23 Attachment(s)
Tripods - Scenario 3 - First Contact 18th March 1918
The Germans had sent two of their top pilots Ernst Udet and Ludwig Weber, both flying their Albatros D.Va machines. Altitude rules were used, with the only House rule change being that Dives only lose 1 level not the chits as well. The planes start at level 3 and each pilot started with a random skill card (which were not used or needed).
The Tripods were using a new machine not seen before, a ‘Scarab’ with 3 Black Smoke launchers and a heavy Heat Ray which had greater range.
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Having established that the threat of the Martian invasion was real the French had signed a treaty with Germany for the good of the planet against the invaders. The town of Alsace had been attacked and was burning and a joint force of infantry were creeping along the trenches to prepare for the next attack of the Martian machines. As the men took up their defensive positions the dawn silence was broken by the drone of engines high in the sky. Two German heroes had taken up the challenge and were advancing on the last known position of the metal giants advance, flying in fighting machines made of wire, wood and canvas.
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The combatants close on each other, but the pilot’s had been given intelligence of the capabilities of the tripods so were confident that they were well out of range…….however……..this machine looked different to the description. Suddenly the Heat Ray projector at the front of the machine glowed momentarily before sending a shimmering heat ray hurtling towards the plane. However, the Martian had slightly miscalculated too and the Heat Ray’s effects were negligible by the time it reached Weber’s plane.
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The planes tried to get closer to establish the best position to attack from looking for the tell-tale shimmering power screens surrounding the tripod. However, the machine was quicker than expected and burst into a quick run closing on a factory building in the valley.
In the next move the Tripod had covered the factory and covered its tracks by the release of a Black Smoke cloud that was below the planes current altitude.
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The Tripod recharged from the factory, red weed immediately covering the building and its surroundings, whilst both planes dived to get to the right altitude. The machine seemed to be vulnerable on each side, so the planes were trying to manoeuvre into the right position to get maximum effect from their weapons. Turning 90 degrees over the drained factory, the tripod then proceeded to destroy it before moving off towards the next mark, a church nearby.
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Firing Black Smoke to cover its progress but this time also, catching both planes in its deadly cloud causing superficial damage to Weber’s machine and some rudder damage to Udet’s.
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Both planes undertook dives to get at an equal level to the tripod whilst the Martian recharged and destroyed another building, the church.
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Moving towards the last objective, a school on the edge of a village, Weber decided he needed to get quickly to the Tripod and so risked flying through the Black Smoke cloud that lingered in the air, taking minor damage and some more rudder problems. Meanwhile, the tripod opened fire with the deadly heat ray on Udet at long range, but surprisingly with no effect.
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Weber managed to get his plane into position for a long range shot, whilst the tripod was closing onto the last objective……….and what a shot as they saw major damage to the bulk of the machine, sparks and electricity flying in all directions, the machine cried out in pain “ULLA!!”
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Udet, encouraged by seeing the success of his partner’s firing, closed to short range and gave a short burst to the front side of the machine seeing his bullets strike what must be the cockpit, and plexiglass material shattering and green blood splatter the machine from it’s occupant, the Martian pilot was wounded! “ ULLA!! ULLA!” Weber had also managed another long range effort but without luck this time. The machine replied by launching a Black Smoke canister towards Udet’s plane, causing some front damage by the corrosive acid, noticeable by the irregular spluttering of the engine.
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Weber, excited by seeing such damage inflicted on the tripod and trying to stay in range, then made a rookie error and tried two steep manoeuvres in a row, and ended up with damaged struts and only able to fly straight for that turn and Udet flew close over the top to see whether the machine had been stopped.
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The pilots soon had their answer as the Tripod recharged and destroyed the last building and objective nearby on the map.
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With Udet’s engine causing issues the Tripod turned towards the West to continue on its journey, but had obviously been hurt. The planes continued to follow hoping to destroy the alien before he made his escape. Weber, regaining his composure pulled off an Immelmann which gave him a long range shot at the unprotected side for more damage.
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The Tripod seemed to be running towards the West at great speed and with Weber in close pursuit, Udet was nursing a badly damaged engine and decided to Return to Base before the situation got worse.
Weber followed as best he could, getting a long range effort at the protected side of the machine to no effect and then finally a long range shot that could just make the unprotected side. This was his last chance as the machine was striding away now, eager to escape and not offering any weapon fire in return. Unfortunately at this range he could make little impact, unable to hit anything else vulnerable and the Tripod strode off into the distance.
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So the Martian Tripod had gained a marginal victory, destroying three major objectives and exiting the map to fight on another day, but the experienced pilots had given as good as they could and were not far off destroying the machine, causing it and it’s pilot, major damage.
Butcher’s bill
Mk.II Scarab Tripod 20/24 damage
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Udet Albatros D.Va - Returned to base safely due to engine damage
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Weber Albatros D.Va - minor damage, returned to base safely
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