MVR AAR5 - Manfred’s 5th kill - 16th October 1916 - By Baz
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 vary 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 10th October 1916, MvR had filed a claim for a FE2b shot down at Rouex to the east of Arras. He had fired 300 shots into the enemy plane which began to smoke and glide down. MvR started to follow the plane down but was attacked from the rear and broke off. The FE was then engaged by a two-seater crew from Flieger-Abteilung 22 (FA22) crewed by Vizefeldwebel Fritz Kosmahl and Oberleutnant Neuburger which he claimed for himself. The disputed claim was awarded to Kosmahl.
Following several days off wind, rain and low clouds the weather broke on the afternoon of 16th October 1916. 19th Squadron planned a bombing raid on Hermies railway station and Aerodrome taking off from Fienvillers airfield, some 60km from their target on the orders of IXth Wing.
8 BE12 aircraft took off at 14:25 to achieve their mission (reduced to 7 as one BE had engine trouble and landed at Vert Galant airfield at 15:00).
The pilots were Capt. Cecil R Tidswell (6620), 2Lt John Thompson (6580), 2Lt Smyth (6643), 2Lt R Watts (6622), 2Lt A B Drewery (6594), 2Lt Hope (6637), 2Lt J D Canning (6588) and 2Lt C G Baker (6619).
5 planes from Jasta 2 took off from Lagnicourt airfield and headed SW for its hunting grounds in the vicinity of Bapaume.
The pilots used are Ltn Manfred von Richthofen, Ltn Erwin Bohme, Obltn Stefan Kirmaier, Ltn Jurgen Sandel and Offz Max Muller.
After completing their bombing raid, West of Havrincourt Wood (over Ryaulcourt) the BEs got into a fight with the Jasta 2 Staffel at 2800m altitude. Canning, who was engaged himself, reported seeing Thompson go to help two other BE12’s and not seeing him again. Baker was keeping two planes at bay with his rear Lewis (NB this was difficult in a one-seater aircraft) and then had to change drums, and in doing so lost control and began to spin down, but this effectively lost the two German aircraft and he then flew home.
Two BE12’s were reported as being shot down that day (6580) 2Lt Thompson kill credited to MVR as he later salvaged the serial number, and (6620) Capt Tidswell claimed by Ltn Sandel. Despite the fact that both RFC aircraft fell within the German lines and no other pilot claimed credit for shooting it down, Sandel’s claim was disallowed.
There was also claims from RFC pilots about a red enemy aircraft being seen but this was before MVR had painted any aircraft Red so again was unconfirmed.
The game
I am using Dave’s D8 solo rules for all the plane movements, adding in climbs/dives/turns and restrictions where necessary. Boom damage counts as full and any collisions are pegs (both) over bases. I am using the K deck with 14 damage and B firing for the BE12 planes.
For Jasta 2, Ltn der Reserve Erwin Bohme is in the Albatros D.II yellow fuselage (treated as D.I), Ltn Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen is in the Albatros D.II brown fuselage (first time it is probable he had used a D.II), Obltn Stefan Kirmaier is in the Albatros D.II white circle (treated as a D.I) Ltn Jurgen Sandel in the green Albatros D.I and Offz Max Muller is in the purple Albatros D.I.
For 19 Squadron, Capt Tidswell is in the BE2 (yellow dot) (treated as BE12), 2Lt J Thompson is in the BE2 (orange dot) (treated as BE12), 2Lt CG Baker is in the BE2 (blue dot) (treated as BE12 with rear gun also), 2Lt Smyth is in the BE2 (green dot) (treated as BE12) and 2Lt Hope is in the BE2 (red dot)(treated as BE12), 2Lt JD Canning is in the BE2 (Blue dot respawned Turn 5 phase 3)(treated as a BE12) and 2Lt AB Drewery is in the BE2 (Red spot respawned Turn 5 phase 1).
Climbing gains two chits. Diving loses one Altitude but retains the chits.
For the purpose of this game all BE12’s are only fitted with synchronised Vickers (except for Baker who has a rear Lewis gun fitted to the left side too)
Five of the BE12’s returning from the bombing run.
Above Bertincourt, Jasta 2 see the formation and turn to intercept.
The two opposing forces jostle for position, with Muller cutting off the run to the trenches.
The Jasta pilots spread out selecting individual targets.
With Muller covering the back, MvR dives to the RAF altitude ready to engage.
Bohme and Kirmaier follow suit. With Bohme overlapping Thompson, he exchanges short range shots with Baker inflicting damage to the left rudder controls. In return he receives a wound to the shoulder which takes him by surprise and in fact stops him from getting any more shots until a lot later in the game. Tidswell is overlapping MvR and Kirmaier while Smyth is overlapping Thompson. Thompson is able to get a long range shot at Kirmaier which causes some damage but in so doing he is blocking a shot from Hope who has no line of sight. MvR hits Baker at close range for major damage and hitting a fuel pipe causing it so start smoking. Kirmaier hits Thompson at long range for minor damage whilst Muller is out of range at a higher altitude.
As the two flights pass through each other, Baker uses his rear gun, aiming through the smoke at MvR and hits for minor damage to the right rudder controls. Hope is the only other BE12 able to get a short range shot at Bohme for minor damage. Muller closes to the front at higher altitude while Sandel dives and collides with MvR taking minor damage whilst Manfred does not suffer any damage (but is not too happy with Sandel!). Kirmaier gets a short range shot at Hope and causes some left rudder damage.
With the flights trying to turn on each other, Tidswell and Baker overlap, and Smyth has a long range shot at Muller for minor rudder damage, Thompson also has a long range shot but fails to hit the target, in return with altitude advantage, Muller hits Thompson fro minor damage but the his guns fall silent as they jam! Sandel turns back towards the flight and has a short range shot at Hope for minor damage to the left rudder, with Kirmaier out of arc. MVR is still shaken by the earlier collision and manoeuvres for position.
The BE12’s all turn slowly to re-engage. Muller hammers at his gun to unjam the breech, Manfred Immelmanns and Sandel is able to fire on Baker at long range but misses the target.
Thompson hits Kirmaier for minor rudder damage at long range, Muller Immelmanns whilst still unjamming guns, Manfred fires at long range on Hope but misses but Sandel hits Hope at short range in the engine bay causing some major damage.
Capt Tidswell fires at close range on Manfred but only succeeds in jamming his gun, while Thompson has the same result on Bohme with minor damage. Muller finally manages to free his gun, and MvR aims for Hope with a consecutive shot but misses again. Bohme is unable to fire after a stall due to the pin in his shoulder but Sandel also gets a consecutive short range shot at Hope causing the BE12 some major damage and starting to smoke.
Sandel follows up on Hope at short range but is unable to hit. Manfred from long range finishes the job with a second consecutive shot to down Hope in enemy territory.
Kirmaier has a long range at Thompson but misses.
Smyth has a long range on Sandel and sees bullets hit the fuselage but little impact, Manfred Immels and the rest jockey for position.
Baker and Tidswell overlap, Tidswell and Thompson free their guns, Smyth fires a consecutive shot at Sandel but misses. Meanwhile, 2Lt Drewery is seen to be flying in, late from the bombing (Red dot respawn)Muller undertakes a Split-S while Manfred takes a long range shot at Baker and scores for right rudder damage, Sandel Immelmanns.
Tidswell hits Kirmaier at long range for minor damage, but then sees Baker brought down by MvR with a consecutive shot at short range, mortally wounding the pilot but also jamming his gun.
Another latecomer from the bombing, Canning (blue respawn) joins the flight home and has a long range shot at Kirmaier but only succeeds in jamming his guns. In return, Kirmaier from altitude sets the newcomer on fire (missing pictue)
The fire starts to spread on Canning’s plane.
Canning overlaps Kirmaier, narrowly avoiding a collision, and starts to unjam his gun. Tidswell overlaps Drewery but manages to fire at long range on Bohme, to see Bohme’s plane explode and fall from the sky (I assume he is back in action on 28th for Boelcke’s demise!!). Smyth hits Sandels Albatros for major damage and sets it on fire, while Thompson has a short range shot at Manfred but misses again. Manfred unjam his gun surrounded by bullets, whilst Bohme manages to fire at Tidswell as he is downed but misses. Sandel has a short range on Smyth after a Split-S but misses and jams his gun.
There is no firing in the next two phases as everyone assesses the position.
Sandel takes 3 fire damage as Canning takes 2
Sandel dives and closes on Smyth at long range but misses his chance.
Muller dives with Manfred and Kirmaier closing on the remaining BE12’s
Fire is dangerous! In the next turn Sandel takes enough fire damage for his plane to crash out of control. Canning is worst and the fire causes his plane to explode over the enemy territory.
Amongst the falling planes, Manfred fires at long range on Smyth for major damage.
Muller fires on Tidswell for rudder damage
…Thompson and Smyth team up for long range shots on Kirmaier causing rudder damage, while in return Kirmaier causes minor damage to Thompson.
Drewery is able to return to their territory in the red spot BE12, while Muller misses a long range shot on Tidswell.
Kirmaier Immelmanns and has a long range on Thompson which jams his gun.
Smyth and Thompson again combine fire on Muller this time with Smyth at long range and Thompson at short range causing major damage. Muller returns fire on Smyth but misses and jams his gun. Manfred helps and fires at long range on Smyth for minor damage. Kirmaier starts to unjam his gun.
Due to overlaps, only Smyth and Manfred are able to fire at each other at short range, Manfred with a consecutive shot. Both hit for major damage with no special damage.
Manfred Immelmanns and hits Smyth again for major damage bringing him down in enemy territory for his 3rd kill. Kirmaier undertakes a Split-S and frees his gun jam.
Thompson closes on Kirmaier, overlapping Manfred, and hits at long range for minor damage. In return, Kirmaier hits at short range taking out the rudder and mortally wounding the pilot, with the plane falling to the ground, giving Kirmaier a second kill. Capt Tidswell returns to base having undertaken a successful bombing but at a high cost. Again the BE12 has been shown to be lacking in a fighter role.
Game stats
BE12 (Blue) 2Lt CG Baker shot down by Ltn Manfred von Richthofen
BE12 (Red) 2Lt Hope shot down by Ltn Manfred von Richthofen
BE12 (Blue respawn) 2Lt D Canning Destroyed by fire, Obltn Stefan Kirmaier
BE12 (Green) 2Lt Smyth shot down by Ltn Manfred von Richthofen
BE12 (Orange) 2Lt J Thompson shot down by Obltn Stefan Kirmaier
BE12 (Red respawn) 2Lt A Drewery Returned to base after damage from bombing run
BE12 (Yellow) Capt Cecil Tidswell performed well and returned to base after suffering damage.
Albatros D.1 (Yellow) Ltn Erwin Bohme shot down (explosion) by Captain Tidswell
Albatros D.1 (Green) Ltn Jurgen Sandel destroyed by fire , 2Lt Smyth
Muller, Richthofen and Kirmaier all returned to base.
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Originally Posted by Baxter
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