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Thread: OTT-BYM Mission 1 “Deny the Enemy” 5 October 1916 {Stumptonian}

  1. #1

    Default OTT-BYM Mission 1 “Deny the Enemy” 5 October 1916 {Stumptonian}

    “Jawohl, mein Herr.”
    Obltn Bernhard Wienand slammed the telephone down.
    He was obviously frustrated.

    The Jasta 24 pilots were already stretched thin with ever-present reconnaissance patrols and now were expected to provide ‘protection’ for a drachen “Ohne Bodenunterstützung!”
    < without ground support >

    The only two pilots he felt confident sending were his top aces, Ltn Günther Giesebrecht and Ltn Till Huebner.
    They had been given a short leave and had just returned to the unit that morning.
    The rest of the group were worn out from the daily grind over the front.

    “Ich bin sicher, dass Ihre Erfahrung die Möglichkeit der Unterzahl überwinden wird.“
    < I am sure your experience will overcome the possibility of being outnumbered. >

    Giesebrecht and Huebner nodded in unison.

    “Wie schwer kann es sein?“
    < How hard can it be? >

    Giesebrecht was feeling cocky. He was leading the Jasta with 15 kills, after all.

    „Die Engländer werden nicht wissen, was sie getroffen hat, wenn sie es wagen, in unser Territorium einzudringen.“
    < The English won't know what hit them if they dare to intrude on our territory. >

    Huebner smiled in agreement.

    Wienand did not share their mood.
    “In Ordnung, meine Herren, Sie haben Ihre Befehle.“
    < All right gentlemen, you have your orders.>

    With that the pair of aces saluted and headed out to change into their flying suits.

    “Geben Sie mir ein paar Minuten, um meine Munition zu überprüfen.“ Huebner shouted at Giesebrecht across the field.
    < Give me a few minutes to check my ammunition. >

    „Immer der Perfektionist ...“
    < Always the perfectionist > Giesebrecht thought to himself.

    45 minutes later the Adler aces were airborne and flying a circular pattern around the drachen.

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    There was movement over the area just beyond the German trenches.

    “Englander!” Huebner shouted. He waved his Albatros about hoping that Giesebrecht had noticed the trio of aircraft approaching.

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    “Drei Nieuporte …”

    Yes – Giesebrecht had seen them as well.

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    Three Nieuport 17s were closing fast.
    F/Sgt Alex David, 2Lt Duncan Moore, and 2Lt Richard Glen were line abreast.

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    Da da da da

    Moore and Glen fired in unison.
    Glen hit the basket with his burst, wounding one of the observers.
    The Germans ‘hit the silk’ as it came to be known in a future conflict and drifted out of harms way.
    The wound was slight and they both were able to scurry away from the shadow of the drachen.

    Giesebrecht prepared to defend the balloon and eyed Glen warily.

    Da da da da
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    Moore’s second burst.
    Smoke slowly turns to flame.

    “Gotchya!”
    he shouts, very pleased to see results so quickly.

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    Huebner charges David with Spandaus chattering.

    Tikka tikka tikka

    Da da da da
    Crack!


    Huebner feels his wing collapse as a strut is sheared by a perfect hit.

    David has his first kill!

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    “Was zur Hölle?”
    Before he can properly asses his situation, Huebner finds himself on the ground!

    His Albatros starts to burn as he gingerly removes himself from the wreckage.

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    Meanwhile, on the other side of the drachen, Giesebrecht takes on Glen.

    Tikka tikka
    Da da da da


    Giesebrecht’s sniper skill seems to be a bit rusty.
    His eagerness to get off the first burst [Itchy Trigger Finger skill] seems to have thrown off his aim, while Glen’s Lewis rounds rip through the Albatros.

    Round One definitely goes to the Bulldogs.

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    The combatants pass by each other warily.

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    The drachen fire is contained to one panel at the moment.

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    Giesebrecht performs a Split-S, while his counterpart pulls out of an Immelmann Turn.

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    David and Moore circle back toward their main target.

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    Da da da

    Moore empties his first drum of incendiaries and is rewarded with a visible stream of smoke!

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    The smoke quickly turns to flame.

    There are now two fires licking up the drachen.

    Suddenly …

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    …there is a mass of smoke and fire!

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    Whooomp!

    The drachen becomes bratwurst as the flame erupts into a giant fireball.

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    Moore can’t believe his luck.

    He has his first kill as well!

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    He realizes there is still at least one Albatros to deal with, and must switch out his Lewis drum from incendiaries to regular ammunition.

    “Definitely don’t want to risk going down with incendiary ammo still loaded …” he muses out loud.
    Moore knows what happens to pilots caught firing incendiaries at aircraft.
    [Note: Game was played as 'Gordon', hence that label. Onkel pointed out he was not available so I have switched to Moore]

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    Da da da da

    Tikka tikk …


    Glen and Giesebrecht exchange volleys and the Adler’s gun has jammed!


    [Note: In a cruel twist of fate, Giesebrecht has drawn two gun jams while using his sniper skill. One is the green version.
    If Giesebrecht and Huebner had switched draws, Giesebrecht would have been saved from the Boom by his Lucky Pilot option, and Huebner could have used his Bullet Checker skill to negate the jam!]

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    Giesebrecht passes close by Glen’s Nieuport and sees two more closing on him!

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    Hoping the smoke from the drachen will at least partially cover him Giesebrecht hopes to get past Moore and David.
    Still swapping his Lewis pan, Moore nearly collides with his wingman!

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    The Nieuports regroup and see that their opponent is slipping away.

    [Missed a photo op between these moves]

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    Moore has flown an Immelmann while David turned.

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    Giesebrecht glances back over his shoulder, pushes his Austro-Daimler engine to the limit, and makes his escape.

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    Moore, David and Glen regroup and head back over No Man’s Land feeling pretty chuffed with the day’s results – especially Moore and David who will both be buying rounds in the mess tonight!

    Butcher’s Tally

    Adler

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    Albatros D.II

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    Ltn Till Huebner SD EXP FT
    Rolled 6 -3 EXP = 3 : Injured 1D6(2) Skip 2 missions.

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    Albatros D.II


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    Ltn Günther Giesebrecht RTB

    Bulldogs

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    Nieuport N.17

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    F/Sgt Alexander David RTB 1 Kill (Huebner)

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    2Lt Duncan Moore RTB 1 Kill (drachen)
    * label says "Gordon"

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    2Lt Richard Glen RTB

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    Bratwurst

    The wounded observer received a minor injury and survived the destruction of the drachen.
    [ Rolled 11 -3 EXP = 8 : Injured 1D2(3) = Skip 1]

    Results

    Bulldogs

    Balloon destroyed : 20
    Scout shot down : 10
    ___
    30

    Adler


    Not a sausage (pun intended)

    Total Entente Victory!
    =========================

    Well I have been saying for a while that I was waiting for the ‘other shoe to drop’.
    This was more like a hobnail boot!


    The incendiaries made short work of the drachen. Seems to be the norm in this scenario.
    If Huebner had not been taken down on the first shot, maybe I could have salvaged a draw, or even a victory out of it, but once he was downed I decided to lick my wounds and get back to the barn.
    Speaking of Huebner, I count myself lucky that he came out of the Boom Card with minor injury and the hobnail boot did not become an anvil!
    I was definitely dreading the dice roll.

    And finally, a shout out to Chris (malachi) for the excellent drachen model used in this scenario.
    Sorry that it got to spend so little time aloft, but I guess that’s the “first time to the table curse”.


    Looking forward to what Mike has up his sleeve for July.
    Last edited by Stumptonian; 06-21-2021 at 10:41. Reason: Moore for Gordon

  2. #2

    Default

    Verrrrrry Interesting AAR. Someone must have been training the Bulldogs. Oh dear!

    Glad the C&W roll was kind and your ace survived the boom.

    Win or lose, it’s always Mess time. Have a pint on me.

  3. #3

    Default

    Nice AAR! Bad draw for the Eagles early! Hope mine fair better!

  4. #4

    Smile

    Commiserations Pete on the "First Turn Curse" Boom card. Can't believe how many Boom cards came out in peoples games in the first few turns.
    Same with the Balloon, so many went down from a Boom!
    Kudos to you for trying to defend the Drachen! Would have been interesting to see the outcome if you had not lost Hubner right at the start.
    Glad he survived to fight another day.
    Have some Rep to ease the pain.

  5. #5

    Default

    Well, what a turn up. Nice to see the game played from the defensive side. I had a wry smile to myself when I saw who was selected to see off the nasty Tommy so it was a pleasant shock to see what happened next..! Well played that man.

    Onkel says:

    Mein Gott ! What a disaster ! Not only did the balloon get destroyed but we lost one of our precious new machines and damn near lost one of our top aces and a Blue Max holder to boot !

    Charles Gordon is still 'hors de combat' from mission 11 CYM - I've subbed in Shaw on the roster for now but due to pics I 'll leave it for you to amend the AAR. Let me know if you want someone else.
    Last edited by flash; 06-21-2021 at 02:37.

    "He is wise who watches"

  6. #6

    Default

    Great AAR, strange orange tinge to photos, must be sunrise!! Once again the Eagles suffer from two boom cards, leaving only one result possible.

    It seems that I managed to get English balloon down to Level 2 pumping it full of AP shot rather than incendiary which kept it up which I guess seems historically correct at least.

    Hopefully we can see a few Adler victories in the remaining reports, it seems to be whoever hunts the sausage, gets the win at the moment.

    Rep sen5bif guns not jammed

    Baz

  7. #7

    Default

    Pete, I think you need to shuffle your cards a bit more!

  8. #8

    Default

    Great effort, Pete. I was as surprised as Heubner when his sturdy Albatros came apart! Good to see all of your Eagles are back in the nest ready to exact some revenge

  9. #9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post

    Charles Gordon is still 'hors de combat' from mission 11 CYM - I've subbed in Shaw on the roster for now but due to pics I 'll leave it for you to amend the AAR. Let me know if you want someone else.
    I thought I had read that all fliers were back for the start of this campaign.


    I'll put Moore in Gordon's place.

  10. #10

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Baz View Post
    Great AAR, strange orange tinge to photos, must be sunrise!!
    It's my incandescent lighting over the table.
    Must get a proper pool table light installed ...


    P.S. REP arrived - thanks.

  11. #11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stumptonian View Post
    I thought I had read that all fliers were back for the start of this campaign.
    I'll put Moore in Gordon's place.
    My fault, I could have made it clearer. Yes, the WIA fliers are back for this campaign - wounds are carried over, the same as usual. I did also suggest everybody should check their rosters three weeks before kick off so if you'd looked you would've have seen you only had four enemy scout pilots available.
    I have amended the roster as requested.

    "He is wise who watches"

  12. #12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    My fault, I could have made it clearer. Yes, the WIA fliers are back for this campaign - wounds are carried over, the same as usual. I did also suggest everybody should check their rosters three weeks before kick off so if you'd looked you would've have seen you only had four enemy scout pilots available.
    I have amended the roster as requested.
    I guess when I looked I forgot to scroll down to my Bulldog section.

    Looking at my CYM sheet, shouldn't AM3 William Holder been out for the starting mission too? [Not that it mattered for this one]
    He was "Skip 5" after Mission 8. Probably should have been W+1 in your column "S" (?)
    Just want to make sure I am reading it correctly.

  13. #13

    Default

    Yep, obviously got that wrong when I wrote it up, as I prepared the BYM from the CYM sheet it carried the error across. Proof again that you chaps need to check the rosters to make sure I've got it right. Corrections added.

    "He is wise who watches"

  14. #14

    Default

    Whoops that probably didn't go as expected.

    Great game though (if you're a Bulldog) and startling early morning sunrise photographs. Mrs V was looking over my shoulder and wanted to know why if it was France it looked like the Western Desert, I explained about your lighting and she was quite disappointed.

    Well take some solace from the fact that no one died and Huebner will be back soon.
    Congrats to Duncan "Gordon" Moore for the Drachen kill.
    Go Bulldogs Go

  15. #15

    Default

    Wow Pete, that didn't go according to plan. On the positive side - love the Draaken and the scenery backdrop and, obviously, the result, given I'm a Bulldog But I'm glad Huebner survived. Guess you'll miss him, but only for two missions - which with mine coming up next will give some of your less celebrious characters a chance to prove themselves

    It seems that the boom card has been the winner during this mission - loads of them and coming out early too. Makes for an interesting start to the campaign. REP inbound

  16. #16

    Default

    I am starting to think that Peter is a Boom Magnet!!! That, or he has a defective deck that has all Booms instead of zeroes!

  17. #17

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by camelbeagle View Post
    I am starting to think that Peter is a Boom Magnet!!! That, or he has a defective deck that has all Booms instead of zeroes!
    I use multiple decks - 3 each of A and B
    It seems when they show up they come in bunches ..
    Kinda like Mike's on Thursdays.

  18. #18

    Default

    Oh my! Did not expect this. Your Bulldogs must have taken extra training in the break to have taken the bat to you like that. Two down in one mission already equals all of the last campaign! I hope Onkel doesn't fall out of his chair. Well, this should stiffen your Eagles resolve and get back on track. We are still very outnumbered and need your Eagles to be victorious.



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