OTT BYM Mission 6 : “Somme Success” 12th November 1916 {Stumptonian}
Adler Airfield several kilometers from the front lines
Oberleutnant Bernhard Wienand is assigning his airmen to their mission for the day.
“Einer unserer Drachen wurde in der Nähe der Front aufgestellt.“
< One of our Drachen has been set up near the front lines.>
“Die Beobachter müssen auf die Annäherung irgendeiner der britischen Kampfmaschinen achten, die sie „tanks“ nennen.“
< Observers must watch out for the approach of any of the British war machines, which they call "tanks".>
“Die Bewölkung ist gering und kann die Sicht einschränken." >
< Cloud cover is low and may limit visibility. >
„Wir wurden gebeten, zu helfen, indem wir einen Trupp Späher entsenden, um zu versuchen, die Fahrzeuge zu entdecken, falls die Drachen nicht dazu in der Lage sind.“
< We have been asked to assist by sending a flight of scouts to try to spot the vehicles in case the Drachen is unable to.>
“Giesebrecht führt mit Hübner, Oelker und ... Höfer.“
< Giesebrecht will lead, with Hübner, Oelker and …. (looking around the assembled pilots) Höfer.>
“Oberleutnant Wiechers hat einen Zweisitzer zur Deckung der Drachen geschickt.“
< Oberleutnant Wiechers has sent a two-seater providing cover for the Drachen. >
The Roland sent by Wiechers is in position circling the Drachen.
Ltn Justus Raucheisen is piloting with Observer/Gunner Ltn Max Jungbauer.
Jungbauer taps Raucheisen on the shoulder and points toward movement approaching from No Man’s Land.
A Nieuport 16 is heading straight at the Drachen.
Jungbauer readies his Parabellum MG14.
A stream of smoke heads toward the balloon.
“Raketen!” Jungbauer shouts excitedly.
Rockets.
The ground crew begins to pull the Drachen down to safety.
Luckily the Le Prieur rocket has missed the intended target.
Tikka tikka tikka
Raucheisen’s usually-sharp eye misses the mark this time.
“Ich muss rostig sein …” < I must be rusty > he muses.
[Note: Altitude difference makes this a long range shot, but Raucheisen’s inherent one-time-use of the Sharp Eye ace skill allowing it to be treated as short range is wasted.]
Da da da
Jungbauer fires his Parabellum and misses as well.
Whitney nips his Nieuport out of range as the observers in the Drachen’s basket faithfully scan the horizon for any sign of the tanks.
[A D6 roll of 4 means they fail to spot their targets.]
Across No Man’s Land four Entente aircraft are approaching.
Two N.17 flown by Bulldog Richard Glen and newcomer Kiwi Ronald Billinge, and a pair of Sopwith Pups, piloted by Lt John Moncrieff and F/Sgt Alexander David.
Taking considerable risk, Whitney lets loose another Le Prieur from close range.
As Whitney ducks under the Drachen it explodes in a huge ball of flame!
In what must be a miracle, the N.17 is unscathed by the fireball, although Whitney can definitely feel the heat!
Arriving just in time to see the calamitous explosion, Giesebrecht and Hübner realize their mission will now be of utmost importance.
Approaching from the opposite side, Oelker and Höfer are stunned by the spectacle before them.
“Diese armen Bastarde im Korb hatten keine Chance ...“ thinks Oelker as he spots the Nieuport.
< Those poor bastards in the basket didn‘t stand a chance.>
Glen and Billinge whoop with excitement as they close in.
Moncrieff and David see a pair of Albatros D.IIs and turn toward them.
Climbing out of an Immelmann turn, Whitney sees an Albatross closing.
The Halberstadt D.III heads toward the N.17s.
Da da…
Whitney curses under his breath as his Lewis jams.
The Roland crew is relieved.
Giesebrecht climbs toward the Pup and lets loose a stream of lead.
His ‘Itchy Trigger Finger Sniper Shot’ somehow misses.
Tikka tikka
Moncrieff’s bullets find their mark, putting a few holes in the Albatros fabric.
[+1 for Altitude advantage]
Da da da da
Jungbauer gets a solid hit on Whitney's N.17.
His Le Rhône engine begins to make an ungodly racket!
Definitely ‘Back to the Barn’ for him.
Da da da
Glen gets first blood and damages Höfer’s Halberstadt.
Da da
Jungbauer fires at Whitney but sees no effect.
Höfer keeps his distance from the Nieuports.
Raucheisen looks for an exit.
Remembering their mission, Giesebrecht and Hübner fight the urge to go after the Pups.
Da da da da
Tikka tikka tikka.
Taking advantage of his one-time Sniper Skill, Oelker damages Moncrieff’s rudder but takes more damage himself.
The Roland heads away, the sight of the downed Drachen reminding the Adler of their failure.
Giesebrecht dips his wings to bring Hübner’s attention to the tanks below.
Oelker avoids Moncrieff
Whitney has cleared his jammed gun and eyes the Halberstadt ahead.
Oelker has flown an Immelmann and fires a short burst at Moncrieff, totally messing with the Sopwith’s rudder control.
Moncrieff will be stuck flying straight.
Tikka tik …
Oelker hits Moncrieff again, but now his guns have jammed.
Moncrieff dives to get out of range, not realizing the Albatros has no shot anyway.
[And I totally forgot about the option to have only one ‘A’ gun jammed – been too long away from the table!]
Tikka Tikka
Hübner’s sniper skill serves him well and a second Bulldog suffers an engine damage.
Glen’s return fire appears to have missed the Albatros.
Moncrieff’s turn to Immelmann.
The altitude difference prevents any shots.
Tikka tikka
A quick shot past Hübner’s aircraft gives a result for Höfer.
Glens return burst is ineffective.
Having fulfilled their mission the Adler head for home ...
... While Whitney and Glen take their puttering machines back toward their own airfield.
Tikka tikka
Another decent hit for Oelker on David.
Tikka tikka
Moncrieff gets some revenge and smoke starts to trail from Oelker’s D.II.
Tikka tikka
Tikka tikka
Nearing the starting point of today’s encounters, Hübner and David trade bursts.
Hübner’s Sniper Skill makes quite a difference in the results, and now the Pup will be streaming smoke as well.
Moncrieff has Hübner dead to rights!
But then his Vickers jams with not even a bit of damage to show for it.
If it wasn’t so smoky from the blazing Drachen the air would be blue with Moncrieff’s curses …
Hofer gets a long shot at Moncrieff through said smoke and does some slight damage to the Pup.
Tikka Tikka
The smoke pouring from the Sopwith Pup suddenly erupts into flame as Giesebrecht’s ‘Itchy Trigger Finger’ combined with his Sniper skill sees David’s day done.
David crashes into some light woods.
Moncrieff, his gun jammed, turns back toward the British lines, while the Adler all make a break for their own side of the battlefield.
Oelker’s aircraft is still streaming black smoke.
He hopes that he can get his Albatros back in one piece.
Newcomer Billinge is frustrated to see the Germans breaking away.
Moncrieff clears his jam, and, realizing there is no way to catch the Germans now, fires a short burst to get the attention of his sole wingman, and waves his wings to indicate it’s time to call it a day.
Crossing back over No Man’s Land, Moncrieff and Billing see the tanks crawling over the devastated landscape.
Hopefully their day will be better than the Bulldogs’ …
The Adler feel quite happy with the way things turned out.
Well “Bis auf die Bratwurst” < Except for the Bratwurst >
At least they spotted the tanks approaching, and they downed an enemy aircraft as well.
Hopefully Oberleutnant Wienand will be satisfied with that …
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Sopwith Pup
F/Sgt Alexander David EXP ET
C&W: 6 -3 EXP = 3 : Injured 1D6(3) = Skip 3
E&E : 8 -1 BEL -1 EXP -1 WIC = 5 : In Hiding 1D2(6) = Skip 2
Total: Skip 3 Missions
Nieuport N.16
2Lt George Whitney FRTB-E 1 Kill (Drachen)
FRTB roll : 5 & 5 = Crashed
C&W: 7 +1 RTB -1 FRTB = 7 : Injured 1D2(5) = Skip 2
Nieuport N.17
2Lt Richard Glen FRTB-E 0 Kills.
Rolled 1 & 6 : Landed safely.
Nieuport N.17
2Lt Ronald Billinge RTB 0 Kills.
Sopwith Pup
Lt John Moncrieff RTB 0 Kills
Adler
Albatros D.II
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht RTB 1 Kill (David)
Albatros D.II
Ltn Till Hübner RTB 0 Kills, 1 probable (Glen)
Albatros D.II
Ltn Dietrich Oelker RTB 0 Kills.
Halberstadt D.III
Ltn Jens Höfer RTB 0 Kills
Roland C.II
Pilot: Ltn Justus Raucheisen RTB 0 Kills
Observer: Ltn Max Jungbauer RTB 0 Kills, 1 probable (Whitney)
Drachen
Destroyed by Le Prieur rocket.
Victory Conditions:
Bulldogs
Drachen failed to spot tanks : 5
Drachen Destroyed : 10
Total : 15
Adler
Enemy shot down : 5
Tanks spotted and RTB : 3 x 10 = 30
Total : 35
Adler Victory!
(even without any points for two FRTB)
========================================================
An interesting mission, Paul.
And another kill for Giesebrecht.
Two more to make 20 - will he get there?
Huebner has stalled at 13.
Can he get his moxie back?
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Originally Posted by Stumptonian
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