OTT BYM Mission 6 - Somme Success - 12 Nov 1916 - malachi

[malachi]

12.11.16 A build-up of English troops and materiel has been reported behind the enemy lines. Jasta 24 has been ordered to assist in efforts to determine enemy strength and to provide some protection for the observation balloon in this sector.
Fwbl Willi Esel and his observer Ltn Roland Wal will fly a Roland C.II in an effort to protect the balloon. Willi’s last “observer” was the reluctant 2Lt Mavery of the RFC, now a POW; a bit of an enigma in the short time he spent with the Adler. Willi was nonetheless delighted to have his regular observer, Ltn Roland Wal, with him for this job. They were an effective team and worked well together, some of the Adler considered them soulmates.


Krallen would lead a patrol near enemy lines to see what more could be learned of the English activity. He pondered at length on the selection of pilots as this was not a routine patrol but in the end decided to take along the newly-arrived Kass, the replacement for the unfortunate Hauck whose first and only mission had ended with him a POW. Krallen still felt the pangs of guilt over the loss of Hauck. He would be keeping a close eye on Kass.


[tandem location and heading randomly selected, D6 11:00, 3:00]


Those crafty Bulldogs have been moving their secret weapons closer to the lines under the cover of darkness!


Hales closes on the drachen as Esel turns to engage.



Hales prepares the port side rockets as Willi opens fire finding the tiny plane tough to hit.


The rockets find a home setting the balloon on fire while Willi’s curses are drowned out in the slipstream.
[error: Willi’s shot on the N16 should have been two cards but for some reason I missed this]


Wal shows Willi how things are done.


… and is punished for his cockiness.


The fire smolders on the balloon, the observers are unable to see anything near the English lines.


Wal severely damages the N16 but jams his gun.


As they pass, Hales realizes he must get his crate back to the aerodrome.




Krallen’s patrol appears in the vicinity as the fire grows on the drachen. Observers fail to spot anything near English lines and parachute to safety.




Brennen slips right to get around the drachen. Willi gives chase to Hales.




The Bulldogs of 52 Sqn, led by Lt Manley in their SPAD 7s, prepare to drive off the curious enemy.








The fire on the drachen grows as the crew frantically winches it to the ground.


Willi greets Babbage with a burst from long range that injures the Englishman making him light-headed and quickly losing focus.


Krallen unloads from close range shredding de Roeper’s SPAD while taking fire from Manley.




Willi continues the attack on Babbage who feels the rudder controls jam,
but the Roland takes a beating from Asbury and a fire erupts from the fuel tank.
Schnecke retaliates and hits Asbury with a good burst from long range.


Manley and de Roeper narrowly avoid a collision
[collision cards used]


Wal abuses Babbage’s beautiful SPAD as Schnecke adds to Asbury’s woes but jams a gun.
Hale’s N16 safely returns to the aerodrome.


The drachen is nearly to the ground when another fire breaks out!


Both rudders are not working properly but Asbury manages to reverse course.


… and get some revenge on Schnecke while Wal fires from long range at Babbage.
Willi spots the incredible machines below.


Wal gets in a burst on Asbury, his MG is overheating. Babbage has had to reverse course due to the jammed rudder of the slippery SPAD maneuvering like a truck on ice. In the distance Krallen and Kass have reversed course after crossing the lines and spotting English tanks!


The Roland threatens to come apart as the fire grows worse.


Schnecke (and soon Brennen) also see the strange-looking tanks far below.


They reverse their course in an effort to return to the airfield and report.
Schnecke lines up a shot on Babbage.


… and can’t believe he misses.


Krallen and Kass encounter de Roeper in the chaos. Krallen feels his plane shudder as the SPAD passes, but Kass makes the Englishman pay.




The Roland is in the thick of it as Wal gives Asbury a parting shot while Willi sets Manley’s SPAD ablaze. Manley deals out some punishment of his own.


Once more Wal lines up an opponent.


But the fire proves to be devastating as the Roland spirals out of control and Willi struggles to set the inferno down.


Asbury safely returns to the aerodrome.


Manley struggles with the controls and worries about the fire but has limited options [overdive out of the fight or reverse and bring his guns to bear]


He reverses and catches Brennen with a burst. Black smoke soon billows from the Albatros.


Babbage breathes a sigh of relief as he safely returns to the airfield.


Manley presses the attack on Brennen but curses as his gun jams.
[“A” damage for the straight after Immelmann while on fire, but only other option was to quit the fight]
Krallen and Kass approach their lines.


The fire rages on Manley’s machine.


Krallen and Kass safely cross the lines.


Manley maneuvers to press the attack but as soon as he clears his gun the fire increases to an unbearable level and he must return home. Schenecke and Brennen safely cross their lines.





Quite a lot going on in this one but it was fun. It finally motivated me to paint up some tanks and another SPAD7 ��

Victory Points
Eagles
1 enemy plane shot down = 5
4 planes spotted the tanks and returned = 40
Bulldogs
Balloon failed to spot tanks = 5
Tandem shot down after reaching 1.5 ruler = 2
Eagles victory 45 – 7

Butcher’s Bill
Eagles
Balloon survived but did not spot tanks.


ObLtn Karl Krallen: Alb D.II red tail: RTB / 0 kills


Ltn Torben Kass: Alb D.II Boelcke: RTB 1 kill (de Roeper)


Ltn Wilhelm Schnecke: Alb D.II yellow: RTB 0 kills


Ltn Max Brennen: Alb D.II MvR: RTB 0 kills


Fwbl Willi Esel: P2, Roland C.II: FLM-NML 0 kills, 1 probable (Babbage)
C&W = 6 -2FLM -1NML = 3 - Injured – skip 1D6 scenarios, rolled 3 = skip 3
E&E = 8 -1FLM +1NML -1WIC = 7 - Landed almost home! - Skip 1

Ltn Roland Wal: O, Roland C.II: FLM-NML 0 kills, 2 probables (Hales, Asbury)
C&W = 8 -2FLM -1NML = 5 - Injured – skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 1 = skip 1
E&E = 7 -1FLM +1NML -1WIC = 6 - In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 2


Bulldogs
Lt Noel Manley: SPAD VII green+bar: FRTB-D 1 kill (Roland C.II)
Landing Roll = 4, 3 Safe


2Lt Philip de Roeper: SPAD VII gray: EXP-NML 0 kills
C&W = 9 -3EXP -1NML = 5 Injured skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 2 = skip 1
E&E = 6 -1EXP +1NML -1WIC = 5 - In Hiding, skip 1D2 scenarios, rolled 1 = skip 1


2Lt Anthony Asbury: SPAD VII CDL+bar: FRTB-D 0 kills
Landing Roll = 2, 1 Safe


2Lt Rupert Babbage: SPAD VII stripe: FRTB-W 0 kills
Landing Roll = 3, 2 Safe
C&W = 11 -1WIA +1RTB = 11 All’s Well When You Land Well


2Lt Hugh Hales: Nieuport 16, rockets: FRTB-D 0 kills, 1 Probable (Balloon)
Landing Roll = 6, 2 Safe

[Biggles downunder]

Great AAR! Love the background sky!!

[malachi]

Thanks, Wayne

[Stumptonian]

I agree with Wayne, Chris.
That's a spectacular backdrop to your action.
A very lopsided victory for our Adler, and we'll take it!


P.S. Nice looking SPADS - can't remember if I was able to REP your for them so consider it included in the REP I just sent for this post.

[malachi]

Thanks for noticing the new additions, guys
The 8' x 4' backdrop was worth the price of a tandem. Works well and I like the ground haze and treeline, it matches up well with some of the mats when it's at the right height.
photo backdrop

[Flying Officer Kyte]

That was indeed a marathon encounter Chris.
I also like your very dramatic backdrop. it adds a lot of atmosphere to the whole scenario.
Rob.

[Baz]

Nice map and backdrop to the story. A very similar outcome to my game and a convincing win for the Adlers.
Well flown and good AAR.

REP a given if not jammed

[flash]

Nicely done, sharp AAR Chris, full of action. Thought your SPAD's looked great.

Onkel says:

Well done Eagles, the information you discovered has been well received by HQ and they are very pleased with your efforts. We lost the tandem and the balloon is out of action for a while I'm told but you saw off the opposition, got our machines home in fairly good order and we have a victory to celebrate.
I have made some corrections to your end report, some attention to the finer details may be required in future.

Ltn Torben Kass is presented with his pilots badge for his first victory

Meanwhile across the lines:
The Bulldogs count their blessings as their severely mauled machines land safely, Hales is credited with a probable for burning down the balloon, though it's believed it was landed before it was consumed by the fire. (other than explosion all special damage is ignored on fire damage so no second fire). Manley is credited with a kill for getting the last shots on the Roland.. The first kill for your Bulldogs.

[Hu Rhu]

Quite a spectacular AAR. Great photos, especially with that very evocative backdrop. Nicely painted machines especially the red-tailed Albatros and the SPADs. It reminds me to get on with mine. Great win for the Eagles too so drinks all round.

Rep inbound.

[malachi]

Thank you, Gary

Thanks, Dave!
Appreciate the notes. Quite right, I forgot to even count the balloon. However, I was going by the RAP rule p30 for fires (emphasis mine):
"When a balloon catches fire, place a flame counter on it. The balloon takes an A damage card at the start of each turn, as with airplanes. Only damage points, further fire special damages and explosions affect the balloon; all other types of special damage are ignored. Unlike airplanes, balloons never discard flame counters. Instead, a balloon that is on fire takes a damage card every turn, until the balloon is destroyed or reaches the ground. If a balloon accumulates more than one damage card with fire special damage, place a flame counter on it for each damage card with fire special damage taken and draw an A card for each counter each turn."
The last two cards of 0, 4 were the result of acquiring two fire special damage cards. Did not change the outcome though.

I think I listed the Roland status correctly as FLM-NML instead of shot down but didn't realize Manley gets that credit. Makes sense.

I've read the OTT rules countless times but I still don't get WIC in this situation and can't really find the section where it applies. Roland crew wasn't wounded but did go down in NML due to fire. I know WIC is used if FRTB if a double is rolled. Is it correct to think of it as if any plane crash landing anywhere besides RTB uses the -WIC? In other words, just always apply that modifier for any plane shot down, exploded, brought down by fire, etc.? I apologize for my thick-headedness, just wanting to understand it for future.

[flash]

Of course, you're right about the balloon & fire damage, I seem to have been still operating under WoW rules !

..I've read the OTT rules countless times but I still don't get WIC in this situation and can't really find the section where it applies. Roland crew wasn't wounded but did go down in NML due to fire. I know WIC is used if FRTB if a double is rolled. Is it correct to think of it as if any plane crash landing anywhere besides RTB uses the -WIC? In other words, just always apply that modifier for any plane shot down, exploded, brought down by fire, etc.? I apologize for my thick-headedness, just wanting to understand it for future.

So WIC - when to use it:
If a plane is shot down for any reason you roll for the C/W result - if the pilot or crew are injured he's WIC (Wounded in Crash) - This is applied as a modifier if in enemy territory or NML when you then need to roll for E&E.
It was designed to show an added effect of crashing to the escape mechanism. It is cumulative with any wounds in action so WIA & WIC will appear a mods in E&E rolls. If you land in friendly territory it does not apply so isn't involved in FRTB crash rolls as that assumes you failed the landing at base.

[malachi]

Thanks, Dave! Makes sense and quite thematic. I'll make the WIC process clearer in my notes.

[tikkifriend]

Chris great AAR and as the team have said a backdrop worthy of any Con.
Spads loooked the part but the carsds were against them. Still theres always next time....

[malachi]

Thanks, Paul!

[ShadowDragon]

Very nicely done, Chris. Love the backdrop - really added to the atmosphere.

Congrats on the victory....er, or maybe not. Boo! Hiss! Anyway celebrate in the mess - a virtual round on me.

[Vagabond]

Well flown Chris, with some very nice planes I particularly like the red tail albatros.

[malachi]

Thanks, all

[Teaticket]

Really dramatic sky to go with that great mat. Your Eagles handled themselves well today and got very important information back to HQ. The tanks won't get the jump on our fellows in the trenches thanks to your effort. Well done!

[malachi]

Glad you enjoyed that one, Peter