OTT EYM, Mission 6, 12 Feb 1917, ‘Walfisch Among the Piranhas’ {Stumptonian}
“The tandem took off in the early light for its recon mission deep behind enemy lines. Well behind enemy lines a flight of enemy scouts spotted the tandem and the chase was on!
Luckily, a cloud bank was ahead, not too far away. Safety was in sight. The tandem disappeared into the clouds before the scouts could engage. Knowing the enemy would linger, waiting for their exit, the tandem pilot flew deeper and deeper into the cloud. The conditions in the cloud worsened and became violent. The winds buffeted the plane in many directions, right, left, up and down.
The pilot strained to his limits to keep control, barely. Finally, the pilot decided it was time to exit the cloud for safety’s sake. When exiting the storm cloud there were no familiar landmarks on the ground.
A good thing that the compass was still in good order and a heading for home was set. Little did the pilot and observer know they were about to fly through the enemy’s pilot training area.”
Ltn Justus Raucheisen finally felt he had control of the Roland again, although the engine was definitely struggling.
“Ich habe keine Ahnung, wo wir sind!“ < I have no idea where we are! > he shouted back at Observer Max Jungbauer.
Raucheisen detected movement ahead at their 11:00
As they got closer his heart sank …
“Englander!” he called to Jungbauer.
Jungbauer struggled to see what Raucheisen had spotted.
“Ah, jetzt sehe ich es. Ein Vickers ...“
< Ah, I see it now. A Vickers. >
All pushers were "Vickers" to the Germans ...
Up at their 2:00 another DH.2 was approaching, but the Adler had not spotted it yet.
Da da da da
Tikka tik …
Raucheisen exchanges burst with the DH.2
“Verdammt!”
His ‘Spandau’ has jammed.
Suddenly the Roland lurches violently.
The storm apparently weakened the struts of the Roland and the shots from the Lewis Gun has made things much worse.
[This scenario dictates special rules for the British trainees. 0 and 1 are treated as “0” and any special damage is ignored. Damage at 2 and above is reduced by 1 but Special Damage effects are applied. Booms are at half damage. I noted those with green cubes.]
Not a good start for my Adler ….
Da da da da
Jungbauer fires at the DH.2 as it pulls away.
It looks like Dietrich-Daimler’s luck from the previous scenario has infected Jungbauer …
“Zwei!”
Jungbauer shouts to Raucheisen that there are two DH.2s
Raucheisen clears his jammed MG08 and tries to keep a safe distance from the Brits.
Raucheisen and DH.2 No. 5 are both out of arc.
The rookie gets way too close for comfort.
Da da da da
Jungbauer nails the DH.2 and the Gnome engine begins to howl.
This is one trainee who will have to call it a day.
Da da da da
Jungbauer definitely has his Parabellum dialed in and the young Brit feels the sting of German lead.
Da da da
Jungbauer is 3 for 3 and does some serious damage to the pusher.
The DH.2 is just out arc so there is no return fire.
A roll of ‘8’ and a new opponent arrives as the damaged DH.2 exits.
Da da da
The CDL DH.2 is finally in range but the rookie does no damage.
Da da d…
Jungbauer’s turn for a jammed gun.
Da da da
Another burst that hits nothing of notice.
Da da da
The CDL pilot’s frustration grows …
Da da da da
Finally a result! and Raucheisen’s rudder controls are damaged.
Da da da
Da da da
Jungbauer exchanges quick bursts with the newly arrived DH.2
Da da da
Da da da
Another exchange, but this time Jungbauer hits the Englander where it hurts.
Da da da
Da da da
This rookie thinks he’s a Bulldog and his tenacity / frustration grows.
Da da da da
Jungbauer spits some lead at the pesky Brit.
The rookie is learning quickly and slips into the Roland’s blind spot.
Da da d ….
“Damnitall!”
His Lewis has jammed, but Raucheisen is hit!
He will need to get the Roland home, and quickly!
The rookie stays in Jungbauer’s Blind Spot while he madly fiddles with his Lewis.
Jungbauer is frustrated that he cannot get off a shot at the annoying Englander.
Finally!
Da da da da
Jungbauer makes up for missed time and damages his second Gnome of the day.
Another FRTB
No shots: Blind Spot – Out of Arc – Out of Range
Da da da
Da da da
Da da da
The newly-arrived opponent jumps immediately into the fray.
Three bursts fired but both rookies miss their mark.
“Flammen!”
Jungbauer sees flames flowing from the CDL machine.
The Roland escapes into a low cloud bank.
“Hoffentlich kein weiterer Sturm …”
< Hopefully not another storm >
The rookie in the CDL struggles with his flames.
Things are not going well, and the flames are spreading.
Just when the young trainee thought the fire was under control …
Boom!
The fire has reached the fuel.
The hapless young pilot screams in pain as his stricken aircraft falls from the sky.
Butcher’s Tally
Entente Trainees
PC10 DH.2 No. 5: FRTB-E / WIA 0 Kills or Probables
FRTB Rolled 4 & 6 = Stuck the landing
C&W: 8 +1RTB -1WIA = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 1 = Skip 1
PC10/CDL DH.2: FRTB-E 0 Kills; 1 Probable (Roland FRTB-W)
FRTB Rolled 5 & 2 = Stuck the landing
CDL DH.2 No. 4: EXP FT 0 Kills or Probables
C&W: Rolled 5 -3EXP = 2 - Dead
PC10 DH.2: RTB 0 Kills or Probables
Adler
LFG Roland C.II Crashed on landing
Ltn Justus Raucheisen: (P2) - FRTB-W / WIA 0 Kills or Probables
FRTB Rolled 6 & 6 = Crashed
C&W: 8 +1RTB -1FRTB -1WIA = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 4 = Skip 2
Ltn Max Jungbauer: (O) - FRTB-W 1 Kill (CDL DH.2) 2 Probables (DH.2 No.5 and PC10/CDL DH.2)
C&W: Rolled 8 +1RTB -1FRTB = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 4 = Skip 2
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An interesting mission, Peter.
I thought my Adler were done when they drew the Boom on the first turn.
It was a lonnng way to the other end of the table.
The reduced damage rules definitely saved their bacon.
Although my FRTB rolls need some work ....
All caught up now.
Now to come up with something for Mission 7 ...
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for his continued service and victories for the Kaiser & Fatherland 
Originally Posted by flash
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