NB I am not trying to re-create exactly the historical events that happened but trying to see what happens in the game subject to the models (or substitutes) I have available. Also, there are many versions and ‘facts’ that are varied by WW1 historians, even surrounding someone as infamous as the Red Baron, and it is not my intention to add to these, but play with the most likely scenarios.
Historical Account
On 23rd September 1916 at Fienvillers Aerodrome, 27 Squadron, (A1564) Captain OT Boyd took off at 8:40am with a flight of six Martinsyde G100 (elephants) to carry out an offensive patrol between Bapaume and Cambrai, notable for the long straight road that run NW a for a distance of 28km. He was joined by (A1567) Lt PC Sherran, (A1565) Lt LF Forbes, (7475) 2Lt EJ Roberts, (7480) 2Lt OC Godfrey and (7481) Sgt H Bellerby. By 9:30am the flight had reached 11,500ft.
On the previous day (22nd September), Jasta 2 had moved to Lagnicourt, the new forward Aerodrome due in part to the bombing of Bertincourt. Boelcke had almost been left behind due to a serious ‘asthmatic complaint’ at least partially brought on by stress. He refused to go to hospital but did not fly for 5 days, so Leutnant der Reserve Erwin Bohme led the Staffel. Five Albatros D.I’s took off in the early morning ground mist including Bohme, von Richthofen, Hans Reimann, Otto Hohne and Ernst Diener and intercepted the ‘elephants’ at 9:50am.
The game
I am using Dave’s D8 solo rules for all movement, adding in climbs/dives/turns/restrictions where necessary. Boom damage is full and any collisions are pegs(both) over bases.
For Jasta 2, Bohme is in the dull yellow fuselage D.II (treated as a D.I), MvR is in the brown fuselage D.II (treated as a D.I), Reimann is in the D.II with white circle on the fuselage (treated as a D.I), Hohne is in the green D.1 and Diener is the purple D.1.
For No.27 Squadron, Martinsyde are represented by the following substitutes (I do not own any Martinsyde but the following have the nearest wingspan (these were big, sturdy machines)) 2 x AWFK8’s, 2 x Bristol Fe2b’s and 2 x Sopwith Strutter 1 1/2’s (please ignore observers as the Martinsydes are single seaters).
Although the Martinsyde had a rear-facing gun that could be used by the pilot, it was in such an awkward position for practical use that many were removed.
The following house rules were used:
1) The gun could not be used if another plane (excluding the target) was within 1/2 ruler distance (I can’t imagine the pilot turning his head to fire if there close machines!!).
2) All shots using this gun would be treated as long range (one card)
3) If the gun jams, it was out of use for the remainder of the game.
NB the forward Lewis gun fires as normal and no Ace skills were used.
Jasta 2 in loose V formation, with Bohme in the lead, are approaching 27 squadron from higher altitude, head on and engaged the enemy…..
The gap closes as both sides see each other.
Soldiers in the front line trenches are going to get a Grandstand view.
The Albatri start to dive on their opponents.
All hell breaks loose as the range closes. Bohme fires from altitude at long range for a lot of damage, but receives 0 in return and the Martinsyde jams his gun. Richthofen fires on another elephant only to see his shots miss whilst the return fire hits his engine, causing it to misfire.
Richthofen, distracted by his misfiring engine collides with sturdy Elephant he fired at but both are lucky to come away with no damage. He fires at another Martinsyde at short range doing some damage and seeing smoke start to billow from the engine area. However, in his recklessness he finds he is in short range of two enemy who both open fire, both somehow miss with the guns jamming on one machine. Bohme flies over his Martinsyde, but Reimann is able to fire at the Martinsyde on his side, frustratingly just managing to jam his gun, the return fire does minor damage. Diener swaps fire at short range with his Martinsyde but comes off worse, Hohne is still out of range.
Bohme Immelmanns to get back on the tail of his elephant but only succeeds in jamming his gun. Hohne dives and swaps short range shots with his smoking HA (Hostile Aircraft), completely damaging it’s rudder controls, both let and right, receiving minor damage in return as the Martinsyde also jams their gun.
There are a lot of people unjamming guns in the next phase. Richthofen performs a Split-S and gets a long range shot for minor damage. Diener reverses too to set his opponent on fire.
The elephants all begin their slow turns and Diener catches his opponent for a consecutive shot which blows the machine apart. Hohne performs an Immelmann to get back on the tails of the Martinsydes. Richthofen hits a close range enemy damaging his engine, while everyone else is still unjamming.
A Martinsyde misses Hohne from long range after completing a slow turn, whilst another gets a short range volley into his side, causing him to catch fire. Hohne returns fire for rudder damage. Bohme dives and finishes unjamming his gun whilst Richthofen hits for major damage and Reimann jams his gun again. He will need to speak with the armorer.
Hohne’s fire does some minor damage.
Whilst overlapping Manfred a Martinsyde gets a long range shot at Reimann causing his machine to start to smoke, annd his return fire misses. Another elephant overlaps Hohne. It seems that they are trying to collide, the Albatri would do well to avoid these big, sturdy machines. Richthofen hits a machine at long range killing the pilot, Bohme’s bullets thudding into the plane soon after, but it is already falling to the ground. Reimann dives and Diener Split-S’s to get back on the tails.
All the combatants break from each other to try to get in position to attack.
Having just cleared his gun, Reimann gets in a short range position to fire on his enemy and…..jams his gun again. Richthofen performs a Split-S, while Hohne’s fire still does some damage. Diener and his elephant swap fire, Diener doing no damage, but his machine starts to smoke and let rudder control is difficult.
Diener and another enemy trade short range shots, this time his shots do more damage, however, his right rudder is now affected too.
It all goes quiet for a moment as most pilots are fighting with their engines, smoke or unjamming their guns. Hohne Immels but fire has greatly damaged his aircraft.
Diener hits his target at short range causing left and right damage, but the enemy gunner gets in a telling shot, seriously wounding Diener and his plane falls to earth but he controls the landing and is taken to the field hospital. Reimann performs an Immelmann and with Hohne’s final fire damage taking him to within 1 point of going down he returns his heavily damaged aircraft to the Aerodrome, leaving the fight.
Richthofen returns fire with his enemy plane coming off slightly worse but still in the air, despite his failing engine. Reimann hits the same enemy but causes no damage.
Manfred returns fire with another enemy at long range but both miss. Not surprising as the enemy had twisted in his seat and fired his rear gun!
Bohme manages to get back into the fight but is set on fire by his opponent. Manfred misses with his consecutive shot on the tail of his enemy.
Richthofen gets a long range shot at the enemy with engine problems and finishes him off with well-placed shots, seeing the plane spiral to the ground.
The planes regroup, with the odds even 3 on 3.
Bohme takes fire damage, but has not been involved in much action.
Two enemy planes are chasing Reimann while Bohme and Richthofen sought themselves out.
One closes within range and hits with his rear gun for minor damage on Reimann as he turns.
Manfred has a long range shot but misses again, while Bohme goes to help Reimann.
The rear gun fires at Richthofen but jams (and is out of use for the remainder of the game). Manfred is out of arc, while Reimann Immelmanns. The fire does no more damage to Bohme as he fires for minor damage, the enemy misses at long range.
The guns are running hot now and a shot at Reimann jams an opponents gun, while he returns fire.
As he passes another shot hits Richthofen for minor damage, but the return fire is more effective.
Reimann overlaps his enemy avoiding the collision.
Reimann performs an Immelmann to get on his opponents tail but misses with the shot. Bohme’s fire fizzles out much to his relief.
Reimann’s next shot damages the rudder control as the plane seeks to escape his two pursuers.
It is to no avail as Reimann gets in a telling shot, wounding the pilot and Bohme also fires at long range.
The beleaguered plane leaves the scene with heavy damage. Meanwhile the other two behemoths collide in mid-air. There is a terrific noise and one one falls to earth in pieces, the other barely flying with Richthofen closing after an Immelmann.
Manfred exchanges fire with the last enemy plane on the map, and finishes off the stricken engine, but not before taking a big hit in return. The enemy falls to the earth and Richthofen limps back to the Aerodrome.
Game summary
Bohme - 0 kills
Reimann - 0 kills
Richthofen - 3 kills
Hohne - 0 kills and left with fire damage
Diener - 1 kill and was shot down
1 x Martinsyde made it back to the Aerodrome and one smashed to pieces in a collision.
Historical result
Ltn E Bohme (3rd kill but not credited as unconfirmed) shot down Martinsyde G100 (7475) after a collision with the plane and it started smoking over Hervilly (near Le Transloy?) at 8:55am. The pilot, 2Lt EJ Roberts (Australian) was Killed in Action.
Ltn H Reimann (4th kill) shot down Martinsyde G100 (7480) after a collision with the enemy aircraft which started smoking over Bus, south of Bertincourt at 8:50am. The pilot, 2Lt OC Godfrey was killed in action (NB a he was well-known pre-war as a sporting motorcyclist and Tourist Trophy rider).
Ltn M von Richthofen (2nd kill) shot down Martinsyde G100 (7481) after a collision with the enemy aircraft south of Beugny at 8:50am. The pilot, Sgt H Bellerby was mortally wounded in the combat after MvR had fired 300 shots and took two machine guns as trophies, one with a bullet in the breech block. The dead pilot was buried by 7th Infantry Division.
2Lt LF Forbes (A1565) deliberately rammed his Martynsyde into the Albatros of Ltn Hans Reimann bringing him down and the German fell to his death, his aircraft out of control at Noreuil. Forbes had a damaged wing but was able to make it back to 24 squadron Aerodrome at Bertangles where he had difficulty landing and crashed into a tree injuring his shoulder and wrecking the aircraft.
Capt OT Boyd and Lt PC Sherran made it back to their own Aerodrome at Fienvillers.
Ltn Ernst Diener did in fact make it back to base, only to be shot down and killed a week later….but that is another story.
NB There are a lot of conflicting stories about collisions, etc, but it would seem that these robust planes could survive this type of tactic so could easily have been used when under pressure.
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