Day 3 over the Somme 1916

The third in my series of practice games.  I decided that I can`t start a proper campaign without gathering enough completed aircraft.  Meanwhile I`m running through some ideas for games
The RFC have decided that their usual BE2 artillery spotter planes are far too vulnerable.  Accordingly an escort of FE2b two seaters has been arranged from 21 Sqn.  As a large but well armed aircraft it is felt that this can keep the attacks by the Roland to a minimum.

Little do the RFC realise but I`ve just completed a pair of Rumpler two seaters, which have both a forward firing machine gun and rear gunner.  

Steady Algy Soubry in the BE2 on an Artillery spotting mission again flying solo to save on weight, with just his shotgun for company.

The Rumpler of Leutenant Sigmund Wank, of the infamous Dusseldorf Wanks

Poor Algy doesn't see the Rumpler closing in

Too late he turns but Sigmund Wank is all over him and spurts out a pair of hits.  Algy is down in flames, but amazingly survives the crash.

RFC FE2b of 21 Sqn DH2  "The Bullingdon Boys"
Lt. Dominic Rabies and 2nd Lt Andrew Leadsome
Lt. Peter Patel and 2nd Lt B.F Mosley

Sigmund leads the FE2bs over the lines.

Lt. Rabies plane falls off its magnet.  The huge FE2b is the only plane I have problems with.  Its centre of balance is terrible and the small piece of steel has trouble holding it.  On the newer model I used a 1 cent piece that gives a far better grip.  I take this as a spin.  Dominic drops to the ground , but I gave him the chance to recover it, which he did...

Patel and Mosely press on.

With a great field of fire the FE2b should have an advantage, but not with shooting like that.

And again.  Lt. Rabies gets the plane into position but 2nd Lt Mosely's shooting is dire.  

Recovered from the spin Lt Rabies climbs to get back in the fight.

Not looking good for the Rumpler as Sigmund heads for the table edge in a cynical attempt to flee

Ah, but the Blue baron has been upgraded to a Fokker Eindekker

Von Pumphosen fires, oblivious to the fact that he is three bands too high

But the Rumpler comes back and gets a sly burst into the side of  Rabies and Leadsome.

But the damn thing comes off its stand again.   I`ll take that as a kill then!

Meantime the Baron kills off the other FE2b,  Here is the grisly undershot.  I haven't bothered with the undersides too much, no roundals, but that cent coin makes a huge difference in terms of stability.

A win for the Hun!   

Next game... Enter the Sopwith Pup.