Fourth Day At Cambrai

THE FOURTH DAY AT CAMBRAI

Date: 23.11.1917

Weather conditions: A bright clear day, wind direction 125 degrees, 4.5 m/s at ground

Mission: Dawn Patrol, length three hours

Though the British attempt to capture Cambrai by surprise has evidently failed, Haig has elected to keep the British offensive alive with his last reserves. The new objective is Bourlon Wood, yet another piece of 'high ground.'

The Germans have brought up reinforcements including artillery and are able to direct a large amount of fire at the British troops in Bourlon Wood. With the British offensive stalled it becomes important to secure observation over the salient and to determine the extent of the fresh forces available to either side.

Entente Objectives

*German captive balloons must be destroyed

*Reconnaissance of the German supply lines and reserve aerodromes is to be achieved

*Contact must be maintained with our own front line troops

German objectives

*Reconnaissance must establish the nature of the reserves remaining to the British

*Patrol our front lines to establish contact with the infantry

*Destroy British captive balloons.

Plane-set: RE.8, Se5a, Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Camel, DFW C.V, Halberstadt Cl II, Albatros DIII, Albatros DVa, Pfalz DIIIa

NOTES

-To complete a contact patrol it is necessary to obtain a flare from each of five marked infantry positions. The infantry may not always be prepared to fire flares, especially when a friendly aircraft is first sighted.

-On the reconnaissance missions, you will be advised when a satisfactory photograph is produced. To finish a recon mission you must taxi to the windsock at your home base.

-An artillery spot is conducted by first alerting the firing battery, then proceeding to the action point to direct fire. Pass through the action point at intervals of 5 minutes to maintain fire on target.

-The second wave of tanks will only appear if the first is destroyed. The bombing of Inchy is only activated after all other tasks out of Lechelle are completed.

The side that completes the most missions within three hours wins. The Germans win any even contests.