The Battle of the Lys, April 1918

Date: April 9, 1918

Location: Front lines near the river Lys, Flanders

Mission objectives:

Both sides will be given new orders in 30 min intervals. Orders will be repeated every minute.

The Central forces are on the offensive. Their air force has to support the ground troops by targeting tactical targets and flying contact patrols to determine their progress.

The Allied forces are on the defensive. They have to make sure the Central aircraft are kept away from the battlefield while the bombers attack the enemy's line of communications.

Plane set:

-Se5a, Sopwith Camel, Sopwith Dolphin, Bristol Fighter, RE.8, D.H.4

-Albatros DVa, Pflaz DIIIa, Fokker Dr1, DFW CV, Halberstadt Cl II

Background:

The Battle of the Lys was part of the 1918 German "Spring Offensive" in Flanders during World War I. It was originally planned by General Ludendorff with the objective of capturing Ypres and forcing the British forces back to the Channel ports. The battle began on 7 April 1918, and lasted until 29 April.

The German attacking forces were the Sixth Army in the south (under von Quast), and the Fourth Army in the north (under Sixt von Armin). Both armies included substantial numbers of the new Stosstruppen (storm troopers), trained to lead attacks in the new Hutier tactics. The front was held by the Belgian Army in the far north, by the British Second Army (under Plumer) in the north and center, and by the British First Army (under Horne) in the south.

Weather report:

Cloud base at 1400m. Wind 2 meters per second, from the South West.