OTT-BYM Mission 5 - "Only if You Really Help" - 5th November 1916 {Stumptonian}
November 5th 1916
Nearing the end of an uneventful foray deep into enemy territory, a trio of Albatros D.II is preparing to turn for home when flight leader Ltn Günther Giesebrecht notices movement ahead.
A lone Roland C.II is flying in a tight circle repeatedly and there is no sign of any escort.
“Was macht er?” <What is he doing? > Giesebrecht muses.
Closing in for a better look Giesebrecht notices the observer is not engaged in any activity.
The pilot gesticulates wildly toward his rudder.
“Ich glaube, er hat ein blockiertes Ruder ...“
< I think he has jammed rudder >
[Giesebrecht‘s assumption is correct. The Roland‘s rudder was jammed during the same attack where the observer was wounded – hence the lack of movement from the rear seat.]
Unnoticed by the Adler, a pair of Nieuports are closing in.
Australian lieutenants ‘Baz’ Hill and Stan Pateman had also seen the stricken Roland and were hoping for an easy kill for one of them.
A third member of their flight, 2Lt Percy Herbert is approaching from the opposite direction, barely visible in this snapshot.
The Adler have not yet seen the Aussies.
Hill gestures at Pateman to take on the scouts rather than the Roland.
Herbert has misjudged the speed of the Albatros and has to turn in front of a startled Ltn Dietrich Oelker in the darker of the camouflaged machines.
His altitude advantage saves him from what could have been a nasty raking.
The same altitude ‘advantage’ prevents Hill and Pateman from firing at the lighter camouflaged Albatros flown by Ltn Jens Höfer, the newest member of Jasta 24.
Giesebrecht has turned toward the Nieuports and narrowly avoids Hill who has closed in for the first shot.
Da da da da
Hofer is startled by his first encounter with a Lewis gun.
It appears his aim was off.
So much for ‘advantage’ …
Oelker looks up as Herbert passes over him.
It looks like foxes in the farmyard but no shots are possible.
Yet …
The Roland’s gunner painfully gets into position for a quick burst at the passing Nieuport.
Da da da
Hofer has flown a ‘Split-S’ and sets up his next move.
Oelker has done a similar maneuver - an Immelmann turn.
Giesebrecht finds himself surrounded by a trio of Nieuports, but, luckily they are all either too high or too close to shoot.
Giesebrecht is unaware of how close he came to being hit from behind.
Hill has cut the corner just a bit too wide.
Giesebrecht and Hill both fly reversals and eye each other warily.
Recognizing the pale yellow Albatros, Hill says to no one but himself, “I think I’ve seen this bloke before …”
Da da da da
The Roland’s gunner gets of a short burst* but his Parabellum jams after doing a bit of damage.
Da da da da
Pateman gets in a deadly burst and flames start to appear from the Roland.
* [I totally forgot about the scenario rule that the Roland could only fire at short range with long range damage.]
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht’s Sniper Skill is wasted on a long range shot.
Da da da da
Pateman’s Lewis does about the same ….
Tikka tikka
Oelker’s inherent ‘one-time sniper shot’ is also not very effective against Pateman, who has misjudged his approach on Hofer.
The Roland’s day just gets worse and worse as the flames eat up fabric.
Da da da da
Herbert’s long range shot does a bit more damage to the Roland.
[Note: I had inadvertently let the Roland fire at Herbert but then remembered his gun was jammed. Thank goodness for photo editing …]
Da da da
Another wasted shot as Hill fires at Giesebrecht.
It’s a good thing the Lewis drums have double capacity now.
Da da da
Herbert is starting to wonder if his Lewis is aligned properly as yet another burst does no noticeable damage.
Da da da
The wounded observer has managed to clear his jammed gun and fires at Herbert.
[Luckily with no damage as long range shots are not allowed.]
The Roland pilot has been flicking side to side to negate the flames.
It seems to help (for now).
Da da da
Herbert finally sees bits of canvas fly from the Roland.
Da da d …
Herbert’s Lewis jams, but he seems to have found the mark now.
{And again, luckily the Roland’s return fire at long range does no damage.}
Tikka tikka
Oelker comes to the Roland’s defense with a vengeance.
“Aargghh!”
The Aussie has been seriously wounded and Herbert will have to leave the field.
Tikka tikka
Da da da da
Giesebrecht’s Sniper Skill finally comes through!
Or does it?
He could swear he saw Hill jerk in his cockpit, but the plucky Aussie is not showing any effect and Giesebrecht’s Albatros takes some return fire.
[Baz’s Lucky Pilot saves him from a serious wound and forced exit]
Da da da
The Roland gunner finally gets a hit on Herbert.
[oh well, the missed scenario rule finally takes a hit.]
[Perhaps to apply a penalty for missing that rule …]
The flames have gone too far …
The Roland spirals down to the ground with flames blazing all the way.
Da da da
Pateman fires at Hofer.
“Damnitall!” His Lewis has jammed.
Tikka tikka
Oelker pursues Herbert but it appears he is going to evade the German.
Indeed, Herbert escapes into some low cloud, struggling against increasing pain …
Hill and Giesebrecht both do an Immelmann.
Tikka tikka
Da da da da
Giesebrecht’s sniper skill finally makes a difference.
The Nieuport’s Le Rhône engine is no longer firing on all cylinders.
Baz Hill’s day is done – he will also need to exit sharply.
[Giesebrecht used his Itchy Trigger Finger skill as well, but it did not prevent the (ineffective) return shot.]
Da da da
Tikka tikka
Bullets fly but there is no discernible damage to either aircraft.
Giesebrecht can hear Hill’s engine sputtering.
His hunting skills are aroused …
Pateman and Hofer nearly do each other in.
“das war knapp!”
< That was close >
Hofer reverses and gets Pateman squarely in his sights!
Tikka Tikka Tikka
Pateman reverses and fires at Hofer.
Da da da
Tikka tikka tikka
Hofer’s return fire is much more effective.
A strut snaps ….
… and Pateman plummets …
Hofer has his first kill!
It seems we have all feast or famine ….
Tikka tikka BOOM!
Giesebrecht doesn’t need his sniper skill to finish off Baz’s day as his bullets find the Nieuport’s fuel tank!
His Lucky Pilot can’t save him this time and his Nieuport hits the ground.
The air is eerily quiet as the Adler pilots regroup.
“Schade um den Roland …” Giesebrecht thinks to himself “… aber wir haben ihren Verlust gerächt!“
< A shame about the Roland, but we have avenged their loss >
He sees his wingmen closing and tilts his wings toward home.
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Nieuport 17
2Lt Barry 'Baz' Hill: EXP FT 0 kills
C&W : 8 -3 EXP = 5 : Injured 1D3(1) : = Skip 1
His Lucky Pilot got him through a Pilot Wound that would have forced him back to base, but he could not escape the catastrophic Boom!
Thrown from his Nieuport when it hit the ground he found himself with no major injury.
Nieuport 17
2Lt Stanley Pateman: SD FT 1 Kill (Roland)
C&W: 5 -1 SD =4 : Injured 1D6(6) : Skip 6
Pateman hit the ground especially hard and suffered several broken ribs and a broken ankle.
Additional internal injuries will keep him grounded for most of the remaining campaign.
Nieuport 17
2Lt Percy Herbert: FRTB-W 0 kills
Rolled 2 & 3 : Landed Safely
C&W: 8 +1 RTB -1 WIA = 6 : Injured 1D2(2) : Skip 1
Herbert’s wound was not as serious as it first appeared and he will be back in the air in no time.
Adler
Albatros D.II
Ltn Dietrich Oelker: RTB 0 kills 1 Probable (Herbert)
Oelker remains one kill short as his ace status remains unfulfilled.
If he could only have had one more shot at Herbert …
Albatros D.II
Ltn Jens Höfer: RTB 1 Kill (Pateman)
In his first outing as an Adler Hofer has his first kill!
Albatros D.II
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht: RTB 1 Kill (Hill)
Giesebrecht’s tally increases to 17.
Will he be able to make it to 20 and gain another ace level?
Unknown Roland SD FLM ET
Pilot: C&W 3 -2 FLM = 1 : KIA
Observer : 5 -2 FLM -1 WIA = 2 : KIA
[With results like these I am glad these poor aviators remain nameless and were not one of my regular Zweisitzer crews.]
Victory Conditions
Bulldogs
Tandem downed : 6 points
Adler
Scouts downed : 2 x 4 = 8 points
Scout FRTB : 2 points
Total : 10 points
Adler victory!
=====================================
An interesting scenario, Peter.
I never got to try the collision to clear the jammed rudder – the Roland was hard to line up with.
I was finally going to have go with Oelker but the fire finished it off before he could make his attempt.
(For the Roland movement I used two Right turns and a Stall and shuffled every turn.)
I came very close to losing Baz!
Crazy that he survived the Boom and skips only one mission, where Pateman will miss most of the rest of this campaign.
Might need another Aussie, Dave ….
Depending on the next scenario requirements I might squeeze by with the three scout pilots my Bulldogs have left – three will be returning after mission 6.
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Originally Posted by ShadowDragon
Typical dirty Hun trick ! says Uncle. At least he slipped the net and even Baz made it relatively intact. 
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