Flying Officer Kyte
12-31-2011, 08:32
North Sea New Year.
Flt Lt. Ray “Muddy” Brooks had just settled down for the afternoon siesta in his quarters at No 1 Naval Wing Dunkirk when his Flight Commander dashed into the hut waving a telegraph message in his hand.
The jist of the message was that a Naval airship had spotted a German submarine making its way out to sea on the surface just off the Belgian coast, and that No 1 squadron was to scramble an escort for a Felixstowe bomber which was ordered to attempt to destroy the said vessel.
As all the rest of the chaps appeared to have gone into town to celebrate the new Year, it seemed that the only muggings left to do the job was Brooks.
As soon as he got into the air he spotted the Felixstowe heading out towards the coast, and climbed to join it.
30164
It was one of those clear bright days that one often gets around the turn of the year, and the low orange Westering Sun showed up the sub long before the engine noise of the aircraft sent the crew scurrying to man the single gun on the foredeck.
30165
Even before they could get a shot off or the Captain could put the helm hard over, the Felixstowe dived and swept in releasing its torpedo. Brooks watched as the track of the torpedo ran true and hit the sub just forward of the conning tower.
30166
A mighty gout of water foamed skyward, followed a moment later by a muffled explosion, and the sub seemed to stagger in the water before losing all way and starting to wallow in the oily swell.
30169
That was all the time that Brooks got for reflection as suddenly all hell was let loose. Both he and the bomber intent in the attack on the sub, had been bounced by a pair of Hansa Brandenburgs which had been shadowing the submarine.
Now the battle was joined in earnest.
30167
As Brooks opened fire damaging his attacker, his guns jammed and he took several shots through his upper wing in return. Further fire from the Hansa’s rear guns as it flashed past missed but in turn its own rear gun jammed.
30168
Meantime the other Brandenburg went head to head with the Felixtowe which took heavy damage to its fuselage, but inflicted damage in return to the Hansa’s engines.
As the machines circled for position and the stricken submarine foundered in the background, Brooks took a serious hit on his machine as a strut was severed and shards from it ripped open his cheek.
30170
Meanwhile both the rear guns and waist gun of the bomber had inflicted some light damage upon the other Hansa, which unluckily jammed both guns. So with its main job fulfilled it turned for home. This now left Brooks in a precarious position, for with a damaged plane and a facial wound he now had to face both Hansas as they converged upon him for what was inevitably to signal his last New Year’s eve on earth, or rather over it.
30171
Frantically he worked to un-jam his guns even as a cone of fire was directed toward him.
Incredibly nothing more hit his machine, whilst he now with fully working guns once more managed to damage the rudder on the nearest enemy.
30174
Slipping between the closing gap of the converging Hansas, he again avoided trouble as the one which had engaged him the most ran out of ammo for its forward gun.
30172
As he jinked and turned to avoid its rear gun coming to bear, he found the other Brandenburg right in the middle of his sights.
30173
One swift burst from his twin Vickers and the Hansa already suffering from engine damage stalled, and plunged down into the cold, grey, North sea.
30175
Now totally out of ammo, he abandoned the other Hansa to its fate and made off behind his consort for the safety of Dunkirk.
Post action Report.
It was incredible how slowly the sub moved at a surface speed of only 5 mph. It could not really turn away from the torpedo attack in time, which was delivered using the bombing rules, but with no limit on the track of the torpedo run.
It was simply bad luck that the second card was the big bang, which prevented any anti aircraft fire from taking effect.
As for the rest of the battle, it was just a maelstrom of fire and counter fire. The Camel of Brooks was in dire trouble from the mid game and it was sheer luck that he got out of it and managed to inflict the second bang card of the battle when it mattered most. However, as the other Hansa was practically un harmed, the retreat for home was really his only option before his luck finally ran out.
Things I have noted for future reference, are the need for more wet type explosion markers, and more pipe cleaners for torpedo tracks.
Rob.
Flt Lt. Ray “Muddy” Brooks had just settled down for the afternoon siesta in his quarters at No 1 Naval Wing Dunkirk when his Flight Commander dashed into the hut waving a telegraph message in his hand.
The jist of the message was that a Naval airship had spotted a German submarine making its way out to sea on the surface just off the Belgian coast, and that No 1 squadron was to scramble an escort for a Felixstowe bomber which was ordered to attempt to destroy the said vessel.
As all the rest of the chaps appeared to have gone into town to celebrate the new Year, it seemed that the only muggings left to do the job was Brooks.
As soon as he got into the air he spotted the Felixstowe heading out towards the coast, and climbed to join it.
30164
It was one of those clear bright days that one often gets around the turn of the year, and the low orange Westering Sun showed up the sub long before the engine noise of the aircraft sent the crew scurrying to man the single gun on the foredeck.
30165
Even before they could get a shot off or the Captain could put the helm hard over, the Felixstowe dived and swept in releasing its torpedo. Brooks watched as the track of the torpedo ran true and hit the sub just forward of the conning tower.
30166
A mighty gout of water foamed skyward, followed a moment later by a muffled explosion, and the sub seemed to stagger in the water before losing all way and starting to wallow in the oily swell.
30169
That was all the time that Brooks got for reflection as suddenly all hell was let loose. Both he and the bomber intent in the attack on the sub, had been bounced by a pair of Hansa Brandenburgs which had been shadowing the submarine.
Now the battle was joined in earnest.
30167
As Brooks opened fire damaging his attacker, his guns jammed and he took several shots through his upper wing in return. Further fire from the Hansa’s rear guns as it flashed past missed but in turn its own rear gun jammed.
30168
Meantime the other Brandenburg went head to head with the Felixtowe which took heavy damage to its fuselage, but inflicted damage in return to the Hansa’s engines.
As the machines circled for position and the stricken submarine foundered in the background, Brooks took a serious hit on his machine as a strut was severed and shards from it ripped open his cheek.
30170
Meanwhile both the rear guns and waist gun of the bomber had inflicted some light damage upon the other Hansa, which unluckily jammed both guns. So with its main job fulfilled it turned for home. This now left Brooks in a precarious position, for with a damaged plane and a facial wound he now had to face both Hansas as they converged upon him for what was inevitably to signal his last New Year’s eve on earth, or rather over it.
30171
Frantically he worked to un-jam his guns even as a cone of fire was directed toward him.
Incredibly nothing more hit his machine, whilst he now with fully working guns once more managed to damage the rudder on the nearest enemy.
30174
Slipping between the closing gap of the converging Hansas, he again avoided trouble as the one which had engaged him the most ran out of ammo for its forward gun.
30172
As he jinked and turned to avoid its rear gun coming to bear, he found the other Brandenburg right in the middle of his sights.
30173
One swift burst from his twin Vickers and the Hansa already suffering from engine damage stalled, and plunged down into the cold, grey, North sea.
30175
Now totally out of ammo, he abandoned the other Hansa to its fate and made off behind his consort for the safety of Dunkirk.
Post action Report.
It was incredible how slowly the sub moved at a surface speed of only 5 mph. It could not really turn away from the torpedo attack in time, which was delivered using the bombing rules, but with no limit on the track of the torpedo run.
It was simply bad luck that the second card was the big bang, which prevented any anti aircraft fire from taking effect.
As for the rest of the battle, it was just a maelstrom of fire and counter fire. The Camel of Brooks was in dire trouble from the mid game and it was sheer luck that he got out of it and managed to inflict the second bang card of the battle when it mattered most. However, as the other Hansa was practically un harmed, the retreat for home was really his only option before his luck finally ran out.
Things I have noted for future reference, are the need for more wet type explosion markers, and more pipe cleaners for torpedo tracks.
Rob.