OTT BYM Mission 10 - Good People * Don't Shoot! - 12 Dec 1916 by malachi

[malachi]

BYM Mission 10 - Good People * Don’t Shoot! - 12 Dec 1916 by malachi

This will be an Entente coastal bombing mission drawing inspiration from an amalgam of missions from Nov 1916 to Feb 1917 found in Bomber Pilot 1916-1918 by C.P.O. Bartlett (yes, of the Ares model DH.4 Bartlett/Naylor fame). Friendly fire was an occasional hazard!

"… targets were the docks and shipping at Ostend, the docks and submarine pens at Bruges, and the Mole and shipping alongside at Zeebrugge."




"Six of us left at 2:40pm for a raid on hostile shipping. I was fighter escort with Smith as gunlayer… Off Ostend two Pups dived into our formation and we all swung round to make sure of their identity as the Germans have a very similar aircraft up the coast now. Glaisby blazed away at one which dived straight at him, doubtless to the surprise of its pilot."

Entente Forces
One B/B-firing two-seater with a single bomb load (representing the bomber force).
Suggestions: Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter, Caudron G4, RAF RE8.
Two scouts.
Suggestions: Sopwith Pups, SPAD 7, Nieuport 17.

The tandem will attempt to drop its bomb on the target and RTB safely. The pilot may not fire during the phase in which the bomb is dropped. No Immelmann maneuver allowed for this plane until bomb is dropped.

NOTE: To simulate the friendly fire incident above, prior to beginning the scenario, draw a single B damage card and apply it to Scout 1 ignoring any Explosion or Special Damage (including gun jam), then continue play using normal rules.

Central Powers Forces
Three scouts.
Suggestions: Albatros D.II, possibly a single Albatros D.III.

Shoot down the Entente planes and RTB safely.

Setup

Two Ares mats or the equivalent 54” x 39” area.
Left “land” mat: Entente territory (RTB via left or lower edge).
Right Coastal mat: Central Powers territory (RTB via right or lower edge).

Entente tandem begins on the seam 1.5 rulers from bottom edge.
Target card is 1.5 rulers down from upper right and 1 ruler in.
Other planes as shown.







Target card of trawler for those who wish to use it:


Use -1 modifier for crash landing in sea if shot down over water.

For those who may wish to use an alternate coastal mat:


The high resolution download is available here: mats

For those with no Coastal mat, the scenario can be played as bombing an aerodrome using two Ares “land” mats.
Optional aerodrome target card:


Victory Points

Entente
5 for direct hit of target (cover the red dot of target card)
2 for near miss of target (bomb card overlaps target card)
5 for enemy scout shot down
2 for enemy scout FRTB

Central Powers
6 for tandem shot down
3 for tandem FRTB
5 for enemy scout shot down
2 for enemy scout FRTB

Good luck!

[RJG173]

That's a nice looking ship.

[flash]

Should get to this later Chris - bit early but thanks for posting !

[malachi]

Oops, sorry, Dave. I actually thought I was late, wasn't sure when to post

[flash]

Oops, sorry, Dave. I actually thought I was late, wasn't sure when to post

End of May as you had the June slot, Chris. I will put it up but I won't process any AAR until June, peeps !

[flash]

Query now I've had a chance to look this over - if the entente are attacking a port in occupied Belgium shouldn't the terra firmer belong to the Hun and the sea to the entente ?
I might make an adjustment to how I play this.

[malachi]

Dave, it's a game of percentages but yes. I couldn't figure how to create that with 2 Ares mats, only one of which was Coastal. Bartlett says usually the Brits would fly up the coast from Dunkirk area, out to sea a mile or two in an effort to remain undetected from coastal observers, then turn to target. Return flight over land or coast usually. Of course German patrols were over both so I figured the risk was shared but it's probably riskier on my custom mat.

[flash]

It's tough - it should all be enemy territory in reality.
I'm thinking of using a sea mat & a coastal mat, swapping the positions around so the entente come in over the sea, the Huns over the coast. The direction of attack would feel better, enemy territory would be the coastal mat, friendly would be the sea mat. I might have a MG on the target to spice things up a bit too.

[malachi]

That should be a nice setup, Dave. I forget about the Sails mats, I don't have one
I went with the lower edges and sides of mat for egress for each side but 3/4 German is clunky but probably about right. I debated about an MG but in the end left it off. Would definitely make things trickier.

[flash]

Should find out soon !