1971 Algy and the Lone Rumpler

70 Squadron Briefing from Colonel Raymond:

Please settle down Gentlemen, and take snuff if you have it.  Mine is made to the original Alexandrian recipe, excellent for the nerves.  Today's patrol is to destroy the Lone Rumpler (That's a Hun 2 seater Squiffy.  Sit down boy...) It has been bombing this aerodrome and damaging my geraniums.  

He has been appearing from the vicinity of Lille possibly from Jasta 8 at Jabbecke

The Commander of Jasta 8 is the former musician Gunther Trumpenhosen.  He flies a Red Albatros.    If you see him take care.  

One last thing... we have been having problems with the Hun in the "Yankee" decorated plane.  His name has been provided by Military Intelligence.  Bruno “Dutch” Klattermeir from Grand Forks, N. Dakota.   The Damn fellow is an actual Yankee serving the Kaiser.  Rumour has it that he only wears silk under his flying uniform to prevent chafing.Bring him down if you see him.

Good Hunting Gentlemen, and save my geraniums.

Scenario 1:  The Lone Rumpler

The randomly allocated scenario for my next game of Algy is "the Lone Rumpler."  Fans of the early Biggles novels will recognise the reference.  

It is 1917, and 70 Camel squadron have taken losses.  B Flight have been allocated the Lone Rumpler Mission.  The Patrol will take them close to the Jasta 8 aerodrome at Jabbecke.  Opposition will be randomly allocated to the mission, but one thing we can be certain of... that damn Lone Rumpler will make an appearance.

B Flight, F1 Sopwith Camels
Lt "Bertie" Farthingdale   Vet
2nd Lt "Gubber" Gosling  Reg
2nd Lt "Susan" Lazy  Reg
2nd Lt "Squiffy" Simpson   Vet


Jasta 8, 
Flying DR1 Fokker Triplanes and Albatros DV.  Hauptmann Gunther Trumpenhosen and his pilots are yet another tough proposition for the Sopwith Camels of 70 Squadron.

Sharp eyed observers will note that for the "Rumpler" I`m using a Halberstadt model.  For shame!

Height allocation.
A formation entering the combat zone does so choosing either High or Medium.  Unless taking off from their airfield planes never start the game at low altitude.  If the dice indicates a height over the aircraft's maximum ceiling then that is used instead. 
Medium height is: D6.  1-2 = 6, 3-4 = 7, 5-6 = 8.  
High altitude: 1-2 =9,  3-4 =10, 5-6 =11.

Captain Johns came up with this scenario rather than me!  The Rumpler is a German trap...

Jasta 8 will enter the table on an Edna basis from Jabbecke to the South East.  They have used the Rumpler to lure the Camels into the flack from the lines and then a combat where the Jasta will have a height and a sun advantage.  The Rumpler is at medium altitude.  The Jasta will enter at High altitude.   On spotting the camels the Rumpler will run for the Jabbecke Airfield (the Jasta Entry Point.) 

B Flight, 70 Squadron RFC

The Rumpler is spotted

But higher up a formation of Jasta 8 waits...

The camels come down as the Rumpler bolts for it.

And the Hun descends on the Camels

The Yankee triplane of “Dutch” Klattermeir gets the first shots after making a successful hard dive.  Damn him...

Gubber goes down, his Sopwith ablaze

The Hun gang up on "Susan" too

But Bertie gets his Rumpler!  He had to dive to the deck to do it

Squiffy circles around the Red Triplane of Gunther Trumphosen

And the Yankee comes in for "Susan"

But Squiffy is on hand to rattle the Yankee German's teeth for him

The Germans shoot "Susan " down.  Squiffy gets an Albatros

Bertie and Squiffy run for the Lines.  Note the height that Bertie is at.  He couldn`t get back to the fight from the deck.  Still a kill each.  RIP Gubber and Susan.