OTT-EYM Mission 9 - “The Marshalling Yard” - March 5th 1917 by Baz
FF (A) 245 “Zweisitzer” group have been ordered to bomb the Bailleul Nord marshalling yards just behind the front line to hinder the movement of enemy troops. Jasta 24 Eagles had been asked to provide a fighter escort for the raid.
The area to be bombed had been provided by aerial reconnaissance photographs (although not of great clarity),
And it had been indicated that amongst the military buildings, etc there was a French civilian presence. It had also been reported that the area was protected by AA guns. To make matters worse the severe wind conditions would mean that there was a possibility that the bombs would deviate from their original targets as it was to be carried out at high altitude. As the target was over enemy territory beyond the front line it was fully expected that enemy scouts would also intercept.
FF(A) 245 had provided two Albatros C.VII’s for the raid fully loaded with 90kg of bombs each triggered in two loads. In the first C.VII with the number 3 on the fuselage were Fwbl Helmut Schon (Pilot) and Ltn Lothar Emmerich (Observer/rear gunner/bomber). In the other with a checker plate pattern on the side fuselage were Vzfwbl Wolfgang Overath (Pilot) and Obltn Helmut Hauer (Observer/rear gunner/bomber).
Tilkowski had chosen Ltn Jurgen Grabowski to provide escort but had allowed him to use the Roland D.II.
The target had been identified from the photos on the approach by the flight.
The Eagles approached in a disjointed formation due to the severe wind, the two Albatri at altitude 6 and the Roland at altitude 8.
There was no sight of enemy scouts but the AA had started up early and was on target with their first shot on Schon.
It would take a while to reload, so the bombers took advantage to line up their target.
…and Grabowski kept an eye out for enemy scouts, moving between the two bombers, whilst Schon and Emmerich prepared to release their bombs.
With the bombs on the way to the target all eyes were kept to the skies.
Schon/Emmerich’s bombs had hit their target but deviated to the right on impact. Overath/Hauer prepared to release their bombs but were battered by a close miss from the AA.
Grabowski spots the inevitable, three Sopwith Tripes in line closing fast at high altitude. He would need to keep their attention away from the bombers.
Piloting the Tripes from bottom to top are 2Lt Charles Harrup (white band), 2Lt Horace Elliott (CDL) and 2Lt John Fern (Red Cross).
Overath/Emmerich release their first load of bombs as the Tripes close in. Schon is peeling off to make a second approach from the West.
The bombs hit their target again despite being pushed forward by the wind.
Grabowski performs a split-S and confronts two of the Tripes head-on, dishing out rudder damage to Elliott. Elliott and Harrup both miss with their long range shots on Grabowski as Fern turns to attack the top bomber.
Grabowski and Elliott overlap each other as Harrup sees the lower bomber and Fern dives to lower altitude.
The AA gun seems to have Overath at short range but thee is no damage from the shells as they explode around the aircraft buffeting it in the wind.
Grabowski and Elliott start to close on one another while the other two Tripes continue to close on the bombers
Grabowski and Elliott once again overestimate the speed of their planes and overlap. Both of the other Tripes have performed dives to get near to the bomber altitudes.
As both bombers start their turns for their bombing approach, the tripes continue to close in.
The Entente fighters are close now as Grabowski and Elliott performing an elegant dance around each other for position.
Fern catches Overath in the turn and the spits bullets at the side fuselage. Likewise, Harrup dives and catches Schon head-on at close range for damage. In return Schon hits Harrup for minor rudder damage.
…once again, Grabowski overlaps with Elliott.
Harrup moves into Emmerich’s blind spot, but Fern takes rudder damage from Hauer’s rear gun as he passes.
…Grabowski and Elliott continue to dance.
The AA fire is unable to fire as the C.VII’s are out of range and Grabowski has a friendly (Elliott) within close proximity.
That all changes next turn with Schon coming in range but the strong wind deflects the shot causing it to miss. Schon prepares to lineup the bombs for dropping while Emmerich in the rear gun hits Harrup at long range adding to his rudder issues. Hauer has a consecutive shot at Fern but misses and jams his gun. Fern who has Immelmanned takes a shot from altitude at Overath but misses. Harrup has performed an Immelmann too and gets a good shot off at Schon only to see the bullets miss the target.
Grabowski Immelmanns and seems to have Elliott in his sights
Emmerich is unable to shoot this phase as he drops his second load of bombs, but Harrup takes advantage and fires a consecutive shot which damages the plane. Overath overlaps Fern as Hauer tries to unjam his guns.
Elliott turns at 90’ again to get a short range shot at Grabowski causing major damage but jamming his gun. Grabowski’s return fire also jams his gun but not before he rains shots into Elliott’s engine causing damage. Elliott will be forced to return to his airfield.
Schon’s second load of bombs again connect with the target zone only slightly adrift of the intended target. Emmerich fires at Harrup in celebration hitting him for major damage. Overath is intending to drop his bombs at short range, while Hauer continues to unjam his guns. Harrup returns consecutive fire at Schon but misses.
Both jammed, Grabowski and Elliott fly past each other, with Elliott looking to head off.
Hauer send his bombs on their way and manages to unjam his guns. Grabowski performs a Split-S but has jammed guns. Harrup fires consecutively on Schon and sets the two-seater smoking. Emmerich gains revenge by sending a consecutive damaging salvo back at Harrup.
It all happens this turn. Overath bombs land on the target zone without any deviation and Hauer fires at short range on Fern who has dove into range, catching his rudder controls and his plane starts to smoke. In return he misses from short range and jams his gun! Harrup hits Schon with another consecutive shot causing him enough damage to send him home (which is where he wants to get anyway). Withering fire from Emmerich now peppers Harrup with bullets hitting his right thigh and sending his plane crashing into the bombed zone to add more carnage!! Grabowski and Elliott finally manage to free their guns. As if that wasn’t enough, the AA gun fires at Schon again but misses.
Schon dives as he sees the departing Elliott in front of him. Hauer has no shot as Fern is in his blind spot again. Grabowski turns to engage with Fern who is chasing Overath.
Schon and Elliott both fly towards the edge of the map. Fern turns to follow Overath but Hauer has eye in now and the smoke on Ferns plane turns to Fire as hits again at close range. Fern tries to unjam his gun as his plane catches, while Grabowski turns to engage him too.
Grabowski dives in the background, whilst Hauer hits Fern with a consecutive shot at long range, this time damaging his engine.
As Fern turns to head for home, Hauer fires again at long range but misses. The AA gun fires at Overath but is inaccurate again. Grabowski closes the distance.
The next instant fire takes hold of the Triplane and brings it crashing to the ground
Elliott, the sole surviving Bulldog leaves the map to leave the three Eagles to return to base, Schon severely damaged.
Victory points
Central
Reconnaissance reports now in with the results of the bombing run.
Bomb 1 (Southwest)
Primary target hit - Civilian = -2
Other enemy targets (1x10)/2 = 5 (Arms Factory)
(5x2)/2= 5
Civilian structures (1x-2)/2= -1
Total pts = +7pts
Bomb 2 (Northwest)
Primary target hit - Enemy = 2
Other enemy targets (2x2)/2= 2
Civilian structures (2x-2)/2= -2
Total pts = +2pts
Bomb 3 (South)
Primary target hit - Enemy = 2
Other enemy targets (1x10)/2= 5 (Artillery)
(9x2)/2= 9
Civilian structures (0)= 0
Total pts = +16pts
Bomb 4 (Central)
Primary Target hit - Enemy Train = 10
Other Enemy targets (3x10)/2= 15 (Second train, Armoured train, Fuel store)
(10x2)/2= 10
Civilian structures (1x-2)/2= -1
Total pts = 34pts
Net total pts from bombing= 7+2+16+34= 59pts
1 primary target destroyed (Train) and 5 others blast damaged, only 5 Civilian structures hit.
Enemy scout shot down 2x5=10 pts
Enemy scout FRTB 1x5=5 pts
Total= 15 pts + 59pts (bombing)= 74pts (Outstanding success)
Entente
Enemy 2-seater FRTB 1x5=5 pts
Total= 5 pts
An outstanding win for the Eagles (with minimal civilian casualties).
Butcher's Tally
Eagles
Ltn Jurgen Grabowski: Roland D.II: RTB / 0 kills, 1 probable (Elliott FRTB-E)
Vzfwbl Wolfgang Overath: (P2) - Albatros C.VII (checker fuselage): RTB / 0 kills
Obltn Helmut Hauer: (O) - Albatros C.VII (checker fuselage): RTB / 1 kill (Fern)
Fwbl Helmut Schon: (P2) - Albatros C.VII (Nr.3): FRTB-D / 0 kills
Rolled 3+2 = landed safely
Ltn Lothar Emmerich: (O) - Albatros C.VII (Nr.3): FRTB-D / 1 kill (Harrup)
Bulldogs
2Lt John Fern: Sopwith Triplane (Red Cross): SD-FLM-FT / 0 kills
C&W: Rolled 6 -2FLM = 4 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios, rolled 4 = Skip 4
2Lt Horace Elliott: Sopwith Triplane (CDL): FRTB-E / 0 kills
Rolled 1+1 = crashed on landing at base
C&W: Rolled 9 -1FRTB +1RTB = 9 - All well when you land well!
2Lt Charles Harrup: Sopwith Triplane (white band): SD-FT / WIA / 0 kills, 1 probable (Schon FRTB-D)
C&W: Rolled 10 -1SD -1WIA = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 2 = Skip 1
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Hu Rhu
for his victory and service to the Kaiser and the Fatherland 
) later today hopefully, but since only four of us have played the mission already, perhaps I should wait a while longer, to give the others a chance to catch up. I'll discuss this with Dave and see if he agrees.
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