27 July 1916
The Somme front.
There is a gap in the constant stream of orders from Headquarters, so Adler Commandant Obltn Bernhard Wienand has come up with a plan to keep his pilots occupied.
“Wir können dich nicht langweilen lassen ...“
< We cannot have you getting bored >
„Giesebrecht und Hübner, als unsere beiden besten Piloten, möchte ich, dass Sie den jungen Baumann nehmen und ihm zeigen, wie Sie die Dinge erledigen.“
< Giesebrecht and Huebner, as our top two pilots, I would like you to take young Baumann and show him how you get things done.>
“Jawohl. Wir werden. Ich werde die erste Lektion nehmen, und Hübner kann später folgen.“
< Yes. We will. I will take the first lesson and Hübner can follow later. >
And so we find Ltn Günther Giesebrecht in a plain Halberstadt D.II directing Ltn Burkhard Baumann who is flying a recent arrival to the Jasta, a similar Halberstadt which has been painted in a camouflage pattern of green and brown.
[Note: per the scenario set up a 3D6 roll of 15 places their entry at position No. 3]
[Note: a 1D6 roll of 3 determines the first Entente quarry will be a Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter. The lucky 3D6 roll of 16 puts the aircraft at position number 4]
[Note: a 1D6 roll of 3 for a second Entente aircraft determines that there will not be another aircraft this turn. 3 +1 for turn no =4 which is less than the required total of 6]
Giesebrecht has seen the French two-seater and looks across to Baumann to make sure he is aware of it.
He gives an apprehensive look, but with a ‘thumbs up’ to confirm he has also spotted their target.
The French crew does not appear to have seen the Halberstadts and gets right to business photographing the village below.
Giesebrecht waves at Baumann to move in closer.
Baumann looks to Giesebrecht for guidance.
Giesebrecht stabs the air sharply implying “Attack!”
Baumann is either confused or wary and drops his speed.
Giesebrecht narrowly avoids colliding with his student.
The Strutter pilot takes the initiative and fires at Baumann.
Tikka tikka tikka
Tikka tikka tikka
Baumann returns fire at the Strutter and does some damage!
Giesebrecht is pleased to see his pupil finally getting involved.
Out of sight from the Adler another aircraft is approaching from No Man’s Land.
[Note: 1D6 roll of 2 +4 for turn number =6; 3D6 determines position number 12]
[1D6 roll for the third Adler aircraft is 1, so not successful]
Lt Alan Wood pilots the BE.2c, with AM3 Frank Wilkinson in the observer seat.
Baumann carefully avoids colliding with the Frenchmen.
Da da da da
The French Observer fires his Lewis at Baumann, adding some more minor damage to the Halberstadt.
<Click>
The French have a second photo.
Huebner arrives;
[Note: 1D6 roll of 4 +5 for turn number. 3D6= Position 10 on the No Man’s Land mat]
Baumann gets back into position beside Giesebrecht and they proceed toward the Strutter.
The French observer gets his third photo, while the BE.2 approaches.
Da da da
Wilkinson fires the Lewis at Baumann, damaging the Halberstadt’s rudder controls.
Tikka tik…..
Baumann’s attempt at return fire jams his gun!
Giesebrecht takes command of the situation and fires at the BE.2c
Tikka tikka
He has wounded Wilkinson!
Seeing Baumann pounding on his jammed gun, Giesebrecht’s sniper skill takes care of the situation.
Tikka tikka tikkka
“Aaaarghh!”
Wood is also wounded!
The BE.2 will have to head for the barn.
Giesebrecht very nearly makes a rookie mistake, but he manages to avoid ramming the British aircraft.
While the Adler are occupied with the BE.2c the French Strutter leaves the area with three photos.
[Turn 8 means there is an automatic replacement aircraft.
1D6 roll of 3 indicates another 2-seater; 1D6=5: FE.2b 3D6 roll puts the Fee at position 7 on the Countryside mat]
The FE.2b is piloted by 2Lt Arthur Allison, with observer AM1 Patrick Francis.
Wood and Wilkinson, both wounded, manage to avoid Giesebrecht and head for their lines.
Allison and Francis can see some dark specs in the distance.
“Better get on with it, mate!”
Allison directs Francis to get his camera equipment ready.
Another BE.2c can be seen at the edge of No Man’s Land: American 2Lt Charles ‘Chuck’ Hall piloting observer AM3 William ‘Bill’ Holder.
[Automatic entry: 1D6 roll of 2 = 2-Seater 1D6 = 1 : another BE.2c 3D6 = 9 on the No Man’s Land mat]
Over in the FE.2b Francis takes his first photo.
Huebner heads toward the Fee while Giesebrecht goes back toward Baumann.
Tikka tikka
Huebner’s first shots hit nothing but air.
Baumann lines up the BE.2
Tikka tikka
“Ist das eine Flamme?”
Huebner takes another pass at the FE2.b
Tikka tikka
He has damaged the rudder this time.
Da da da
Holder fires his Lewis at Baumann.
More minor damage to the Halberstadt.
Huebner pulls his Halberstadt in a wide sideslip and fires at the Fee from close range.
Tikka tikka tikka
“Fire!” screams Francis from the Fee.
[And for the first time ever, in his 10th mission, Huebner can finally use his Bullet Checker skill!]
Tikka tikka
Bauman fires at the burning BE.2
The flames eat quickly through the doped linen.
Apparently, PC10 burns nicely as well …..
Ignoring the flames, Francis takes a second photo.
Huebner sticks with the Fee
Tikka tikka tikka
Tikka tikka
Baumann fires at the BE.2 causing some more damage to the fragile machine.
Tikka tikka tik…
Giesebrecht uses his sniper skill and probably wishes he had followed Huebner’s example and checked his ammunition.
But he has started another fire!
Tikka tikka tikka
Baumann fires what becomes the coup de grace ...
… and the BE.2c drops from the sky.
Baumann has his first kill!
Tikka tikka
Huebner stays on the tail of the flaming Fee and the smoke thickens.
The flames flare up …
… and the Fee goes down!
“Das ist Nummer 8!”
Huebner has his 8th kill.
[A 1D6 roll of 2 brings on another 2-Seater. 1D6=4: Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter. 3D6=14 (-12) = 2 on Countryside mat.]
[A 1D6 roll of 1 : 2-Seater 1D6= 4: Another Strutter. 3D6 of 17 (-12) = 5 on the Countryside mat.]
Pilot 2LT Douglas Winterbottom and observer AM3 Harry Bott arrive.
Wasting no time, Bott takes his first picture.
Da da da
The French Observer’s Lewis barks and Huebner’s Halberstadt takes a bit of damage.
The Adler face a quandary – which Strutter should they target?
Bott gets his second photo.
<Click>
The Frenchmen also take their second photo.
Tikka tikka
The French pilot hits Baumann.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht’s sniper skill hits the British Strutter hard.
Da da da da
The French Lewis fires again at Baumann but misses completely.
Tikka tika Da da da da
Giesebrecht and Bott exchange short bursts, both doing a bit of damage.
Smoke begins to stream from the Strutter.
< Click >
The French have their final photo.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht puts some solid hits into the smoking Strutter.
Da d…. “Damnit!”
Bott’s return fire has jammed his Lewis.
Tikka tikka
“Blast it!”
One of Giesebrecht’s bullets has nicked Winterbottom’s posterior.
Meanwhile Bott gets photo number three.
Tikka tikka tikka
Giesebrecht finishes of the Sopwith with close range fire.
And the Strutter streaks down from the sky.
Tikka tikka tikka tikka
The French Strutter and Baumann do some reciprocal shooting.
Luckily for the Frenchmen they were not planning anymore “virages à gauche” …
Da da da da
“Merde!”
No translation necessary ….
The Lewis has jammed up tight.
Huebner performs an Immelmann and heads toward the remaining Strutter.
The French crew sees that they are badly outnumbered.
“Sortons d'ici!”
< Let’s get out of here >
Moments later, Baumann has them in his sights.
Tikka tikka
BOOM!
And the Frenchmen’s day is done …
Giesebrecht dips his wing toward Baumann.
Baumann looks over and sees Giesebrecht salute him.
“Kein Anfänger mehr!”
Not a rookie anymore ….
A kill each for the veterans, and two for the ‘beginner’.
Drinks will be flowing tonight!
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
BE.2C “B” : SD FLM ET
Pilot: 2Lt Chuck Hall
C&W: 11 -2 FLM = 9: Okay
E&E: 8 -1 BEL -1 FLM = 6: In Hiding 1D2(4) = Skip 2
Total: Skip 2
Observer: AM3 Bill Holder
C&W: 8 -2 FLM = 6: Injured 1D3(4) = Skip 2
E&E: 8 -1 BEL -1 FLM -1 WIC = 5: In Hiding 1D2(2) = Skip 1
Total: Skip 2
FE.2b “B” SD FLM ET
Pilot: 2Lt Arthur Allison
C&W: 8 -2 FLM = 6: Injured 1D3(5) = Skip 3
E&E: 4 -1 BEL -1 FLM -1 WIC = 1: Captured : The war is over for this pilot.
Observer: AM1 Patrick Francis
C&W: 7 -2 FLM = 5: Injured 1D3(5) = Skip 3
E&E: 9 -1 BEL -1 FLM -1 WIC = 6: In Hiding 1D2(3) = Skip 1
Total: Skip 3
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter SD ET
Pilot: 2Lt Douglas Winterbottom
C&W: 8 -1 SD = 7: Injured 1D2(2) = Skip 1
E&E: 7 -1 BEL -1 WIC = 5: In Hiding 1D2(1) = Skip 1
Total: Skip 1
Observer: AM3 Harry Bott
C&W: 7 -1 SD = 6: Injured 1D3(1) = Skip 1
E&E: 6 -1 BEL -1 WIC = 4: Captured and Escaped 1D3(5) = Skip 3
Total: Skip 3
BE2.c “A” FRTB-W
Pilot: Lt Alan Wood
C&W: 5 +1 RTB -1 WIA = 5: Injured 1D3(5) = Skip 3
Observer: AM3 Frank Wilkinson
C&W: 7 +1 RTB -1 WIA = 7: Injured 1D2(2) = Skip 1
French Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter No. 2 EXP ET
s/Lt Constant Portron: (P2)
C&W: 9 -3 EXP = 6: Injured 1D3(3) = Skip 2
E&E: 7 -1 BEL -1 EXP -1 WIC = 4: Captured and Escaped 1D3(3) = Skip 2
Total: Skip 2
Cpl François Raymond: (O)
C&W: 6 -3 EXP = 3: Injured 1D6(4) = Skip 4
E&E: 10 -1 BEL -1 EXP -1 WIC = 7: Almost Home – Skip 1
Total: Skip 4
French 1-1/2 Strutter No. 1 RTB with 3 Photos
Lt Auguste Blanc: (P2) RTB 0 kills
s/Lt Albert Arnoux: (O) RTB 0 kills
Adler
Halberstadt D.II
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht RTB 1 Kill : Strutter (Winterbottom/Bott)
Halberstadt D.II - RTB
Ltn Till Huebner
1 Kill : FE.2b (Allison/Francis)
HalberstadtD.II RTB
Rookie LtnBurkhard Baumann
2 Kills : BE.2c (Hall/Holder) and FrenchSopwith 1-1/2 Strutter No. 2
Baumannis no longer a rookie!
Victory Points
Bulldogs
2-Seater Exits with Photos : 1 x 2 = 2
Photos successfully returned : 3 x 1 = 3
Total: 5
Adler
2-Seater shot down (no photos) : 1 x 2 = 2
2-Seater shot down with Photos : 3 x 3 = 9
FRTB : 1 x 1 = 1
Aircraft shot down by student : 2 x 2 = 4
Total: 16
Adler Victory!
(added bonus: Baumann loses Rookie status)
It was actually a lot closer than it first appears.
The last two aircraft shot down were close to making it safely home with photos.
If 1 had made it, the score would have been 13 to 10
If both made it, the score would have been 15 to 8 for the Bulldogs!
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