Ares Games
Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: OTT Early Doors Mission 2 - Change of Tactics - 12th February 1916

  1. #1

    Default OTT Early Doors Mission 2 - Change of Tactics - 12th February 1916

    Captain Trowbridge went and stood in his office door when he heard the sound of aero engines approaching the air field. The light was fading fast. He watched the ungainly looking Vickers FB5 Gunbus' sideslip as they crossed the perimeter hedge before touching down on the grassy strip then taxi towards the maintenance hangars. As they came to a stop the ground crew swarmed around them like ants tending their queen.
    He turned his head and looked expectantly to the east - quartering the sky for any sign of the BE2c that had left with them on the long reconnaissance mission over the Hun rail yards & the rail bridge beyond at Thionville.
    Finding no sign of it he glanced back toward the Gunbus' - the disconsolate look of the crew as they shuffled toward the flight office told him all he needed to know.

    "Les and Pat got the photographs alright" said Ben Downe "We got in over the rail yards before they really knew we were there"
    "The bridge too" said Claude Back
    "They were half asleep" Chimed in Don Keye
    "Those two Fokkers weren't asleep though" replied Downe
    "The boys did well to fend them off" said Back
    "So what happened ?" asked Trowbridge
    "We kept formation and pressed for home sir" replied Back
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4095.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	259.9 KB 
ID:	135014

    "Thats when the other Fokkers turned up" said Keye
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4096.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	208.9 KB 
ID:	135015

    "They were quick and went to flank us. Corporal Gunn got some rounds off into them but it didn't do much" he continued.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4098.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	263.1 KB 
ID:	135016

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4097.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	241.9 KB 
ID:	135017

    "They were on us so fast" said Downe "I was trying to stick to the BE2 when all of a sudden my tail's getting shredded"
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4101.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	188.0 KB 
ID:	135018

    "Les was throwing that BE all over the place but the Huns fell on him like a ton of bricks"
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4103.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	189.4 KB 
ID:	135019

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4104.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	211.0 KB 
ID:	135020

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4105.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	200.6 KB 
ID:	135021

    "I felt so hopeless" murmured Keye "By the time we started to turn back they were all over them"
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4106.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	168.9 KB 
ID:	135022

    "I saw the Hun rake their cockpits," said Back, "Pat went down for sure, Les must've been hit too and the engine coughed a big cloud of white smoke"
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4108.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	170.7 KB 
ID:	135023

    "Then that's when it happened sir" said Downe looking to the floor
    "What happened ?" asked Trowbridge gently

    "One of the Huns took his fin off with his undercart" replied Downe
    "And the other blew his wing off" added Back "I think Pat took another hit too"
    "He just rolled over and went straight in sir" said Keye "They didn't stand a chance"
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4109.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	175.8 KB 
ID:	135024

    "It was getting pretty dark at that point so we dived for home before the Huns could catch us"

    "I see" said Trowbridge "No chance you say ?"
    "None at all I'm afraid sir" replied Keye.

    "That's very unfortunate. Gentlemen you may dismiss, I'll stand you a drink in the Mess as soon as you're dressed

    Butchers Tally:
    Ltn Konrad Strünklenberg / RTB / 1 Kill
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4114.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	252.0 KB 
ID:	135025

    Obltn Paul Kunz / RTB / 0 kills (no pic as camera died !) Zero damage - pulled C0 in collision !

    2Lt Donald Keye & Cpl Thomas Gunn / RTB / 0 kills
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4112.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	184.2 KB 
ID:	135026

    2Lts Benjamin Downe & Claude Back / RTB / 0 kills
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4111.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	217.5 KB 
ID:	135027

    2Lt Leslie Payne / SD ET (2 EXP) / 1 WIA
    Rolled 6 -6 2Exp - 1 WIA = -1 KIA
    Sgt Patrick McCann / SD ET (2 EXP) / 2 WIA / 0 Kills
    Rolled 2 -6 2 Exp -2 WIA = -6 KIA
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_4113.JPG 
Views:	38 
Size:	246.4 KB 
ID:	135028
    Last edited by flash; 06-09-2014 at 07:31.

    "He is wise who watches"

  2. #2

    Default

    I think flying Gunbus' will take some getting used to !
    Played it pretty much 'as is' though compromised on the firing, not that the chaps got to do much, as I fire peg to peg I thought the restriction on close range only was a bit much so I resolved to fire short range peg to base but to only give the one damage card. Then hit bugger all for the rest of the mission ! As you will have seen by the hue of the photos I ran out to time & daylight so once the BE died I called it. I don't think they would have lasted long against the Eindeckers anyway so let them slip away in the dying light !
    Lots of zeroes and two boom cards - yeouch !
    Conclusion: I'd rather fly DH2's than FB5s.
    Last edited by flash; 06-09-2014 at 07:18.

  3. #3

    Default

    What a tragic set of circumstances not to mention cards Dave.
    Bang ! bang! your dead.
    Might be as well if Shapeways lose my Gunbuses in the Mail.
    Above all though another splendid account of the action with lots of incidental information added.

    "As they came to a stop the ground crew swarmed around them like ants tending their queen."

    I wish I had coined that phrase.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  4. #4

    Default

    For the fallen. A wreath dropped by a member of the Eagles informing the squadron of confirmation of the crew's death and burial with full military honours in the French graveyard near the Eagles 'Drome.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  5. #5

    Default

    A great AAR Dave. Very unlucky. I am sure when the RFC get their next generation of aircraft that the tables will be reversed.

    Neil
    See you on the Dark Side......

  6. #6

    Default

    And I thought I was unlucky with the cards - great AAR Dave.

    Like you I find the Gunbus difficult to fly effectively against faster & more manoeuvreable planes - roll on the DH2's

  7. #7

    Wink

    Quote Originally Posted by Skafloc View Post
    For the fallen. A wreath dropped by a member of the Eagles informing the squadron of confirmation of the crew's death and burial with full military honours in the French graveyard near the Eagles 'Drome.
    'struth there would not have been much left to bury after TWO Explosions!

  8. #8

    Unhappy

    Well that was Bloody & short.
    Those Huns got behind the Gunbus's & once you are behind them it is really difficult to get them turned around.

    No wonder they called those BE's "Fokker Fodder"!

    Great AAR though Dave just a pity about the result (Bloody Hell TWO Explosian cards )

  9. #9

    Default

    Yeah, they were done and done ! Hoped they would have a chance on a big throw but the WGG had other ideas. Think the -6 was in feet !

  10. #10

    Default

    Really awfully bad luck there Dave,
    The XB deck is so slow to turn, and with no option to immelman or stall turn, once you've lost the fight it is so hard to get back.
    I find it best to keep following the plane I am escorting, and let the EIIIs come to me, then the wide field of fire comes into its own.

  11. #11

    Default

    Not an easy scenario for the Entente so far, except for Chuck. He made it look easy as usual! I haven't seen any Central Powers yet. Are they in hiding? (oops, I'm CP myself! I'll play mine Friday but don't know when I'll get to post it, marriage and honeymoon thing!)

  12. #12

    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by Teaticket View Post
    Not an easy scenario for the Entente so far, except for Chuck. He made it look easy as usual! I haven't seen any Central Powers yet. Are they in hiding? (oops, I'm CP myself! I'll play mine Friday but don't know when I'll get to post it, marriage and honeymoon thing!)


    Important to get your priorities right Peter.
    You dont want to start your marriage & honeymoon with

  13. #13

    Default

    All is good. She's actually flown all the Early Doors scenarios already.

  14. #14

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by johnbiggles View Post
    ...I find it best to keep following the plane I am escorting, and let the EIIIs come to me, then the wide field of fire comes into its own.
    I had an idea of what to do but when the escorted plane and another escort are AI it's a bit hard to follow them as they tend to go off and do their own thing - next thing I knew the escort was swanning off on his own, the recon kite was all over the gaff and my kite was out in front getting shot up the bum !

  15. #15

    Default

    Great AAR Dave, you ceratainly were a red rag to a bull. Those Eindeckers just chewed you apart. to the departed.



Similar Missions

  1. BRF OTT Early Doors Mission 2 - Change of Tactics - Early February 1916
    By Teaticket in forum Over the Trenches
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 07-14-2014, 07:31
  2. Replies: 13
    Last Post: 07-03-2014, 09:21
  3. AAR OTT Early Doors Mission 2 - Change of Tactics - Early February 1916
    By Lt. S.Kafloc in forum Over the Trenches
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 07-03-2014, 07:50
  4. Replies: 13
    Last Post: 07-03-2014, 07:42
  5. AAR OTT Early Doors Mission 1--Fish in a Barrel--Jan 15th 1916
    By johnbiggles in forum Over the Trenches
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 05-29-2014, 09:33

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •