The Cuxhaven Raid (Christmas Day, 1914)

**Carlos Lopes** · 12-08-2009 09:16

The Cuxhaven Raid (Christmas Day, 1914)

On Christmas Day, 1914, happend the first aircraft-carrier-based air strike. It was use three seaplane carriers HMS Engadine, HMS Riviera and HMS Empress, supported by a naval combat group of cruises, destroyers and submarines.

The mission objective was to reconnoiter military installations in the area and, if possible, bomb the the dirigible sheds housing German 'Zeppelin' airships at Cuxhaven, to prevent the airships from attacking the United Kingdom.

The seaplanes carried were:
4 seaplanes - 100 hp Mono-Gnome Short Improved Type 74 "Folders"
2 seaplanes - 160 hp Short Type 81 "Folders"
2 seaplanes - 135 hp Short Type 135 "Folders"
1 seaplane - 200 hp Short Type 166 "Folders"

All the seaplanes where carrying three 20-pound bombs

At that day the air temperature was 0ºC and of the nine seaplanes only seven were able to start the engine and take off.

Fog, low cloud and anti-aircraft fire prevented the raid from being a complete success, although several sites were attacked. Nevertheless the raid demonstrated the feasibility of attack by ship-borne aircraft and showed the strategic importance of this new weapon.

It is worth noting that the crews of all seven aircraft survived the raid, having been airborne for over three hours. Four regained their aircraft-carrier and were recovered.

the others three landed off the East Friesian island of Norderney. The crews were taken on board the submarine and the aircraft were scuttled to prevent them from falling into the Germans hands.

Why not use this for a scenario?

A simple one, solo game, but with weather conditions:

1) At level 0 "fog" it means no visibility at more than half a ruler.
2) At level 1 and 2 clouds (diameter one ruler) running from our side to enemy side at a velocity of one movement card size and use as many as you wish.
3) The clouds prevent from bombing the target, but not from being shoot from the antiaircraft.

To defend the dirigible sheds use 4 "B" antiaircraft machine guns, 1 antiaircraft artillery gun and 2 balloons.

**ste_marthe** · 12-08-2009 09:42

Originally Posted by Carlos Lopes

The Cuxhaven Raid (Christmas Day, 1914)

A simple one, solo game, but with weather conditions:

1) At level 0 "fog" it means no visibility at more than half a ruler.
2) At level 1 and 2 clouds (diameter one ruler) running from our side to enemy side at a velocity of one movement card size and use as many as you wish.
3) The clouds prevent from bombing the target, but not from being shoot from the antiaircraft.

To defend the dirigible sheds use 4 "B" antiaircraft machineguns, 1 antiaircraft artillery gun and 2 balloons.

I really like the fog idea with the bombing!! I might just try something out!

**Charlie3** · 12-08-2009 10:04

Excellent scenario Carlos! I think I will be playing this during the Christmas season. Any ideas about which planes we should be using as stand ins for the planes you listed?

**Carlos Lopes** · 12-08-2009 12:18

The three Short brothers - Horace, Eustace and Oswald - united in 1908, form the first company in Britain for the commercial production of airplanes.

In 1913 they developed two models for the RFC Naval Wing, one with an 80Hp Gnome engine (Type 64) and another one with an 100Hp Gnome engine (Type 74).

The specialised development of marine aircraft was now established as Short's true métier, and another notable advance in this field came when Horace Short designed a mechanism to make a seaplane's wings fold back alongside the fuselage, so that it could be stored easily on board a warship.

The Short Folder, as the new type was simply title, enter RNAS service in mid-1913.

New types emerge in 1914, the Type 81 with 160Hp Gnome, Type 135 with 135hp Salmson and Type 136 with 200hp Canton Unné.

The image is a Type 81

**Carlos Lopes** · 12-08-2009 12:35

Hello,

I think that we can use a P Deck without the 16, 14, 13, 15 and 12 movement card for the Short Folder. The airplane has a maximum speed of 126 Km/h with the 160Hp Gnome engine (78mph). This seaplane don't have any armament beside bombs.

In the scenario I'm going to use three bombing passage for each seaplane and the Deck C, "Burning Drachens", to resolve the hit bombing.