OTT-FYM Mission 3 : Bloody April - 19 April 1917 {Stumptonian}
Original Briefing: HERE
Just about three weeks into what came to be known as “Bloody April” the RFC squadrons are still flying against terrible odds to get much-needed photos of the front lines during the Battle of Arras.
One such squadron is 52 Squadron “The Bulldogs” where a pair of Sopwith Triplanes, aka ‘Tripehounds’ , flown by Lt John Moncrieff and 2Lt Duncan Moore, are escorting a pair of R.E.8 ‘Harry Tates’ of 57 Group.
The one closest to Moore is piloted by Lt Douglas Winterbottom with his usual Observer, AM3 William 'Bill' Holder. Moncrieff is covering a pair of rookies flying one of their first missions.
Across the battlefield, still over German-held territory, another group of rookies is returning from a similar photo mission.
This group is, unfortunately, flying by-now very outdated F.E.2b escorting even more past-their-prime stalwarts, the B.E.2c
Nearing No Man’s Land is a flight from Jasta 24 “Adler”, all flying Albatros D.III
Led by Ltn Felix Eisenhardt are Ltn Dietrich Oelker, Reiner Steinhoff (in his bright candy cane machine) and Ltn Jens Höfer.
Just returning from No Man’s Land is another pair of Albatros D.IIIs.
One is a bright red machine flown by none other than the most famous air ace of the time, Rittmeister Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, more commonly referred to as „The Red Baron“.
His wingman is an unidentified Jasta 11 pilot.
The British crews spot the approaching enemy and their blood runs cold as they recognize the brightly coloured aircraft.
Both Germans open fire on the unfortunate Fee (“O” for Orange”)
Dakka dakka Dakka dakka
Richthofen’s ‘Sniper Skill’ gives him a hit on the Fee’s rudder controls while his Jasta 11 wingman starts the Fee smoking.
Da da da da
Not to be outdone, the plucky Fee gunner hits Richthofen with similar results.
Meanwhile, across No Man’s Land Eisenhardt and Oelker attack Winterbottom’s R.E.8
Dakka dakka
Oelker’s Snipe skill hits the R.E.8 engine and it starts to howl. This will be a short flight for Winterbottom and Holder.
Dakka dakka
Eisenhardt does major damage toe the ‘Harry Tate’
Even without the engine damage Winterbottom would be heading home.
Da da da da
Winterbottom does manage to hit Oelker in return - yet another damaged rudder.
Moore is, unfortunately, out of arc, so is unable to get a shot off.
Höfer takes on the other R.E.8
Dakka dakka
The Harry Tate is set on fire!
Dakka dak…
The rookie pilot’s gun has jammed.
Da da da da
Moncrieff hits Höfer and not only starts his D.III aflame, but damages his rudder as well.
Rudder control damage seems to be the order of the day.
The flames on the R.E.8 are vicious, while the fire on Höfer’s D.III is not taking hold – at least not yet.
Da da da
The rookie gunner in B.E.2c “Blue C” fires at the Jasta 11 machine but does no damage.
Da da da da
Moncrieff his Steinhoff’s candy-striped Albatros.
Even through petrified by the flames, the rookie R.E.8 Observer fires at Höfer.
Da da da da Boom!
A lucky shot hits the fuel line and Höfer is done for!
Höfer heads to the ground in No Man’s Land, fire streaking from his Albatros.
Dakka dakka
The Jasta 11 pilot fires at “Blue C” B.E.2c and yet another aircraft suffers rudder control damage.
Da da da
Holder fires at Eisenhardt and sees some bits fall from the Albatros.
Da da da
Moncrieff is following Steinhoff but his shots do no damage.
Da da da da
Holder’s parting shot does some damage to Eisenhardt, but his gun jams, and the R.E.8 looks to leave the area.
Dakka dakka
Steinhoff surprises Moncrieff with an Immelmann, but his shot is off the mark.
Dakka dakka
Jasta 11 hits “Blue C” B.E.2c causing major damage.
Da da da
B.E.2c “Yellow” fires at the D.III but appears to miss his target.
The Rookie R.E.8 fire burns a bit of fabric.
Winterbottom gets his R.E.8 out of any further harm’s way.
Jasta 11 renews his attack on B.E.2c “Blue C” with no apparent effect.
Da da d…
F.E.2b “Orange” jams his Lewis firing at Steinhoff.
Da da da
Moore hits Eisenhardt causing substantial damage.
Dakka dakka
Jasta 11 continues his attack on B.E.2c “Blue C”
Another rudder is jammed.
Moncrieff safely splits the narrow space between “Blue C” and “Orange” Fee.
Da da da
F.E.2b “Green” fires at MvR
"Es ist nur eine Fleischwunde ...."
Jasta 11 fires again at B.E.2c “Blue C”
Dakka dakka dakka
This time his bullets rip through both pilot and observer!
… and that was enough to take the fragile B.E.2c down.
The rookie R.E.8 flames are growing but then fizzle out.
MvR is in a perfect position to hit “Green Fee” but cannot fire after a steep maneuver.
Da da da
Fee “Green” fires at Jasta 11.
<Click>
The fire on the rookie R.E.8 has subsided just in time for a perfect photo.
… now can they get the valuable photo home?
Dakka dakka
Jasta 11 fires at “Orange” Fee.
Dakka dakka
Richthofen’s Sniper skill comes through and the “Green Fee” gunner is hit.
The wounded gunner now has no shot at Jasta 11.
Dakka dakka
Oelker uses his Sniper skill against B.E.2c “Yellow”
Can you believe another rudder hit?
Dakka dakka
MvR damages “Green Fee”
Dakka dakka
More Sniper skill from Eisenhardt and B.E.2c takes major damage and sets on fire!
Dakka dak….
Oelker jumps in to finish of the B.E.2c but jams his guns.
Da da da
The Rookies of B.E.2c “Yellow” and F.E.2b “Orange” retaliate and now Eisenhardt’s rudder is hit!
Eisenhardt and the B.E.2c somehow miraculously avoid a collision!
Da da da da...“Dammitall!”
Moore jams his Lewis on what looked like a perfect chance to finish off Eisenhardt.
Da da da
At first glance it looks like Moore has hit Richthofen, but, apparently, not.
[Manfred’s Lucky Pilot is utilized.]
[Note: I had him “spinning away” per the scenario rules. I later realized he had not used his Lucky Pilot on his first wound.]
Having used his Lucky Pilot skill MvR spins away from the fray. He actually didn't need to exit yet, but C'est la guerre ....
“Fee Green” also takes an opportunity and exits the fight.
The rookies of B.E.2c “Yellow” see more of their precious fabric burn.
Dakka dakka
Eisenhardt hits B.E.2c “Yellow” hard.
The “Bee” can take no more and the rookies go down in No Man’s Land.
Da da da da
Moncrieff hits Steinhoff in his right side.
“Aaarggh!” sounds pretty much the same in any language.
The candy-striped D.III will be heading back to base.
Dakka dakka
Oelker’s sniper shot damages “Fee Orange” before they get away.
[Another rudder hit]
Oelker pulls off a quick Split-S and the Fee leaves the area.
Status as of Turn 8.1
Dakka dakka
Oelker hits the Rookie R.E.8, taking out the observer.
That last damage was enough to take down the last ‘Harry Tate’. And so close to getting the photo safely home ....
Oelker is now one kill away from becoming a Double Ace.
Eisenhardt uses his Sniper skill again on Moncrieff.
Dakka dakka
Steinhoff leaves the field.
Da da da da
Moore comes to Moncrieff’s aid and hits Eisenhardt hard. [Lucky Pilot removes the fire but not the pilot wound]
Looks like another Adler will be heading home.
Dakka dak …..
A parting shot from Eisenhardt before he heads back.
Another jam.
Moncrieff gets away.
Eisenhardt prepares to Immelmann and join Oelker, while the Jasta 11 pilot wonders what became of his wingman, MvR.
“Hmmm, ich sollte besser den Rittmeister finden ....“
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Sopwith Triplanes
Lt John Moncrieff: Tripe (white stripes): RTB / 0 Kills, 1 Probable FRTB-W (Steinhoff)
2Lt Duncan Moore: Tripe: RTB / 0 Kills, 1 Probable FRTB-W (Eisenhardt)
R.E.8
2Lt Douglas Winterbottom: (P2): FRTB-E-D / 0 kills
FRTB Roll 6+6 = Crashed !
C&W rolled: 8 +1RTB -1FRTB = 8- Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 6 = Skip 2
AM3 Bill Holder: (O): FRTB-E-D / 0 kills
C&W rolled: 4 +1RTB -1FRTB = 4- Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios, rolled 5 = Skip 5
And, again, an FRTB ends up worse than being shot down ....A crash is a crash !
F.E.2b “Green”
Rookie (P2): FRTB-W / WIA / 0 kills
FRTB Rolled 6+2 = Stuck the landing.
C&W: 6 +1RTB -1WIA = 6- Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios, rolled 1 = Skip 1
Rookie (O): FRTB-W / WIA / 0 kills
C&W: 10 +1RTB -1WIA = 10 - All well when you land well.
B.E.2c “Blue”
Rookie: (P2): SD NML 0 Kills
C&W: 6 -1 SD -1 NML -1 WIA = 3 : Injured 1D6 = 2 : Skip 2
E&E: 6 +1 NML -1 WIC = 6 : In Hiding 1D2 = 4 : Skip 2
Rookie:(O): SD-NML / 0 Kills
C&W roll: 7 -1SD -1NML -1WIA = 4 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios rolled 5 = Skip 5
E&E roll: 7 +1NML -1WIC = 7 - Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario
B.E.2c “Yellow”
Rookie: (P2): SD-NML / 0 Kills
C&W roll: 7 -1SD -1NML = 5- Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios, rolled 2 = Skip 2
E&E: 7 +1NML -1WIC = 7 - Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario
Rookie:(O): SD-NML / 0 Kills
C&W roll: 9 -1SD -1NML = 7- Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 6 = Skip 2
E&E roll: 6 +1NML -1WIC = 6 - In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios, rolled 3 = Skip 1
R.E. 8
Rookie: (P2): SD-NML / WIA / 0 kills
C&W roll: 6 -1SD -1NML -1WIA = 3 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios, rolled 2 = Skip 2
E&E roll: 4 +1NML -1WIA -1WIC = 3 - Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios rolled 3* = Skip 3 (* Actual D3)
Rookie:(O): SD-NML / WIA / 1 Kill (Höfer)
C&W roll: 4 -1SD -1NML -1WIA = 1 - Dead ! KIA
F.E.2b “Orange”
Rookie: (P2): RTB / 0 Kills
Rookie: (O): RTB / 0 Kills
Adler
Albatros D.III
Ltn Jens Höfer: Albatros D.III (Goering): EXP-NML / 0 Kills
C&W rolled 11 -3EXP -1NML = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 6 = Skip 2
E&E: rolled 6 -1EXP +1NML -1WIC = 5 - In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 2
Albatross D.III
Ltn Reiner Steinhoff: Albatros D.III (striped): FRTB-W / 0 Kills
FRTB Roll 4+1 = Stuck the landing.
C&W rolled: 9 +1RTB -1WIA = 9 - All well when you land well ! Alles ist gut
Albatros D.III
Ltn Felix Eisenhardt: Albatros D.III (Voss): FRTB-W / 1 Kill (B.E.2c ‘Yellow’)
FRTB Roll 3+4 = Stuck the landing
C&W rolled 9 +1RTB -1WIA = 9 - All well when you land well ! Alles ist gut!
Albatros D.III
Ltn Dietrich Oelker: Albatros D.III (Green): RTB / 1 Kill (R.E.8 Rookie), 1 FRTB-W/D (R.E.8 Winterbottom/Holder)
Albatros D.III
Jasta 11 Wingman: Albatros D.III (red fuse): RTB / 1 Kill (B.E.2c ‘Blue’)
Albatros D.III
Rittmeister Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen: Albatros D.III (Red): RTB / WIA / 0 Kills, 1 Probable F.E.2b “Green“
C&W roll: 8 +1RTB +1ACE -1WIA = 9 - All well when you land well ! - “Alles ist gut”
I expected more from MvR, but he did get a taste of his future head injury – would have been two if not for his Lucky Pilot …
Victory Points
Bulldogs
Photos returned to base : 0
Scout shot down 1 x 3 : 3
FRTB 2 x 2 : 4
MvR FRTB : 5*
Total : 12
Adler
Scouts shot down : 0
FRTB 2 x 2 : 4
Recon shot down 3 x 5 : 15
Total : 19
I decided to give the Bulldogs half value for sending MvR packing as he was not technically FRTB with the 1 point wound.
At the time I thought he had been sent home per the scenario rules, forgetting he had not used his lucky Pilot on the first wound drawn.
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Well that was definitely a ‘Bloody April’ I suppose, with four aircraft shot down and four FRTB, but only one casualty from the carnage.
MvR was definitely a disappointment. I thought he would get a couple of kills.
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I often forget about rudder hits when it comes around to the next planning phase, but that's hardly the worst of my 'sins'/errors - forgetting to move some airplanes being one of the worse ones.
Originally Posted by ShadowDragon
Interesting how you treated the exit of Richtofen from the fray. I also had him wounded but exit with the use of the Lucky Git card. I don't think a deduction of points for that will make any difference to the outcome of mine but happy to go along with your take on that if its the better way to go.
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