OTTBE Mission 21 - Infantry Contact Patrol - 5th September 1918

[Setarius]

The Beginning

Matt's Camp
2000 Hours
4 September 1918

Lt. Richard Forbes: 2Lts. Livingston and Winklebleck, we have new kites headed our way in the next couple of days. In the morning take a pair of SPAD XIII AND head for the front. Get used to how they handle flying and in a fight. Bring them home in one piece and they will be yours.
Lt. Kilpatrick take the Sopwith Camel that Mr. Scott will have prepared and exchange it for a new aeroplane.

5 September

Matt's Camp
0430 hours

Lt. Forbes: Gentlemen, you have your assignments, be careful out there today and good hunting.

Eagle's Nest
0430 Hours

Obltn Konrad Dietlen:Ltn. Helmut Leffers, Phonix D.I, Fwbl. Rudolph Addix, Fokker DVII, Vzfwbl Ludwig Bohny (P) and Ltn. Ernst Clausnitzer (O).
You four men are to fly to the front and find its current location and any pockets of troops you can find. High command has lost contact with several units at the front and wants their locations so they can plan a counter attack.
Good Luck.
Attachment 247698
Attachment 247699

2Lt. Winklebleck: Stanley and I were approaching the front. We were doing a crossover to change positions when we saw a flight of three aircraft approaching from the other direction, one of them seemed to be hugging the ground.
Attachment 247700

Stanley climbed to meet the two escorts as I prepared to dive on the two seater.


As I dove on the two seater I misjudged and overshot my target.
2Lt. Livingston was also having problems with his ride and almost collided with the enemy.


As we swung around the two seater fired off a flare.


As we circled around I took a shot at the Phonix (0), missing due to him being above me.


As the Hun two seater circled back Stanley overshot it and I was too low to get a shot at the Fokker.
*German position identified*



Circling around the Phonix took a shot at me (2NL) damaging my controls. I couldn't get a return shot because of the bad angle.
The German two seater fired off another flare.

[Setarius]

Chapter 2--I Can't Hit Anything
OUCH, That Will Leave a Mark

As I kept turning left the Fokker hit me on the left side damaging my controls more.
SPAD XIII (1,1NR)


I did a quick reverse to get to the Fokker.
Stanley (1GJ) and the two seater (1) exchanged shots while the Phonix hit Stanley(1) from the right.


I took a shot at the Fokker (0,0GJ) missing as my guns fell silent.


The Phonix took a shot at Stanley (3ENG) causing his engine to start running rough.


The Phonix, Ltn. Leffers, takes a shot at Stanley (0) missing.
*German flare--No result*


Ltn. Leffers hit Stanley (3ENG) again causing his engine to quit and his plane head toward the ground.
Kill--Ltn. Leffers


I had just finished clearing my guns and was looking around when I thought I spotted a Sopwith Camel flying near the front.
The Germans set off another flare.


The Camel took a shot at the two seater sending rounds into the crew area.
UFAG (3P)
♤Note: See End of Butcher's Bill ♤


As I was trying to swing back around the Camel hit the UFAG (2GJ) again.


I got turned back around and took a close shot at Ltn. Leffers(0,2GJ) doing minimal damage before my guns went silent again.
Another flare in the air.

[Setarius]

Chapter 3--Where is the Broad Side of the Barn?

The Camel took another shot at the UFAG (1) As I started to unjam my guns again.


Ltn. Leffers took a shot at the Camel (3) doing moderate damage.
*Flare--No result*


The Camel, Lt. Kilpatrick, takes a shot at Ltn. Leffers (0) missing.
Flare in the air



Lt. KiKilpatrick was able to do what I hadn't been able to do, deliver a solid hit on the Phonix of Ltn. Leffers (5P,3)(1).


It. Kilpatrick hits Ltn. Leffers (1,1) again. I turned to go after the UFAG.


Fwbl Addix lands a solid hit on It. Kilpatrick (1,4SMK)


Another flare in the air


More damage to my controls (1NR).

[Setarius]

Chapter 4--Bottom of the Ninth
We Need a Homerun to Win

Guns unnamed AGAIN, I missed Fwbl Addix(0) causing him to miss his shot at It. Kilpatrick (0).
*German position spotted*


What a triangle, everyone shooting at close range.
Fwbl Addix (0,2)(0,5)
2Lt. Winklebleck (4,0GJ)


*German position spottef*


A long shot by Lt. Kilpatrick does moderate damage to the UFAG (3)


Now the race is on.
The UFAG races towards the Eagle's Nest with important troop positions. While 2Lt. Winklebleck tries to cut him off and keep the Intel from reaching enemy hands.
2Lt. Winklebleck: I misjudged the speeds again and overshot my target.



I even overshot the Fokker (0) as Lt Kilpatrick took a shot at it.


Lt. Kilpatrick once again hit Fwbl Addix (2FLM, 4SMK) hard causing a fire and massive amounts of smoke.


The Fwbl couldn't get away from It. Kilpatrick fast enough.
Fwbl Addix (EXP)
Kill--Lt. Kilpatrick

[Setarius]

Butcher's Bill

Return to Base Left to right

2Lt. Erasmus "Elmo" Winklebleck RTB 0 Kills

Lt. James Kilpatrick RTB 1 Kill


Ltn. Helmut Leffers Phonix D.I--RTB WIA 1 Kill
C&W Rolled 11-1WIA+3RTB=13 All's Well

Vzfwbl Ludwig Bohny (P) UFAG C.I--RTB WIA
C&W Rolled 3-1WIA+3RTB=5 Skip 1 mission (1)

Ltn. Ernst Clausnitzer (O) RTB


Shot Down Left to right

Fwbl Rudolph Addix Fokker DVII--SD EXP FLM FT
C&W Rolled 10-3EXP=7 Skip 2 missions (5)

2Lt. Stanley Livingston SD 2ENG ET
C&W Rolled 7-1SD=6 Skip 3 (5)
E&E Rolled 8-1WIC-1BEL=6 In Hiding Skip 2 Skip 3


Positions Identified


Victory Points

Eagles
Friendly positions 4---6pts
Enemy Shot Down 1-- 4pts
Total 10 points

Bulldogs
Enemy Shot Down 1--4 pts
Forced to Leave 1--- 1pt
Total 5 points

Corrected point score
Entente 5 points
Central Powers 10 points

CP Victory


♤Notes♤
I rolled on a d6 to see if the pilot or observer was hits with the observer needing 1-4 and pilot a 5-6. I rolled a 5. So for the next two turns I used the last turns movement cards and shuffled them each turn to see what order they came in. They were 2 right and 1 Left turn.

I did not see a specification that once you fired a flare you could not reload while waiting on a signal from the ground, only if returning fire. With the observer's guns jamming early it was easy to keep the gun loaded.

After everything was finished I drew the next 3 cards on the B deck and they were all 1's.

Nice mission, it was fun but frustrating to run the intercept part of it because I kept overshooting my targets. Need more practice with the SPADs.

[mikeemagnus]

Guess there's more to come Dale So far so good

[Setarius]

Epilogue

Lt. Forbes: So Elmo, what is your overall impression of the SPAD you flew today?

2Lt. Winklebleck: It's not a bad kite overall. It has plenty of speed, once a person gets used to it. It won't turn like the Camels we've been flying nor the Fokkers we are up against. The guns are similar so there should be no problems with ammo, yet there was. It seems sturdy enough, even though the controls eventually turned to mush you can still eventually get to where you need to be.
I'll just say it is going to take some getting used to.

Lt. Forbes: Ok, well that one is yours once it gets repaired, you might want to double check your ammo before you go out again.
Get a bite to eat and be ready for an afternoon patrol.

[Popsical]

Great AAR Dale! SPAD's are certainly very different to fly than the Camel's.

[gully_raker]

Ye Gods Dale! How many gun jambs did your chaps have in that set too?
Seemed like every time they shot they missed & jammed.

One Query & I will check the BRF again but I think they clarified you only get one 6 points for identifying your own troops NOT 6 pts for each spot.
Probably wont change the result but will make the score more satisfying.

[Setarius]

Barry,
You were right about the Points.
The reason I scored it that way was because two others scored it the same way and even though I read it right, I comprehended it as 6 per sighting.

I'll add an altered score card to the BB.

[flash]

Nice one Dale, good to see this played as a defensive game by the Bulldogs, and seemingly on the Italian front, think that made it really hard on your chaps to get a win but they did their duty in a steadfast manner and with flying a new type so bravo to them

Note that the VP's were recently clarified by Peter so depends which version you took your notes from or when you played the game. Uncle will be along to straighten things up where needed

Uncle says:

We'll have to give the Huns that innings but you did your best and that's all that can be asked of you - the new type will take a bit of getting used to but I'm sure that now you have a feel for it things will improve.
We can at least celebrate Kilpatricks eighth victory in the mess tonight as I'm sure the Eagle chaps will celebrate theirs.
Ltn Leffers will get his silver pilots badge as a result of his victory .

Germans
Friendly positions 4---6pts
Enemy Shot Down 1-- 4pts
Total 10 points

Entente
Enemy Shot Down 1--4 Points
Forced to Leave 1--- 1
Total 5 points

Corrected point score
Entente 5 points
Central Powers 10 points

CP Victory

[mikeemagnus]

Well, well Dale, that was a tough call for your Bulldogs. Good to see someone playing the mission the other way around though, with you on the defensive. Jammed guns galore! That too was tough. Under the circumstances the result was a very understandable one.

[Stumptonian]

Great effort, Dale.
I read it on my phone while travelling and wanted to do it 'full service' on my laptop at home.
The gun jams are killer - you should try the optional rule where a single barrel can still be utilized as a "B".
When there are as many jams as you drew it really gets to be a PITA.

As Uncle mentioned, it is an interesting twist to see the mission as a defensive game.
I wish I had more time to do alternate versions on some of the missions.
Perhaps after retirement ....

REP on the way!

[Setarius]

Thanks guys for the comments and rep.
When missions are written giving us the option to either be on the offense or defense, I still fly the Mutts as my primary group.
I enjoy flying both sides of a mission if given the chance.

[Vagabond]

Interesting to see how difficult the Spad was to fly. You would expect speed to be good, but obviously causes complications.
Nice game report and it would have been close without the 'finding them' catch.

[Teaticket]

Good effort Dale. Getting used to flying SPAD XIIIs takes time. Very different tactics than a Camel. And the gun jams...so aggravating! Just when you get in a great position, click, silence.

Good to see someone else fly defense.