Water! Ship Down - 7th April 1918 (by mikeemagnus / Mike)
“Guess what, we’re off to the coast again Sergeant?”
“Are you kidding, sir. If we’re off on ‘oliday, like, I’d rather go somewhere more excitin’! Where there’s a bit more of a night life. Coasts is for bird watchers and kids with buckets and spades!”
“Don’t be daft, man, there’s always a lot going on at the seaside! Especially night times! And the “bird” watching” is always superb!” answered Lt Alex Clarke with a far away smile on his face.
“However, you won’t be on holiday, sergeant! But I’m sure you’ll enjoy the trip just the same. Get kitted up, there’s a good man. We’re ordered over the channel, you see, to look for a couple of raiders that have been bothering some drifters.”
“Bloomin' navy! Can’t they look after their selves for once? We’ve got enough on our ‘and's as it is, what with the 'Un crawling all over the place right now!”
“Aah but think of the fun side, sergeant, all that sun, sea and sand and only a couple of little boats to find! You’ll love the trip. Run along now, time is short. We’re off in 20 minutes!
Out at sea the wind was breezy, whistling its’ merry way up the Channel, from the south west, and rolling the tops of the waves into small white horses. Just a few cotton wool clouds marred the bright blue sky, and the swell from the previous weeks storms had kept the sea a dirty grey colour. At any other time there would definitely have been a spring bank holiday feel to the day. Except, the eyes that scanned the emptiness above, looking for prying opposition, were not those of bird watching holiday makers. They were crew members, in the German Imperial Navy, on the watch for enemy aircraft. Their uniforms spoke of sterner purpose. Two ships, a Bremen class light cruiser, as yet unidentified (possibly SMS Berlin), accompanied by a V1 class destroyer, the SMS Kaiserliche Marine S19, were working their way, gently pitching and yawing into both wind and current, south westwards, in search of prey.
Both vessels wore the menacing sleekness of predators. Already their activities had resulted in the sinking of several British Drifters, whose job it had been to keep a wary eye open for submarines and raiders dashing down the Channel, for a quick kill, before returning home just as fast. In and out as quick as a flash, causing as much disruption and threat to British shipping as they could, without being caught. But today, the reports showed that perhaps, just perhaps, these raiders had overstepped the mark by a fraction.
“They’re still on a south westerly heading, Robert!” explained the CO to Lt Robert Loraine. “Reports in so far, from Felixstowe, have put them somewhere in the Channel, north of Dunkirk. But its doubtful they’ll remain on that course for long.
“Web” patrols
“I suspect they’ll turn in a westerly direction soon, have a go at the shipping around the Thames estuary, then head off north.”
“How on earth did the navy manage to let them slip through?”
“That’s anyone’s guess, but the recent storms have played havoc with all shipping. There’s been little or no flying either. Earlier “web” patrol reports from the Naval Air Stations at Felixstowe, Grain and Lowestoft drew a blank and it’s only the reported sinking of drifters that’s brought the presence of these raiders to light.”
“So we’re going after them, are we, sir?” enquired Loraine.
“Yes, Robert. Activity in the North Sea is occupying the Navy now, which leaves us to try and deal with these two raiders on our own. I’m sorry, Robert, but I don’t have many of you available to do that with!
“I’ve already sent Alex Clarke off with orders, for him and sergeant Davis, to be ready in 20 minutes time. You and Harold Medlicott are the only pilots I have left, today, to see them through. It’ll be tough going if you manage to find the raiders, as I can’t imagine they’ll be alone. Especially if they’re further north east than expected. Then they’ll be within reach of their own air support. Do what you can, Robert, and see if young Clarke can be helped to return these raiders to where they belong!
“No heroics mind, I want you all back here in one piece. And I need your aircraft intact!”
“Yes, sir. We’ll do our best, as always. That, you can count on.”
“What the ‘ell is that?” exclaimed Sergeant Davis. They had just landed near Dunkirk and were about to take control of a seaplane, for the first time in their lives!
“It’s a Short Admiralty Type 184, sergeant! Its the only bus, I’m told, that we have available, that has any chance at all of carrying a torpedo! And that, sergeant, is the only chance we have of doing any damage at all to a cruiser, albeit an old one!”
“A cruiser! Are you kidding?”
“Nope. I’m informed that she’s quite toothless! Almost retired and only fit for a bit of the old coastal defence work. But somebody must have thought they could do better than that with her!”
“And you know how to fly this 184 thing, right?”
“Naturally, old chap. How difficult can it be. Miles of open sea to take off and land on and no trees or hills or buildings in the way to impede our progress. Easy, wouldn’t you say?”
“Crikey, the things I do for my country!” moaned Sergeant Davis!
Just then they spotted their escort, circling above, waiting for them. Time to go!
The take off went without a hitch, but the weight of the torpedo and observer together was almost too much for the old girl. She struggled like a demented swan, slapping the water for what seemed miles, before finally, slowly, straining every ounce of power from her, Lt Clarke managed to coax her into the air, where they settled in, at fairly low altitude, with their escorts, and headed out to sea.
They flew across the Channel and searched the Thames estuary, which took quite a while. But they saw nothing. So they headed up the Essex coastline, past Foulness Island and the mouth of the river Blackwater; then on past Clacton-on-sea and Harwich, until they reached Felixstowe. There, the newly named Seaplane Experimental Station , where RAF flying boats and former RNAS squadrons had been base for some years, gave them a haven where they could land and refuel.
Oh to be back on home soil again! All four of them, pilots and observer, couldn’t help but notice how much more relaxed everyone here seemed to be. But appearances can be deceptive, as they well knew. And they were so close to loved ones again, the homes they longed for, the friends they missed.
The location was particularly thought provoking for Sergeant Davis, since Harwich had been where his mother had lived, before she passed away a couple of years back. He’d not returned to the neighbourhood since, and being so close made him feel guilty.
It was here, too, that they picked up further information on the whereabouts of the raiders. It seemed that the two ships may have been sighted heading north the day before, but nothing had been confirmed and there had been no further reports on them. It was all they had to go on, so off they went again, north and then re-crossed the Channel again, before turning south east along the Dutch / Belgian coastline, all the while scanning the water that stretched out beneath them like a grey flat tablecloth! Still nothing! Sergeant Alan Davis was beginning to think they had no chance of finding anything in that vast expanse of water. His thoughts were drifting to those of “the barn” and an early supper, when through the clouds he saw them. Two ships, quite close to the shoreline, heading north east and sailing in line astern.
“That’s got to be them” he shouted to his pilot and pointed downwards. Lt Alexander Clarke acknowledged the shout and waggled his wings to the supporting Camels, that were just above him. Then he began his decent. If these were the two raiders, then he needed a low level approach. He had never done this before, but just prior to leaving Dunkirk, he had managed to collar one of the former RNAS pilots, who had given him “brief” instructions on attacking shipping with torpedoes. Not exactly ideal, but it would have to do!
He dropped down to within a few hundred feet above the waves.
“Gotcha my friend” he said to himself. For sure enough, there before him was the Bremen class light cruiser he’d been told to look out for. And just ahead of her was the destroyer. A V1 class: SMS S19 in fact! And the crews hadn’t spotted the seaplane or her supports, yet! Time to attack!
At about this time, unknown to the British airmen, three of their enemies were also approaching the coastline. Orders for some old “friends”, namely Obltn Wilhelm Habich, Ltn Albert Fitzler and Ltn Mark Muller, flying their distinctive Albatros D.Va’s, were to cover the two raiders below, over the last few kilometres until darkness.
Which is why the sailors on the German ships were a little complacent. They’d had a successful voyage, sinking a number of the irritating little boats the British were arrogant enough to use in an attempt to thwart the plans of the Imperial German Navy. They called them “Drifters”! More like fishing boats! They made very good target practice indeed. The crews found them quite good fun. Only the Captains and their officers truly understood the significance of these “spies” and the importance of disposing of them as quickly as possible. And now the sun was getting low in the sky. Soon it would be dark and they would be able to cruise the rest of the way back to Wilhelmshaven under the cover of darkness. Their air support meantime, would give added security. It should be arriving very soon.
Then the alarms went off! The harsh sound jangling at the nerves of every man aboard both vessels. Two aircraft had finally been spotted, but not those that were expected. These were enemy Sopwith Camels, diving down out of the heavens like predatory falcons, their engines screaming in protest at the presence of these intruders, to launch an attack on them. But these verdammt Englanders were not quick enough and the Anti Aircraft guns of both vessels spoke in unison. Unsuccessfully as it turned out. Very difficult targets from a moving platform! (Both Camels receive AA fire – neither hit – Lt Robert Loraine hit “0”; Lt Harold Medlicott hit “0”)
However, the black smoke from “Archie” did serve to attract the attention of the Albatros pilots who immediately headed towards the disturbance.
Pressing home their attack, Lt Robert Loraine and Lt Harold Medlicott, in the Camels, opened fire and a hail of bullets tore through the air in both directions. The crews of the ships were determined to give as good as they got, of course. Robert Loraine was really focused now, but to his horror, yet again, his guns jammed. Whilst on both the Cruiser and the destroyer, the machine gun crews were also shouting and hammering away, fiercely, at their guns, two of which had chosen this inopportune moment to seize up. Damage to the Camels, during this brief exchange of lead filled violence, was heavy, even though Medlicott managed to inflict some serious damage to the cruiser as well. (Loraine hit “1+1” guns jam; Medlicott hit “0+1”; Destroyer hit “2” one mg jams; Cruiser hit “2” one mg jams)
(Loraine hit “2+2” + left rudder; Medlicott hit “3+1”; Cruiser hit “1 + 5”)
All of which, fortuitously, gave cover to the lumbering Short Admiralty Type 184, capable of a maximum speed of only 88.5 mph at 2000 feet. A damnably slow old bus. Despite this handicap, Clarke managed to make his approach undetected by the naval crews of both cruiser and destroyer. Lining up the cruiser, his observer sergeant Alan Davis, released the torpedo. Now it was in the lap of the Gods and all that Clarke and Davis could further hope for, was to get out of there in one piece.
Meanwhile, the other Entente airmen were not fairing particularly well either. Their attack had been met with fierce and stubborn resistance and now Lt Loraine was in serious trouble. (Loraine hit “2+3” + fire; Medlicott hit “0+0 from Cruiser and for “0” from Ltn Muller; Ltn Muller hit by Medlicott “4”) He’d taken very heavy fire from the decks of the destroyer and to cap it all, the engine of his Camel caught fire (Medlicott takes Fire damage “Boom”). That was followed, quickly, by an explosion which sent Loraine and his aircraft plummeting towards the waves. The dreadful sound of rending metal, wood and fabric, as it was forcibly ripped apart by the impact of his crash into the sea, was heard by nobody else, above the din of battle. Nor were his screams of agony!
The Short 184 now veered away and started to head for the coastline. There was nothing more it could achieve. Davis manned his gun and did his best to add to the damage inflicted, thus far, on the destroyer below. But the contribution was minimal. In return, they received a lot of fire, although much of that, too, was fairly ineffective, as the Short groaned its weary way, turning towards hoped for safety. (Clarke hit “1+0” by Cruiser and for “0” by Habich: Habich hit by Davis “2”) ( Clarke hit “0+0” by Cruiser and for “0” by Habich and for “0” from Destroyer; Habich hit by Davis for “0”)(Clarke hit “1+2”+ engine damaged by Destroyer; Destroyer hit for “1+0” by Davis – Davis’s gun jams)
The torpedo, meanwhile, did its work well. Running true, even as the Cruiser attempted to turn into its path, to narrow the angle and render the torpedo ineffective, it arrived with an enormous roar as it made contact with the bow section of the cruiser’s hull, tearing a great hole in the metal and crippling the vessel, which immediately appeared to start sinking. (Clarke / Davis successfully torpedo Cruiser)
But none of this affected the ability of the crew of the destroyer to continue blazing away, whilst at the same time, finally, the Albatros scouts were closing in rapidly. Their fire contributed to the general damage tally and the noise levels, but, just as they could be expected to provide a decisive difference to the outcome of this conflict, which so far had lasted all of a couple of minutes at most, inexplicably, one of them turned away. Whilst another contrived to interpose itself between the seaplane and a perfect shot offering itself to the flight leader. Thus giving the Short a short lived hope of respite. (Clarke hit “0” by Destroyer)
The coast and safety seemed so close. All Clarke had to do was pass the guns of the destroyer. The Albatros scout pilots seemed to have either missed him or were focusing on the remaining Camel, which had just flown, unscathed, through their midst. In fact, these Germans appeared to be all at sixes and sevens, turning this way and that and achieving absolutely nothing useful in a martial sense. Most unusual.
But the naval gunfire never slackened (Clarke hit “0+3” by Destroyer)(Destroyer hit by Davis for “1 + 2 + Fire + smoke) and the outcome was almost inevitable. So near yet so far! Poor Sergeant Alan Davis, who oft before had bemoaned the fact he could not swim. Didn’t even own a pair of swimming trunks and had never done so, nor ever would it seems! Poor Alexander Clarke, the cheerful Lieutenant, who had so often bated his observer, just for the fun of it, but who until now, had always returned safely to the barn with him; not so today! The Short 184 took a final burst of close range fire from everything the Destroyer could throw at it, (Clarke hit “0+0 + 3 with pilot wound + Boom”) before finally almost falling apart and flailing its ungainly wings, as its shattered remains dispersed across the sky and it fell into the ocean! Sergeant Davis cannot swim, or so he claimed. Is this the end of him, or can he find wreckage to cling to and hope for a rescue? Can Alexander Clarke survive this watery interlude?
And with that and a heavy heart, 2nd Lt Harold Medlicott, the sole British survivor of this ill begotten exercise, decided enough was enough. He headed for the barn, pursued fruitlessly by his enemies, whose contribution to this particular episode had been rather less than glorious I’m afraid to tell you!
The end.
Butcher’s Bill
Entente
Lt Robert Loraine
EXP SEA NML / No Kills
Roll 2D6 = 3 + 1 = 4 -3 EXP -1 SEA = 0 Killed in action – RIP
Result – Dead
2nd Lt Harold Medlicott MC; CdG
RTB / No Kills
Result – All Good
Lt Alexander Clark MC pilot
EXP SEA NML / WIA / No Kills (Unless Torpedo counts on Cruiser)
Roll 2D6 = 5 + 5 = 10 -3 EXP -1 SEA -1 WIA = 5 – Injured Skip 1D3 scenarios. Roll 1D6 = 6 = skip 3 scenarios
E&E: Rolled 7 -1EXP -1SEA +1NML = 6 - In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios (1-3 = 1; 4-6 = 2 ); Rolled 4 = Skip 2
Result – Total Skip 3 scenarios
Sergeant Alan Davis MM Observer
EXP SEA NML / No kills (Unless Torpedo counts on Cruiser)
Roll 2D6 = 1 + 2 = 3 -3 EXP -1 SEA = -1 - Killed in action – RIP
Result – Dead
Central Powers
Obltn Wilhelm Habich, Ltn Albert Fitzler and Ltn Mark Muller
All pilots RTB Results – All good
Destroyer – Total damage of 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + Fire damage to follow = 6 plus fire damage.
Fire damage – drawn from freshly shuffled pack after the photos were taken = 1 + 0 = 0
Total damage = 7 Ship survives to return to harbour.
Result – RTB all good
Cruiser – Hit by torpedo. As per mission statement – Cruiser destroyed.
Result – Ship sunk.
Overall Mission Result – Pyrrhic victory for the entente
Reply With Quote
Success but at a very high price.
Promoted to Captain 
After all, the Albatros pilots seemed hell bent on going in the wrong direction no matter what they targeted in this particular mission, so I doubt they would have intercepted the old bus 
Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer
Great idea Dave & thoroughly deserved! 
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