OTT Early Doors Mission 22 - The Last Waltz (The Kaiser's Eagles) - Carl_Brisgamer

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Having signed up for the OTT The Bitter End Campaign I have taken up Flash's offer to play the final Early Doors mission.

Koolkerke, Flandern
16 Oktober 1917



“Questions meine Herren?” asked the Station Kommandant, completing his briefing to the three other officers standing around the table. The Leutnant commanding the local Army Flak unit and the Staffel Technical Officer immediately snapped to attention, responding as one - “Nein, Herr Kapitänleutnant!” The third officer paused, looking at the map laid out on the table and glancing down at the orders he had quickly scrawled during the briefing. Orders were orders, but…

The Kapitänleutnant sensed his subordinate’s hesitation. This was expected.

“Then I will keep you from your duties no longer, gentlemen. I need the captured Belgian RE8 made ready tonight, and I want your gunners fully briefed. It would not do to have our secret weapon shot down before the trap is sprung! Attend to your preparations, all must be in order by 0700hrs tomorrow” ordered the Kapitänleutnant.

Waiting until the others had left the room the Kapitänleutnant addressed the third officer. “You have a question about the operation Staffelführer?”

The officer snapped to attention, replying “Jawohl, Herr Kapitänleutnant! With all due respect, is this operation really necessary?”

“Expected, and you did not disappoint” thought the Station Kommandant, his face remaining a stony mask. “I understand your concerns Herr Oberleutnant, but this is very necessary.”

The Staffelführer shifted slightly despite himself. “I beg to report Sir, that I find the plan…dishonourable.”

The Kapitänleutnant fixed the Staffelführer with his gaze. “I understand your concerns Herr Oberleutnant, in fact they do you credit as an officer of the Imperial German Navy." Clasping his hands behind his back he moved slowly around the table towards his subordinate. “But this is not 1914. Today the Fatherland is fighting the whole world, and despite the incredible victories in the East, the Western Front remains a stalemate. Every day the Tommies and the French field more men, guns and planes than we can hope to muster, and once the Americans really get into the war…”

The Station Kommandant paused, now standing directly in front of his Staffelführer.

“Even our Navy is forced to bend the rules of war to achieve victory. Our U-Boots hide beneath the waves waiting to torpedo our enemies. Our merchant raiders fly under foreign flags to deceive the Royal Navy. We must be hard, we must be ruthless, we must do anything required to win this war for the Fatherland!”

The Kapitänleutnant’s steely gaze softened as he placed his hand upon the shoulder of the Staffelführer. “You are a fine officer. I know I can rely on you to carry out your orders tomorrow and see this business through.”

“Jawohl, Herr Kapitänleutnant!” confirmed the Staffelführer, offering a crisp salute.

The battle has been played and documented, full AAR to be uploaded tomorrow.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Koolkerke Flandern
17 Oktober 1917

As the last aircraft took off into the crisp morning air the Staffelführer turned away from the window and examined the operations board.

“Weather – fine, scattered cloud, prevailing winds from the west” – perfect for this operation.

The five Marineflieger conducting the operation were listed on the board beside their assigned aircraft:

“Flugmeister Benno Schlüter (pilot) and Leutnant Zur See Heinrich Maas (observer) – captured Aviation Militaire Belge RE.8”. They were experienced aviators. Schlüter was a pre-war pilot and there was nothing with wings he could not fly, even a creaky old Tommy machine.



“Vizeflugmeister Hans Goerth – Pfalz D.III.” The brave young NCO was a promising pilot. He would need all his courage and skills today as he was the ‘hare’ in this plan.



“Leutnant Willi Mattheus – Albatros D.Va.” Another ‘old hand’, Willi had two years’ flying experience on two-seaters before transferring to the Marine-Jadgflieger. He was piloting one of two new Albatros D.Va recently detailed to the Staffel.



“Leutnant Paul Achilles – Albatros D.Va.” Achilles was a recent arrival coming to the Marineflieger from savage trench-fighting with the 3. Marine-Infanterie Regiment.



With the lives of his ‘See Adler’ on the line the Staffelführer pushed aside his earlier doubts. He hoped the confidence expressed by the High Command in the chances of success was not misplaced.

**********

Twenty minutes after taking off from Koolkerke the pair of Albatros fighters level off in a layer of cloud at 2700 metres. They bank in lazy circles over the Flanders countryside just a few kilometres east of No Man’s Land. Looking west, Ltn. Mattheus can see the Yser River stretching like a great silver snake from the shores of the Nordsee into the Belgian countryside. Flying to the left of Mattheus, Ltn. Achilles glances east and checks the position of the sun to his back. Combined with the scattered cloud any Tommies coming across the front will have the greatest difficulty detecting their presence.

Below the cloud layer at an altitude of 1800 metres Flgmtr. Schlüter and Ltn.z.S. Maas in the Belgian RE.8 begin to fly figure-eights over the German lines above Zevecote, playing the role of Allied reconnaissance aircraft. Schlüter finds the RE.8 quite easy to handle but is glad he does not have to fly this crate into action – “Give me a Halberstadt any day.” Ltn. Maas rests on the unfamiliar Lewis gun, his eyes scanning the sky to the west for any sign of the enemy.

Vzflgmtr. Goerth in the Pfalz is flying north-south at the same altitude between the RE.8 and the front. He is not comfortable being the bait in this trap, but is glad for his first chance to get to grips with the Tommies.



Ltn. Maas sees him first, tapping Schlüter on the shoulder and pointing to the Sopwith Camel approaching from the west about 600 metres above. Schlüter waggled his wings and banked left, signalling Goerth it was time to bait the trap. The Pfalz fell in behind the RE.8 as Goerth began his first ‘attack run’, firing a burst of ball and tracer high and wide over the ‘Belgian’ machine.



The bait is taken as the Sopwith dives down towards Goerth’s Pfalz.



Schlüter kicks the RE.8’s rudder and banks under the cloud cover knowing the two Albatros fighters are lurking in the vapour.



Levelling off at the same altitude as the Pfalz the Tommy open fire with his twin Vickers. Goerth ducks involuntarily as the burst of fire shreds part of his rudder and tailplane making the controls of his aircraft less responsive.



Their part in the battle done, Schlüter and Maas follow their orders and immediately break right for Koolkerke. “Good luck Kameraden” shouts Ltn. Mass, his words swallowed by the roar of the V12 engine.



Tired of the being a target Goerth opens the throttle and pulls back on the stick, first climbing then reversing his course. The manoeuvre appears to catch the Tommy by surprise as he breaks left away from the oncoming German scout. Goerth fires a quick deflection burst at the Sopwith as he flashes past his nose at close range, the twin Maxims stitching a line of holes along the Camel’s fuselage. “Any time now Herr Leutnants!” Goerth murmurs as the Camel makes a hard right turn behind his Pfalz.



As if in answer to his plea the two Albatros D.Va’s emerge from the cloud diving down behind the Sopwith. The odds were now three to one in favour of the Germans.



The Tommy again banks right using the torque of his rotary engine to throw the Camel around ninety degrees. He fires a burst at Goerth which is just wide of the mark.



The English pilot continues his turn, apparently heading back to his own lines. Mattheus and Achilles have yet to get into the fight, neither pilot prepared to risk shedding a wing by over-diving their Albatros sesquiplanes.



Goerth reverses course again and makes for the ‘fleeing’ Camel. He is surprised however when the Tommy performs the same manoeuvre and is now flying back into the fray. “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” plays through Goerth’s mind as he recalls lines from a concert hall song he had heard on a school-boy visit to London before the war.



With the Sopwith coming straight at him Goerth struggles to bring the nose of the speeding Pfalz around to engage his enemy. “Too late” he screams in his head as a long burst from the Tommy tears through his machine. Rounds splinter struts, shatter his propeller and smash his control panel. Goerth struggles with his stricken machine as it plummets earthward, praying his first aerial battle would not be his last…



Still too high to assist their comrade, Mattheus and Achilles watch helplessly as Goerth’s Pfalz spirals down out of the fight. But worse is yet to come as two more Sopwith Camels burst from cloud diving on Mattheus’ Albatros. He sees they are RNAS machines! The advantage enjoyed by the Marineflieger just moments ago was lost and the odds were now 3-2 in favour of the English fliers.



Mattheus manages to fly under Sopwiths’ guns, but Paul Achilles was not so fortunate with the burst from the ‘blue cowled’ Sopwith tearing through his right wing damaging the aileron.



Mattheus’ split S finally allows him to engage the original Tommy who has just downed Goerth’s Pfalz. They exchanged long range bursts to little effect.



As Mattheus continues to close with the Sopwith he sees the Tommy smashing the breach of a Vickers gun, a sure sign of a stoppage. In fact the Englishman is so involved with the task he does not notice his machine flying straight at the Albatros. Going at great speed after his diving turn Mattheus is unable to take evasive action and the leading edge of his right wing smashes through the Camel’s wing struts. Mattheus is relieved and more than a bit surprised that the Albatros emerged unscathed, whereas looking over his shoulder the Sopwith has suffered massive damage.



Paul Achilles meanwhile has his hands full avoiding the two RNAS Camels manoeuvring above and behind his Albatros.



Mattheus saw his comrade was in trouble and left the stricken Camel, instead opening the throttle to close with the ‘red cowled’ Camel coming out of a split S. Ltn. Achilles had also come about using an ‘Immelmann’ finding the Tommy above and in front of him. The Sopwith fires at Mattheus’ Albatros but missed his mark. Both Germans open up on the Camel with Achilles’ rounds slashing though the left wings. Mattheus’ aim was true, his 7.92mm projectiles causing critical damage severing control wires, tearing fabric and splintering spars.



The crippled Sopwith enters a spin and comes down just east of Zevecote.



The odds were now nominally even at two on two, but one of the English machines is badly damaged and heading for the Allied lines.



Determined not to let his quarry escape, Mattheus waves to his wingman to follow him in the pursuit.



The ‘blue cowled’ Camel dives down trying to get back into the fight.



Matthues and Achilles continue to close with the fleeing Camel.



Ltn. Matthues fires one last burst which causes further damage to the Tommy machine but not enough to send it down. The Camel pilot manages to nurse his shattered aircraft back across No Man’s Land.



Breaking off their pursuit the German pilots turn back to their final foe, the odds now two to one in favour of the Marineflieger.



With the fight drifting over the coast Ltn. Achilles puts a long range burst into the higher Camel as Mattheus climbs to meet the Tommy, his own burst have no effect.



The ‘blue cowled’ Sopwith turns into Mattheus’ Albatros, which passes just under the Tommy.



Reversing their courses again, both Germans fire at the English scout. Mattheus’ burst causes the Sopwith to spew a trail of smoke and Achilles’ strikes the cockpit wounding the pilot who he sees jump in his seat.



Tailing his enemy now trying to escape west Ltn. Mattheus puts another burst into the smoking Camel.



Trying to evade his pursuers the RNAS pilot dives away towards No Man’s Land.




Determined not to let this one escape Ltn. Mattheus dives after the Camel, his twin Maxims finishing off the Tommy just inside German lines.

With their last enemy defeated Leutnants Mattheus and Achilles return to Koolkerke. Although elated by their victories both are concerned about the fate of the brave Hans Goerth.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Casualty Reports (The Butcher's Bill)

The Kaiser's 'See Adler' Staffel



Flugmeister Benno Schlüter (Flugzeugführer - captured RE.8)
RTB / 0 kills
Leutnant zur See Heinrich Maas (Beobachter - captured RE.8)
RTB / 0 kills



Vizeflugmeister Hans Goerth (Jagdflieger - Pfalz D.III)
Shot down by unidentified RFC Sopwith Camel over German Lines
SD EXP FT / 0 kills
Crash: rolled 8 - 3 EXP = 5 injured in crash
Scenarios: rolled 4 = skip 2 scenarios



Leutnant Willi Mattheus (Jagdflieger - Albatros D.Va)
Shot down two Sopwith Camels from unidentified RNAS squadron over German Lines
RTB / 2 kills

Leutnant Paul Achilles (Jagdflieger - Albatros D.Va)
RTB / 0 kills


Allied Squadrons



Lieutenant John Crabb RFC (Scout pilot, 'Twin Hearts' Sopwith Camel)
Shot down Pfalz D.III (Vzflgmtr Hans Goerth) over German Lines
RTB / 1 kill



Sub-Lieutenant Albert Thompson RNAS (Scout pilot, 'red cowled' Sopwith Camel)
SD EXP ET / 0 kills
Crash: rolled 7 - 3 EXP = 4 severely injured in crash
Scenarios: rolled 3 = skip 3 scenarios
E&E: rolled 5 - 2 = 3 Captured and escaped!
Scenarios: rolled 1 = skip 1 scenario



Sub-Lieutenant George Kennedy RNAS (Scout pilot, 'blue cowled' Sopwith Camel)
SD ET / WIA / 0 kills
Crash: rolled 6 - 1 WIA - 1 SD = 4 severely injured in crash
Scenarios: rolled 6 = skip 6 scenarios
E&E: rolled 5 - 1 WIA -1 WIC -1 ET = 2 Captured, for you the war is over....

The 'See Adler' Staffel would like to identify the wounded English officers and when they are sufficiently recovered from their injuries host them in the Officer's Mess at Koolkerke.

[flash]

Great opening Carl, glad you took the opportunity.

[Setarius]

Nice start Carl. Waiting on the finale.
I'll be posting one as well in the next week.
I'll be seeing you on the other side.

[gully_raker]

Welcome back to the Western Front!
Look forward to the AAR & pics!

[LOOP]

Finally a german victory
I allmost lost all my fingernails in the excitement
Great AAR

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Yes it see-sawed back and forth! As you can see I play with two decks of damage cards hence the 2nd boom - makes for a more exciting game.

[Stumptonian]

Willkommen zu den Eagles, Carl.

A superb start - looking forward to many more.

[flash]

Nicely done Carl, I have added the victories to your chap onto his roster, he'll also pick up his pilots badge and the Iron cross 2nd class for two kills !
Good effort on the Butchers Tally too. Only issue is write it up as a result of the combat not as an end result of the whole thing. eg it should read:
Unknown RNAS pilot (Scout pilot, 'red cowled' Sopwith Camel) SD EXP ET / 0 kills not SD EXP ET / WIC / PW (ESC) and
Unknown RNAS pilot (Scout pilot, 'blue cowled' Sopwith Camel) SD ET / WIA / 0 Kills not SD ET / WIA / WIC / PW.
The reason being it is easier to follow and check the results if done this way. Otherwise spot on mate

Hearts Camel = Lt John Crabb
Red Cowled = Sub Lt Albert Thompson
Blue Cowled = Sub Lt George Kennedy is your POW dinner guest !

[gully_raker]

Great first AAR back at the front Carl & well played.
I loved the prequel & the action during the encounter.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Nicely done Carl, I have added the victories to your chap onto his roster, he'll also pick up his pilots badge and the Iron cross 2nd class for two kills !
Good effort on the Butchers Tally too. Only issue is write it up as a result of the combat not as an end result of the whole thing. eg it should read:
Unknown RNAS pilot (Scout pilot, 'red cowled' Sopwith Camel) SD EXP ET / 0 kills not SD EXP ET / WIC / PW (ESC) and
Unknown RNAS pilot (Scout pilot, 'blue cowled' Sopwith Camel) SD ET / WIA / 0 Kills not SD ET / WIA / WIC / PW.
The reason being it is easier to follow and check the results if done this way. Otherwise spot on mate

Hearts Camel = Lt John Crabb
Red Cowled = Sub Lt Albert Thompson
Blue Cowled = Sub Lt George Kennedy is your POW dinner guest !

I have updated the Casualty Report as indicated.

One question, as VzFlgmtr Hans Goerth was wounded in the crash of his Pfalz does he warrant the award of a 'Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz'?

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Great first AAR back at the front Carl & well played.
I loved the prequel & the action during the encounter.

Thanks Barry.

It was the first time I used the AI system and I have to say it was difficult to judge what moves the AI aircraft would make.

Give me a human opponent any day!

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Koolkerke Flandern
19 Oktober 1917

“Staffel, Dis-miss!” ordered the Staffelführer.

His men executed a well drilled right turn, then broke formation cheering and shaking hands with Leutnant Willi Mattheus, just awarded the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse for downing two Englishmen over Zevecote two days earlier. The pilots and observers of the Staffel soon headed off to the mess to celebrate Mattheus’ success.

“Herr Oberleutnant, a moment please” a commanding voice addressed the Staffelführer.

He marched briskly to the office of the Station Kommandant. Exchanging salutes the Kapitänleutnant invited him in, closing the door.

“I have read your report Herr Oberleutnant” said the Kapitänleutnant, tapping the document on his desk. “I’m sure you know it will not please some in at the Naval Office.”

“It is an accurate account Herr Kapitänleutnant, and I stand by my conclusions.” asserted the Staffelführer.

“Of course Herr Oberleutnant” agreed the Kapitänleutnant, “I just wonder if you have considered the possible … repercussions”, sitting down in his leather chair.

“Repercussions?” echoed the Staffelführer. “I have seen the ‘repercussions’ personally – a wrecked Pfalz at the end of the airfield being picked over for parts and a brave young man lying in a hospital bed lucky to be alive.”

The Station Kommandant looked intently at his subordinate. “Very well, please, go on” he said, inviting him to continue.

“The staffel suffered a loss because we placed a pilot at unnecessary risk in an operation of dubious value. Our men scored their successes when they adhered to accepted tactical doctrine” the Staffelführer paused “…and military honour.”

The Kapitänleutnant picked up the report from the desk. “I will forward your report Herr Oberleutnant” he said, taking up a pen and signing the page. “I hope for your sake your men continue to enjoy success in the air, for should the tide turn the High Command will be looking for someone to shoulder the blame. That someone will likely be you.”

The Staffelführer snapped to attention and saluted the Station Kommandant. “If my men have to fall for the Fatherland what happens to me will be my least concern.”

Returning the salute the Kapitänleutnant then waved towards the door. “Go and celebrate with your Staffel Herr Oberleutnant – what is it the English say, ‘Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die?’”

[flash]

I have updated the Casualty Report as indicated.

One question, as VzFlgmtr Hans Goerth was wounded in the crash of his Pfalz does he warrant the award of a 'Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz'?

Oh, yes - added to his roster.

[Teaticket]

Nice ending for ED and start to the Bitter End for the See Alders. Looks like Matteus has a future in flying for the Kaiser.