OTT CYM Mission 12 – And The Beat Goes On - 27th September 1916 – Mike’s AAR
OTT CYM Mission 12 – And The Beat Goes On - 27th September 1916 – Mike’s AAR
“Do you ever wonder that to win, somebody’s got to lose” (The Whispers)
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive of the Reserve Army, under Lieutenant General Hubert Gough, during the Battle of the Somme . It was fought on a front from Courcelette in the east, near the Albert–Bapaume road to Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt (Schwaben-Feste) in the west, which overlooked the German defences further north in the Ancre valley, the rising ground towards Beaumont-Hamel and Serre beyond. Thiepval Ridge was well fortified and the German defenders fought with great determination, while the British co-ordination of infantry and artillery declined after the first day, due to the confused nature of the fighting in the mazes of trenches, dugouts and shell-craters.
“News is filtering in that things around Thiepval are not going quite according to plan Uncle.” announced the CO. “Yesterday’s push seems to be faltering, mainly because the Hun are putting up stiff resistance, especially in the areas overlooked by two redoubts. The artillery have shelled both constantly but they say that their shells are going wide and they want our help.
“The two redoubts give the Germans an excellent view of our positions and of course a wonderful field of fire should we attack them. From Schwaben they can clearly see Hamel, whilst their view
“from Stuff Redoubt shows them Albert and Thiepval. It must be assumed that they could see everything very clearly yesterday and that has to change.
“We don’t want their officers sitting comfortably in their dugouts whilst our lads get blown to pieces or shot to ribbons from the firepower these redoubts provide.”
Uncle, who had aquired a new stock of his favourite tobacco, took a few puffs at his pipe and replied through the smoke:
“I take it, sir, that you are saying we are going to provide some artillery observation today, on top of everything else!”
“Quite!” said the CO. “And you can cut out the “sir” bit too. I know you don’t like the sound of the job. Artillery observation, especially at a time like this, can be very tricky. But it has to be done.”
“Then I’ll get on to it right away.” Added Uncle, and off he went, back to his “office”, grabbing the attention of Corporal Jones, with orders to fetch A/Lt Bo Fletcher “tout suite”.
A few minutes later Bo squeezed himself into the remaining area of Uncles “shed” and was given an outline of the orders that Uncle had just received.
“You’ve got the picture, haven’t you Bo?”
“Of course, Uncle. I am to escort a couple of the lads who will be flying a Strutter. Their job will be to get our artillery to flatten two enemy positions, namely two redoubts called Schwaben and Stuff. I’ll be there to watch their back!”
“Precisely. I’ll send up a second Strutter with you, just in case, but that should stay in the wings, to coin a thesbian phrase, and remain as inconspicuous as possible until required. They’ll know when the curtain goes up!”
“Right, so who’s manning the Strutters?”
“2nd Lt John Palin and AM3 Graham Jones will take the first. Back up crew will be 2nd Lt Eric Gilliam and AM2 Walter Lewis.
“But there’s more. Our Strutter crews are apparently under orders to try out a new approach to the observation pattern. Something to do with their signals to the ground.
“I don’t know any more than that and it shouldn’t concern you, except our boys will not be familiar with the idea and may make mistakes. So be on your guard”.
“I gconai, as Dubh would say – Always!”
“Mmmm, pity he isn’t here right now. I’m sure he’d relish the chance to lend a hand. A imagine there will be a few lads from Dublin and Belfast amongst the troops attacking those redoubts. Dubh would be cock-a-hoop!”
Up they went a short while later, without a hitch. Palin led the way and had been well briefed on the task in hand. He felt comfortable with it all, including the new routine.
They flew north east, passing over Albert and spotted Thiepval a few minutes later. A line of trenches, the so called Zollern Trench, appeared first, followed by the the Regina Trench. And there were both of the targets, Schwaben redoubt on the left and Stuff on the right.
Palin waved them in the direction of Pozieres. He wanted to approach so his observer’s view wasn’t hampered by the ruins of Thiepval. Then, having reached Pozieres he turned left and flew north west, heading for a point somewhere between the two targets. Fletcher dutifully followed.
And just as he was beginning to think they might get away with a quiet run on this occasion, there they were. Two tell tale dark specks ahead, one off to the right, the other to the left. The latter was the closest, so Bo Fletcher turned towards it and attacked.
But Bo had made a miscalculation. The other enemy aircraft was one of the new Albatros scouts, armed with two spandaus and quicker than anticipated. It reached the Strutter and opened fire, whilst Bo, with one eye on the Strutter, overshot his mark and came close to colliding with a Halberstadt. And before you could say “Bob’s your uncle” the Strutter was on fire and nobody on board was firing back at its attacker. The observer’s gun must have jammed. Ye Gods, this wasn’t supposed to be the way it went at all!
Bo turned to starboard sharply, to try and fend off that damned Albatros, but before he could get anywhere near to getting a shot in on it, a hail of lead came his way too, showering Bo with splinters and bits of fabric.
My but the pilot of the Albatros was good. Having punished both of our Bulldogs, he had still managed to time things so that when Palin banked left, trying to keep the flames from spreading on the Strutter, he came right under the nose of the Albatros again. And so far none of the RFC crew had fired a single effective shot in reply!
But then, thank heavens, so far as the Bulldogs were concerned anyway, that’s when the luck ran out for Ltn Heinrich Gabriel. For it was he that was flying and shooting so superbly well. The German skillfully managed to come right in close to the Strutter, intending, no doubt, to finish it off. He fired, but his gun jammed!
He hit nothing and cursed. The distraction caused Palin to miss his target too, but by far the worst of the bad luck came Gabriel’s way when he made his only and last mistake of the day. He got himself sandwiched between AM3 Jones, who was sitting, now rather grumpily, in the back of the Strutter and itching to vent his spleen on somebody and A/Lt Bo Fletcher, who had circled around behind the Albatros and was angry, mostly with himself, for having allowed this to happen so badly up to now. Fletcher was determined to make amends. Jones fired first, at close range. And found he couldn’t hit a barn door from five yards away if he tried. Bo on the other hand was not only a better shot, he was also a great deal luckier. He hit something vital on the Albatros. It went bang and the rather surprised and shocked Ltn Gabriel found himself tumbling uncontrollably towards the field below.
To add insult to injury, had he but known of it, the fire on the Strutter now seemed to be under control. Swings and roundabouts sort of come to mind, don’t you agree?
Something else was going on too, of course. The grumpy AM3 Jones had not been idle all this while. He had, in fact, been getting his job done, very professionally I might add. As soon as Palin had manoeuvered the Strutter close enough to Schwaben redoubt, Jones had noted the position. When Palin had turned about he’d called in the position to the artillery on the ground. Now, as they turned towards Schwaben redoubt again, the shells came screaming in overhead.
With a kind of sharp low rumbling that could just about be distinguished above the roar of the Strutter’s engine, the shells ripped into Schwaben Redoubt, silencing a significant amount of the German artillery, that would no longer be able to harass the Tommies on the ground. At least for a few hours, until the hun brought up replacements and repaired the damage. With any luck the boys of 18th and 11th Divisions might have overrun the position by then.
So things were running along pretty smoothly for the Bulldogs now, weren’t they? One Albatros shot down, thanks to A/Lt Bo Fletcher. One redoubt dealt with through the combined efforts of 2nd Lt John Palin and AM3 Graham Jones. What could possibly go wrong with that? Well you are about to find out, as are they. All three of them!
We shouldn’t forget the presence of the Halberstadt, should we? Ltn Gerhard Keudell may not have been the most successful of the Eagles, up until now, but he had never-the-less been around a while and knew the ropes. And he certainly wasn’t done with these impudent Tommies, curse them!
With a certain degree of aplomb, the Halberstadt was flicked about through one hundred and eighty degrees, bringing Fletcher’s Nieuport under its gun sights; Gerhard Keudell fired and lo and behold, Fletcher was on his way home and nothing to do about it. The little lead packages from Keudell’s spandau ground there way into the Nieuport’s engine and the poor thing started to cough like a seventy year old codger with bronchitis. Whilst just behind them and to their left, the fire on the Strutter flared up again. Meaning it too would have to go about in a full circle and head home along with the Nieuport. Ye Gods, those swings and bloody roundabouts!
The only saving grace, perhaps, was the opportunity this offered to the now highly concerned, as well as grumpy, Jones, to call in a round of artillery fire against the Stuff Redoubt. Now, wouldn’t he get a few pints if he managed to nip that little blister in the bud, as well as having stuffed Schwaben!
24
So while Keudell now chased off after the Nieuport, which was heading for home as fast as its engine damage would permit, which wasn’t fast enough, of course, Palin banked to starboard and took the ailing Strutter in a wide arc to the right. Jones called in his coordinates to the impatiently waiting artillery and another Halberstadt arrived on the scene!
What? What was that again? Another damned Halberstadt? Yep. Arriving from just behind Schwaben redoubt, its pilots beady eyes focused on a rather vulnerable looking Strutter, although the latter had now ceased to display any pretty looking flames. The eyes belonged to Ltn Erich Wedel, who by now was gaining quite a reasonable reputation. He was, naturally, inclined to improve on that today.
But for the next few seconds, it has to be said, nothing much happened of any significance. Wedel flew his CDL Halberstadt towards the Strutter, but that appeared to be heading off in the direction of Tommy land. A waste of his time perhaps, so he banked right, intending to join up with Keudell, before espying something of greater interest, as we shall see, shortly.
There was a brief moment of excitement for AM3 Jones in the Strutter, as more artillery shells screamed their way towards Stuff redoubt.
“Yes, please” pleaded Jones to the God Bacchus, licking his dry lips in anticipation of the amber nectar he would be able to down in celebration.
Then Whoooompf. The disappointment was palpable. The shells went well beyond the intended target and Jones would have to buy his own beer. Ah well, such is war!
So off they toddled, before the poor old Strutter fell apart. With luck they would still make it back to the barn, or should than “n” be removed?
“Ach so” thought Wedel, “I have missed my chance. What a pity”. But hang on a mo. Just one tiny minute there buddy. We are not done here yet. For the cavalry have arrived again. Only another, single, Strutter and with no escort. Brilliant. Both Wedel and Keudell were somewhat delighted. Both immediately headed directly towards what they both assumed would be another kill to add to the chalk board back at the “Stall”.
Wedel was first on the scene and put just a welcoming few shiny bullets into the newcomer. 2nd Lt Eric Gilliam was not impressed. Not in the least. He fired back, muttering as he did so, “Take that you swine”. Well I say, how rude is that? So he deserved to miss I think and have his gun jam. Serves him right. No way for a gentleman to behave. No, sir. Cannot have that can we?
Wedel agreed whole heartedly and was also unimpressed when the Strutter sailed past his starboard side, without so much as a hello wave. Instead, the observer, who must have attended the same boarding school as his pilot (shows you how little he knew of the British social system of the time), also tried to blow his precious Halberstadt full of unwanted holes. But very few got through before the Lewis mg joined the Vickers mg at the front and simply stopped chattering.
All Eric Gilliam could do was get on with the job in hand. He continued with the figure of eight flight pattern he had been instructed to put to the test and gave himself and his observer, first, the chance to clear the gun jams they had and then the chance for Lewis to locate Stuff Redoubt and note its coordinates. Then onwards to the next turn to allow those to be called in to the waiting receiver. The artillery pieces were already loaded.
AM2 Walter Lewis, sitting behind Gilliam, made his call, whilst Gilliam tried to fend off the predatory Erich Wedel. The two pilots exchanged there views on the matter, with the German bullets flying wide, for a change, and Palin’s hitting, also for a change.
A thin curling plume of black oily smoke suddenly appeared in the wake of the Halberstadt. But right then Wedel was unconcerned. The Halberstadt was still responsive and the engine sounded just fine. Nothing to write home about. And as the Strutter flew past he turned in behind it. Lewis had just finished sending his signal for the artillery to let rip and then he looked up. What he saw made AM2 Lewis grab for his Lewis mg and fire a short range burst at the pursuer.
He just had time to see the first lick of flames coming through the oily smoke, before something smacked him so hard he thought he was going to be sick. The same stream of spandau bullets had also dealt a similar blow to his pilot. Lord, it was time to quit. To get out of there, before it was too late. But what the hell was Gilliam doing? He was heading back towards the German lines.
“Not that bloody way, sir.” he screamed in Gilliams ear. But Gilliam couldn’t hear him. For Gilliam was out for the count and the Strutter locked into a right hand turn. What the hell could lewis do about that?
Not a lot, except accept whatever fate had in store for him and continue firing his machine gun. Given that it was now at long range, he achieved the same results as earlier. Couldn’t hit the proverbial barn door. But Wedel didn’t really particularly care. He was far too concerned about the fire which threatened to spread if he did’t take evasive action to counter it and so he flew off, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the Strutter, trying to remember to side slip first one way then the other. Maybe that would keep the flames subdued.
Then there was more screaming. Another round of 5” calibre shells from British 60 pdr BL Mk 1 artillery pieces roared overhead, then sailed downwards to find their mark, bringing death and destruction to those inside Stuff Redoubt.
Just as the two Halberstadts were putting the finishing touches to their destructive attempts on the Strutter, so 2nd Lt Eric Gilliam, who was just beginning to regain consciousness, and AM2 Walter Lewis were putting the finishing touches to their alloted mission. But now the Tommies really had to go home. They and their machine were in a bad way and taking more damage from a rather annoyed Ltn Gerhard Keudell, although they were giving as good as they got at this stage. Well Gilliam was anyway!
After that the race was on. One Strutter fleeing, rather ungracefully, from a furious Halberstadt, the pilot of which had only just turned to see what the shells had done to his fellow countrymen. He was really annoyed now.
Meanwhile, Ltn Erich Wedel had been successful. The flames from his engine had gone out and there was minimal damage done to his precious CDL Halberstadt.
Keudel continued to pot away, finally getting the satisfaction of seeing oily black smoke emit from the Brtishers aircraft. But his joy was tempered by the rounds that Lewis – no not Lewis – yes Lewis, now shut up – put into his fuselage. Ouch, that was a bit too close for comfort. Perhaps the Tommy was finally getting the hang of it. So, just too late, he decided to turn back. “Ouch” or was it “Aaargh”… “That bloody well hurt!” and Keudell clutched his left arm, steered away from the Tommy and headed home, along with Wedel. Enough was enough.
Uncle stood outside his “shed” and watched the sky. As time went by and the clouds of smoke around him marked the progress of his second pipe of tobacco in the last 40 minutes, he started to fidget. Then came music to his ears. First the uncharacteristic stutter of a damaged Le Rhône 9Ja9-cylinder rotary engine, followed not long after by the sound of Clerget 9B9-cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engine. The first skipped its way, sluggishly over the trees in the distance before hopping its way through the air like a Chaffinch and coming in to land very heavily. Uncle thought for a minute that the undercarriage on the Nieuport might give way, but it held, just.
The Ack Emmas were already crowded around it and its pilot waving cheerfully in Uncle’s direction, when the Strutter came in.
There was more tension in the air as it approached. The Strutter was not behaving well and the experienced crew of the ambulance looked at one another and shook their heads. The bird hit the landing strip too fast and the damaged undercarriage simply folded underneath it. There was an horrendous crunching noise as spars were cracked apart and fabric ripped to shreds, before the nose of the Strutter buried itself in the earth and the whole wreck was upended. And there it stood, like a monument to the dead. The pilot, John Palin was still conscious and was carefull lifted out of his cockpit. Swearing and groaning in turns and yelling loudly if anyone accidentally touched his right leg. Graham Jones was a more difficult proposition. Being higher up in the observer’s cockpit, he had to be dragged out, complete with a profusely bleeding head, and in a hurry too, because of the risk of fire. Fortunately this never happened and the fact that Jones was unconscious also helped, rather bizarrely. Both were rushed into the back of the field ambulance and taken off for treatment. Neither would be seen again for some time.
And still Uncle had to wait. The phone rang and he dashed into his “shed”. Congratulations were in order as reports were coming in that both redoubts had suffered serious damage. The artillery were delighted with a job well done. But at what cost?
Then he heard the engine of the other Strutter. He rushed outside again and found quite a crowd staring into the distance.
“Not again, please.” He said quietly, looking up into the heavens above. But were his entreaties heard? Despite the obvious damage, which the Ack Emmas were none too pleased about, there was an air of huge relief and quite a cheer, when Gilliam touched the Strutter down as lightly as a feather. Immediately AM2 Walter Lewis scrambled from his cockpit, shouting something unintelligable because of all the noise. What he was trying to do, however, was cry for help, because he knew Gilliam was in a bad way. And sadly, when they all finally realized and ran to help, they found Gilliam already dead, where he sat. Lewis just sat on the ground and put his head in his hands. He too was wounded, but it was a mere scratch on his arm. Gilliam had just saved his life, but he had paid the ultimate price in doing so.
As for Ltn Heinrich Gabriel, well he made it back to his “Stall” too. He’ll be back, but we just don’t know when. Keudel and Wedel too. The former was also wounded, but not too seriously. We expect to see him in the air again before this war is over.
The end.
The Butcher’s Bill
Entente
A/Lt Bo Fletcher / FRTB-E / 1 kill
Roll 2D6 = 5+4 = No crash on landing.
Result – All good
2nd Lt John Palin (pilot) / FRTB-D / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 3 + 3 = Crash on landing
Roll 2D6 = 8 – 1FRTB +1RTB = 8 injured skip 1D2 = 4 Skip 2 scenarios
Result – Skip 2 scenarios
AM3 Graham Jones (observer) / FRTB-D / 0 kills
Crashed on landing
Roll 2D6 = 4 – 1FRTB +1RTB = 4 injured skip 1D6 = 1 = skip 1 scenarios
Result – skip 1 scenario (Head wounds always bleed a lot. His injury was mostly concussion)
2nd Lt Eric Gilliam / FRTB-D WIA / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 5 + 3 = No crash on landing
Roll 2D6 = 2 – 1 WIA + 1 RTB = 2 – KIA
AM2 Walter Lewis / FRTB-D WIA / 0 kills
No crash – see above
Roll 2D6 = 11 – 1 WIA + 1 RTB = 11 = All well
Result – All well when you land well
Central Powers
Ltn Heinrich Gabriel / EXP NML / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 8 – 3 EXP – 1 NML = 4 injured skip 1D6 = 4 skip 4 scenarios
E&E
Roll 2D6 = 4 – 1 EXP – 1 WIC + 1 NML = 3 Capture and escaped – skip 1D3 = 2 skip 1 scenario.
Result – Skip 4 scenarios
Ltn Gerhard Keudell / RTB WIA / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 5 – 1 WIA + 1 RTB = 5 injured skip 1D3 = 5 skip 3 scenarios
Result - Skip 3 scenarios
Ltn Erich Wedel / RTB / 0 kills
Result – All good
Victory points
Entente: Ground targets destroyed x 2 = 20 + scout SD x 1 = 5. Total 25 points
Central Powers: Two seaters FRTB x 2 = 30 points + scout FRTB x 1 = 5. Total 35 points.
Victory goes to the Central Powers.
Notes:
Altitude not played.
Flash’s D8 charts used for all, with exceptions only when necessary ie Aircraft FRTB
I’m not sure I got the points distribution right. Would appreciate feedback.
In trials I won one; lost 1 and drew 1. But this one was really odd. The cards were well and truly against the Bulldogs, but the dice throws during play were for them. Not so during the results calculations.
Another loss for the Bulldogs. Sorry lads, but I guess the Eagles will be delighted
And in case you might be interested: Related to this period are the following:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBjHyR5eeNE
We Were A Band Of Brothers was published by Brick Lane Publishing on June 10, 2017 - Captain Philip Heath 2017
And a special acknowledgement of Albert Heim and Lieutenant General Theodor von Wundt – The Germans on the Somme – September 1914 – September 1916, for some lovely artwork
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& Croix de Guerre 
Originally Posted by Stumptonian
and sadly I must spread some rep around and can not give it all to you, much though it's deserved.
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