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Thread: OTTDYM -Mission 12 - "Ending with a Bang" - 27th March 1916 by Tikkifriend

  1. #1

    Default OTTDYM -Mission 12 - "Ending with a Bang" - 27th March 1916 by Tikkifriend

    RFC
    Lt P Rhodes (p) Harry Jones (bullet checker) (o) Sopwith 7
    2Lt C Wagner (p) Toby Cannon (o) Sopworth 8.
    2Lt J Smith (p) Gordon Houseman (o) Be2 Photo

    Eagles
    Oblt P Degenhardt (strong const) (p) Eric Camman (o) Roland (blue)
    Lt Hans Wiese (p) Lt Ernst Vogel (o) Roland (purple)
    Lt Jann Bitten (p) S Grasse (o) Aviatik Photo

    It took a good 30 mins for the dust, debris and smoke to settle after the charges were detonated. The shock wave had left the PBI on both sides dazed and confused. British troops had occupied some of the craters ,but HQ was uncertain as to the remaining bomb sites hence the call for a photo recon. A Be2 was seconded from another Squadron for the photo part of the mission. The Bulldogs got to escort them but in 2 seaters as all the scouts were deployed on other missions.

    Rhodes and Jones lead the flight. Below looked a complete mess, Water was filling the craters near the Scorff river and troops from both sides seemed to be moving up jostling for position on the new NML. A coloured flare went up from the Allied lines, arcing over the Germans front.
    Rhodes feared the worst. A flare like that only meant one thing. Artillery.



    Scanning the German lines, he saw another go up. Rhodes banked the plane towards the German lines, the second Sopwith following to port hoping to catch the enemy planes by surprise . The BE2 trundled behind them by some ½ mile.

    Both sides accelerated towards each other Rhodes had a Roland in his sights when he heard the unmistakable sound of an approaching shell Suddenly there were flames licking from Rhodes target (4+fire) , and an orange flash as a second shell hit the other German plane square in the cockpit. (EXP)
    Rhodes poured more misery on the burning plane the bullets pounding home. Harry Jones the observer for the mission continued the punishment hitting the already damaged fuel tank igniting a second fire.

    The second Sopwith was above and ahead of the Aviatik they both exchanged a short burst before the German's gun jammed. Flying on Grasse got the first crater in his camera's eyepiece. Meanwhile Smith guided the BE2 towards the first of the craters Houseman happily clicking away.

    A shell from a second salvo straddled both the Strutters. Rhodes' plane taking the brunt of damage as shrapnel ripped through the wings hitting the engine block and effectively putting an end to his part in protecting the BE2

    Wiese struggled with burning crate. With two fires to contend with his only hope was to head for the safety of German soil but Wagner had turned sharp to port and caught the Roland with a passing shot, (1+RRD). Weise replied with a dull series of clicks from his gun. Vogel the obs was more fortunate firing as the planes passed each other (1,0) but it was a little too late, Wiese screamed as the flames engulfed the stricken plane, the wings disintegrated and the Roland plummeted to the ground.


    The Aviatik and BE2 circled the craters one following the other in a bizarre dance. Rhodes also by this time had left the area and Wagner was the only hunter left in the skies. Shells continued to rain down on the new battlefront lines , fortunately missing the planes above .

    Bitten skilfully manoeuvred the German 2 seater over another target. Wagner closed in on the German, who flipped right and passed the Strutter heading for another section to be photographed.

    Wagner was forced to haul the Sopwith round in as tight a turn as he could make in order to line up for another run at the Aviatik (turn 4)
    But it was Houseman in the BE2 that did for the German. A long burst at short range hit the engine, destroying several cylinders as they passed through the nose section
    (2,2+Eng)

    Smith passed over the last crater and turned for home. The lone German plane, his mission now impossible, also looked to escape. Wagner, however, was keen to bag a limping Hun but the distance between them was too great and the Aviatik slipped away.

    Butcher's Tally

    RFC

    Lt P Rhodes (p) Sopwith 7 - FRTB-E 0 kills
    Harry Jones (bullet checker) (o) - FRTB-E 0 kills



    2Lt C Wagner (p) Sopworth 8 - RTB 1 Kill
    Toby Cannon (o) - RTB 0 kills



    2Lt John Smith (p) BE2 Photo - RTB 0 kills
    AM3 Gordon Houseman (o) RTB 0 kills 6 photos



    Eagles

    Oblt P Degenhardt (strong const) (p) Roland (blue) SD-EXP- ET 0 kills (due to artillery fire).
    Rolled 4 -3EXP = 1 KIA

    Eric Camman (o) SD-EXP- ET 0 kills
    Rolled 11 -3EXP = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 3 = Skip 1
    E&E Rolled 9 -1EXP -1BEL -1WIC = 6 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 2 = skip 1 Total Skips 1 (Lucky bugger !)



    Lt Hans Wiese (p) Roland (purple) SD-FLM- ET 0 kills
    Rolled 10-2FLM = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
    E&E Rolled 10 -1FLM -1BEL -1WIC = 7 Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario. Total Skips 1

    Lt Ernst Vogel (o) SD-FLM- ET 0 kills
    Rolled 3 -2FLM = 1 KIA



    Lt Jann Bitten (p) Aviatik Photo FRTB-E 0 kills
    S Grasse (o) FRTB-E 0 kills. 5 photos


    Adendum
    Mike I didn't use your your AA and ground fire part of the scenario as I figured rightly or not that the troops would be to dazed to bother with airplanes as the enemy were swarming the craters. Instead I substituted the risk of being hit by ground artillery shells, which as it turned out was pretty lethal. The whole scenario was shall we say short and sweet , only 6 turns but somewhat bloody in its outcome.

    Dave if you could do the honours for the fallen pilots and planes i would be grateful. Due to site problems the only photos I could upload are the end few but hey ho that's the internet for you.
    Last edited by flash; 02-12-2020 at 02:49. Reason: Title adjust


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

  2. #2

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    What a pity you couldn't get your pics posted Paul, sounded like you had a grand time with this game.

    Uncle says:


    Well done chaps - you got the job done and inflicted some pain on the Hun as well, though it looks like we came out fairly even on the photo front.
    Our allies have decided to share some gongs with the chaps for their efforts.

    Lt Paul Rhodes is awarded the Croix de Guerre étoile de argent for services to the Republic

    AM1 Harry Jones is awarded the Croix de Guerre étoile de argent for services to the Republic

    2Lt Charles 'Fritz' Wagner is awarded the Croix de Guerre étoile de vermeil for services to the Republic

    AM2 Toby Cannon is awarded the Croix de Guerre étoile de argent for services to the Republic

    And it appears they are not alone on the decoration front:
    Ltn Hans Wiese is awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class for services to the Kaiser

    Onkel was confused by what went on with the Eagles as Oblt Degenhardt was still on the sick list and should not have been flying - he paid the ultimate price for ignoring Herr Doktor's orders.
    Ltn's Hans Dorrf und Frank Clauss, a tandem crew, have understandably protested they were not include on this mission. Maybe a little attention to the rostered pilots & crew will be needed in the future so Onkel is not having to add new crews for single missions when others are available
    Last edited by flash; 02-12-2020 at 03:01.

    "He is wise who watches"

  3. #3

    Default



    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

  4. #4

    Default

    Paul, it's a shame you couldn't post the pictures but I enjoyed your commentary and it sounds like you had a good game. I've never thought about artillery for damaging planes but I know it happened because Biggles talked about it in one of his tales, so it must be true.

  5. #5

    Default

    Glad you could finish the campaign. Pity about the pictures. At least you had a rip-roaring game even if the ripping part was due to artillery shells.

  6. #6

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    Artillery fire-yes, that did occasionally happen, mostly among the spotters. Does stand to reason, what with some many things flying through such a small amount of airspace at the same time.

  7. #7

    Thumbs up

    Well you managed to put a different spin on the mission Paul so that made it interesting.
    Looked like you had photo problems as well but you managed to avoid the double posts.
    Have some Rep to celebrate a successful conclusion to the campaign!

  8. #8

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    Let's hope the site gets sorted for the next round of AARs


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

  9. #9

    Default

    Too right ! - Uncle has done Paul, hope you can add your pics at some point.

    "He is wise who watches"

  10. #10

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    Well done Paul. Mission completed with excellent results. Tough the eagles losing two men killed though RIP guys. Your interpretation of ground fire, coming from artillery shells, was just fine by me

    Pity about the pics from the action but the tale was well told



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