12 July 1916, both sides are pushing hard in different sectors of the front. The Germans are making gains at Verdun while the British make progress in Trones Wood. Both the Entente and Central Powers Army HQs are always hungry for information of and from behind the enemy lines.
As usual they ask for more reconnaissance photos.
As usual, the Bulldogs and Eagles are put to the task.
To avoid attention only two planes are sent on the mission. One with the cameras and all the plates it can carry and one tandem escort.
Cameras were loaded and the machine guns removed as a maximum allotment of plates were needed for this mission.
Detailed instructions on additional photograph locations were decided at the last minute.
Over the target area there were no enemy planes so the photographs were all taken without interruption.
The journey home was usually the most dangerous part of the mission. Enemy scouts were sure to be alerted and sent up to try to stop you from bringing your precious cargo home.
The Mission
The reconnaissance planes have flown over their targets and taken their precious photographs. On their way home they are hounded by enemy scouts in a life or death struggle. Friendly scouts on patrol spot the harried tandems and do what they can to help their brothers home.
Forces
Friendly forces are made up of a pair of tandems and a pair of single seat scouts.
Enemy forces contain 3 single seat scouts.
All planes are your choice to make it interesting.
Set up
2 ARES mats joined along the long sides. The long free edge most distant from the tandems is your friendly edge.
Friendly forces
Two tandems start in one corner and are aimed to your friendly edge 1 ˝ ruler from the opposite corner. The first one with its rear base touching its corners to the mat edge. This plane is the photo mission plane and is unarmed. The 2nd tandem starts ˝ ruler directly in front of the first. It is escorting the mission plane.
The 2 friendly scouts start on the opposite side at the meeting of the mats as shown. One is touching the mat edge and the center line, aimed as you wish. The 2nd scout is ˝ ruler to its side.
Enemy forces
One enemy scout starts at the closest corner of the same mat as the friendly tandems. It is aimed to forward of the lead tandem on an intercept course.
Two enemy scouts start at the same long mat edge as the tandems. One has its rear corner 1 ruler from the corner. The 2nd positioned to its right as shown. They are also aimed on course to intercept the mission plane .
Special rules
You will fly one of the two friendly scouts, all other planes are AI flown.
The friendly tandems have already been attacked before this scenario begins. Roll one d6 for each.
1-3 put 1 hit on that tandem, 4-5 puts 2 hits while a 6 puts 3 hits!
The mission plane is so heavily loaded with cameras and photographic plates that it must plot a stall every turn. Replace any straight/sideslip randomly if no stall is rolled but be sure not to have 2 consecutive stalls.
The mission plane will fly to the 12/1 direction towards the far friendly edge near the opposite corner. It must exit the friendly mat edge anywhere within 3 rulers distance from the far corner.
Be the I in AI so it doesn’t exit elsewhere. (if it gets that far!)
The escorting tandem will do what it must to fight off the attackers. You must choose which enemy is the greatest threat to the mission plane as its target that it can reasonably engage, otherwise it will do what it can to engage the enemy.
The single enemy scout will initially go after the mission plane.
The closest of the enemy pair may engage your friendly scouts. Before the turn 1 plot, roll a d6, on a 1 - 3 it will on go after your scouts.
If the enemy scouts are fired upon from behind their rear base edge they will fight to preserve their lives engaging your scouts but will try to get the mission plane when not seriously threatened.
Victory conditions,
It all comes down to the survival of the mission plane and its photos. You only can claim a win if the photos make it home.
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