OTT BYM Mission 6 - Somme Success - 12th November 1916 by Baz
The battle of the Somme had been going on for nearly 4 months and there had been very little gain for the English in the sector. Plans were well advanced for a strategic retreat by the Germans to the Hindenburg line defences, however there were rumours that the English were to make one last concerted push in this sector. Unconfirmed intelligence reports had suggested that they were going to use the mechanised machines (called tanks) that had been introduced in the battle a couple of months earlier with limited success due to the mud and terrain and telltale mechanical issues.
German High Command we’re very impressed with the performance of the new Eagle squadron so far and had reallocated them to an Aerodrome nearer the front lines to enable a quicker response. The news had not been greatly received, as breaking camp was a long arduous task, but the blow had been softened when they found out they were to be billeted at a commandeered chateau close to the French/Belgian border and when they had arrived, the cellar was found to be extensive and well-stocked with wine.
The High Command had been quick in sending the young flyers on a mission, to establish whether there were any truths in the rumours about ‘tanks’ being deployed in the sector. An observation balloon had already been sent up earlier that morning with a Roland C.IIa escort piloted by Fwbl Uwe Seeler and an observer, Ltn Siegfried Held, but early morning mist and clouds had hampered any view behind the enemy lines. The English had responded by sending 2Lt Lionel Atkinson in a rocket-loaded Nieuport 16 to bring it down, although he had no previous experience with the Le Prieur rocket system.
(Roland had been randomly drawn to start at 10:00 position to balloon centre at an altitude of 7, the Nieuport starting at the centre line (No-mans land) also at 7 altitude). They soon had each other in sight, with Atkinson concentrating on getting a straight line to the balloon for a rocket launch.
The tank line behind the English line ready to advance (some already smoking with mechanical faults)
…..Seeler closes on Atkinson’s position
…..and gets in a long range shot just as he passes over the German trench line for minor damage.
This has put off Atkinson who only manages to throw one of the electric switches to launch one side of rockets, which go on their way.
Seeler follows up on Atkinson (2 damage +1 Aim) while the rockets reach their target, but passes harmlessly through the cables causing no damage.
The winch truck furiously starts to lower the balloon while the nervous observers watch on, but with the Roland in close pursuit decide to stay in the basket as the English plane is heading directly toward them, immediately in line with where they would jump. Seeler gets in a 3rd shot at the Nieuport, causing considerable damage.
Atkinson fires on the balloon at close range, too close for the second bank of rockets to be effective. Causing some damage to the balloon infrastructure, the shots also hitting one observer causing serious injury.
With the Nieuport passing overhead the surviving observer cradles his fallen comrade and watches on as the chasing Roland observer now takes a shot at Atkinson, hitting a fuel line and causing the Nieuport to leave a smoke trail.
Atkinson must now return to the ‘drome as he is too shot up to continue. How to get past the Roland is now the issue.
The N16 Immelmanns back over the top of the descending balloon now too high to take a shot, evading the slower Roland.
The observer is now below the cloud cover but still cannot make out anything, so returns to nursing his fallen partner, knowing that they will be down soon.
The N16 has made it back to the trench lines and heading home, still trailing smoke. Meanwhile the Roland has slowly turned round in pursuit, but is too far away and slow to catch it. The balloon observer is still unable to see any movement behind the lines.
As the N16 makes No-mans land, 4 covering scouts come to its’ aid.
Left to right:
Lt John Ansell (DH2 PC10)
2Lt William Collins (DH2 CDL)
2Lt Frank Blackett (DH2 CDL tail)
2Lt Charles Harrup (FE8 Nr. 6)
The Germans send in 4 scouts too (in addition to the Roland) to look for the elusive ‘tanks’.
Right to left
Ltn Wolfgang Weber (Albatros D.I green)
Ltn Friedel Lutz (Albatros D.II yellow fuselage, Dark green camo)
Ltn Heinz Hornig (Albatros D.II brown fuselage)
Obltn Hans Tilkowski (Albatros D.II yellow fuselage, Light green camo)
The N16 crosses into friendly territory knowing it will make it back safely.
The Roland and German scouts advance on the front lines.
As the scouts fly over the balloon, the observer finally sees the line of tanks on the English side and scribbles in his notebook so he can report back.(rolled a 6 at altitude 3). He also sees the English scouts but knows he will get down safely.
The lines close with the Roland in the lead at high altitude.
Seeler reaches the lines first and dives down to scout level
…meeting over No-man’s land but still out of range due to altitude.
All hell breaks loose as the scout lines engage each other and Held, the Roland observer, gets into action again.
Fire breaks out on Weber’s D.I and some left rudder issues, but he gets in a strong hit on Harrup’s FE8. Lutz’s D.II starts to smoke and he jams his guns after giving serious damage to Blackett’s DH2, wounding him in the process. Held’s shot adds to Blackett’s consternation giving him right rudder damage. Hornig and Collins fly too close and overlap each other, out of range of anything else, while the experienced Tilkowski hits Ansell for six with no reply damage.
The fire starts to spread in the D.I doing major damage (4 pts), while the two scout lines separate to re-group, except for Harrup in the FE8 who has performed a Split-S and has a short range shot (+1 aim) on Weber’s beleaguered D.I, causing more damage to the smoking machine.
The 3 x DH2’s all reverse (Immelmann and Split-S) to get back on the tails of the D.II’s. Harrup gets in another long range shot on Weber (+1 aim), who can see some sort of movement in the fields below. The N16 leaves the field.
Just as Weber identifies the tanks clearly, another long range shot comes in from Harrup in the FE8 (+1 aim), and the ageing D.I can take no more and spins down to the ground, between the tank lines. The other D.II’s have also now seen the tank positions and need to get home to report.
Seeler meets Harrup head-on, both firing at short range. Seeler loses his right rudder but sees his bullets rip through the FE8 rear engine and knows he has put it out of action as it starts to misfire. Lutz has cleared his jam and puts in a long range burst on Blackett, taking out his left rudder. Blackett is unable to return fire having taken a wound earlier and performing a steep stall. The airspace is very crowded.
Hornig Immels to face back to home, however, there is chaos all around him as the inevitable happens as Lutz and Blackett collide, as do Tilkowski and Ansell. Harrup makes his way back to the lines.
The flying skills of the pilot (and some luck!) keeps damage to a minimum, apart from the unfortunate Blackett who loses a wing and spins to the ground and loses his life.
Collins mistimes an Immelmann manoeuvre and ends up presenting his six and a long range shot from Hornig. Bullets hit home all around him, hitting the rear engine first. The plane explodes in pieces, providing a kill for Hornig. Ansell has performed an Immelmann too but to greater effect, and has a short range shot at Tilkowski causing left rudder damage. The balloon is winched to the ground and safety.
Ansell is now the only remaining Entente scout in the air, but is sticking to the six of Tilkowski. The D.II’s faster straight speed has taken him into long range (+1 aim) which does minor damage. Seeler in the Roland and Lutz are heading back home, but can Hornig help out the Leader (Tilkowski)?
Tilkowski takes another long range hit (+1 aim) from the dogged Ansell, but takes no damage, Hornig turns to help but is too high.
Ansell stays on the tail and gets another shot (+1 aim) against Tilkowski but jams his gun, meanwhile Hornig gets in behind him.
Ansell immelmanns back towards Hornig and they meet at long range (no picture), taking 2 damage. Unfortunately, Ansell’s guns are still jammed. They then close to short range and Hornig fires at close range (+1 aim) with no return from Ansell (jammed). This leaves the DH2 in a poor condition and he needs to get away.
Sensing this, Hornig performs a Split-S manoeuvre to get in another short range burst (+1 aim) and brings down Ansell in No-mans land. Another kill to Hornig.
The Germans all now make their way back to their own lines unmolested.
Victory points
Bulldogs
Scout shot down after reaching tanks - 2 pts
Eagles
Balloon spots tanks - 5 pts
Enemy planes shot down - 3 x 5=15pts
Each plane spotting tanks and returning - 4 x 10=40 pts
Total 60 pts
Adler victory and successful mission
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Originally Posted by Hu Rhu
. Great 
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