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Thread: OTTBE Mission 20: Albert to Bapaume 23rd August 1918 - Thomas NH

  1. #1

    Default OTTBE Mission 20: Albert to Bapaume 23rd August 1918 - Thomas NH

    The Germans had been pushed back at Bapaume by IV Corps, but had withdrawn to defensive positions on Bancourt Ridge. The green 238 Squadron "Bulldogs" was assigned to spot for the Royal Artillery to soften up the ridge for the next assault.

    Lieutenant Pete E. Boehdt led his flight of four Camels over the Somme. In the distance was the town of Bapaume, indistinguishable from the surrounding mud of no-mans'-land.
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    Above was the two-seater they had been tasked with escorting, along with a couple other planes, one with lozenge camouflage.
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    Boedht hastily formed his flight into a "finger-four" formation, Second Lieutenant "Farmer" O'Dell (controlled by me) and himself banking left while Second Lieutenants Lee K. Vosset and Mick Hannock continued straight.
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    Corporal Les Moore observed the artillery shells falling off target and radioed back adjustments. Second Lieutenant Chris Allis noticed two approaching Germans nearly collide with each other and fingered his trigger.
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    A couple of triplanes join the fight.
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    O'Dell breaks formation, while the others close up into a vic.
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    The Eindecker holes the DH4's rudder. Allis returns fire and watches as his opponent's wing shears off. As he watches the Eindecker spiral towards earth, he wonders why the other plane isn't firing.
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    The triplanes perform for the troops below, ignoring the fate of their fallen comrade.
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    O'Dell prepares for a flanking maneuver while the rest of the flight heads straight.
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    Allis fires at the two-seater, his rounds hitting the cockpit and sending bits of shrapnel into the pilot.
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    The Camels continue. Will they make it to the fight before the triplanes?
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    The triplanes enter the fight, but a sudden gust of wind throws everyone's aim off.
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    The Camels continue at full speed.
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    Moore can't spot with Allis' evasive maneuvers, so he takes his gun in hand and blasts some fabric off a passing triplane.
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    He shifts targets and flames a red triplane, his rounds igniting the fuel tank and causing major structural damage.
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    The Camels concentrate fire on the Hannover, adding another beacon to the flames burning in the sky. Hannock's guns jam and a stray expended round damages a rudder cable.
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    The Hannover's pilot expertly controls the fire.
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    The red Fokker burns.
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    The DH4 and the Fokker exchange fire with devastating effect. (The Fokker shouldn't get a +1, not sure why I put one down.)
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    Vosset goes berserk and tries to ram the Hannover, but fails. (I use a die to determine collisions, 5-6 is a collision. It gives the same probability as collision card but it's easier to use in solo games.)
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    Not quite in arc.
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    O'Dell appears out of the sun and shoots up the Hannover. Vosset is still trying to ram his target.
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    The Camels are circling, preparing for the kill.
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    Moore jams his guns, but fortunately the triplane's aim is off.
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    Vosset finally prevails and smashes off one wing of the flaming Hannover, which goes into a spin. (I messed up and forgot to resolve a collision last turn. Vosset should have rammed the Hannover to death last turn, but fortunately this didn't affect the game.)
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    The Fokker continues to burn.
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    Allis' skillful flying prevents the red triplane from getting a shot.
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    Boedht and the brown Fokker close in a head-on pass. Both pilots aim well, but Boedht takes a hit in the fuel tank and his Camel disintegrates.
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    O'Dell avenges his leader.
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    The artillery finally hits, destroying an ammunition dump and throwing both planes in the air, denying the Fokker another shot.
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    The red triplane goes into a dive and escapes over German lines.
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    Butcher's Bill

    Bulldogs:

    Lt Pete E. Boedht: EXP ET 0 kills -
    C: Rolled 8 -3 EXP = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = skip 3 scenarios (no -1ET on crash roll)
    E: Rolled 11 -1 EXP -1 WIC -1 BEL = 8 Landed almost home, skip 1 scenario. Total skips 3
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    2Lt Thomas "Farmer" O'Dell: RTB/1 Kill
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    2Lt Mick Hannock: RTB 0 kills
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    2Lt Lee K. Vosset: RTB/1 Kill (by ramming!)
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    2Lt Chris Allis: RTB/1 Kill

    Cpl Les Moore: RTB 0 kills
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    Eagles:

    Oblt Martin Kairies: EXP FT/1 Kill
    C: Rolled 12 -3 EXP = 9 All well when you land well!
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    Lt Christian Koch: RTB 0 kills
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    Lt Kurt Treiber: EXP FT 0 kills
    C: Rolled 8 -3 EXP = 5 Injured, skip 3 scenarios
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    Vzfwbl Richard Niederhoff: COL FLM ET/WIA 0 kills
    C: Rolled 4 -2 COL -1 ET -1 WIA = 0 Dead

    Lt Johannes Ungewitter: COL FLM ET 0 kills
    C: Rolled 7 -2 COL -1 ET = 4 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = Skip 4
    E&E Rolled 7 -1WIC -1BEL = 5 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios, Rolled 1 = Skip 1. Total skips 4.
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    Results - British Win

    Bulldogs: 1 artillery hit, 1 CP plane ran away, 3 CP planes downed = 15 points
    Eagles: 1 British plane downed = 4 points

    Kairies got pretty lucky there on his crash roll! Like others' games, the ammunition rules didn't have much of an effect, so I eventually just stopped keeping track.

    April was pretty busy with spring break moved back to March, so WoG got pushed off till May. I'll get the next scenario done later this month, and I'll get around to catching up on commenting on the other AARs.
    Last edited by flash; 05-07-2018 at 23:51. Reason: Tally updated

  2. #2

    Default

    Well done, Thomas. It was interesting to "sea" your take on this mission.
    Good "ground effects" using that (literal) mat to represent No Man's Land.

    I assume you were flying the Brits in this one?
    Congrats on your victory. (if not, "Sorry old bean".)

  3. #3

    Smile

    Well that was full of much mayhem Thomas!
    Lots of Booms & Fires for sure.
    Those who survived were certainly "Lucky".

  4. #4

    Default

    Bravo Thomas - great effort for your first outing and you came away with a victory for the Bulldogs

    Uncle says:


    Very well done young fellah m'lad - a fine victory with mission accomplished and three kills to the 'Dogs credit - a few things to ponder on before your next outing...

    That Johnny in the red tripe might be a bit upset as you gave him two damage cards at long range, the second of which set him on fire Maybe that's why you subconsciously dropped an unwarranted +1 on the DH.4 ?!

    The following Tallies should read:
    Lt Pete E. Boedht: EXP ET 0 kills -
    C: Rolled 8 -3 EXP = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = skip 3 scenarios (no -1ET on crash roll)
    E: Rolled 11 -1 EXP -1 WIC -1 BEL = 8 Landed almost home, skip 1 scenario

    Vzfwbl Richard Niederhoff: COL FLM ET/WIA 0 kills
    C: Rolled 4 -2 COL -1 ET -1 WIA = 0 Dead (Collision -2 is not cumulative with FLM - he's still dead though )

    Lt Johannes Ungewitter: COL FLM ET 0 kills
    C: Rolled 7 -2 COL -1 ET = 4 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = Skip 4 (Collision -2 is not cumulative with FLM - But he's not dead ! )
    E&E Rolled 7 -1WIC -1BEL = 5 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios, Rolled 1 = Skip 1.
    Last edited by flash; 05-07-2018 at 23:42.

    "He is wise who watches"

  5. #5

    Default

    Good one Thomas. First mission and a kill already notched on your walking stick. This 'Green" Bulldog flight did well first time out. This experience should do them well in future encounters to come.

  6. #6

    Default

    Great fight Thomas. For a while there, I thought the DH4 was going to go it alone. Soooo many boom cards drawn there - WoW Congrats on the result for the Bulldogs - hard luck on the Eagles.

    Held for Uncle
    Sounds ominous

  7. #7

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mikeemagnus View Post
    ... Sounds ominous
    Nah, just been out and about today is all

    "He is wise who watches"

  8. #8

    Setarius's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies
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    Name
    Dale
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    Default

    Congratulations on the first outing for your green Bulldogs. A win and a Kill on the first outing, congrats.
    Just one thing though..."RAMMING SPEED MR. SULU!!!"

  9. #9

    Default

    Thanks all for the kind comments and rep. The mats were the only ones I had at the time, an official coastal mat and a repurposed rug that was a nuisance to get out from under all the furniture. I managed to pick up two each of the double-sided paper mats in an ebay lot, so I'll have some more options next mission.

    This mission was particularly deadly, the only game I've played in with a comparable amount of explosions was at a convention this spring where I shot down the GM with three explosions in a row if I recall correctly, plus I managed to draw most of the fire cards in the deck! The ramming AI was pretty funny, usually AI seem to fly all over the place but this one really wanted his kill I guess.

    Sorry about all the errors Dave, maybe I shouldn't be writing AARs late at night! I wasn't sure about whether the penalties for going down on fire and collisions were cumulative, I probably was reading an earlier version of the rules, since the BE rules have a large "Not cumulative with the above" next the the collision penalty. If Ungewitter survived, should he also roll for escaping enemy territory?

  10. #10

    Default

    Great AAR Thomas! Keep 'em comin'.

  11. #11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Thomas NH View Post
    ... If Ungewitter survived, should he also roll for escaping enemy territory?
    You're not wrong, I forgot that in my excitement of saving his backside !
    All fixed now, and your error count first time out is lower than some of our veterans at times

    "He is wise who watches"

  12. #12

    Default

    Hi Thomas, I tried to PM you but your mail box is full. You'll have to clear out some of your sent and received PMs so it will work for you again. I can't reply to your last message until you do.

    Peter

  13. #13

    Default

    Fixed now Peter - thanks for letting me know!



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