brf OTT-FYM - Mission 9 - Prelude to Messines - 5th June 1917 by Tikkifriend.

[tikkifriend]

 Hope you all had an excelent holiday  and wishing you all a Happy 2025.  Paul.

The Battle of Messines (7–14 June 1917) was an attack by the British Second Army (General Sir Herbert Plumer), on the Western Front, near the village of Messines (now Mesen) in West Flanders, Belgium, during the First World War.^[a] The Nivelle Offensive in April and May had failed to achieve its more grandiose aims, had led to the demoralisation of French troops and confounded the Anglo-French strategy for 1917. The attack forced the Germans to move reserves to Flanders from the Arras and Aisne fronts, relieving pressure on the French.

The British tactical objective was to capture the German defences on the ridge, which ran from Ploegsteert Wood (Plugstreet to the British) in the south, through Messines and Wytschaete to Mt Sorrel, depriving the German 4th Army of the high ground. The ridge gave commanding views of the British defences and back areas of Ypres to the north, from which the British intended to conduct the Northern Operation, an advance to Passchendaele Ridge and then the capture of the Belgian coast up to the Dutch frontier. 

 

British fighter aircraft tried to prevent German artillery-observation aircraft from operating by dominating the air from the British front line to the German balloon line, about 10,000 yd (5.7 mi; 9.1 km) beyond. Better aircraft like the Bristol Fighter, S.E.5a and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) Sopwith Triplane had entered service since Arras and matched the performance of German Albatros D.III and Halberstadt D.II fighters. For the week before the attack, the barrage line was patrolled all day by fighters at 15,000 ft (4,600 m) with more aircraft at 12,000 ft (3,700 m) in the centre of the attack front.

No British corps aircraft were shot down by German aircraft until 7 June, when 29 corps aircraft were able to direct artillery fire simultaneously over the three attacking corps.[36] Behind the barrage line lay a second line of defence, which used wireless interception to take bearings on German artillery-observation aircraft to guide British aircraft into areas where German flights were most frequent. By June 1917, each British army had a control post of two aeroplane compass stations and an aeroplane intercepting station, linked by telephone to the army wing headquarters, fighter squadrons, the anti-aircraft commander and the corps heavy artillery headquarters.[37]

The new anti-aircraft communication links allowed areas threatened by German bombardment to be warned, German artillery spotting aircraft to be attacked and German artillery batteries to be fired on when they revealed themselves. From 1 to 7 June, the II Brigade RFC had 47 calls from wireless interception, shot down one German aircraft, damaged seven and stopped 22 German artillery bombardments.[38] Normal offensive patrols continued beyond the barrage line out to a line from Ypres to Roulers and Menin, where large formations of British and German aircraft clashed in long dogfights, once German air reinforcements began operating in the area. Longer-range bombing and reconnaissance flights concentrated on German-occupied airfields and railway stations and the night bombing specialists of 100 Squadron attacked trains around Lille, Courtrai, Roulers and Comines.[39] Two squadrons were reserved for close air support on the battlefield and low attacks on German airfields.[40]

Set up:

NML and Country maps NML to be placed on the right.

Mission:

CP.

You have a total of 5 planes of your choice. At least 1 must be a 2 seater for observation purposes.

All German planes start 1 ruler from the left edge of NML mat

You must cross over the 1^st line of trenches at a height of 5 pegs, then descend to 4 pegs while traversing NML between the trenches for 3 turns. You cannot cross or be forced to cross the second line of trenches or you will be deemed to have been shot down by AA fire.

You must then return to within 1.5 rulers of the country maps left edge with the information you have gathered.

Allies.

You have a total of 6 planes of your choice. A min of 2 must be in each flight.

 You must prevent the information reaching the German High Command. If the 2 seater is shot down before crossing the safe line on the countr map it is an Allied victory

Your planes will be divided into 2 Flights

When the first of the Geman planes cross into NML this is deemed turn 0. You will roll for the first Flights entrance into the game 1-2 turn 2; 3-4 turn 3;  5-6 Turn 4.

This flight will be placed on the right edge of the NML mat bases touching the edge.

The second flight will  appear 3 turns after the arrival of the 1^st flight, on the bottom edge of the country map  1 ruler in from its joining edge with the NML mat Bases touching the edge.

 All Allied planes start at 5 Pegs

 

 

 

 

[flash]

Thanks, Paul, quick out of the blocks, thankyou, and a happy new year to you & yours too Dave 

For some reason it won't let me add a tag at the moment so I've Added BRF to the title. 

Note: tag operations reinstated by Herr Oberst

[Baz]

Have had a quick read of this, should it be countryside mat to the right and NML to the left?

Also, it will be difficult to keep the 2-seater between the trench lines for 3 turns as the turn is not that great? Should be able to keep it over the NML mat though.

Edited December 28, 2024 by Baz

[flash]

I was thinking it might be tight but using a Alb C.III, stalls and zig zagging twixt the lines might work - will have to try it to find out ! 🤔

[tikkifriend]

On 12/28/2024 at 6:20 PM, Baz said:

Have had a quick read of this, should it be countryside mat to the right and NML to the left?

Also, it will be difficult to keep the 2-seater between the trench lines for 3 turns as the turn is not that great? Should be able to keep it over the NML mat though.

Didnt want to make it too easy      the trench run  is  the important part  so as Dave said choose your 2 seater wisely.

[tikkifriend]

 If you are finding it difficult to run the  NML line a slight deviation of half a base on the German NML is allowed . Cross the Allied  line and its boom

[Hu Rhu]

I flew a DFW C.V with a G Deck and didn't find it a problem.  But you do have to be close to either trench system to execute the turn.  Given how slow these 2 seaters fly, completing three complete turns shouldn't be a problem, You only need to complete one turn manoeuvre before you can set off back home.

[Vagabond]

Hi Paul I'm late as usual but Happy New Year to you and Mrs Tikki, I see she was at Doncaster so it sounds as if she's either well or better than she was, so I'm very happy to hear that as well.

Re the game, I'm probably the only one on this site who doesn't own a single WoW or WoG mat but I'll do my best with this but can anyone give me an indication of the distance between the lines that I'm trying to stay between.

Thanks and Cheers

 

[camel crew]

On 12/28/2024 at 5:20 PM, Baz said:

Have had a quick read of this, should it be countryside mat to the right and NML to the left?

Also, it will be difficult to keep the 2-seater between the trench lines for 3 turns as the turn is not that great? Should be able to keep it over the NML mat though.

I thought that 

[camel crew]

Just now, camel crew said:

I thought that 

Unless, of course, you're looking down from the North 

[Hu Rhu]

2 hours ago, Vagabond said:

Re the game, I'm probably the only one on this site who doesn't own a single WoW or WoG mat but I'll do my best with this but can anyone give me an indication of the distance between the lines that I'm trying to stay between.

The WoG/WoW trench system is about 10" between the closest trenches and 18" from the back trench lines.  Hope that helps.

[Vagabond]

On 1/10/2025 at 9:06 PM, Hu Rhu said:

The WoG/WoW trench system is about 10" between the closest trenches and 18" from the back trench lines.  Hope that helps.

Thanks Gary, I'll work with that.

Cheers

[tikkifriend]

On 1/10/2025 at 7:15 PM, Vagabond said:

Hi Paul I'm late as usual but Happy New Year to you and Mrs Tikki, I see she was at Doncaster so it sounds as if she's either well or better than she was, so I'm very happy to hear that as well.

Re the game, I'm probably the only one on this site who doesn't own a single WoW or WoG mat but I'll do my best with this but can anyone give me an indication of the distance between the lines that I'm trying to stay between.

Thanks and Cheers

 

OMG Father Chrismas  please send me a mat or 2  

[tikkifriend]

On 12/28/2024 at 6:20 PM, Baz said:

Have had a quick read of this, should it be countryside mat to the right and NML to the left?

Also, it will be difficult to keep the 2-seater between the trench lines for 3 turns as the turn is not that great? Should be able to keep it over the NML mat though.

If it was easy everyone could do it and be back for Tiffin.  :D 

[ShadowDragon]

I had a situation which I'm not clear about...  

The 2-seater was being pursued by enemy planes.  On the phase it crossed the 1.5 ruler line, it was fired at by the pursuers, who were outside the 1.5 ruler line, and shot down.  My questions are:

1) Is this still a victory for the 2-seater's side?

2) Should the 2-seater have been immune to being shot down (i.e., similar to when a plane leaves the mat edge)?

Can't write my AAR up until that's clear.