OTT DYM Mission 10 - Flash's Double Jeopardy - 12th March 1916

[flash]

"Well there it is chaps", said Uncle, "The Hun has put a sausage up and is giving our chaps a hard time of it with his arty so I've had HQ on the blower asking us what we're going to do about it". He looked about the room.
"Well we're going to shoot it down, that's what" he continued. As the heads of the assembled men turned he raised a hand to quell them "I know, I know, the bally things are hard to put down but as luck would have it I was talking with my opposite number in an RNAS squadron whilst in town the other day and his mob have received some sort of incendiary round that they've been trying out with some success." He went on "Smoke tracers they call them. You see with our standard ammo, unless we are extremely lucky, all we can do is punch a few hundred holes in a gas bag and deflate the thing. With these incendiary rounds we might be able set the escaping gas on fire and improve our odds of burning one down, at least that's the idea."
"Anyway, I've had a word with him and he's agreed to send us a box to mix in with our standard stuff, there won't be enough for everyone so I'll issue it to one of you, they should be along this afternoon so after this get your kit ready and I'll notify the armourers."
"Right, I think Paine will have the specials, Gaither will be your escort, he's a decent shot, and Keye, we have our own sausage going up today so I want you to stooge about nearby in case the Hun has a go at it and provide cover for the others if they need it."
"One more thing, we are forbidden to use this ammunition against other aircraft or personnel so make sure you don't, and only fit the drums just before you attack - you'll have a spare drum of ordinary and an escort anyway.
I will issue each pilot with a written order authorising it's use just in case anyone goes down behind the lines and they try to make something of it."

Having left 2Lt Alan Keye behind them to act as sentinel on their balloon 2Lt Alistair Gaither in the DH2 with the cdl tail escorts 2Lt Cameron Paine towards their target.


Specks off to their left turn out to be Obltn Johannes Achilles in his all cdl Fokker E.III escorted by Ltn Otto Hengl in his striped E.III on their way to perform similar duties in similar manner as they - having left their comrade Ltn Willi Kieckhäfer to protect their balloon.


Some miscommunication during the approach to the balloon has Paine turning in as Gaither continues ahead


The Eagles manage it better than their adversaries, keeping a tight formation. Kieckhäfer is nervous as his leader is not renowned as a lucky pilot and close proximity increase the feeling


The Germans swing into the attack Achilles unleashing his first incendiary laced burst but to little effect other than no further encouragement needed to speed the crew on their way overboard.


The British do the same, Gaither fires a burst but momentarily blocks Paine's line of sight - rounds crackle about him from a ground based machine gun, unseen Kieckhäfer approaches from the far side as the attack begins.




Paine gets a sighter as he overlaps Gaither - the fizzing specials alarming as they pass close inboard


Achilles' luck begins to turn as he starts a fire on the Englander balloon with his second burst.


Hengl finally gets a shot as rounds from below snap past his cockpit


Gaither meets Kieckhäfer head on as they pass the balloon in opposite directions - guns roar and stop abruptly (Gaither's empty) but not before the young German is wounded. Meantime Paine pours in more specials.


As Keye chases them round the mulberry bush Achilles Immels and fires back into the balloon


The wounded German flies off losing height, guns jammed. Paine empties his first drum of specials as he hooks back into the balloon and Gaither has reloaded his empty gun


Achilles sends some rounds Keye's way but no harm done


Back around the mulberry bush, Keye immels and gets in behind Achilles - his shot damaging the German leader's engine. Ground fire is on target too but the gun jams immediately. Is his luck about to desert him ? Hard to tell.


Hengl scores at close range... as does Achilles .... The resultant explosion of the British balloon wreaks havoc on Hengl's machine and rocks both the others




The Bulldogs line up for a second run, meanwhile, for reasons best known to himself Kieckhäfer heads for the barn




As he brings his machine back under control Keye takes a shot from Hengl but gets another hit on Achilles machine himself


He forces the attack scoring again with his last rounds as the drum runs dry


Gaither jams his gun in his next burst; ...


Paine closes in, firing all the way until his gun empties




Then Woomf !


Keye frantically reloads as his prey dives away; Paine, his job done, reloads with a standard drum, Gaither looks for a victim... in the background Hengl limps away in his Bag blasted eindecker


Gaither sideslips in but fluffs the last shot in his drum.


Keye dives down on the eindecker


He opens up but his gun jams almost immediately as Paine finishes the job from the other side but he takes enough damage to force him to limp home with a dodgy motor


Butchers Tally:

Eagles:
Obltn Johannes Achilles: (Plain E.III) SD-FLM-FT-1 kill (Balloon)
Rolled 5 -2FLM = 3 - Injured Skip 1D6 scenarios. Rolled 4 = Skip 4

Ltn Otto Hengl: (Striped E.III) FRTB-D 0 kills

Ltn Willi Kieckhäfer: (Green E.III) RTB/WIA 0 kills
Rolled 6 -1WIA +1RTB = 6 - Injured Skip 1D3 scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1

Balloon destroyed.


Bulldogs:

2Lt Cameron Paine: (All PC.10 DH.2) RTB 2 Kills

2Lt Alistair Gaither: (cdl Tail DH.2) RTB 0 kills

2Lt Alan Keye: (All cdl DH.2) RTB 0 kills

Balloon destroyed


Victory points:
Eagles:
10 points for Destroying Balloon
1 point for any enemy Fighter forced to return to base
Total 11

Bulldogs:
10 points for Destroying Balloon
2 points for enemy Fighter Shot Down
1 point for enemy Fighter forced to return to base
total 13

Bulldog victory.


Nice one Baz
Used my altitude rules, played 3 turn reloads on Lewis gun (anything else is lightweight), played in the AAMG with alt range rules when I had a clear shot - went for same method as solo AAA - hits on special damage on A deck, draw B for damage. Suitably ineffectual with one gun but multiple emplacements would be different.
Only thing that didn't work well for me was the gasbag guards were poorly positioned to stand any hope of an intercept before the attackers commenced their attack.
Messed up with the Green E.III - should not have FRTB but played over a couple of periods so he bugged out. Wouldn't have stopped the balloons destruction.

[Stumptonian]

And the BBQ continues.

The incendiaries definitely make a difference in this scenario.
(see Biggles downunder's post for a version without)

A narrow victory for your Bulldogs with the added loss of an Eindecker.
But a victory none the less.


I think your AAMG rule worked, although I think the defenders need more than one to really have an effect.
[That had me confused when I saw the Boom Card and no mention of it]

I also like your use of the explosion counters stacked on the balloons - simple, but very effective.
Juan knows there was a bit of a bang on the banger!

[mikeemagnus]

And the BBQ continues.

The incendiaries definitely make a difference in this scenario.
(see Biggles downunder's post for a version without)

A narrow victory for your Bulldogs with the added loss of an Eindecker.
But a victory none the less.


I think your AAMG rule worked, although I think the defenders need more than one to really have an effect.
[That had me confused when I saw the Boom Card and no mention of it]

I also like your use of the explosion counters stacked on the balloons - simple, but very effective.
Juan knows there was a bit of a bang on the banger!

What Pete said Nice one Dave and a good result

[camel crew]

really enjoy reading these AARs, especially the mission brief intros

[Vagabond]

Well done Dave, it was a bit of a pyrrhic victory but a victory none the less arrr Jim lad, but perhaps what you would expect from an even handed set up. Shiver me timbers and give me a tot of rum for me old bones.
The incendiaries do seem to make a big difference, blast their eyes, and well done for remembering the 3 phase reloading, I usually forget part way through the game, damn the rheumatism in me old wooden leg.

That was as well flown as me old pretty Polly when she had tail feathers, and the cannon fire was as straight as my wake in the Trade Winds arrrr and as fair a sight for sore eyes as a chest full of pieces of eight.

Ok I've got that off my chest, it'll not happen again.

[Vagabond]

Well done Dave, it was a bit of a pyrrhic victory but a victory none the less arrr Jim lad, but perhaps what you would expect from an even handed set up. Shiver me timbers and give me a tot of rum for me old bones.
The incendiaries do seem to make a big difference, blast their eyes, and well done for remembering the 3 phase reloading, I usually forget part way through the game, damn the rheumatism in me old wooden leg.

That was as well flown as me old pretty Polly when she had tail feathers, and the cannon fire was as straight as my wake in the Trade Winds arrrr and as fair a sight for sore eyes as a chest full of pieces of eight.

Ok I've got that off my chest, it'll not happen again.

[Vagabond]

Arrr the double tap strikes again, it's like getting the black spot, arrr so it is. Arrrr for good measure. My Rep guns are loaded wi damp powder and produce no more than a Flash in the pan.

Pretty Polly, Pretty Poly, on no I can't take much more of this!!!!!

[flash]

Thanks chaps, stick a fork in them, they're done !

....I think your AAMG rule worked, although I think the defenders need more than one to really have an effect.
[That had me confused when I saw the Boom Card and no mention of it]...

Thought I'd try something that I know works, is easy to remember and follows the KISS principle we all know and love Pete. It will mean that deploying several air defence guns as they probably did will not make strafing runs as suicidal as they currently are.

... and well done for remembering the 3 phase reloading, I usually forget part way through the game...

It should be one turn reloads for the Lewis in this game according to the scenario but why make it easy for the sake of fairness ?!

really enjoy reading these AARs, especially the mission brief intros

Glad you enjoy them Iain, there are plenty to choose from after several years of campaigning.
If you've not looked into it already have a peek at all the previous campaigns sticky thread.
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...p-Rule-Threads

[Future Pilot]

Nice AAR!REP!

[zenlizard]

Another double roast. It really does seem to be a well-balanced scenario, with even the winning side barely eking out a victory.

And in this case, well-flown enough to be rep-worthy.

[gully_raker]

Well done Dave, it was a bit of a pyrrhic victory but a victory none the less arrr Jim lad, but perhaps what you would expect from an even handed set up. Shiver me timbers and give me a tot of rum for me old bones.
The incendiaries do seem to make a big difference, blast their eyes, and well done for remembering the 3 phase reloading, I usually forget part way through the game, damn the rheumatism in me old wooden leg.

That was as well flown as me old pretty Polly when she had tail feathers, and the cannon fire was as straight as my wake in the Trade Winds arrrr and as fair a sight for sore eyes as a chest full of pieces of eight.

Ok I've got that off my chest, it'll not happen again.

Methinks he has gotten his Forums confused!
Surely Shirley this should be in the Sails Forum!

[gully_raker]

Well done Dave (well both Balloons were definitely "Well Done"!)

I thought having both sides do the same job might be interesting & how the luck of the card draws might affect the outcome.
As Wellington said "A near run thing" but a Victory for our Doggies anyway.
Have some rep for a good AAR & result.