Exactly Where We Want Them.. Pup's v Roland's
Roland D.II v Sopwith Pup - an experiment with the W deck
The Pup has long been assigned the D deck, same as the Dr.1, but it doesn't quite fit the bill as it should have a sharp turn either way, and should it be one, or, two ?
Testing out the W deck in a game as it fits the bill, though it does lack the wide sideslips of the D deck.
Billy and Johnny are making their way home from 'Hunland' when they become aware of some company coming to join them from all points of the compass -
Dead ahead at 12 and from 8 and 4 o'clock - Fritz, the German lead, at 12 o'clock smiles at the execution of their plan; Billy takes in the situation at a glance, both think the same thing .. "Exactly where we want then !"
Johnny breaks hard right but Hans, coming up from 4 o'clock, is on him like a rash and rounds clatter through Johnny's cdl tail.
Billy meanwhile bores straight ahead and takes on Fritz's fast approaching plane. The punishment he receives is harsh but his opposite number ducks out of sight.. Has he been hit ?
Glancing back as he passes the Hun leader, Billy's sure he's been hit; he sees Johnny has slipped out of the noose and has left the Hun's to meet in up the middle.
Billy swings round behind the Hun lead, soon realising he can't be hit all that badly as he Immels and comes streaking back toward him
Johnny has also turned back toward the centre and finds himself being pursued by the other Huns, Otto, from the 8 o'clock position & his old fried Hans who shot up his tail, who has also reversed.
Johnny has a minor disaster when his gun jams at the crucial moment - and Hans lashes his Pup from end to end causing thin white smoke to emit from the engine.
Hans is pleased with his work but he doesn't see Billy hurtling in from his left until too late - his machine shudders and belches fire
Fritz & Otto goose their motors to get back and cover their comrade as the Pups pass close in free air behind him.
Billy whips his Pup round sharply and gets another burst into Han's stricken machine, rounds crackle past his cockpit from Fritz's guns, the warning is clear..
Even as Billy noses up and unleashes on Otto as he Immels, Fritz drops on him like a ton of bricks and his machine is almost shattered by the impact of the German's rounds
Johnny closes to survey the damage as Billy pulls together what is left of his Pup and sets course for home, Billy waves him off and Johnny decides to cover his retreat..
Johnny bravely sets out after the retreating Hun only to find them all turning in pursuit of them, he just manages to slip past Fritz but it looks that Billy has got clear
Johnny suddenly realises he might have a problem - the Hun's, realising Billy is away, are turning after HIM !
What he doesn't know is the Han's, his fire out, has to head for the barn.
Johhny Immels and rushes back through the Hun formation untouched..
His gun barking as he goes as a cheerio to Otto before he dives away to join his wingman
I called it there as there was no way the Roland's could now catch Johnny. Honours even I think.
Butcher's Tally
Billy & Johnny
Billy FRTB-D; Johnny RTB
Fritz, Hans & Otto
Fritz RTB WIA; Hans FRTB-D; Otto RTB
So, a nice blooding for the Roland's, a nice outing for the Pups with sharp turns each way.
All positions were randomly drawn, all planes were AI driven using my D8 charts, with little use of my Alt rules to keep it simple.
The Pups work well with the W deck - 1 sharp turn seems enough against it's contemporaries but is it manoeuvrable enough without the wide sideslips ? Maybe not, but it requires no additions to it and the loss may be minimal.
The alternative is take the second sharp right of a D deck & make it into a left and call it something else which I might still do yet - though that will need to have it's own AI chart !
Hope you enjoyed the experiment.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Karo7
Great experiment Dave!
Bookmarks