OTTBE Mission 11 - Flash on the Water - Ship Down ! April 7th 1918
"Strewth" exclaimed 2Lt Reid Enright, "we've only been the R.A.F for a week and already we're off to play at the seaside !"
Sgt Joe Kerr his American observer giggled behind him and received a reproving look from Uncle.
"And we have to do it in this ungainly looking crate" continued Enright, thumbing over his shoulder at the new DH9 parked by the hangars.
"Well, you know HQ Reid, they always like to throw new kit our way to test it out," said Uncle, "try and bring it back in one piece, there's a good chap."
"I'll do my best Skip, you know me."
"Only too well," smiled Uncle "Now be off with you, you reprobate, go and bag yourself a Jerry boat or two; Morrow and Cade will provide cover for you."
And so it was as the trio of Bulldogs leave the coast and head out to sea in search of a couple of Hun ships reportedly working their way along the Belgian coast and undoubtedly looking to make mischief amongst the supply convoys.
Left to right: F/Sgt Barry Cade Cammo SE5a; 2Lt Reid Enright & Sgt Joe Kerr DH.9; 2Lt Tom Morrow SE5a H-Harry.
Within the hour they sight their targets but it appears they have company as a trio of Eagles soar above them.
Left to right: Albatros D.Va's Ltn Richard Pütz #1; Ltn Konrad Strünklenberg LO; Ltn Johann Raesh #4 as they overfly Ship #1 SMS Lorbeer & Ship#2 SMS Winterhart
The experienced pilots very quickly spot each other's formation and move to intercept - Enright assesses the situation and manoeuvres to make an approach on the ships whilst the scouts duke it out
The scouts close rapidly, Morrow has a slight height advantage and catches Strünklenberg as he sideslips - the SE noses down and it's guns rattle, the burst smashes through the top plane and crash about the cockpit, Strünklenberg's goggles are ripped from his face and he feels a blow to the head.
The scouts hurtle past each other, Enright angles away from the fight but Pütz spots the two seater and plans to get behind it
Joe Kerr takes a snap shot at Pütz as the Albatros passes behind their tail but no damage is seen
Seeing the Albatros stalking the DH.9 Morrow throws his SE into a tight turn to intercept, the sharp movement probably saves his life as Archie makes its presence felt - a close in burst throwing shrapnel through the SE's airframe.
Cade pulls a reverse and throws off the gunner's of the second ship - its flak bursting harmlessly behind him
Having jockeyed for position Enright lines up for a run on the second of the two ships (SMS Winterhart) as he closes the SMS Lorbeer sends up some flak - close in but fortunately no damage caused
Cade circles back sharply and gets a bead on the #4 Albatros - his aim is true and his long range effort smashes through the guts of the German machine
As Enright starts his run in the Winterhart opens up with flak but the shot goes wide
Bombs away ! A near miss but now he's in range of the machine guns of both ships and they open accurate fire damaging controls
As he turns away Kerr gets on his gun, an accurate burst through the timber roof of the wheel house damages the steering linkages of Winterhart - rounds buzz through the 9's fabric and it begins to smoke
Kerr leans into his Lewis gun and rakes the upper deck - Even as the 9 takes near catastrophic damage from the Winterhart's flak gun his final rounds catch a young sailor passing ammo to the gun driving him to the railing, the primed round falls from nerveless fingers to the deck below where it detonates.. the resultant explosion starting a chain reaction that consumes the ship
As Enright deals with the fire Morrow finally gets on the #1 Albatros - his rounds cause no damage initially but may keep him away from the stricken two seater, as Cade sweeps past Morrow gets in a couple more bursts that damage the tail surfaces of the Albatros - even the ship machine gun chips in
Suddenly the Albatros reverses and for a moment the boot is on the other foot
Enright, struggling to control the damaged DH.9 slips past the wounded Strünklenberg as they each head for the barn.
Morrow mixes it up but he doesn't have his eye in today
A general melee follows where no side can get the upper hand - Lorbeer puts up some machine gun fire but daren't let rip with flak due top the proximity of the Eagles
Eventually with fuel running low the combatants part company and head home, Lorbeer lofts one last flak round at Cade as it heaves to to pick up survivors.
Enright eased the DH.9 over the perimeter hedge and landed gingerly on the grass strip. He taxied to the hangar where he switched off the engine. The machine seemed to sag as the crew alighted and walked towards Uncle.
"There you go sir, " smiled Enright broadly, "tested to near destruction - now can I have my Brisfit back ?!"
Butchers Tally:
Eagles:
Ltn Johann Raesh #4: RTb 0 Kills
Ltn Richard Pütz #1; RTB 0 kills
Ltn Konrad Strünklenberg LO; RTB / WIA 0 kills
Rolled 10 +3RTB -1WIA = 12 All well when you land well !
Naval Loss: SMS Winterhart
Bulldogs:
2Lt Reid Enright & Sgt Joe Kerr DH.9: RTB - 1 ship destroyed
F/Sgt Barry Cade Cammo SE5a: RTB 0 kills
2Lt Tom Morrow SE5a H-Harry: RTB 0 kills
During set up I rolled for some variables - whether the ships stayed together or parted company (odds/evens), whether they went left, right, or, straight on. they stuck together & went left - the idea being they circled.
The DH.9 carried 4 x 112lb bombs (attack value 10 each) dropped as two loads.
Direct hit with one load = 20 damage, near miss 10 damage.
The ship strength calculated as 35pts from Rob's instructions re 15pts strafing.
I flew the DH.9 just for a change and left the scouts to the AI. In the end I ran out of time so the remaining scouts departed for fuel reasons but by then the mission had been accomplished.
Thankfully all pilots got home and even Strünklenberg is unharmed
Thanks Rob, fun game - Lorbeer & Winterhart are fictitious ships but great comedic actors - Laurel und Hardy.
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Nice for a mission to be completed without any aircraft going down 
Originally Posted by Baxter
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