OTT Mission 7 - At length did cross an Albatros - 19th February 1917 by Baz
The Armee Flug Park had rung the Staffel to say that the repaired D.III’s were ready for collection (rolled 5, so 3 were available). They also said that there was a prototype Roland D.II that was ready for battle testing to collect. Ltn Heinz Hornig Albatros D.III (Blue), Ltn Friedel Lutz Albatros D.III (Heart) and Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger Roland D.II had collected the machines and once refuelled and armed had gone out on Offensive Patrol across the trench lines to test the repairs and new prototype
The patrol had approached the front lines without seeing an enemy plane but disciplined enough to stay in formation.
They crossed their own lines hopeful not to attract friendly fire in their relatively new machines.
They turned to follow the enemy trench line but there was little activity below.
But they kept to formation and orders and followed the line
They were just turning back towards their own line, when they came to the notice of an Entente patrol, consisting of 3 x Sopwith Pups and a Sopwith Triplane who closed on their flanks unnoticed.
By the time they had completed the turn homewards, the enemy planes had closed and approached from their left flank.
With the element of surprise (+1) 2Lt John Fern in Pup Nr.1 lined up the Roland and took a long range shot which missed, but did alert the Staffel to their presence. (I played one more planned move before allowing the planes to act independently)
Before he knew what was happening, Fern and Collins in Pup Nr.3 hit the Roland of Schnellinger, causing it to smoke. Fern jammed his gun in the process.
The Staffel all turn left to approach the oncoming danger with Collins getting a long range shot at Lutz.
The more manoeuvrable Sopwiths turn sharply allowing Collins to get a consecutive shot at the slow turning Albatros of Lutz for heavy damage.
Next turn the Albatri turn left to try to tail the Sopwiths and the Roland splits formation and turns right. Elliott in Pup Nr. 2 now fires at Lutz at long range but misses. Collins pumps some lead into Hornig but Cameron in the Triplane is blocked by Fern.
Lutz keeps up his slow turn and collides with Collins in Pup 3, but it must be his lucky day as he ends up with no damage. (Lucky Pilot used on Boom). Collins is not so lucky and suffers major damage, but gets off a consecutive shot against Hornig. The tight turning has also caused havoc in the Entente ranks and Pups 1 & 2 collide. Pup 1 suffers no damage but Pup 2 gets 4 damage. Cameron in the Triplane now has a clear shot at Hornig and hits him for rudder damage.
Hornig performs an Immelmann and catches Collins at short range for heavy damage. He pays the price though as Cameron in the Triplane fills his plane with Short range bullets, and a fire soon hits something vital and the engine explodes causing it to spiral to earth in No-man’s land. Pups 1 & 2 collide again but neither suffers damage this time.
Lutz and Schnellinger both reverse with Immelmann and Split-S manoeuvres, shocked to see the demise of Hornig. Fern in Pup 1 hits the ‘Shark’ (Roland) at long range and the smoke (second) suddenly becomes a fire.
Lutz manages a long range shot at the Pup3 for minor damage with none of the others in a firing range, either overlapped or out of arc.
The Roland fire does no further damage and when performing an Immelmann catches Elliott in Pup2 at short range. Good job he checked the bullets this morning to avoid a jam. Lutz also has a short range at the Pup3 for minor damage.
The Eagles press their attack and Lutz hits the Triplane at long range only to jam his guns. Schnellinger in the Roland fires at short range on Fern but again misses the target.
Collins in Pup3 has left the field to return to the Aerodrome with major damage.
The Roland again takes no fire damage (NB jam token should be fire token) and the rest manoeuvre for firing position with Lutz unjamming his gun.
Fern in Pup1 is the first to succeed and fires at long range at the Roland but misses the target.
Schnellinger takes his final fire damage. The Roland is proving to be a robust aircraft.
After much manoeuvring around each other, Lutz gets his sights on the Triplane at long range for devastating results and the Triplane wing explodes in mid-air forcing it to land in No-man’s land. The return fire does little damage.
That now evens up the odds, and Lutz takes advantage at long range on Elliott in Pup2 for rudder damage.
The next shot to be taken again finds Lutz at long range on Elliott for minor damage, with the other two craft closing.
The Roland and Pup1 swap shots, the Roland much more effective and the Pup guns go silent again as it gets another jam.
The ‘Shark’ Immelmanns to get a long range at Pup1 for heavy damage whilst Fern unjam his guns.
Next moment the Roland and the Pup1 collide doing minor damage.
Lutz finally closes on Pup2 from long range and with a controlled shot that takes out his rudder the Pup spirals to earth once again over no-man’s land.
Fern being the last fighter left (Pup1) exits the map while he has the chance and the two central planes fly back home to give their reports on the plane’s performance and to see if Hornig has made the landing ok.
Victory Points
Central
Aircraft shot down 2x3=6
Aircraft FRTB 1x1=1
Total = 7 pts
Entente
Aircraft shot down 1x3=3
Total = 3 pts.
Victory to the Eagles
Butcher’s Tally
Eagles:
Ltn Friedel Lutz: Albatros D.III (Heart) - RTB 2 kills (Cameron, Elliott)
Ltn Heinz Hornig: Albatros D.III (Blue) - EXP-NML 0 kills, 1 Probable (Collins FTRB-D)
C&W: Rolled 7 -3EXP -1NML = 3 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios, rolled 2 = Skip 2
E&E: Rolled 7 -1EXP -1WIC +1NML = 6- In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios, rolled 1 = Skip 1
Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger: Roland D.II - RTB 0 kills or probables
Bulldogs:
2Lt Joseph Cameron: Sopwith Triplane - EXP-NML 1kill (Hornig)
C&W: Rolled 11 -3EXP -1NML = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 2 = Skip 1
E&E: Rolled 11 -1EXP -1WIC +1NML = 10 - They didn’t even see me!
2Lt John Fern: Sopwith Pup (Nr.1) - RTB 0 kills or probables
2Lt Horace Elliott: Sopwith Pup (Nr.2) - SD-NML 0 kills or probables
C&W: Rolled 12 -1SD -1NML = 10 - All well when you land well
E&E: Rolled 8 +1NML = 9 - They didn’t even see me!
2Lt William Collins: Sopwith Pup (Nr.3) - FRTB-D 0 kills or probables
Rolled 1+1 = Crashed
C&W: Rolled 7 -1FRTB +1RTB = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 6 = Skip 2
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by flash
Great to see that Roland in the mix - might want to be sure its guns are sighted in again. 
And what a great deal of punishment it took for little effect. Made for a great dogfight. Yep, exciting one and very enjoyable to read. Congratulations to the Eagles on a hard fought win. Plenty of action, aircraft wrecked but no pilot losses - has to be a result that 
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