Not So Bloody: Arras, May 1, 1917

Started by MengJiao, December 12, 2018, 03:20:00 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

MengJiao


  So -- Back to Bloody April (heavily modified to make Solitaire workable).  May was a lot better month for the RFC and the RNAS.  For one thing, Manfred von Richtoffen went on vacation on April 28 and May seemed less bloody right away.  For another, allied offensives were less massive and allied planes were getting better overall.  The allies tried various new aerial techniques with some surprising success.

  Anyway, here are the front lines and starting flights:


MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on December 12, 2018, 03:20:00 PM

  So -- Back to Bloody April (heavily modified to make Solitaire workable).  May was a lot better month for the RFC and the RNAS.  For one thing, Manfred von Richtoffen went on vacation on April 28 and May seemed less bloody right away.  For another, allied offensives were less massive and allied planes were getting better overall.  The allies tried various new aerial techniques with some surprising success.

  Anyway, here are the front lines and starting flights:

   I added mission tracks to the map (Solitaire intervention 5B).   Photos later.  The allied flights have been up for 20 minutes (10 turns) and rendezvoues-ed.  Everybody but the RE8s are at medium altitude (Combat wise only the altitude bands matter -- the time to climb is something I'm tracking off-board).
It's mid-morning (you have to be higher and to the east to be in the sun), there's no wind and there is rain below the medium band so everybody but the RE8s have just climbed into the sunlight.  Escorts are assumed to be one band higher and one nautical mile to the rear.  Allied flights are: 6 RNAS triplanes escorting 6 RE8 Artillery), six pups escorting 6 bristols (trench photos), 6 SE5A escorting 6 FE2D (deep photos).  The DLK Jastas will be sending up flights of 1-6 Albatross DIII as soon as something is detected crossing (or bumping) the lines.

MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on December 13, 2018, 11:31:19 AM

   I added mission tracks to the map (Solitaire intervention 5B).   Photos later.  The allied flights have been up for 20 minutes (10 turns) and rendezvoues-ed.  Everybody but the RE8s are at medium altitude (Combat wise only the altitude bands matter -- the time to climb is something I'm tracking off-board).
It's mid-morning (you have to be higher and to the east to be in the sun), there's no wind and there is rain below the medium band so everybody but the RE8s have just climbed into the sunlight.  Escorts are assumed to be one band higher and one nautical mile to the rear.  Allied flights are: 6 RNAS triplanes escorting 6 RE8 Artillery), six pups escorting 6 bristols (trench photos), 6 SE5A escorting 6 FE2D (deep photos).  The DLK Jastas will be sending up flights of 1-6 Albatross DIII as soon as something is detected crossing (or bumping) the lines.

  24 minutes into the confrontation and one of the 3 Allied missions has been spotted.  The DLK sends up 3 Albatross DIII to intercept:


MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on December 15, 2018, 10:50:08 AM


  24 minutes into the confrontation and one of the 3 Allied missions has been spotted.  The DLK sends up 3 Albatross DIII to intercept:

  26 minutes in: one allied mission is setting up a radio contact, one is photographing the front lines and one is going deep and has been detected and is being stalked by 3 Albatross DIII.

MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on December 19, 2018, 02:16:16 PM


  30 minutes in and 3 Albatross (Y) and 6 SE-5A's ( above and behind 5) see each other because they are above the clouds.  The range is about 4 nautical miles.  The Germans might chose to move first.

MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on January 04, 2019, 10:35:39 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on December 19, 2018, 02:16:16 PM


  30 minutes in and 3 Albatross (Y) and 6 SE-5A's ( above and behind 5) see each other because they are above the clouds.  The range is about 4 nautical miles.  The Germans might chose to move first.

  The Germans attack the SE5a group.  No body is hit and a dogfight develops.

MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on January 07, 2019, 02:05:53 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 04, 2019, 10:35:39 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on December 19, 2018, 02:16:16 PM


  30 minutes in and 3 Albatross (Y) and 6 SE-5A's ( above and behind 5) see each other because they are above the clouds.  The range is about 4 nautical miles.  The Germans might chose to move first.

  The Germans attack the SE5a group.  No body is hit and a dogfight develops.

  34 minutes in...another no-hits dogfight and the allied two-seaters are doing their reconnaisance and artillery spotting with no trouble (except for the rain).  Flak has done no damage and I'm declaring an allied victory.  I think the medium altitude rain and no wind was perfect for the allies.