OTT-BYM Mission 1B: X Sqn Denies the Enemy, 11th Nov 1916 by ShadowDragon
OTT-BYM Mission 1B: X Sqn Denies the Enemy, 11th Nov 1916 by ShadowDragon
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...by-gully_raker
Note: This is a memorial mission in memory of our late friend Gully Raker (Baz), who graciously provided us with this scenario as the first mission of our Bold Young Men OTT campaign. Rest in peace, Baz.
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Something big was up. The higher ups were in a flap and all of the scout squadrons in the sector that included X Squadron, RNAS, were to seek out and destroy all enemy balloons and spotter planes relentlessly. The X squadron’s scout flight commander, FCdr Nigel Flashman, had taken the Canuck, FSL Al Smith and the Kiwi, FSL Tom Watson, on the morning and had come back empty handed. The unofficial 2-i-C for the flight, FSL Jock MacDonald, led the afternoon patrol with the two Aussies, FSL Bruce Dundee and FSL Baz Lanister, as his wingmen. It was a good ‘flight’. Bruce Dundee was the squadron’s leading ace and Baz seemed to have horseshoes coming out the yazoo. Jock was eager too as he was just shy of ace status - one more kill and he’d join the squadron’s bevy of aces – Flashman, Dundee and the perpetually recovering-from-his-injuries Jack Wilde.
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The GAME
Ladies and Gentlemen and whoever else will be enjoying this spectacle of WWI combat in the air, welcome to today’s match.
Turn 1
From the traditional west side of the playing field, at altitude 6, we have three Sopwith Pups piloted by Bruce Dundee, Jock MacDonald and Baz Lanister playing for the Entente. This will be interesting. Bruce is one kill shy of double ace and Jock is one shy of ace status. These two chaps will no doubt come out aggressively but Jock’s Pup is armed with incendiary ammo and, by the rules, can only use this ammo on the balloon – so that’s his only chance for a kill. Baz is a late comer to the squadron but has been a strong player for the squadron. The flight commander, Nigel Flashman, deserves a lot of credit for taking a group of misfits and turning them into a top-notch scout flight in just a few months.
X squadron is flying rather nicely in formation – all three have started to climb.
On the east side we have two Hun pilots from the jasta’s that has become known as the Hard Luck jasta – Ltn Kar Seitz and Fwbl Otto Marwitz. They’ll be flying the latest German aeroplane – the Albatros D.II. In the centre we have the object of the game – the Hun balloon with its two haple…er, observers.
Karl and Otto have decided to use the pincer move by coming in from opposite sides. They too have started to climb.
The X squadron gets to the balloon first. All three open fire with dismal results – a single point of damage that resulted in a jammed machine gun. The RNAS boys will need to pick up their game if they want to win this one.
Turn 2
On the north side of the balloon, Bruce the sniper has paired off against Otto. Both get in good shots but Otto does better. Bruce’s Sopwith has suffered an engine hit and Bruce will need to leave the playing field. It looks like Bruce will not make double-ace this match.
Ooooh! That was a close call but both pilots avoided a collision.
Otto has done an Immelmann turn and got the drop on Bruce with another good shot – several bullets into the cockpit and Bruce is injured – that’s got to hurt! With 9 points of damage, an engine hit and an injury Bruce may be lucky to make it back to the naval station.
On the south side, Jock continues to fire at the balloon. There’s a flame. The incendiary bullets have worked. Karl tries to intercept, but like Baz, only jams his machinegun. Baz, still trying to get his unjammed, can only look on.
Jock was so focused on the balloon he did not notice Karl’s Albatros. The two planes have collided, but it looks like Karl is the one that’s paid the price for Jock’s inattention.
Another close call – Jock’s nearly hit Baz. The fire on the balloon doesn’t seem to be growing – have the Huns doused their balloon with some kind of fire retardant? So far, the X squadron boys don’t seem to in the game today. Perhaps this game will be the one where we will see the Albatros demonstrate its abilities.
Turn 3
It looks like Bruce has given Otto slip. He just might make it off the field but even if he does he’ll still need to land his battered Pup. Jock is using the tight turning ability of his Pup to stick close to the Hun balloon. Karl and Baz have both used Immelmann turns to have a go at each other.
Karl and Baz have a respectable exchange. Nothing dramatic from either pilot though. Despite stick close to the balloon, Jock’s not done much to it, but the fire does seem to be flaring up. Otto now spots Jock and realizes he could have been in the ideal position to take Jock out of the game.
Turn 4
There’s that tight turning radius of the Pup. Jock gets another go at the balloon but the balloon is now at altitude 5 and it’s a long range shot for Jock.
What’s this? Baz has timed his Immelmann perfectly. A long range but will aimed shot has hit the vitals of Karl’s Albatros and, oh my, the Albatros has exploded. There a pieces of the aeroplane everywhere. Karl is out of the match, out for the campaign and probably out for the war and beyond. A salute, folks, to a gallant pilot. That evens up the game again with each side losing one aeroplane.
Jock is sticking with the balloon but again he’s not getting much for his effort and the fire just won’t take off.
Turn 5
Otto has decided to go clockwise around the balloon to meet Jock going the other way, but Baz had intercepted him. It’s a long shot but one well placed in the cockpit. Otto is signalling that its just a hand injury but that could still make it difficult to control his machine. Jock just dove down to altitude 5 - keeping pace with the balloon. If Baz can keep Otto at altitude 6, Jock will be free to focus on the balloon.
That was a good move on Jock’s part. Finally he’s getting some reward for his efforts. Some good damage and another fire started.
Although it does look like whatever the Hun’s have done to their balloons it seems to be working – the fires are still contained to a small area of the balloon. If the ground crew can get the balloon down in time they should be able to douse the flames.
Turn 6
The balloon is now down to altitude 4. Jock gets a chance for another shot, but again its at long range and Jock will need to descend.
Jock is persistent – another shot starts a third fire, but what one can only assume is some new kind of fire retardant is keeping those fire a ‘respectable’ size.
Turn 7
Jock has descended to altitude 4 and in a good position to do major damage to the balloon but for nought. One has to wonder if Jock is having trouble with his machinegun or the incendiary bullets.
On the other side of the balloon, Baz has got onto the tail of Otto. Otto could be in trouble.
Otto is having trouble shaking Baz. He is in trouble.
Three fires but the balloon just doesn’t care – only 2 points of damage for all three fires.
Turn 8
The balloon is now at altitude 3. Jock will need to follow but he does manage to start a fourth fire. Baz continues to dog Otto – whittling away at Otto’s Albatros.
With an Immelman, Otto’s turned on his adversary but can’t get a shot off due to his injury. Baz, on the other hand, delivers the coup de grace and Otto is finished. His Albatros plummets straight down and buries into the ground. It looks like Otto’s fate will be similar to Karl’s. But what a performance by Baz – two kills bringing him to a career total of four kills. One more and he’ll join the ace ranks of the squadron.
Jock must be fuming now – as the balloon hasn’t been. A final dive and Jock gets a perfect shot in and the balloon explodes. That explosion rocks the Pup. It could have been dangerous for the Scotsman but it looks like he’s come through his 2nd close call well enough.
Well that’s game over with a win for the Entente side. A good outing for the X Squadron boys. They were a bit shaky at the start but Jock and Baz got the job done. As for the Hard Luck Jasta – it continues to live up (or down) to its unfortunate reputation.
Seadog Score
Balloon destroyed = 20 points
Two scouts shot down = 2 X 10 points = 20 points
Total = 40 points
Hun Score
One scout FRTB = 1 X 5 points = 5 points
Seadog Score
Balloon destroyed = 20 points
Two scouts shot down = 2 X 10 points = 20 points
Total = 40 points
Hun Score
One scout FRTB = 1 X 5 points = 5 points
Seadog Victory
Note: I was really pleased that my ‘Baz’ pilot got two kills on this memorial mission. I hope that, Baz looking down on the game, would be pleased too.
Reply With Quote
for his fifth kill as well as Croix de Guerre with bronze palm from our grateful allies
Originally Posted by flash
Generally I'm finding the maneuverability of the Pups with their D* deck makes them a formidable foe for the Albatros DII despite the DII's A firing and extra damage it can sustain. Those sharp turns in either direction are often just that extra bit that allows the Pup to get in a close shot on passing.
Rep to follow.
for originality. I agree about having 9 planes plus a balloon on the table at one time, things might get a little chaotic in the next game. 
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