The Bomber Will Always Get Through...

**Zoe Brain** · 07-24-2013 19:39

...though getting back is another matter.

We had a game last night at the Gungahlin Library. Two players who'd never seen the game before, one who only started playing two months ago, and two grognards.

The scenario: Early 1916 Italian front, with a Caproni Ca3 and an orphan DH2 vs 3 Austrian Fokker E.IIIs.

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The DH2 came off second-best in a fight with one of the E-IIIs, while the other two concentrated on the Caproni. But the bomber was just too fast, and its guns gave as good as they got, while fighting its way to the target.

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On the way back home again, things started looking grim for the Italians - especially when the gunners were both wounded.

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Soon there were two Fokkers blazing away, with another behind and above....

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The Caproni made a dive for home, two of the following Fokkers wrong-footed and too high, only the lowest one able to fire....

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The third was low enough to force the Caproni down, as the others dived even lower..... the Caproni ended up rather bent-looking as it "landed" amongst the Italian trenches, shedding undercarriage, prop blades and various other pieces. But any landing you can walk away from is a good one, and the Italians' daring plan soon revealed itself.

Because the Fokkers that had dived lower were engaged in a withering fire from multiple MGs on the ground. Suckered into a Flak trap.... one of the three was high enough to evade. The other two... not so much. Marginal Victory to Italy.

(Aircraft all Ares apart from a green Shapeways E.III with Aerodrome Accessories base, terrain by Hotz Maps)

**celticgriffon** · 07-24-2013 21:45

Great report Zoe! Do you think the other players will return for another go?

I think your green Shapeway E.III looks fantastic btw.

Michael

**MoonSylver** · 07-24-2013 22:25

Good one Zoe! Nice to see some other planes in action besides all the Late ones.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 07-24-2013 23:46

I did enjoy the return run with a sting in the tail for the CP flyers. I often do an overdive for home with that in mind.
Pity the Caproni's can't do that, although the CPs may not have followed you down so recklessly if you could have.
Rob.

**Zoe Brain** · 07-25-2013 00:30

Originally Posted by celticgriffon

Great report Zoe! Do you think the other players will return for another go?

One of them took those pictures, so I think so.

We had another game afterwards, this time late war. 2 Camels and a Brisfit vs a Zeppelin Stracken VI...

**flash** · 07-25-2013 01:10

Nicely done Zoe - loved the sucker punch at the end !

**Marechallannes** · 07-25-2013 03:24

Nice AAR, Zoe.

So the Austrians hunted the Caproni down with their flying cukes.

**Zoe Brain** · 07-25-2013 03:48

My son is sneaky - he was controlling the Caproni. I had the E.III that kept above the Flak, though I didn't realise we were so close to the Italian lines. He led us into the trap very competently.