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Thread: AAR: Italian Front - OTT CYM Mission 1 Back to Front

  1. #1

    Default AAR: Italian Front - OTT CYM Mission 1 Back to Front

    OTT CYM Mission 1 – Back to Front
    The Italian Front – 25 March 2018

    The original scenario, by flash, is set on the Western Front, 27 March 1916, and can be read here:
    https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...-1916-by-flash

    Prelude

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    Hauptmann Michael von Taaffe, commander of Flik 55J bis, impatiently paced up and down in front of his office as waited for his fledglings to return from their leave. While the Germans had withdrawn most of their troops for their offensive in France, they still had a predominantly German reconnaissance that was co-located with the scouts of Flik 55J bis. The battle had been relatively quiet as both sides recuperated from Caporetto. Consequently the High Command had chosen to send the pilots of Flik 55J bis on a tour to boost the flagging home morale. The public taken to the Flik’s young, aristocratic ace, Leutnant Wolfgang von Augustin. The newspapers had started to call Wolfgang the Austrian Flying Baron. Michael was displeased with this public attention. He worried that it would further the deteriorating mental state of the young pilot. It had been a brutal Autumn and Winter and the unit had suffered five killed airmen out of eighteen. Every other pilot had been wounded at some time during those months.

    Soon enough the lorry arrived with the non-commissioned Flik pilots – Sandy, Günter, Pav and Karoly. Sandy had recently been promoted to Offiziersstellvertreter which in Michael’s view as long over due. The lorry was followed by the personal automobiles of Ryan von Taaffe, Michale’s cousin, and, last of all, Wolfgang. The pilots were glad to see Michael and thronged around each telling their story of being feted my Viennese high society – except for Wolfgang was seen heading into this quarters with a bottle of brandy in hand.

    Michael looked quizzically at Sandy.

    “Except for duties he’s been like this the whole time.”

    The next morning the pilots were gathered for Michael’s briefing.

    “Welcome back, gentleman. Somethings have changed at the front, so today’s mission will be an easy one. Patrols over the front lines – well above rifle and AAMG fire – just to familiarize yourself with any changes. Ryan, you and Karoly will take the southern sector; Sandy you will take the rest to the northern sector.”

    Michael looked to see if Wolfgang would protest the assignment of a junior rank to command the patrol, but the young pilot simply gazed impassively – looking at no one in particular. Once they were in their flying machines, the Wolfgang’s demeanour changed. Michael thought it was almost feral.

    “Watch Wolfgang carefully”, he whispered to Sandy.

    The Mission

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    Postlude

    The feldwebel poked his head into Michael’s office, “They’re back, sir.”

    Michael ambled out to watch the return of the Flik….Ryan, Karoly, then Sandy. As Sandy climbed out of his aeroplane, Michael could see he was hurt and went over to him.

    “Just a scratch, Michael.” Sandy and Michael had a first name familiarity ever since Michael was a leutnant observer and Sandy his pilot.

    Then, Günter, Pav and Wolfgang. All six. Michael breathed a sigh of relief. Wolfgang was the last. After jumping down from the Oeffag, he threw his helmet and googles at this orderly and stormed off to his quarters.

    Michael frowned and looked at the others for an explanation.

    “Didn’t get his 10th kill, I expect, sir”, answered Günter to the unspoken question.

    Michael would need a quiet chat with Wolfgang, but not just yet. Time enough to let him cool off.

    P.S. A couple of weeks later Vlad was on a train heading to the Ukraine – under escort mind you.

    *******************************************************************************
    Score:
    Central Powers = 1 kill + 2 FRTB = 3 + 2 X 2 = 7 points
    Entente = 1 FRTB = 2 points
    Central Power victory

    Last edited by ShadowDragon; 04-21-2020 at 10:21.

  2. #2

    Default

    Butcher’s Bill


    Central Powers Aircrew

    Oeffag 153
    Pilot: OStv Alexandr Svoboda / FRTB-W / WIA / 0 kills
    C&W: Roll 9 – 1 WIA + 1 Safe = 9; All well when you land well

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    Oeffag 153
    Pilot: ZgFhr Pablo Pavlich / RTB / - / 0 kills

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    Oeffag 153
    Pilot: Ltn Wolfgang von Augustin / RTB / - / 0 kills

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    Oeffag 153
    Pilot: Fw Günter Neumann / RTB / - / 1 kill

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    Entente Aircrew

    SPAD XIII
    Pilot: Lt Phillipe ‘Boom-Boom’ Dumoulin / RTB / - / 0 kills

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    SPAD XIII
    Pilot: Lt Vladimir Chekhov / SB / - / 0 kills
    C&W: Roll 8 – 3 EXP = 5; Injured, Roll 4 = Skip 2

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    SPAD XIII
    Pilot: 2/Lt Sam Magee / FRTB-E / - / 0 kills

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    SPAD XIII
    Pilot: Ten Giacomo dei Ferreti / FRTB-F / - / 0 kills

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  3. #3

    Default

    I have come to enjoy your 'take' on these AARs.
    The graphics are no longer buried in the mat and stand out.
    Reminds me of my younger days reading Enemy Ace and G.I Combat (among others)

  4. #4

    Default

    Great AAR!

    Excellent presentation.
    Voilà le soleil d'Austerlitz!

  5. #5

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stumptonian View Post
    I have come to enjoy your 'take' on these AARs.
    The graphics are no longer buried in the mat and stand out.
    Reminds me of my younger days reading Enemy Ace and G.I Combat (among others)
    Quote Originally Posted by Marechallannes View Post
    Great AAR!
    Excellent presentation.

    Thanks, Pete and Sven. I think I've finally hit on a style that works for me. I don't know if it was you or one of the other OTT-ers that mentioned the graphic book approach. I like it and I can see how I can remove even more clutter (e.g., I'm not sure I need name tags on every picture if I'm following an action of a couple of pilots. I've ditched the damage cards from the photos which I think is an improvement but maybe I can move the damage results off to a side bar. The blue text boxes replace the old text between pictures. I went and looked at some comic book examples for that.

    The storyline is evolving too. Wrapped around the comic book pictures is the dark story - sort of a cross between the movie Blue Max and the book Winged Victory and maybe a little bit setting up future missions post-WWI (e.g., Russian civil war and other regional conflicts). We will see when we get there.



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