DOG FIGHT

[Dubar]

Haven't played since November, it's cold outside so I thought this would make a good day for something flying.

Presently have Brits and Germans going at it: 1 Sopwith Camel, 1 Sopwith Tripe, and 1 Sopwith Pup against 1 Albatros DII, 1 Albatros DVa, and 1 Roland DII.

Also, found an error on the COMBAT page step 3-F pertaining to the NOTE (should be NOTE 3 not 2) in my homemade rules and have included a corrected copy here, along with a few photos of the current game.

Anyone playing these rules...if you find a problem or a better way please let me know and I'll make the change or at least take it under consideration.  I saw in another post that it's been downloaded 21 times, thank you for taking an interest!!!

RULES PDF (first attachment below)

There's a revised set of rules halfway down the 3rd page.

[Dubar]

I plan on running a few games doing something other than dogfighting, such as Recon and Bombing, in order to "flesh out" the rules a bit more.  I'll post what I find here along with any changes to the rules.

I've been scouring the web trying to find sources for scenarios as well.

[gweirda]

I've been scouring the web trying to find sources for scenarios as well.

While not a direct scenario source, I've often turned to this site/page ( https://www.theaerodrome.com/today/today.cgi ) as a lazy-man's source of inspiration - putting together claims for a day can sometimes show a picture of the action that occurred and who was fighting whom.

[Dubar]

Thanks!!!  I've visited their forum in the past but never registered until now.  Actually I thought they were defunct!!!

I played a game yesterday using a Bristol F2B on a recon of 3 targets, with a Siemans Schuckert DIV and a Pfalz DVIII for the Germans, things did not turn out well for the Bristol!!!

I have a note in the rules suggesting to equal the number of weapons and didn't follow it, 4 guns against 2 turned out to be an uneven battle.  The higher speed of the 2 German aircraft probably contributed as well but next game I'm going to send along an escort fighter with the observation plane, or make it 1 against 1.

As it turned out the Bristol never made it to the target area with the pilot received 2 wounds which cut their movement down, resulting in easy pickings for the Hun.  The Bristol turned to go back home after trying to hide in a cloud bank (forced to fly off the edge of the board, when he came back on the Hun were waiting for him) but never made it across their own lines.  The Pfalz was credited with the kill.

[Moriarty]

I plan on running a few games doing something other than dogfighting, such as Recon and Bombing (snip)
I've been scouring the web trying to find sources for scenarios as well.

What? Have you never read any ‘Biggles’ books? :-)

I can recommend getting a copy of the Wings at War ‘Duel of Aces’ game, from Tumbling dice. The rule books have (so far) given period scenarios for each game.

[Dubar]

Nope, never seen Biggles here in the states! 

I'll look into Duel of Aces, thanks!!!

[Moriarty]

Bloody Hell!
The series was required reading for English school children in the 50’s & 60’s. Not by the school, by your peers :-) The author, however, was a WW1 pilot - his work was informative enough to influence the tactics of RAF pilots in WW2. Hereunder find a link to an online copy of ‘Biggles Goes to War’. Enjoy!

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b7ea2794cde7a79e7c00582/t/6492637ae7e8ac794f0853c8/1687315324240/biggles+goes+to+war.pdf

[Michi]

Nope, never seen Biggles here in the states! 

Somebody must help that man!

[Dubar]

LOLOLOL!!!  Thanks guys for the links, my Welsh mom should have told me!!!

[Dubar]

Yesterday I tried a game using a Breguet XIV A2 with a Nieuport 17 doing recon against a Fokker DR1 and Roland DVIb.  Not sure if it was the 5 guns against 4 or the Breguet and Nieuport were simply lucky but they managed to shoot both German aircraft down and successfully recon 2 of 3 targets.  The Roland pilot received 2 wounds which limited his movement before his aircraft was destroyed.  The Breguet observer was on his game, the twin Lewis guns were deadly.

This morning I thought I'd give it another go using the same 4 aircraft.  This time the Germans peppered the Breguet, killing the pilot on what seemed like numerous rolls of 6 and sending the plane down in flames.  The Nieuport did get some revenge, he managed to finish off the Roland while he was concentrating on the Breguet.

The game is not over, I still have the Nieuport and the triplane in the air and they both smell blood!!!

[mikos khan]

Love the set-up.  I'll have to break out my collection soon. 

[Dubar]

Thanks much!!!

One thing I like about WW1 air warfare is there's no terrain needed, other than a hex mat, for these rules.  Besides cost, setting up and taking down are fast and simple, not a lot of preparation.

[Dubar]

Managed to get in another round of combat today.  Combat took place with sides at opposing ends of the 4x6 table.
This time I drew which aircraft I was going to use, like picking cards.  I ended up with a Pfalz DIIIa, Fokker DVI, and an Albatros DII going up against a Hanriot HD1 and 2 SPADs (1 painted loosely based on an aircraft from Escadrille 77 and the other from Escadrille 48).  If I had known at the time there was so much data available on individual pilots and their aircraft I would have tried to adhere to what they looked like more closely).

Turn 1: All aircraft maneuvered into position, getting off a few rounds.  Both the Fokker DVI and the Albatros DII guns jammed.

Turn 2: More maneuvering with the SPAD from Escadrille 77 getting off a few rounds at the Pfalz DIIIa, while the Pfalz had laid aim onto the SPAD from Escadrille 48, resulting in hitting and killing the pilot!!!  Score 1 for the Germans!  Both the Fokker DVI and the Albatros DII cleared their jammed weapons at the end of the turn.

Turn 3:  The Hanriot scored hits on the Fokker DVI, resulting in the reduction of movement.  The remaining SPAD recorded hits on the Pfalz, also resulting in the loss of movement.  Revenge for their fallen comrade was sweet!!!

Turn 4: The Hanriot takes at shot and hits the Fokker DVI, but ran out of ammo (single gun).  The Albatros and Fokker manage to put damage on the SPAD with long bursts, but the Albatros' guns jammed again!

Turn 5: The Hanriot attempted to break off combat to reload, but the Fokker got on his tail and score some minor damage.  The Hanriot was unable to load with all the maneuvering occupying his time.  The Albatros tried the same due to his jammed guns, but the faster SPAD was hot on his tail resulting in 8pts of damage and movement with a medium burst.  At the end of the turn the Albatros did manage to clear the jammed guns.

At this point all remaining aircraft are suffering from the damage of combat.  So far the SPAD from Escadrille 48 has been shot down, while the other SPAD suffered from 9pts and the Hanriot 7pts of damage.  The Albatros suffered 8pts, the Fokker 15, and the Pfalz 15.  Things are not looking good for the Germans.

Turn 6: The Pfalz tried to break away from the pack, but the SPAD pounced him, causing injury to the pilot and significant damage to his aircraft, only 5 damage pts left!!!  But the Albatros got on the SPADs tail and also inflicted damage and injuring the pilot.  Both the Pfalz and the SPAD now have injured pilots and damage, resulting in reduced movement of the aircraft.  At this point the Hanriot managed to reload his guns while the SPAD has run out of ammo and also jammed his guns.

Turn 7: The Hanriot turned tight and got in a shot at the Fokker, causing further damage (now up to 22pts), the Albatros tried to intervene but ran out of ammo without a hit.  The SPAD cleared his jam but was unable to reload.

Turn 8: With the Pfalz (pilot injured), the Fokker suffering heavy damage, and the Albatros out of ammo, it was time to head home.  On the opposing side things were not rosy either, the SPAD was out of ammo (pilot injured) and with the enemy turning tail they decided to cut off the duel as well.

The final results were: 1 SPAD shot down with pilot killed, the other SPAD with an injured pilot and both remaining Entante aircraft damaged.  The German Pfalz pilot was wounded with all 3 aircraft suffering medium to heavy damage.  The Pfalz pilot now has 1 confirmed kill to his credit.

This was probably the shortest game I've played yet, only 8 turns.  Having the SPAD pilot killed so early was a real shock, the roll of the dice will do that!!!

Below are photos I took at the end of each turn.  I haven't figured out yet how to label them as to which go with what turn, but here goes!

I see that the rules have over 40 downloads, I hope everyone is enjoying them and please let me know if you see any mistakes or have some good suggestions.

[Dubar]

More photos:

[Dubar]

I got in a short game yesterday, which came out as more or less a tie with both sides losing an aircraft and pilot.  But during the battle a question came up.

Should the roll for using a Long Burst be made before or after combat takes place?

I've been playing using the idea of rolling AFTER combat, the presumption is that the roll is taken only if a long burst is used.  If no jams occur using short or medium bursts that means the gun has fired the bullets, so why shouldn't the gun fire the bullets first when using a long burst as well?

From firing actual guns (mainly semi-autos that I own), I've found that a gun rarely jams or fails to function before a round is fired.

Nothing in the rules say when to make these rolls, but the placement of NOTE 2 (and 3) within the rules and when to apply them may make a difference.

I'm thinking of moving both NOTES between steps 4 and 5 but would like to get some opinions before I do so.