1917 Algy meets the Yankee German

70 squadron Briefing from Colonel Raymond:

Please settle down Gentlemen, and please smoke, excellent for the nerves.  Today's mission is  a simple patrol over the Lines to Bapaume.   The new German Circus that has been causing us such problems is at Proville.  Our presence should get them up.  

The Hun in the "Yankee" decorated plane has been a particular problem.  I want him out of the picture Gentlemen.

The Pumpernickel Circus will be a difficult enemy.  If you see a Red Fokker Triplane, or any of those colourful clowns, either shoot the beggar down or be sure that he will shoot you down.  

Good Luck and I give you Today's Fox Gentlemen.  He's wearing the Yankee flag.

B Flight, F1 Sopwith Camels
Lt "Bingo" Brunton
2nd Lt "Gubber" Gosling
2nd Lt "Susan" Lazy
2nd Lt "Squiffy" Simpson

Mission 8.  The German Yankee

"Plot card 6.  His bottle has gone."  One of the Camel pilots has had an attack of nerves.  He will dive for the deck and run.  Random selection.




Jasta 7, the Pumpernickel Circus
The Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel is a hunting group, flying DR1 Fokker Triplanes and Albatros DV.  Leo and his Junge Manner are a tough proposition, even for the Sopwith Camels of 70 Squadrons.

 

For some reason I can`t fathom my photos of the first few turns were all of this quality, so I`ll gloss over that...  except to say that it`s "Susan" Lazy that bottles it and dives for the deck.  Better watch that boy.

 

Algy and Squiffy stick together and take on the Yankee German.  Two of the Circus are down by this time for one Sopwith

The only other camera shot I got from the entire game that didn`t look like I`d taken it underwater.  The Yankee bugs out, having missed out on any kills as the Sopwith's all tried to get him.  Next time maybe?  I must get that camera sorted...

1917 Algy gets his Bristols out

Briefing from Colonel Raymond, Air Intelligence:

Bristol Fighters F2B. A Flight 48 Sqn

Settle down Gentlemen.  You may smoke if you wish.  Today's patrol is a bombing run to inflict as much damage as we can on the railway sidings east of Lens.  

Lt Heppelthwaite will lead "A" Flight from the Airfield at Le Hameau over the Lines at dawn to conduct the mission.  You will be carrying 240lb GP bombs.  Don`t bring them back.  Our neighbours of 70 squadron will be covering Lens in their Camels.  The Huns have the the Pumpernickel Circus in the area, so if you see a Red Fokker Triplane, or any of those colourful clowns, either shoot the beggar down or be sure that he will shoot you down.  

Bristol Fighter F2B. A Flight 48 Sqn

Lt Ginger Hepplethwaite
2nd Lt "Fatty" Finch
2nd Lt  "Algy" Lacey
2nd Lt  "Chops" Butcher

B Flight, F1 Sopwith Camels 70 Sqn

Lt "Bingo" Brunton
2nd Lt "Gubber" Gosling
2nd Lt "Susan" Lazy
2nd Lt "Squiffy" Simpson

Mission 3.  The Rail Sidings

"Plot card 5.  Algy takes it rough," has been drawn.  I renamed one of the Bristol Pilots "Algy" and note that in this fight he can take double damage.




Jasta 7, the Pumpernickel Circus

The Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel is a hunting group, flying DR1 Fokker Triplanes and Albatros DV.  Leo and his Junge Manner are a tough proposition, even for Sopwith Camels, let alone Ginger's Bristols. 

Leo has his four Triplanes up today,  waiting at maximum height over Douai, whilst his Second in Command Otto Knopf has a flight of 4 Albatros at mid height, over the Aerodrome at Jabbecke.

Ginger and his Bristols are going in, but will they ever get out?

The Bristols and Camels approach the target area

Across the Lines the Jasta is waiting for them 

First blood goes to Squiffy

But the German Yankee gets Ginger!  The wing fell off Ginger;'s plane as I changed the height dice so maybe this was yet another mechanical failure.  Either way the Bristol goes in.  

Gubber gets a second German

But Gubber himself falls victim to The Yankee and a Fokker

Squiffy does a torque turn in the Camel and gets his second German

The Yankee German gets a second Bristol

Leo fails to hit a Bristol and takes damage

The Germans withdraw as the camels swarm an Albatos that has been cut off.  Algy gets him

The much reduced Pumpernickel Circus

And the RFC turn for home

Ginger survived his second crash in two games.  Roll a 6 on d6 to walk away and hes done it twice.
Squiffy only needs one more Hun to reach his "Ace."
The Yankee German is now Officially an Ace.

A Post Captain practice game, 1794

Planning for the Biscay Patrol required me to review the rules, and so a refresher game was in order.  My first game took five hours for a duel between two ships, but I am far better acquainted with the rules now so this is more of a refresher.

HMS Venture 32

HMS Venture a 32 gun frigate meets the French 40 gun Heavy Frigate Manche in the Bay of Biscay, near the Saintes (Which are shown on table.)   Both are under “Passage” orders as Manche is seeking to escape the Brest Blockade.  The sighting is at 1800 yards slightly under 1 NM.  The challenge signals are interpreted as hostile, and both captains plan to close. The French have 250 crew plus 52 Marines.  

Manche 40

The Frigate has only 172 crew.  The French are seeking to board.  The British are seeking to close to carronade range.

Quality of both crews is Regular, as are both Captains.

Overhead shot

Venture is bearing 6 points to larboard in a SW wind. (ie she is heading NW)  Manche is crossing at 90 degrees, Venture is placed centre table.  The Frenchman goes on the edge 66cm from Venture (2000 yds in 1:2400)

Both ships start at Easy sail, in a weak Force 3 SW wind.

Manche has the weather gauge and therefore initiative. 

Both Captains order clear for action and assign crew.  Each turn has three phases, red, white and blue, during which ships move according to initiative.  The Frenchman turns point by point, deducting MF, to head closer and close the range.

Both ships reduce to Battle sail.  The British Frigate is faster, 7MF vs 8MF.  They also load and run out, and this time, unlike in my last trial battle, my French Captain doesn`t forget to double shot.  

In the fourth Movment phase the two ships close, with the British Frigate surrendering initiative.  The French 18 pdr guns take down two rigging points and two crew points.  The 18pdr carronades achieve three hull hits.  

The British wear around point by point to bring them parallel, while the French jibe across the wind (risky).  Both ships are sailing parallel now and pounding away.  


A few movement phases later the two remain on a parallel course, but it’s at 400 yards, better for the longer French 18pdrs.

The French receive hull damage, but the pumps are covering it.  

The Venture has sustained heavy rigging and some crew losses.  This one is a battle of attrition.   As Venture draws ahead on a gust an eddy slows Manche.  The French Captain sees his chance and turns behind the British frigate. 

The critical move.

The Frenchman now appears across Venture`s stern, and delivers a rake within 200 yards, killing  crew, inflicting hull damage and killing the first and second lieutenants.

So much for the French firing at masts!

Worse yet Venture is on fire, and the pumps fail to keep up with that hull damage

Venture begins to settle.  This game was over in an hour. The French would have boarded and probably took the Venture, but the failing pumps meant that they didn`t have to.  

Our Brave British Frigate Captain strikes and then swims for it...

I really like the complexity of Post Captain.  Perhaps not a natural set for a solo gamer, but with time they are worth the effort.  

Manche escapes the Brest Blockade with the Saintes to larboard.  Sharp observers will note that she is headed due south, into the Bay of Biscay!

Coastal Forces. The Navy holds its own.

Off the port of Tobruk 1941.  Axis forces besiege the city, and out at sea a single RAF rescue launch motors along the coast, looking for downed airmen.  Meanwhile, the Regia Aeronautica  are out, hunting British boats which have mainly taken to night operations to avoid the air threat. 

 Our Skipper is solid and dependable, with 4 crew points.  He can choose two specialists from the depot ship, and goes for a Coxswain (+1 to manoeuvre) and a 1st Officer (Re-roll any dice)  
The Launch is unarmed, so this will be a test of the Aeronautica's ability to hit a fast moving target.

Just off table however the Royal Navy has an MTB, which has only just recovered from engine difficulties after a Night Patrol.  Unlike the RAF launch the MTB has an anti aircraft capability.  The Lieutenant in command is rated as "Bold Brass Balls" and has 5 crew points with three specialists, a Gunner, PO Motor Mechanic, and a Coxswain.

One I`ve tested the Air vs Ship rules my two RAF Hurricanes will arrive on station and have a go at the Italians in some Hun (Eyetie) Bagging.   

I still only have those two Hurricanes.  I will have to recruit or scratch build a larger Desert Air Force at some point!

Phase 1.  The Regio Aeronautica arrive, with their usual style

The Italian bomber tries to line up the Launch, but it is too manoeuverable

And in they come in a line, ready to shoot up the launch.

So that was it for the RAF Sea Rescue.  Perhaps a little short sighted for the Italians!

In comes one of my scratch built MTBs.  

The Italain Bomber has come around and makes a pass. 
The .303 twin Vickers turret gets a lucky shot and damages the aircraft.

The Italian fighters strafe the target.  that CR42 biplane gets close!

The Hurricanes come on table.  

Head to head, the RAF are far better at this game.

On the tail of the Fiat 

And the Fiat crashes.  Job done.

The Sepoy Who Would be King

"Er, Havildar?  I don`t want to be a King, and...
every two figures count as one?
This is so confusing..."  

Oh Captain Whitmore Sir!

It is I, your former houseboy Randi Ram, and perhaps a relative since you were fond of my mother, the Mrs Ram, when she was your Bishti girl, sitting in the alley outside the Whitmore Indian Mansion selling water from an old goat skin...

I am prospering in my career as a Britisher Soldier.  The rank of Servant to Lieutenant "Baldy" Grahame is mine.  Here in Madras the talk is all of the Great Typhoo Sultan who has once again been brewing trouble with a capital Tea, claiming that the Britishers are to blame for putting tea into paper bags and pouring milk into the cup.  He is a strain on us all. 

Our Major, "Shut-up" Williams has been reading a book on drill by a Mr Daniel Mersey.  He has taken it all to heart and has instructed the battalion to fight according to Mr Mersey's principles.  Something about Men wanting to be Kings.  The English are all mad!  Nobody in the Battalion so much as suspected that he could read.

Our numbers are reformed into double groups of 24 men to a company, and the Field Force that marched out to teach the Typhoo Sultan another lesson was only four Companies.  At the village of Baddass we saw the forces of the Sultan.  

Those Frenchy trained Sepoys had been re-organised in a similar way to ourselves, and their cavalry were in huge swarms.  The Duc a l'orange, a greasy individual armed with a stone pestle waved gaily at us.

We dressed ranks as Battalion Major Williams screamed at us, he screamed at the Sultan, and then released his greatest torrent of abuse at the top of his lungs directed at the Frenchy Duc.  It made us all feel much better...

We lined up with the village to our rear and our right resting on the river.  Along the road to our front we saw them coming, not Tribesmen  but trained Green Turban Regulars.  Once again I am in a battle.  Once again my plan is to hide behind the Lieutenant.

The lines are drawn up.

The forces of the Typhoo Sultan

The 2nd Madras close on their enemies

But casualties are inflicted by the cannon fire from the Sultan`s lines.

But the 2nd Madras Centre company kills the entire gun crew.

The musketry exchanges are deadly

As a company of The Sultan`s Sepoys routs the 2nd Madras swing the line to outflank and roll up the Sultans troops.

Randi stays close to his Officer, in the rear rank!

The Duc a' L'Orange follows the Sultan`s elephant off table.  They will be back for revenge...