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Thread: OtT: The Bitter End, Mission 02 – 10 November 1917 (fast.git)

  1. #1

    Default OtT: The Bitter End, Mission 02 – 10 November 1917 (fast.git)

    OtT: The Bitter End, Mission 02 – 10 November 1917 (fast.git)

    “Rain in the Forecast; Fire from the Sky”



    Diary Entry from 10th November, 1917
    “It rained heavily all day. In the morning I went down to the canal bank to see the staff captain of the first division about our RE material, as they were shouting for it from the guns. This way of getting material proved almost as fruitless as putting in through brigade as they simply made a note of the stuff we want and that was all that was done about it. The first division had attacked early in the morning, trying to push obliquely along the ridge towards Rosebeeke and although they were successful in gaining their objectives they eventually had to retire to their old line as the mud was impossible. All their Lewis guns and rifles got jammed with mud and the Hun put down a very heavy barrage too. Our big guns 12’ and 9’ were blazing away hard as I went down to the canal and making a great noise.”

    -- Lt. Edward Walford Manifold MC, 48 Bty, 36 Brigade, RFA



    Background:

    The Battle of Passchendaele (31 July – 10 November 1917) – officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres and destined to become infamous not only for the scale of casualties (more than 500,000), but also for the mud – is mercifully coming to an end.

    Mud and Misery of the Passchendaele Battlefield



    "Canadian Gunners in the Mud" by Alfred Bastien


    The heaviest rains in 30 years had stalled the attacks of July and August in a quagmire of rifle-clogging and tank-immobilizing thick mud…eventually becoming so deep that it drowned men and horses. Improving weather, however, prompted a series of attacks in late September and early October, establishing British possession of the ridge east of Ypres by 4 October.

    Further attacks in October failed to make much progress, with British and Canadian forces eventually capturing what little remained of Passchendaele village by the evening of 6 November. Having weathered fierce enemy counterattacks for the last four days, this last phase of the battle will see the Canadian Corps attack and clear the Germans from the eastern edge of Passchendaele Ridge on the morning of 10 November.





    Mission:

    Allied: Early morning contact patrols have identified a number of targets threatening the Canadians’ assault along the ridge line east of Passchendaele. Storm clouds are massing and, as many of the RFA’s heavy guns are on the move and unavailable for action, it has fallen to the RFC to clear the way before the weather closes in and shuts down flight operations. Intel is spotty, however, and you are certain of neither the precise location, nor the nature of the targets.

    Crossing the lines over the advancing Canadians, your mission is to locate, engage, and destroy two targets (primary and secondary) identified by the dawn contact patrols.

    "Battle of Menin Road" by H. Septimus Power


    Central Powers: Allied aircraft have been active all along the front since shortly after dawn, interdicting supply and reinforcement columns, targeting defensive strongpoints, and harassing troops in the trenches defending the high ground to the east of Passchendaele. The weather is closing in, threatening to shut down flight operations and leave the defenders on the ground to fend for themselves…but you’ve just sighted a group of Allied two-seaters flying low over the battlefield.

    Drive off or destroy the Allied two-seaters before they can engage and destroy their targets.



    Forces Engaged:

    • Allied: a flight of 3 aircraft; must include at least a single two-seater
    • Central Powers: a kette of 3 scouts
    • Both Allied and Central Powers players will fly any single aircraft (it may be a two-seater), leaving the remainder to be controlled by the AI.
    • Any two-seaters will be B/B armed.
    • Allied aircraft may enter at Altitudes 2, 3, or 4. Central Powers aircraft will enter the map 1 altitude level higher than the highest Allied aircraft.
    • As the weather is rapidly worsening, neither side will receive any reinforcements.


    Special Rules (Weather):

    • The weather is closing in, and the opening showers of what will eventually be more than 10 cm (4”) of rain has begun to fall as the Allied aircraft cross the lines. As a result, ceiling begins at Altitude 6, and will drop as the weather rolls in…making this as much a race against time as it is against HA.
    • Ceiling will begin dropping at a rate of one level a turn (every 3 cards) beginning on the 7th card, plus a number of cards equal to the player’s “result” from the previous mission (ex. 14th card (7+7) for fast.git).
    • Engaging targets will no longer be possible once the ceiling drops to 2.
    • Should an aircraft climb through the clouds, they exit the battlefield and leave the scenario.
    • If not playing with altitude, visibility will be reduced to zero 3 turns (9 cards) after the ceiling begins to drop.


    Special Rules (Targets & Bombs):

    • Select three target cards (identified on the chart below as primary and secondary, plus a “dummy”) and place them face down on the eastern half of the board, no closer than a single range stick to any edge and no closer than two range sticks between them. Additionally, stagger the target cards so that they’re not all in a single line.
    • It is recommended (but not necessary) that any AI two-seaters use Richard Brantley’s advanced charts for H & K decks (specifically the columns regarding “Target” and “Home”).
    • AI bombers will move to the closest target and engage it at least once, unless it is positively identified as a "dummy" target. After the first attack, the AI two-seater may move on to another target, regardless of result.
    • Targets may be flipped over and identified once an Allied aircraft moves within two range sticks.


    #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Total
    Mod
    Ceiling Drops Primary & Secondary Targets
    teaticket +1 -1 +1 3 (+1) 11th card Troop Concentration
    Artillery Battery
    Carl-Brisgamer +1 0 0 3 (+1) 11th card New Trenches
    Ammo Dump
    Roland19 -1 -1 -1 0 +1 5 (-2) 10th card Supply Column
    New Trenches
    Flash n/a 7th card Troop Concentration
    Artillery Battery
    Mikeemagnus +1 +2 +2 +1 -1 5 (+5) 17th card Supply Column
    Artillery Battery
    Stumptonian 0 0 0 -1 0 0 5 (-1) 11th card New Trenches
    Ammo Dump
    Gullyraker +2 +2 -1 +1 4 (+4) 15th card Troop Concentration
    Artillery Battery
    Setarius +1 0 -1 +1 -1 +1 6 (+1) 14th card Troop Concentration
    New Trenches
    Tikkifriend +1 -1 +1 0 +2 +1 6 (+4) 17th card Artillery Battery
    Troop Concentration
    fast.git 0 +2 0 +1 4 (+3) 14th card Troop Concentration
    New Trenches
    FO Kyte +2 +2 +2 3 (+6) 16th card Artillery Battery
    Supply Column


    • To simplify matters somewhat, bomb loads will be abstracted. Rather than tracking individual bombs, each Allied two-seater will be loaded with enough bombs to drop on two targets (or double-up on a single target), with scouts able to drop once.
    • When carrying bombs, aircraft may not perform a reversal.
    • If a dropped bomb card covers the target’s red dot, the target will be destroyed by a single bomb. Otherwise, the target will be damaged/disrupted/suppressed by the near miss. Two such near misses will destroy the target.




    Setup:

    • 2 mats, or an area approximately 54”x40” (138cm x 102cm)
    • Allied two-seaters and their escort (if any) will enter from the western edge, within 1.5 range sticks of mat edge center point. At mission’s end, surviving Allied aircraft may exit at any point along the map’s western edge, or upwards through the clouds.
    • Defending scouts will enter from the opposite side, within 1.5 range sticks of mat edge center point.





    Optional Rules:

    • Treat landing at your home aerodrome as a “crash landing” per the OtT:BE rules, modifying the roll only for wounds (-1 each), engine damage (-1), rudder damage (-1), and pilot ability (Ace = +2).



    Victory Conditions:

    • Allied players receive 3 points for destroying their primary target, 2 points for destroying their secondary target, and/or 1 point for each damaged target.
    • CP players receive 2 points for each destroyed two-seater and 1 point for each destroyed scout.


    Road Sign used by the Imperial German Army
    Last edited by fast.git; 07-06-2016 at 12:09.

  2. #2

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    Mission printed, heading down to the gaming room now!

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer View Post
    Mission printed, heading down to the gaming room now!
    Printed and set up to play tomorrow.


    I plan on using a D6 roll to determine if a target is the Primary/Secondary/Dummy
    (Had to tape the cards down - had trouble keeping them still last time)

  4. #4

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    Looks like I'm in for a short game !

    A how to bomb diagram is available in the files section here for those unfamiliar with it.

    Quote Originally Posted by fast.git View Post
    It is recommended (but not necessary) that any AI two-seaters use Richard Bradley’s advanced charts for H & K decks (specifically the columns regarding “Target” and “Home”)...
    Can we have a link please Chris

    "He is wise who watches"

  5. #5


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

  6. #6

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    This looks like fun Weather here at the moment isnt far off that in the scenario


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

  7. #7

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    Great mission Chris, short and sharp. I played it in just under three hours using the WoG Solo app. Photos taken, prologue posted but I am working night shifts at the moment so I will finish the AAR and Butcher's Bill tomorrow.

  8. #8

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    Guess I missed the boat with this one chaps.
    I think with my current workload, I will drop out and just do the scenarios when I can.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Guess I missed the boat with this one chaps.
    I think with my current workload, I will drop out and just do the scenarios when I can.
    Rob.
    Hardly Rob, I'm sure Chris will add those to the table once they have submitted their first AAR.

    "He is wise who watches"

  10. #10

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    Nice looking scenario. Weather here also looking similar right now. Thanks for the links to the deck charts and bombing run diagram - invaluable guys! May take me a day or two to get this one off the ground but looking forward to it

    If we wish to use three two seaters, do we just grab a spare crew from the list, or are we restricted to just the original two crews?

    Mike

  11. #11

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    There is no restriction Mike, that is just the start point but there is no list of spare crews as your pilots & crew names are generated by you. If you want to add more crew to the game do so and I will pick up the details from the AAR. All I'd ask is use what you have don't generate more than you need or the roster gets a bit unwieldy.

    "He is wise who watches"

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Guess I missed the boat with this one chaps.
    I think with my current workload, I will drop out and just do the scenarios when I can.
    Rob.
    No worries Rob, get to it when you can. Chris will add to the list when AARs for BE#1 are posted. Anyone that skips BE#1 can go right to BE#2 but with the no photos returned time limit.

  13. #13

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    if you think that is O.K. I just don't want to muck anyone about.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    if you think that is O.K. I just don't want to muck anyone about.
    Rob.
    Absolutely not a problem Rob! I'll add the results to the chart as soon as someone finishes the first mission... only request is that they shoot me a p.m. with their results in case I miss the AAR.

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by tikkifriend View Post
    Thanks for posting the link, Paul. Should have thought of that myself.

  16. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by fast.git View Post
    Absolutely not a problem Rob! I'll add the results to the chart as soon as someone finishes the first mission... only request is that they shoot me a p.m. with their results in case I miss the AAR.
    Thanks Chris.
    If you are sure that is O.K.
    I will write up this weekend.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  17. #17

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    There is no restriction Mike, that is just the start point but there is no list of spare crews as your pilots & crew names are generated by you. If you want to add more crew to the game do so and I will pick up the details from the AAR. All I'd ask is use what you have don't generate more than you need or the roster gets a bit unwieldy.
    Thanks Dave. I'll stick with what I already have then. Just wondered!

  18. #18

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    Finished my AAR at last - took longer to write it up than it did to play the game!

    http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...arl_Brisgamer)

    Nice work on the scenario Chris, REP inbound.

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer View Post
    ...- took longer to write it up than it did to play the game!
    That's about par for me on these.
    Finished mine today - will get the AAR up over the next few days.
    Let's just say "short and not-so-sweet" ....

  20. #20

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    Well done chaps - on Ops over Bovington today so will get to these when I get home, or, tomorrow.

    "He is wise who watches"

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    Well done chaps - on Ops over Bovington today so will get to these when I get home, or, tomorrow.

    I must get there someday.
    Have a good time - actually I know you will.
    Cheers

  22. #22

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    Came home with a HP O/400, a refreshed commitment for WoG from an outlet with a possible discount for forum members, and maybe an in at the show for the Aerodrome next year via that outlet. So, yeah, it was a good day.

    "He is wise who watches"

  23. #23

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    Good news all round then Dave.
    Glad that you enjoyed your outing.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  24. #24

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    May not get a chance to fly this one until after Wintercon next weekend.
    Big Cold Front coming through today with gale force winds & rain.
    Just have to see how the rest of the week goes?

  25. #25

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    Batten down the hatches Baz & stay in the warm and dry !

    "He is wise who watches"

  26. #26

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    Quote Originally Posted by gully_raker View Post
    May not get a chance to fly this one until after Wintercon next weekend.
    Big Cold Front coming through today with gale force winds & rain.
    Just have to see how the rest of the week goes?
    Keep your head down Barry.

    I was considering driving down the coast road to Nowra to check out the Fleet Air Arm Museum, is the weather that bad I should reconsider?

  27. #27

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer View Post
    Keep your head down Barry.

    I was considering driving down the coast road to Nowra to check out the Fleet Air Arm Museum, is the weather that bad I should reconsider?
    Hi Carl! Well the Winds are here but no rain yet & the Forecast has improved with sunny conditions now promised from tomorrow so I reckon you will be AOK.
    If you havent visited the FAA museum befor its really great. I have been twice with the WW1 Historical Society. The Museum has on display some of R.A. Little's gear recovered from the Texas Tip in Qld. Pic attached.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Thanks Barry. I think I will come down that way. Might also stop at the old Catalina base at Rathmines.

    Who knows I may make it all the way to your neck of the woods?

  29. #29

    Thumbs up

    Chris & I plan to leave 7am Saturday morning.
    Got a Drs appointment Thursday (tomorrow) at 11 am but will be home Friday.

    Cheers Baz.

  30. #30

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    My Mission one has been posted for a bit - will the target table be updated to include it?

  31. #31

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    Quote Originally Posted by BB401 View Post
    My Mission one has been posted for a bit - will the target table be updated to include it?
    Hi Bob. I thought I sent you a PM with the results so you could continue to Mission 2?
    Last I heard from Chris he was having family health issues. When he gets to updating the chart I have no idea.

    Peter

  32. #32

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    Quote Originally Posted by Teaticket View Post
    Hi Bob. I thought I sent you a PM with the results so you could continue to Mission 2?
    Last I heard from Chris he was having family health issues. When he gets to updating the chart I have no idea.

    Peter
    I will go back though my messages and find that - thanks. Hoping to get through Mission 2 tomorrow. Well, flown. AAR takes just as much time!

  33. #33

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    Quote Originally Posted by BB401 View Post
    I will go back though my messages and find that - thanks. Hoping to get through Mission 2 tomorrow. Well, flown. AAR takes just as much time!
    I think I sent it a ~2-3 days after you did your mission 1.

    Yes, AAR takes as long if not longer to write up compared to flying the mission!



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