OTT EYM Mission 3 - Take These Broken Wings and Learn to Fly 19 Jan 17 {Stumptonian}
Briefing: https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...9-January-1917
Western Front – Oberleutnant Günther Giesebrecht is just finishing a rousing speech to the Adler of Jasta 24.
“Wir haben endlich einen vollen Flug der überlegenen Albatros D.III“
< We finally have a full flight of the superior Albatros D.III >
“Ich selbst, Hübner, Eisenhardt und Höfer werden versuchen, eine von mehreren Bombergruppen abzufangen, von denen gemeldet wird, dass sie westlich von hier kommen.“
< Myself, Hübner, Eisenhardt and Hofer will try to intercept one of several bomber groups reported coming from just west of here. >
“Dies sollte ein guter Test sein, um die Fähigkeiten dieses Flugzeugs zu demonstrieren.“
< This should be a good test to demonstrate the capabilities of this aircraft. >
“Der Plan ist, von oben und hinten zuzuschlagen und sie zu überrumpeln.“
< The plan is to strike from above and behind and take them by surprise. >
“Machen wir uns auf den Weg, meine Herren!“
< Let's get going, gentlemen >
The bomber group is approaching No Man‘s Land just as Giesebrecht had told his airmen.
The British are scraping the barrel to send as many aircraft as possible to bomb an important railyard.
As luck would have it, the target for Giesebrecht‘s group is comprised of Fe.2b in the bombing role, supported by a pair of DH.2s.
57 Squadron had called „All Hands on deck“ and come up short.
Their roster has been filled by a pair of Frenchmen that happened to be nearby and willing to try out the Fee.
The CDL machine in the center of the formation is theirs, Pilot Lt Auguste Blanc and Observer s/Lt Albert Arnoux.
They will find the handling quite different from their usual Sopwith Strutter.
Arnoux is especially concerned with his position right out in front.
To the left, the PC10 Fee is crewed by a pair of newcomers: 2Lt Harold Mulock and AM1 Patrick McNeaney.
To the right, another PC10 machine with a prominent white 'B'‚ on the top wing is also flown by new members of 57 Squadron, 2Lt George Medlicott and AM3 William Holme.
The DH.2s are flown by experienced Bulldogs, Aussie 'Baz‘ Hill and Scotsman Alex David.
The Adler have positioned themselves as planned, behind and slightly above the unsuspecting Entente.
[The Fe.2b are at altitude 4 and the DH.2 at altitude 5; the D.III are at altitude 6]
Giesebrecht is preparing to signal an ‘overdive’ …
Suddenly, flares shoot up into the air from two of the Fees!
The Germans have been spotted!
Medlicott immediately breaks formation and turns to his right, hoping to give Holme a better angle to fire at the Albatros.
Their surprise lost, Giesebrecht angrily waves his arm to signal the overdive and the four D.III streak toward their targets.
[The stall was played with the first card of the maneuver.]
All of the D.III pilots (other than Höfer) feel something is not right with their aircraft. The lower wing seems to be taking a lot of stress.
Tikka tikka
Eisenhardt fires at David’s DH.2
His sniper skill comes through and he does some damage, but has jammed his gun!
“Scheiß-!
[With so much going on I totally missed the option to jam only one gun and continue with a ‘B’ deck.
At least I remembered to give him a +1 for altitude ….]
The Adler continue their dives, and, again, Höfer is the only one taking no structural stress damage.
Giesebrecht and Hübner glare across to each other.
“Was zum?”
Da da da da
David returns fire on Eisenhardt.
Giesebrecht (using Itchy Trigger Finger and Sniper) fires at the CDL Fee.
Tikka tikka
“Que diable?”
Blanc hears nasty sounds from his engine feels the Fee shudder.
“Un petit voyage pour nous, Arnoux!" he shouts to his gunner.
< A short trip for us >
They will have to turn back.
Da da d …
Bravely standing up in the nacelle, Arnoux does manage a return burst over the wing but his Lewis jams!
Tikka tikka
Hübner uses his sniper skill and fires at the hapless Frenchmen.
Luckily for him his Bullet Checking comes through!
Tikka tikka
Höfer fires at Mulock/McNeaney and does some minor damage.
Blanc starts to turn back and releases his bomb load, but his wonky engine shows no improvement.
Tikka tikka
Höfer continues his attack on Mulock’s Fee.
Much more damage this time!
Tikka tikka
Hübner’s turn to hit the CDL Fee.
The Beardmore engine suddenly seizes!
Blanc manages to get the Fee to the ground in one piece.
Arnoux jumps free just as it skids to a stop, but Blanc is stuck firmly in place.
Arnoux helps him to safety and the Frenchmen find a crater to hide in until nightfall.
Tikka tikka
Höfer is relentless in his pursuit of Malock.
A small flame begins to flicker from the Fee.
Da da da
McNeaney struggles to fire over the wing and misses the Albatros.
Da da da
McNeaney finally hits Höfer, damaging his rudder, but suddenly …
BOOM!
Höfer’s bullets (or the flame which I forgot to place) find the Fee’s fuel tank!
Another Fee hits the ground.
Mulock and McNeaney scramble from the flaming wreck.
End of Turn 4.1 Status
Da da da da
David fires at Eisenhardt.
[Should have been +1 for altitude. I remembered to only use 1 card but forgot the advantage]
Tikka tikka
Eisenhardt’s Sniper skill results in some serious damage to David’s DH.2
Eisenhardt and David get a good look at each other as they pass close by.
Hübner and Giesebrecht are closing on the remaining Fee
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht’s shot appears to have missed the Fe.2b completely.
Giesebrecht’s Itchy Trigger Finger gives him ‘first dibs’ over Hübner.
Tikka tikka
His Sniper Skill shows his superior skill and BOOM!
The final Fee is taken down!
[The return shot that Holme was about to take is also negated by the Itchy Trigger skill]
The Fee falls to the ground, just before it was about to enter enemy territory.
Medlicott is killed by the explosion outright, but Holme manages to leap to safety and hide in some nearby woods.
Eisenhardt ducks under David.
Hübner narrowly avoids colliding with Giesebrecht.
Part II
At this point the scenario briefing fell apart.
I was all set to slide in the Enemy Territory (Ares City) mat but there was no need since all the bombers had been downed.
I did a quick damage analysis and found the Germans had 42 damage points remaining, while the two DH.2 had 20 left.
Three of the four Adler had taken structural damage from stress so there was no need to have them overdive again.
I decided to bring on two Pups, which would add 24 points for the Bulldogs: 44 Damage Remaining to 42, and leave all the other planes in their current position.
Turn 6
2Lt Richard Glen and 2Lt George Whitney approach at Altitude 5.
Eisenhardt performs an Immelmann (and draws for stress damage).
Tikka tikka
Sniper Skill is effective again and David’s DH.2 is set on fire.
Giesebrecht flies a Split-S and takes more stress damage.
He can definitely feel the handling of his D.III change.
The stress of Hübner’s Immelmann does not affect his D.III (this time)
Tikka tikka
Looking for a coup de grace Eisenhardt fires at David’s burning DH.2, forcing an FRTB-F.
[This should have been +1 for altitude]
Hill dives but ends up out of arc for a shot at Giesebrecht.
Tikka tikka
Adler Sniper skills come through again and David takes heavy damage (and Giesebrecht avoids a gun jam in the bargain!)
David goes down in flames and Giesebrecht has his second kill of the day.
Status at the end of 7.1
Hill is the lone Bulldog in the lower right while the Pups come to his aid from the upper left.
Hübner stalls and his lower wing creaks.
Tikka tikka
Eisenhardt sees smoke stream from Baz Hill’s DH.2
Giesebrecht sees new enemy closing but neither he nor Glen have a shot due to altitude.
Tikka tikka tikka
Eisenhardt’s Sniper shot rakes through Hill’s DH.2
He is sure he sees the Aussie jerk in his cockpit.
But then again, maybe not …
[Lucky Pilot saves Hill]
Glen turns sharply and flies over Giesebrecht.
“Diese englischen Flugzeuge sind so flink!“
< These English planes are so nimble >
Tikka tikka
Da da da da
Höfer and Hill trade shots, with Hill definitely taking the worst of it.
The dual guns the Germans have definitely make a difference.
“Struth I can’t take much more like this!” Baz shouts out loud.
[In fact he is now FRTB-D and must head back to the barn]
Giesebrecht climbs to try to get on an even keel with the Pup circling him.
His lower wing vibrates noticeably.
“Es gibt definitiv ein Problem mit diesem Albatros ..“
< There is definitely a problem with this Albatross >
Eisenhardt Immelmanns over Höfer.
No wing problem here.
Whitney flies a quick reversal.
Hill gestures that he must leave the fray.
Da da da
Opportunity knocks and Hill gets off a shot at the blue and white Albatros.
Hübner feels his rudder is unresponsive.
Hübner dives to try to get out of range of the Englanders, but feels a strong vibration from his lower wing.
“Ich muss hier raus!”
< I must get out of here >
[Hübner is also FRTB-D and must leave the field]
Giesebrecht closes on the smoking DH.2 expecting his third kill of the day.
Tikka tikka tikka
His Sniper skill fails him and Hill escapes certain destruction!
Da da da
Hill’s return fire does only marginally better.
Tikka tikka
Whitney tries to help but misses.
So much for altitude advantage …
Turn 9.2 status.
Both Adler and Hill are all FRTB
In a risky move Hübner climbs, taking even more stress damage.
[He is now at 13 : one away from destruction]
Tikka tikka
Tikka tikka
Da da da da
A cacophony of machine gun fire and Hill’s DH.2 is riddled with bullets.
His pitiful reply barely damages Eisenhardt’s D.III
The plucky Aussie’s luck has run out and his DH.2, more holes than not, plummets to No Man’s Land.
Giesebrecht’s Itchy Trigger gives him his third kill of the day, snatching a victory from Eisenhardt.
Giesebrecht fires a flare to signal an end to the fight to his wingmen.
Eager to make a difference, Glen collides with Eisenhardt!
Luckily for both there is no noticeable damage to either machine.
He very nearly rams into Giesebrecht as well!
Hübner exits, hoping his Albatros can get him home.
Eisenhardt follows Giesebrecht’s signal and also leaves the fight.
Tikka tikka
Whitney gets a lucky hit on Höfer, who is also planning his escape, and sets the D.III on fire!
Sensing a kill, Whitney fires again.
Turn 11.3
Giesebrecht exits.
Seeing no more enemies, Glen also exits the battle.
Whitney finds himself out of arc.
The flames stream from Höfer’s D.III but his aircraft is still flying.
Whitney edges closer to Höfer … ...
… but the Adler gets away, still streaming flames.
Whitney will claim a ‘probable’ for his efforts.
Höfer weaves across the sky and the fire eventually flickers out.
The Pups meet up and head back toward their airfield.
Neither wants to be the ‘bearer of bad news’, but one of them will have to tell ‘Uncle’ that the mission was a total failure.
Meanwhile, four Albatros D.III are making their way back to ‘Adlerhorst’
The two senior pilots are definitely concerned about the behavior of these new machines.
It is by pure luck they are still flying at all!
Back at base Giesebrecht confers with the other pilots.
“Mein Flugzeug fühlte sich an, als würde es unter mir zerbrechen!“
< My plane felt like it was about to break beneath me >
Hübner concurs.
“Ich bin überrascht, dass ich es überhaupt zurück geschafft habe!“
< I am surprised I made it back at all >
Eisenhardt nods in agreement.
Only Höfer wonders what all the fuss is about.
“Ich hatte überhaupt keine Probleme. Vielleicht haben Sie Ihr Flugzeug zu stark belastet.“
< I had no trouble at all. Perhaps you pushed your aircraft too hard.>
“Betrachten Sie sich als glücklich!“
< Consider yourself lucky. >
Giesebrecht and Hübner march into Obltn Wienand‘s tent.
Harsh words and raised voices let him know exactly what they felt about these new machines.
„Ich will meine D.II zurück!“
< I want my D.II back >
Hübner left no doubt of his feelings.
Giesebrecht stated clearly „Der D.III ist eine Designkatastrophe. Diese Maschinen müssen sofort geerdet werden.“
< The D.III is a design disaster. These machines must be grounded immediately. >
„Beruhigen Sie sich, meine Herren. Lassen Sie uns das in Ruhe bei einem großen Schnapserl besprechen ...“
< Calm down, gentlemen. Let's discuss this calmly over a large schnapps >
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Fe.2b
Lt Auguste Blanc: (P2) SD-NML 0 Kills 0 Probable
C&W: 5 -1 SD -1 NML = 3 - injured skip 1D6 scenarios; rolled 5 = Skip 5
E&E: 9 +1NML -1WIC = 9 : Ils ne m'ont même pas vu! < They didn’t even see me! >
Total: Skip 5
s/Lt Albert Arnoux: (O) SD-NML 0 Kills 0 Probable
C&W: 7 -1SD -1NML = 5 - injured skip 1D3 scenarios; rolled 1* = Skip 1
E&E: 8 +1NML -1WIC = 8 : Atterri presque à la maison. < Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario >
*Note: all D3 results were rolled using my new D3 dice
Fe.2b
2Lt Harold Mulock: (P2) EXP-NML 0 Kills 0 Probable
C&W: 11 -3EXP -1NML = 7 -i jured skip 1D2 scenarios; rolled 5 = Skip 2
E&E: 9 +1NML -1EXP -1WIC = 8 - Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario
Total: Skip 2
AM1 Patrick McNeaney: (O) EXP-NML 0 Kills 0 Probable
C&W: 7 -3EXP -1NML = 3 - injured skip 1D6 scenarios; rolled 1 = Skip 1
E&E: 9 +1NML -1EXP -1WIC = 8 - Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario
Total: Skip 1
Fe.2b
2Lt George Medlicott: (P2) EXP-NML 0 Kills 0 Probable
C&W: 6 -3EXP -1NML = 2 - Dead. KIA
Medlicott never got time to sit for his official portrait – killed on his first mission!
AM3 William Holme: (O) EXP-NML 0 Kills 0 Probable
C&W: 7 -3EXP -1NML = 3 - Injured skip 1D6 scenarios; rolled 3 = Skip 3
E&E: 7 +1NML -1EXP -1WIC = 6 - In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios; rolled 1 = Skip 1
Total: Skip 3
DH.2
F/Sgt Alexander David: SD-FLM-NML 0 Kills 0 Probable
C&W: 9 -2FLM -1NML = 6 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios; rolled 3 = Skip 3
E&E: 5 +1NML -1FLM -1WIC = 4 Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios; rolled 3 = Skip 3
DH.2
2Lt Barry 'Baz' Hill: SD-FLM-NML 0 Kills, 1 Probable FRTB-D (Giesebrecht)
C&W: 3 -2FLM -1NML = 0 - Dead! KIA
His lucky Pilot saved him earlier but the devastating hits he took from Giesebrecht and Eisenhardt finally did him in.
R.I.P. Baz
Sopwith Pups
2Lt Richard Glen: RTB 0 Kills 0 Probable
2Lt George Whitney: RTB 0 Kills, 1 Probable FRTB-F (Höfer)
Adler
Albatros D.III
Ltn Jens Höfer: RTB 1 Kill (Fe.2b Mulock/McNeaney) 0 Probable
Höfer was the only Adler to have zero structural damage.
Albatros D.III
Ltn Felix Eisenhardt: RTB 0 Kills 0 Probable
3 points of structural damage.
Albatros D.III
Ltn Till Hübner: FRTB-D 1 Kill (Fe.2b Blanc/Arnoux) 0 Probable
FRTB roll 2 + 6 : ok
12 points of structural damage!
Albatros D.III
Obltn Günther Giesebrecht: FRTB-D 3 kills (Fe.2b Medlicott/Holme, DH.2 David, DH.2 Hill) 0 Probables
FRTB roll 6 +2 : ok
8 points of structural damage.
Victory Points
The Entente scrape 2 points for Giesebrecht and Hübner FRTB-D due to structural failure.
The Adler claim 9 points for 3 bombers shot down, 4 points for 2 scouts shot down, for a Total of 13
I won’t bother claiming the additional 2 points for structural FRTB making it safely home, as the tally is already a blowout.
The mission went a total of 12 turns, but I found it an interesting scenario (biased as I may be)
A lot of missed +1 that I noticed when writing the AAR, but nothing that would make a difference to the outcome.
Very saddened that the roll for ‘Baz’ came in so harsh. I will miss him, just like I miss his namesake.
R.I.P. and Blue Skies ….
“First time to the table curse” struck with a vengeance.
I wanted to get my new Reduced Aircraft Factory colour 3D printed Shapeways machines to the table.
There were several in the game: 2 of the Fe.2b and 1 DH.2 (the one Baz flew) as well as the two Pups, but just the one flown by Glen was new.
I am quite happy with Darryl’s work – he could put Ares out of business at the rate he is going.
My Bulldog 2-seater roster is decimated – I hope I don’t need them soon.
One very appropriate occurrence happened when moving Hübner …
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Originally Posted by Vagabond
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