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Thread: Origins 2022: Attack of the Cuckoos

  1. #1

    Default Origins 2022: Attack of the Cuckoos

    The British are using their new and untried Sopwith Cuckoos against a lone German battlecruiser, bent on attacking Channel shipping.
    With only 4 players (out of a planned 12), 1 Cuckoo, an Se.5a match up against 2 Fokker D.VIIs.

    First attack: and Goring is already smoking, as the cuckoo takes the oblique approach.
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    The Cuckoo takes a wide swing around the island, trying to outrun Stark.
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    Fish in the water, while the D.VIIs close in. Looks like a long shot.
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    And the torp runs out of steam short of the target.
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    Second attempt: the Brits switched out pilots. This one's wondering where the escort is!
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    A closer drop, as the Se.5a runs interference.
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    And a hard turn away to make the escape
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    And Goring takes a parting shot, as the torp slams in for a direct hit!
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    And the Cuckoo leaves smoking.
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    Third attempt: looks like the Cuckoo waited too long to drop.
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    Indeed, the torp hit before arming, and the Cuckoo got a petrol tank hit for his trouble.
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    The fourth attempt was called for time. So 1 good hit out of 4 tries.
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  2. #2

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    Karl, Thanks for posting. I really enjoyed the timing constraints on the torpedo drop, needing time to arm as well as limited range.

  3. #3

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    I enjoyed this one, Karl
    Dropping the torpedo was a lot tougher than it looked!

  4. #4

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    Looks great, Karl, shame you didn't get more punters.
    What is the arming range and the max running range you use for torpedoes ?

    "He is wise who watches"

  5. #5

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    Looks a good fun game Karl.
    I have never tried torps with WW1 aircraft.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  6. #6

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    Nice game Karl. I love that mat. I've seen it a few times at Origins but don't think I've yet to play on it.

  7. #7

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by malachi View Post
    I enjoyed this one, Karl
    Dropping the torpedo was a lot tougher than it looked!
    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    Looks great, Karl, shame you didn't get more punters.
    What is the arming range and the max running range you use for torpedoes ?
    Yeh, it was a bit of a task.
    I had the minimum range as 2 flips from the drop, and max a 5. A bit of a tight window. The intent was to force the plane to risk AAA from the ship.
    which I left out due to the small numbers of the players.
    I also found that my printer had printed out 2 different sizes of torps, and I went with the shorter set. Another rethink

    That said, all three drops did or would have hit the ship, so the lining up part wasn't an issue.

    Another thing: with a full set of players, there would be 5 British (running a Cuckoo and an Se.5a), and 7 German.
    The difficulty for the Germans is to get in position for shots on the Cuckoo, and stay with they. Even with the speed
    difference between the K and L decks, it's a task.

    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by Teaticket View Post
    Nice game Karl. I love that mat. I've seen it a few times at Origins but don't think I've yet to play on it.
    I would love for you to play on it; maybe next year we'll schedule you a "players" day
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Looks a good fun game Karl.
    I have never tried torps with WW1 aircraft.
    Rob.
    A subject that has interested me for years.
    Sadly, the little that was done historically don't make for good games.
    The Germans used very slow floatplanes that had some successes, but finally were abandoned when the coastal shipping became armed.
    The British had some early successes too, but mostly lacked targets.
    This scenario was a what-if, and certainly has a more WW2 feel to it.

    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  11. #11

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    Did the ship move or turn during the game?
    So how many books are in your personal library?

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by Teaticket View Post
    Nice game Karl. I love that mat. I've seen it a few times at Origins but don't think I've yet to play on it.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jager View Post
    I would love for you to play on it; maybe next year we'll schedule you a "players" day
    Karl
    I'll have to talk to the schedule guy next year.

  13. #13

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    Nice looking sea-mat.

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by RJG173 View Post
    Did the ship move or turn during the game?
    It did, and turned too, just not very fast.
    I used rules taken from Skafloc's Air to ship rules for WW1. Neil has put a lot of work into these rules (both WW1 and WW2):
    https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/do...o=file&id=1390

    If you go to his profile page, tab Files, you'll all that he's posted here.

    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by Teaticket View Post
    I'll have to talk to the schedule guy next year.
    I think I'll have a few words for him myself
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  16. #16

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    As an aside, a good source for this subject is, surprisingly,
    "Luftwaffe aerial torpedo aircraft and operations in world war two" by Harold Thiele.
    The first chapter summarizes the development of aerial torpedo ops from the beginning through the start of WW2.
    The information for the British is brief and well known but I hadn't read most of what they talked about the German efforts.
    This includes a list of aircraft the Germans used through WW1; most were badly underpowered for the job,
    and all were too slow. They did have some successes.
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  17. #17

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    Love the pictures and game play, I will have to try this one.

  18. #18

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    Nice Origins AAR and that torpedo mission looks interesting.

    Well done, Karl.

    Unfortunately only 4 players.
    Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jager View Post
    I would love for you to play on it; maybe next year we'll schedule you a "players" day
    Karl
    Oooh, if you're playing on that gorgeous mat could I join you?
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Helmut View Post
    Oooh, if you're playing on that gorgeous mat could I join you?
    Sure. Just have to work out the details
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  21. #21

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    I see there are no cards or stats for the Sopwith Cuckoo in the Wiki of Linen. So, what did you use?
    So how many books are in your personal library?

  22. #22

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Helmut View Post
    Oooh, if you're playing on that gorgeous mat could I join you?
    Careful Tim. Mat looks a bit "Sailsy" to me

  23. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by RJG173 View Post
    I see there are no cards or stats for the Sopwith Cuckoo in the Wiki of Linen. So, what did you use?
    That's an interesting query, I have one but no card yet.
    Single seater with no guns as far as I can see; would fall into the average speed bracket (105.5 mph/169.8 km/h), so K deck would be most suitable (as I see Karl used). Strongly built at the end of the war so likely a tough machine. 17/18 damage points going by the Tools for Working Out Stats doc and a quote on wiki: "In service, the aircraft was generally popular with pilots because the airframe was strong and water landings were safe."
    Ceiling: 12,100 ft so 12 for max alt & climb rate of 7 or 6 if you want to be really generous, though on the table it'll be coming in very low, so altitude components are not so important.
    It could be hard to stop !

    Quote Originally Posted by Jager View Post
    ..I had the minimum range as 2 flips from the drop, and max a 5. A bit of a tight window. The intent was to force the plane to risk AAA from the ship which I left out due to the small numbers of the players.... Even with the speed difference between the K and L decks, it's a task.
    Karl
    Thanks for the info, Karl
    Last edited by flash; 06-28-2022 at 03:53.

    "He is wise who watches"

  24. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by camel crew View Post
    Careful Tim. Mat looks a bit "Sailsy" to me
    The airfield on the island says "NO SAILS!"
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  25. #25

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    Nice riposte Tim.
    No Frog Pills required either!
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  26. #26

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    Quote Originally Posted by RJG173 View Post
    I see there are no cards or stats for the Sopwith Cuckoo in the Wiki of Linen. So, what did you use?
    I had Mike do me up a card back in 2017: K deck, 18 hits. I had him add a B gun, since I couldn't imagine players
    flying an "unarmed" plane
    I figured it was a top wing Lewis gun (no Fosters mount), and if present, would only fire straight ahead when carrying the torpedo.
    I really didn't figure on a ceiling or climb rate, given it's missions flight profile; just thought it was a moot point.
    Here's the card:

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    Karl
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails WGF_Cuckoo_185Sqn2Sided.jpg  
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  27. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jager View Post
    I had Mike do me up a card back in 2017: K deck, 18 hits. I had him add a B gun, since I couldn't imagine players
    flying an "unarmed" plane ..
    Neither can I, Karl, it would make them feel more comfortable and who knows, if it did make it to combat maybe they might have fitted one.

    "He is wise who watches"

  28. #28

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    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    Neither can I, Karl, it would make them feel more comfortable and who knows, if it did make it to combat maybe they might have fitted one.
    BobP asked me to make a card for an Albatros B.I, an unarmed two-seater. Torpedoes are heavy and the extra weight of a machine gun may be contra-indicated.
    So how many books are in your personal library?

  29. #29

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    Drawings for an Ablatros B.I are pretty hard to find. I could only find one, and that of very poor quality and low resolution.
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  30. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by OldGuy59 View Post
    Drawings for an Ablatros B.I are pretty hard to find. I could only find one, and that of very poor quality and low resolution.
    I have the Albatros Publications Datafile for the Albatros B.I
    So how many books are in your personal library?

  31. #31

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    Karl, looks like a wonderful game!



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