: firstly, bridges far beyond the front were to be bombed by Bristol F.2B fighters, cutting supply lines to the troops. Secondly, two R.E.8 two-seaters were to take reconnaissance photos of the new situation immediately behind the German trenches. The mission of my three Sopwith Tripes was to rendezvous with one R.E.8, and escort it across the lines.

    The right of this photo shows the British staging for these undertakings:

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    The Germans threw forward everything left in reserve.

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    While the F.2B squadron followed the Spads towards its goals, the tripes and the R.E.8 circle. Our aim was to allow the incoming fighters to distract the Germans from our activities.

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    More formation flying.

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    The British expedition met the enemy, but the Germans were not distracted from us; after allocating too few resources to the balloon bursters earlier in the day, they split their forces more carefully. One of the Bristols was quickly destroyed, long before it could reach the bridges.

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    The recon mission set out in response.

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    Shortly after, one of the tripes was shot down, but their R.E.8 made it home with its photo. The second R.E.8 returned safely, having spotted enemy artillery. One German plane went over the British lines and was shot down.

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    The yellow tripe made it home, but the green one fell soon after the above photo was taken. It had hung on at 11 and then 12 of its 13 points for turn after turn, jamming the guns of all comers.

    Further east, the bombing mission was a failure.

    The final butcher's bill was this:

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    The two columns on each side indicate goals net, and whether those points were collected by returning to base safely.

    Thus, despite a successful first half for the British, the day was a convincing win for the Central powers. The French are probably glad they sat out for Bloody April.


    This was a proper day of gaming, and Roger Wilco did an exceptional job of planning and execution.
    Last edited by Muerto; 04-10-2017 at 04:52.

  6. #6

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    An appropriate result for a Bloody April session there Paul. It is great to see so many players at the table at one time.

    Well done to all involved.

  7. #7

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    This is fantastic! I really love the table. How durable is the terrain when played over? Seems like the trees and whatnot might come loose.

    I remember seeing some in-construction photos of this on Facebook. The finished result is stupendous! Great work.

  8. #8

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    Magnificent effort by all and terrain to die for, or, at least to die on !

    "He is wise who watches"

  9. #9

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    I did notice that there was a bit of the course flock for the forests that came up by the end, but surprisingly little given the area. He's built it really cleverly in that the city is a detachable piece.

  10. #10

  11. #11

  12. #12

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    Well done, indeed!

  13. #13

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    Wow, that was quite the day of battle. Most impressive terrain.

  14. #14

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    Spectacular! That terrain has me drooling.

  15. #15

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    Thanks for the great AAR Paul. I'm so glad someone was taking photos and keeping a track of the games narrative. I was so busy answering questions and making quick decisions for rule tweaks to keep the game flowing, I hardly had time to keep up with what was happening in the game. I have to say I was pretty tired by the time I drove the 200km home. The next day it took 3.5 hours to sort out all the mixed up manoeuvre and combat decks. I was also pleasantly surprised that there was very little shedding of trees to have to repair afterwards either. Most of the clumps that came away were put into a container and it wasnt much. My next trip out to NWA will be in August and I'm thinking if I can get the last two panels I am planning made, it will be a Battle of Britain demo. Also thanks everyone for the nice comments In regards to my terrain. My aim is to change the look of aerial gaming and show that you can play on nice looking 3D terrain not just a printed map or a featureless tabletop. Believe it or not it is actually not as hard to make as you might think. I've got manufacture of just one of these boards down to an hour and a half each now. If you want to know more I have easy to follow tutorials ona FaceBook page called Trev's Workshop. Here is a link straight to the page, please feel free to join the group so that you get updates on my latest work. https://www.facebook.com/groups/358641997654673/
    Last edited by Roger Wilco; 04-12-2017 at 00:46.

  16. #16

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    I'm not sure there is enough REP available anywhere to express my admiration for this map.

    Lest we forget

  17. #17

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    Terrific job!
    Nice to see the massive table in action.
    I have been following the construction on Facebook.

    Well done, Trevor.
    REP inbound

  18. #18

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    Gob smacked! Never seen anything that good as far as maps go. Kudos to Roger Wilco.

  19. #19

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    This terrain is just AMAZING !!! Like someone said somewhere above this: a terrain to die for or at least to die on ....
    REP fired !
    cheers,
    Guus
    "zet 'm op ... witte muizen !" (strijdkreet van 1e JaVa, Luchtvaart Afdeling, Nederland 1940)
    "let's go get them ... white mice !" (battlecry of the 1st Fighter Group, Army Air Force, Netherlands 1940)

  20. #20

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    The complete AAR is a textbook exercise on how an AAR should be
    REP is on its way
    cheers,
    Guus
    "zet 'm op ... witte muizen !" (strijdkreet van 1e JaVa, Luchtvaart Afdeling, Nederland 1940)
    "let's go get them ... white mice !" (battlecry of the 1st Fighter Group, Army Air Force, Netherlands 1940)

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by johnbiggles View Post
    I'm not sure there is enough REP available anywhere to express my admiration for this map.
    What he said!

    Here comes a bit more, anyway............
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  22. #22

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    Tim, I think you need to make a playing area like that, you have the planes, they deserve a great flying area.
    I'm sure if you apply yourself you can have it ready for Salute on Saturday.

    Lest we forget

  23. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by johnbiggles View Post
    Tim, I think you need to make a playing area like that, you have the planes, they deserve a great flying area.
    I'm sure if you apply yourself you can have it ready for Salute on Saturday.
    John........................................



    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  24. #24

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    Now that is what I call a BATTLE. Epic fight on an epic surface. I have seen the interlocking tiles previously - very envious. How do you transport this surface?

  25. #25

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    That is a very impressive table, absolutely outstanding effort!!
    I think all of the superlatives have been used up. And I agree with every one of them - superb scenery, great mission design and excellent AAR. Reps inbound wherever possible

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  27. #27

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    Most excellent!

    I also place the maneuver cards next to the aircraft. I find it so much better.

  28. #28

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    Excellent terrain! Looks like you used those rubbery floor pieces, very clever. Planning looks great. The photos and play-by-play is outstanding!

    Thank you,

    Jim

  29. #29

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    Fantastic layout Rep again


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing



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