AAR - a variation on OTT-DYM Scenario 2 Coming and Going (or at least halfway)
The following after action report is based on a test for converting the OTT-DYM ‘Coming and Going’ scenario by Teaticket.
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...g-by-Teaticket
This is scenario 2 in the ‘Daring Young Men’ campaign that started earlier this year. The scenario consists of two parts – the first is to intercept and destroy an aircraft returning from a bombing attack and the second part is to destroy a recon place sent to assess the bomb damage. You get a victory if you destroy both the bomber and the recon plane; a draw if you only destroy one of the two and a ‘loss’ if you destroy neither. The recon plane but not the bomber (something I missed by not reading carefully) has an escort scout.
I’m not a part of the campaign for several reasons including (1) I just got started in WoG in mid-January and (2) I don’t have the right kit. Given I had limited kit, it seemed that a late 1917 variant set on the Italian vs Austro-Hungarian front was a reasonable choice. This AAR is based on a test game for converting the scenario from early 1916 in France to late 1917 in Italy. I hadn’t intended this game for an AAR but the results were kind of nifty so despite (1) getting the scenario wrong and (2) recreating the photos after the game I decided to post an AAR.
The setup:
I had two Austrian Albatros D.IIIs sent to intercept an Italian Caproni Ca.3 bomber escorted by a Nieuport 17 scout. [See – I didn’t read the scenario carefully. There should have bee no escort. The effect of that error will seen in shortly.] I played one of the Albatrosse. All of the other aircraft manoeuvres were determined using flash’s D8 AI charts.
I had decided that the AAR would be a letter home from the pilot of my aircraft – thinking that would be somewhat original. However, zenlizard (Sam) has beaten me to that and done it one better by doing the letters in hand-written German! Okay, rather than claim I thought of doing this before seeing that – and not being believed, I will just go whole hog the other way and claim I stole if from zenlizard.
History: my pilot is Leutnant Wolfgang von Augustin a 3rd cousin, one removed, of the Frieharr von Augustin. His father, Franz, is nonetheless well off. Wolfgang has recently been posted to Flik 55J-bis (see the letter for more on that). Wolfgang, coming from an aristocratic family is finding it a slight challenge to having to treat fellow pilots, who are not from the upper class, as equals. This mission turned out to be a lesson in that regard.
“Dear Father,
“It has been some time since I have last written to you. My tardiness will be explained in this letter. No doubt, my dear sister [editor: Maria], who has recently visited me will have already informed you that I am in a hospital and doing quite well. In no time I should be able to do my duty for the Emperor.
“About one month ago I was posted to a new flieger kompanie (Flik), 55J-bis. This is an experimental Flik which has been attached to the well-respected Flik 55J. It’s high command’s idea that by attaching a Flik of new pilots to an experienced Flik, such as 55J, that the latter would help mentor the new pilots – such your son and his comrades – to become proficient more quickly. Our commander is Hauptmann Michael von Taaffe. He was hand picked by the commander of Flik 55J, Hauptmann Josef von Maier.
[Editor’s note: von Maier was notable in creating a sense of comradeship between the officers and the NCO. One can infer from Wolfgang’s letter that Michael von Taaffe may have been chosen for having a similar attitude.]
“After a couple of weeks training with the 55J pilots, I was sent on my first combat mission. My wingman was a non-commissioned officer, Feldwebel Günter Neumann. His father is a professor at some technical institute or other. I had may doubts about this but the Hauptmann was dismissive of these doubts – ‘Günter has flown a few combat missions and has shown some proficiency. This will be your first. You may learn a lot from him, Wolfgang!’ How prophetic those words were, father.
“Our mission was to intercept and destroy an enemy bomber that was reported to be returning from an attack on one of our supply bases. So, it was that Günter and I were flying side by side in our Albatrosse when we spotted an enemy bomber – a Caproni, which had apparently picked up a Nieuport as an escort.
“We were both to the right of the Caproni. As I was on flying on the left, I veered to the left to ensure that the Caproni would not escape in that direction. It was then that I remembered what a German pilot had said about his first encounter with an enemy plane. I can’t remember the pilot’s name but he recalled that enemy observer, with his rectangular goggles, resembled a great, ferocious insect bent on his destruction. These thought gripped my mind so much that I flew past the Caproni. It was a few moments before I came to my senses to see that Günter was flying straight at the Caproni and that bullets were flying in both directions.
[Editor’s note: most likely Wolfgang froze on his first encounter with the enemy. The insect story is real and found in Ernst Udet's memoir. Gaming note: I misjudged and ended up well out of position.]
Photo 1: Wolfgang is out of position while Günter and the Caproni exchange fire.
“Ashamed that I had let my comrade down, I turned my machine around to try and help him I could see that he had passed the Caproni and was now firing on the escorting Nieuport but taking fire from both the Nieuport and the rear gunner of the Caproni.
Photo 2: Wolfgang turns his aeroplane around while Günter mixes it up with both enemy machines.
“Both Günter and the Nieuport executed a very elegant manoeuvre – which they call an Immelmann turn after the famous German ace. However, Günter had the better of the deal as he ended up behind the Caproni which was now in flames. The Nieuport found itself facing the wrong way. I determined to aid Günter by intercepting the Nieuport.
[Editor’s note: In the exchange of fire between the Caproni and Günter’s Albatros the Caproni was set on fire while the rear machine gun jammed. Bad luck indeed!]
Photo 3: Günter on the tail of the Caproni
Photo 4: Wolfgang and the Nieuport exchange some ineffectual fire
“Somehow I managed to elude the enemy escort scout and decided to ignore the Nieuport and chase after Günter and the Caproni as I could see the bullets were tearing apart both Günter’s machine and the Caproni. The Caproni was ablaze, one engine had stopped and it appeared that the rear gunner was hit, but I could also see that Günter was in trouble. His machine was gliding down towards the earth.
[Editor’s note: in the last few exchanges of bullets the Caproni took machine and smoke hits as well as the rear gunner being wounded and further damage from the raging fire. Günter’s Albatros went down through an accumulation of hits.]
“It was at this point in time that I lost consciousness and woke up in the hospital. Apparently the Nieuport had got a lucky shot and hit my fuel line and causing my aeroplane to explode. They are not sure how I survived but I escaped with only minor injuries.
Photo 5: The last turn
Photo 6: Three machines down in one turn.
[Editor’s note: Wolfgang and the Nieuport were on slightly converging lines so that the Nieuport was slightly gaining each phase. On the last turn the Nieuport was just in range of Wolfgang and got a lucky hit with the explosion card.]
“I’m happy to say that Günter survived too and with injuries no more serious than my own. By a miracle only one of the Caproni crew members was killed – the front observer. The two pilots both escaped back to their own lines but we captured the rear observer who has rather more serious injuries than either Günter or me. Günter, apparently at the insistence of the Hauptmann, was put in the same ward as mine.
“Yesterday, the Hauptmann visited us. At first he was very cross at us for losing two of the Emperor’s aeroplanes but he quickly broke into a big smile and told us that Günter would be receiving the Silver Medal for Bravery, 2nd Class. He gave me a wink and whispered, ‘did I not tell you that you could learn much from Günter, young Wolfgang?’
“So it is that your son wakes up a wiser person – both grateful for having survived a tremendous crash and for having good comrades in arms. If it’s possible could you have some of the fine champagne from our cellar sent here to celebrate Günter’s award. We have some fine prosecco, but I think the occasion demands champagne.
“Your loving and dutiful son, Wolfgang”
Some final comments:
1) You might have noted that the fighting all takes place on the same spot. I was playing with one matt and kept shifting the planes so that the total distance travelled would be the equivalent of two matts.
2) It was a very enjoyable scenario and I look forward to playing the full scenario properly. Thanks, Teaticket.
3) Having gone through the trouble of researching Austrian aristocratic families and social issues in the Empire during the WWI, I think I will keep both Wolfgang and Günter flying in Flik 55J-bis with Hauptmann Michael von Taaffe.
Paul
Reply With Quote
Very enjoyable 
Originally Posted by zenlizard
) scheduled to any time now. Industrial production has ramped up but not so sure the Ministry of Finance is so thrilled. 
Bookmarks