OTTBE Mission 17- Hell Over Hamel - 4th July 1918

[Setarius]

Mutt's Camp

Cpl. Wringer: Sir, a "Harry Tate" just landed. And here are today's orders from Uncle.

Lt. Forbes: Thanks, have the pilot report to me and put the men on standby.

Lt. Perrot: Lt. Forbes, you asked to see me?

Lt. Forbes: Yes LT. I have orders here for two "Harry Tates" to do an ammo drop. With your plane, that will give me two.

Lt. Perrot: I was told to drop this plane and the hardware it contains here for you and that you would have a car take me back.

Lt. Forbes: Uh yes, well part of your orders have changed. I need another pilot for the "HT" and you seem to be available. You have been temporarily assigned to this unit. You will be paired with Sgt. Jean-Paul LaClaire, he's a good man with plenty of experience.
As soon as the hardware is in place you and 2Lt. Smythe-Browning are to take off. The lads had quite a blow out and need the supplies ASAP. Good Luck.

Eagle's Nest

Unteroffizer Ryder: Sir, message from Command.

Obltn. von Boddien:Thank you Uffz.
UFFZ RYDER! Get Ltn. Dietlen, tell him to be on the flightline and ready to go in 15 minutes and have two DVIIs ready for flight.

Ltn. Dietlen: Herr Obltn. what news?

Obltn. von Boddien: Word just came in from Fifi that the English are to send a pair of two seaters to Hamel to drop ammunition to the Americans there.
We nee to stop them. Take this parachute and hope you don't have to use it, understand?
Take the Blue DVII and as soon as you are ready we leave. Good hunting.

Ltn. Dietlen: Yes Obltn. Good hunting.

Gaming NOTES:
The German crosses and the Roundels are on the board to give a rough idea of where the enemy lines are for Butcher's Bill purposes.
I am using a DH4 as a place holder for an RE8. I will be using an RE8 maneuver deck and Damage point

Now on with the SHOW

Starting positions rolled for and planes placed accordingly and waiting their turns.
Attachment 237301


The opposition a pair of Albatross DVA
Attachment 237303

Opponents meet, just out of range.
Attachment 237304

Circling behind the pair of two seaters is not the best idea.
DVA-Vzfwbl Albrecht (2)
DVA-Fwbl Guttler (2FLM, 0GJ)
Attachment 237305

Sgt. LaClaire takes a shot at the flaming DVA of Fwbl Guttler (3ENG)sending several rounds into the Mercedes Engine.
Attachment 237309

Fire damage (1)
Attachment 237310

2LTs Farr and Reeves happen to stumble on the scenen and head to the fight.
Attachment 237311

Clear sailing enemy too far away to be a distraction. Both planes ready for package delivery.
Attachment 237312

Packages away.
Fire takes hold of Fwbl Guttler's plane (5)
Attachment 237313

[Setarius]

Obltn. von Bodien and Lt. Dietlen arrive too late to stop the first drops.
Attachment 237314

Swinging around to get ready for the second drops.
Smythe-Browning drop covers DOT
Lt. Perrot drop covers part of CARD.
Attachment 237315

No one close enough to shoot
Attachment 237316

Fire taking its toll on Fwbl Guttler's plane (3P)
Attachment 237317

The action intensifies with Obltn. von Boddien (1NL, 4) and Lt. Perrot (0,0) exchanging close shots.
Vzwfbl Albrecht does minor damage to 2Lt. Smythe-Browning (2GJ) plane as his guns go silent.
Attachment 237318

As they pass each other both Sgt. LaClaire and Sgt. Vanderboegh unleash massive amounts of damage on both German planes and Ltn. Dietlen hammers 2Lt. Farr.
Vzfwbl Albrecht (4,4)
Fwbl Guttler (4,4SMK)
2Lt. Farr (4)
Kill Sgt. LaClaire (1)
Note: 20 points of total dmg in this encounter
Attachment 237319

An exchange of fire between Obltn. von Boddien (0,EXP) and Sgt. LaClaire (0,2GJ) send the Obltn. to the ground.
Note: There was no 'chute seen opening as he went down.
2LT. Farr takes a shot at Vzfwbl Albrecht (1) doing minimal damage.
Kill Sgt. LaClaire (2)
Attachment 237320

A near miss had everyone ducking for cover so no one got off a shot.
Bulldogs are in control of the sky.
Attachment 237321

As Vzwfbl Albrecht (0) tries to make an exit bullets fly all around him form Sgt. LaClaire.
Ltn. Dietlen (3,0) tries to hit the reversing 2Lt. Reeves (0) but misses as bullets from Sgt. Vanderboegh find their mark.
Attachment 237322

2Lt. Farr gives chase to Vzfwbl Albrecht (0) who is trying for the cloudbank in front of him.
Attachment 237323

[Setarius]

Ltn. Dietlen finally finds his mark as he hammers Lt. Perrot's (5,1) plane.
2Lt. Farr puts a few more rounds into Vzfwbl Albrecht (2NR)
Attachment 237324

Another shot by the 2Lt. misses giving the much battered DVA of Vzfwbl Albrecht (0) a chance to reach the safety of the clouds.
Attachment 237325

Ltn. Dietlen (3,1) exchanges shots with 2Lt. LaClaire (1,2NL) causing the RE8 to come apart and crash behind enemy lines.
Kill: Ltn. Dietlen
Attachment 237326

Heavily damaged at this point Ltn. Dietlen (2) heads for home just to be shot by 2Lt. Reeves.
Kill: 2Lt. Reeves
Attachment 237327

With the skies clear of Germans 2Lt. Smythe-Browning prepares to drop the final package.
Attachment 237328
Attachment 237329

Partial success, everyone heads home.
Smythe-Browning drop part of card covered
Attachment 237330

[Setarius]

Butcher's Bill

Entente Left to Right

2Lt Joseph Farr RTB 4 DMG 0 Kills

2Lt. Matthew Reeves RTB 0 DMG 1 Kill--Ltn. Dietlen

2LT. Richard Smythe-Browning (P) RTB 2 DMG 0 Kills

Sgt. Rene Vanderboegh (O) RTB 0 KIlls
Attachment 237331

Lt. Henri Perrot (P) SD ET WIA 14 DMG 0 Kills
C&W R-8-1Sd-1WIA=6 Skip D3 Skip 3
E&E R-5-1WIA-1WIC-1BEL=2 CAPTURED The war is over for this pilot

Sgt. Jean-Paul LaClaire SD ET 2 Kills
C&W R-4-1SD=3 Skip D3 Skip 3
E&E R-7-1WIC-1BEL=5 In Hiding Skip D2 Skip 2 Skip 3
Fwbl Max Guttler
Obltn. Gustav von Boddien
Attachment 237332

Central Powers

Vzfwbl Otto Albrecht RTB 13 DMG 0 Kills
Attachment 237333

Left to Right
Fwbl Max Guttler SD ET 0 kills
C&W R- 10-1SD = 9 All well when you land well !
E&E R-5-1BEL = 4 Captured and Escaped Skip 1D3 = Skip 1

Obltn. Gustav von Boddien SD ET EXP 0 kills
Parachute: Rolled 1 KIA

Ltn. Konrad Dietlen SD FT 1 kill
C&W R-7-1Sd=6 Skip D3 Skip 2
Attachment 237334


Victory Points

All guns supplied=6points
2 guns were partially supplied=2 points

Entente 6 points
Central powers 2 points

Entente Victory and Air Superiority

[flash]

Very hard fought - planes getting tagged just before they can escape Well played Dale, a couple of issues Uncle will point out and things not as bad as you thought for your Eagles !

Uncle says:

I say, job well done chaps, minimal losses and some krauts knocked down to boot - well done all !
Looks like Sgt Jean Paul LaClaire will be away for a while but he will receive the DFC & CdG for his combined mission/kills tally.
Points of order -
1. When rolling for Huns either Roll C/W, or, Parachute, not both.
If pilot wounded before he jumps then roll C/W after the parachute roll to determine result of wound.
2. If your pilot lands in FT he doesn't do an E&E roll... so the following officer is not POW.....
Ltn. Konrad Dietlen receives the Iron cross 2nd class for his 2nd victory. Promoted to Obltn and will take command in place of the late Obltn Boddien.
It looks like you don't have any bomb cards Dale ? If you don't, drop me a PM I can get some to you.

[Setarius]

Thanks for the clarification on the parachutes Dave, I wasn't sure what happened if I rolled low so I did the C&W roll as well, just in case.

The promotion party at the Eagles Nest will be very subdued when the new Oblt Dietlen returns.

[gully_raker]

Another fierce "Set Too" Dale.
Nicely done for your lads & very glad St Clare survived to get his "gongs"

Rep inbound.

[Stumptonian]

Good job, Dale. Tough break for your Adlers though.
That observer was a killer
For once I didn’t stumble into your AAR as you were writing it.

[Setarius]

That's ok Pete, this time I published the AAR while it was light outside.

[flash]

Thanks for the clarification on the parachutes Dave, I wasn't sure what happened if I rolled low so I did the C&W roll as well, just in case....

Rolling low is never good Dale, at least not in this game !
Optional Rules:
Parachutes are in from April 1918 (Hun only I'm afraid) with the following rules:
Do not roll for a crash result instead roll 1D6 and match to situation:
Shot Down: 3-6 lands OK - On a 3 bruised - skip 1 scenario; 1 or 2 KIA
Flamer/Collision: 4-6 lands OK - On a 4 bruised - skip 2 scenario; 1-3 KIA
Explosion: 5-6 lands OK - On a 5 bruised - skip 3 scenario; 1-4 KIA

[Setarius]

Dave,
I've read that section several times and have evidently gone blank during the last part of each sentence.
The bad thing is during my BB rolls the last couple of times I've used my character generating dice, which normally roll 4 or better on each one. The last couple of times they have been rolling 1ds and 2s, ugh. It's not like I don't have a bunch of other dice I could use.

[Stumptonian]

The odds of surviving a parachute landing do not lead me toward trying them.
My dismal die rolls would do my pilots in for sure.

[flash]

Dave,
I've read that section several times and have evidently gone blank during the last part of each sentence....

Probably not Dale - I just added the KIA scores to clarify !

[Setarius]

Pete,
If you look at the list of German pilots that have gone up against my Mutts, you will find I have KIA almost as many as I have ACTIVE Entente Pilots. So, I thought I would try the parachutes during a mission to see if they would work. Evidently not, so the Germans will probably ride out a crash landing and have a better chance of survival.

[Stumptonian]

A single die roll of 1 or 2 is so much easier to roll than 2 of them, hence my reluctance.
I think if Dave hadn't skewed the survival chances to keep us interested (and I am glad he did) then flames and explosions would have killed many more of my Adlers.

[flash]

...I think if Dave hadn't skewed the survival chances to keep us interested (and I am glad he did) then flames and explosions would have killed many more of my Adlers...

That was more Joaquim's design to keep characters alive for the story tellers... left to me I may be... less forgiving
The basic parachute stats are about realistic - a third died, a few were injured, the rest OK.

[mikeemagnus]

Well, well Dale - that was a set too and a half. Congratulations to Sgt LaClaire - I guess you'll be looking forward to his return Congrats also to Ltn Dietlen - sad news about his predecessor - RIP Obltn Boddien.

That said - Nicely done and well done the Entente.

[Teaticket]

Another Hun bashing! Its evident the Eagles are not training their pilots enough as they have to rotate the recruits to the front too quickly.

I hope Leclaire makes Ace, he sure is a smart shooter. So far the only Bulldog aces I have are observers. (not without trying!)

A successful mission should make Forbes a little happier.