Thought I'd chuck some different planes around the table just for something to do and to get a feel for how some of the lesser used types, with dodgy decks handle. Explosions count as half start damage, rounded up. I use my own Alt and solo charts. So here it is:
June 1916 somewhere near the Somme... Three German pilots come across what can best be described as a target rich environment. Dieter, in the centre flies a Fokker D.III; Erich to his right pilots a Fokker E.IV, both machines sport twin Spandau's. To the left is Nico in a captured Nieuport 11 fitted with a single Spandau (flown by me..)
Working the area are a number of recon machines of various manufacture are the British. nearest are Tommy & Timmy in the Morane Saulnier P tandem; behind them is Tarquin in the Morane Saulnier P solo. Next along in the Morane Saulnier BB are Toby & Tristan and in the distance are Terry & Travis in a BE2c.
The Germans thrust into the middle of the enemy aircraft as they make towards them - Nico spots Tommy heading down the flank and breaks off to intercept. Dieter zeroes in on Toby's BB, shadowed by Erich.
Both pilots press down on their triggers and the bullets fly.. Dieter seems to have no effect but is alarmed by a small fire blowing from his engine, though it seems to function normally.
Both machines manage to avoid a collision & pass behind each other
Tristan takes a pot shot at Dieter's flaming Fokker as the gap opens but cannot add to his problems
Nico opens up on Tommy's machine - he does no obvious damage - maybe he was put off with Tarquin coming in from his right ? I have marked the target area for Tommy's photo run.
Toby eyes his target area and plans his approach - he'll have to watch out for that flaming Fokker circling back over his right shoulder...
Terry has eyes on his target - a road over the rail line - as Travis keeps a wary eye on Fokker monoplane curving in on them at pace.
As he moves behind the Morane tandem Nico wanders into it's arc of fire and he takes a burst from Timmy and his lovely Bebe coughs smoke and flame.
Furious, Nico hauls the nose of his Bebe round and exchanges a long range burst with Timmy - he comes off decidedly second best as something goes bang up front..
Nico wrestles for control as his flaming Nieuport plunges earthward
Slowing over the target area Toby exchanges fire with Dieter as Tristan gets the photo's. Bullets rattle through their airframe but they survive the encounter
Terry triggers his camera over the junction as Travis watches the rapidly closing Hun nervously
Timmy does much the same over their target as Tommy cuts the speed. If only he had a gun up front !
Tarquin finally gets into the action as the Fokker bi-plane slides past his nose and sticks a long range burst into it.
(Fokker was actually on the tandems base but wouldn't stay put or Timmy would have joined in trashing him )
Erich has caught the BE2 as it turns for home, snaking in with a long range raking shot that sets it smoking
Erich's Spandau's continue to chatter at close range as he curves in - something breaks in the BE and it falls away - Erich glances back briefly before he heads after the rest of the retreating enemy
Dieter has reversed - he has a choice - chase the retreating recon machines or go after the cheeky scout that shot him up
Dieter breaks left after the recon on recovering from his reversal, with luck he should catch up with the last one
Toby & Tristan eventually cross the finishing line and escape with their photo's
Tommy & Timmy are not so lucky as Dieter has hunted them down. In the exchange Timmy's Lewis gun jams.
Whilst Timmy set to work clearing his gun Dieter closed the gap and his next burst severely damaged the Morane
Still straining to escape Tommy pressed on but Dieter chopped them down with his next burst just before they could reach safety
Dieter didn't get it all his own way as he had strayed into range of Tarquin who promptly caught him a clip round the ear and set smoke blowing from the Fokker.
Erich had finally caught up to the fight and tried to swat the Morane from Dieter'e tail, his spandaus chattered again and round crashed through the frail Tommy machine - this might have put Tarquin off as he didn't score any damage on Dieter's Fokker.
Whipping his Fokker round Dieter straightened up and caught Tarquin's Morane broadside but by some miracle he somehow managed top miss anything important.
Tarquin headed for the barn and despite curving round after him neither Dieter or Erich could get back on target before he slipped away
Butcher's Tally
Dieter RTB 1 kill , Erich RTB 1 Kill, Nico EXP-FT 0 kills
Tommy & Timmy: Morane Saulnier P tandem EXP-ET 1 Kill, Photo's lost
Tarquin: Morane Saulnier P solo - RTB 0 kills
Toby & Tristan: Morane Saulnier BB - RTB 0 kills Photo's obtained
Terry & Travis: BE2c. EXP-ET 0 kills Photo's lost
A fun game, even if I was shot down by my AI again ! I finished it playing from my solo charts.
I was pleased Tarquin managed to get some shots in as I thought for a while he never would. Dieter did pretty well even if badly knocked about and Erich seemed imperious swooping in and clawing the BE from the sky. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
I then went on to game all evening at Entoyment !
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