Thursday night massacre

[johnbiggles]

For the first time in a couple of months, due to work commitments, Brambo and I went down to the club. I suggested a mission loosely based on the OTT ED mission “Oh Canada”, and Brambo was agreeable, so I expounded.
Summer 1916,
Two RNAS Caudron G4s with a Sopwith 1½ strutter as escort are trying to bomb the Zeppelin sheds on Lake Constance. The Germans have a choice of 2x EIIIs, 2xHalberstadt DII/DIII, or 2x Roland CII.
I start at the far end from the target, Brambo got 1 start at right edge near my start, other start at the diametrically opposite corner
About half way through, 1 Caudron has engine damage and is on fire

The pilot tries to put the fire out by flying through cloud

But to no effect
The Rolands (what else would you opt for) show just how deadly they are

And again

The Strutter, having lost his charges, decides to go home



This has taken less than an hour, so after a brief trip to the bar, the RFC have a go.
They sneak down the edge of the lake and appear behind cloud near the middle of the right edge

Two Fe2bs, one a bomber, one a fighter bomber.
The Rolands continue their defence of the Zeppelin base

And continue to show their deadliness

Although it is not all one way

But, in the end

Huns 4 British 0

The damage,
much of the damage I received was +1 as the Rolands were able to maintain a height advantage due to their better rate of climb

The single (rear) gun Roland

The two gun Roland

Conclusion
The Entente may make pretty aeroplanes, but the Huns make very deadly ones

[Mau Fox]

Nice pics and scenario, John!

I like when Altitude plays a consistent role in the outcome of the fight.

Mau

[flash]

Well done John & Trev - Tommy got a bit of a spanking but a couple of good games played and well presented for our enjoyment too !
I can see the Roland getting struck off the options list next time !!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Good show but bad showing John.
Rolands are as you quite correctly say hard nuts to crack.
Rob.

[Dowters]

Great AAR, nice pics as well.

[johnbiggles]

I have to say, getting both bang cards really didn't help.
I really like Rolands, because they have a wicked arc of fire. It's a shame I am usually on the receiving end!
Having recently noticed the thread about Wackett, I may have to modify a Be2 so the Brits get a good arc of fire too!

[fast.git]

Brutal result, but a well-fought tangle. Thanks for the AAR!

[Flying Helmut]

Great pics, thanks for posting!

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

A couple of nice AAR's, even if they went in favour of the Hun. Well played John and Trev, well played.

[gully_raker]

I have to say, getting both bang cards really didn't help.
I really like Rolands, because they have a wicked arc of fire. It's a shame I am usually on the receiving end!
Having recently noticed the thread about Wackett, I may have to modify a Be2 so the Brits get a good arc of fire too!

Good idea John as I find the Rolands are far too powerful in early War games.
They just were not that effective in real life so we tend to avoid using them at our games club.

[Flying Helmut]

If you deny all rear gunners any +1 bonus for consecutive shots, and use altitude & get below them, they're little better than any other 2-seater.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

The only problem with that Tim, is you only get long range shots from below, and the gunner can't hit you if you can stay in the blind spot.
Also the denying rear gunners a plus 1 is only an optional rule. Much as I agree with it being a sensible addition, I had not vectored it in when I answered the post.
Rob.

[fast.git]

If you deny all rear gunners any +1 bonus for consecutive shots, and use altitude & get below them, they're little better than any other 2-seater.

The only problem with that Tim, is you only get long range shots from below, and the gunner can't hit you if you can stay in the blind spot.
Also the denying rear gunners a plus 1 is only an optional rule. Much as I agree with it being a sensible addition, I had not vectored it in when I answered the post.
Rob.

We're obviously in the realm of the "house rule" here, but I've always agreed that something needs to be done to lessen the effectiveness of two-seater observer fire. To that end, I typically make use of the following house rules:

1. Limited Ammo (for all aircraft, actually). Each player armed with a drum-fed weapon has a number of tokens. Turn in a token and draw the appropriate number/type of damage cards. When the tokens are gone, you need to reload.
2. Altitude. I believe it must be used when two-seaters are in play. This brings into play the blind spot of those not-quite-so-nimble two-seaters much more regularly. One difference is that I allow firing within 1 (and sometimes 2) altitude difference at no penalty. To be fair, I use simplified altitude rules (poached, in part, from Zoe, Dave, and OtT) that allow for more dynamic climbing and diving.
3. Smoke. Observer can't shoot if his aircraft is smoking.
4. Reversals. Observer can't fire as he's more interested in remaining inside the aircraft. I've toyed with the idea of limiting fire to short range if aircraft is performing any non-straight/non-stall maneuver... but I've not played it enough to be confident of its effect on play.

These haven't really increased book-keeping, and have made scouts a little more effective against two-seaters.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Apart from the smoke rule, we have toyed with the other house rules in OTT Chris. They do bring a sense of realism into the game. Just add the turning dive to that and it gets quite exciting.
Rob.

[flash]

.......I typically make use of the following house rules:[*]Limited Ammo (for all aircraft, actually). Each player armed with a drum-fed weapon has a number of tokens. Turn in a token and draw the appropriate number/type of damage cards. When the tokens are gone, you need to reload....

That's probably the best idea Chris - the observers gun was typically the parabellum mg14 with a 200rnd drum and a rof of 700rpm - roughly 11 rps. This should give you at least 3GT or 9 phases of firing - and is comparative to a Lewis gun's 3 phases with a 47rnd pan, or, 6 phases with a 97rnd pan that you are already familiar with.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I wonder if Keith is up for doing some more of those little plastic tokens like his engine damage and jammed guns ones. I wonder how well they went? I use mine all the time. We could also do with wounded pilot, fire and smoke tokens. They look so much more professional at shows than loads of card counters.
What sort of shape would you suggest for out of ammo?
Rob.

[flash]

What sort of shape would you suggest for out of ammo? Rob.

Three bullets in a belt, red, about the same size as the jam tokens, and/or, a Lewis gun 47rd pan mag in red about the same size ?

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Could be either of those. Nice idea Dave.
Rob.

[Marechallannes]

Nice AAR, John.

Two explosions dealt out by the Rolands was devastating, indeed.