Strategic Bombing Mission Returning Home

Strategic bombing was very limited in both scope and impact during World War I and did not mature until decades later. The Strategic bombing of cities was first introduced by the Germans in the opening days of the war with their Zeppelins and later Gotha bombers. All the major powers engaged in such bombing, and each capital city of each major belligerent was struck, save Rome. Strategic bombings principle targets were the enemy's civilian and industrial infrastructure; to hinder their ability to fight or destroy the enemy's morale or will to fight. Aircraft limitations, small payloads, lack of effective bombsights & training had little impact on achieving specific goals or objectives. Getting to the target was one thing, but getting home another Allies Type Basic Level Caproni Ca.3 * Caproni Ca.42 * Handley Page O/400 * Nieuport 17 SPAD XIII Advanced Level Caproni Ca.3 * PLUS 2 x Nieuport 11 Caproni Ca.42 * PLUS 2 x SPAD XIII Handley Page O/400 * PLUS 2 x Sopwith Camel 2 x Nieuport 17 2 x SPAD XIII Allies versus German Aircraft: Date Entered Service German Type August 1915 April 1918 March 1917 1917 April 1917 vs vs vs vs vs Albatros D.II Pfalz D.IIIa Fokker Dr.I Gotha G.V * Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI * Date Entered Service August 1916 May 1918 July 1917 August 1917 June 1917

August 1915 January 1916 April 1918 March 1917 June 1917 April 1917

vs vs vs vs vs

2 x Albatros D.II 2 x Pfalz D.IIIa 2 x Fokker Dr.I Gotha G.V * PLUS 2 x Fokker Dr.I Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI * PLUS 2 x Fokker D.VII

August 1916 May 1918 July 1917 August 1917 July 1917 June 1917 January 1918

Note 1: Bombers are designated by an asterisk (*) Setup: Place two sets of trench cards in the center of the mapboard with a No-Man land in between similar to an actual WWI trench warfare. Turn Order: Player(s) with the bombers move FIRST Starting Positions: Basic Level: Enemy fighters will start at one corner of the mapboard while the Opposing bomber will start on the opposite corner from the Enemys fighters in the Enemys territory facing friendly territory. Advanced Level: Enemy fighters will start at one corner of the mapboard while the Opposing fighters start on the opposite edge. The Opposing Bomber will start on the opposite corner from the Enemys fighters in the Enemys territory facing friendly territory.

Goal: Get the Bomber home safely! Victory Conditions: Game ends when the Bomber is either destroyed or moves off the opposite end of the mapboard. Once aircraft move off the mapboard, they can never re-enter. Player(s) who accumulates the most points at the end of the game wins. Page 1

Points awarded as follows: a) 9 points for the Bomber to reach the opposite side of the mapboard b) 6 points for the Bomber being shot down c) 4 points for each non-bomber aircraft shot down d) All tied scores are considered a draw. HOUSE RULE: If still tied, the one with less damage to their crate is the winner meaning he was better skilled at maneuvering their crate without being riddled with bullet holes! Historical Outcome: The Operation Trkenkreuz started on May 25th 1917, with a daylight raid that involved 21 G.IVs. The target was London, but due the weather conditions the plans were changed to attack a secondary target Folkestone and the nearby army barracks at Shorncliffe on the Kent coast. In this raid, 95 people were killed and 195 injured. On June 5th, a second raid took place over the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, without big effects on its fortifications, built to protect the naval base at Chatham. But a third attack, on June 13th was much more effective for the German purpose of bringing the war at home for British people, reaching London. In the single most deadly aerial raid of WW1, 162 people were killed, and 432 injured. The 21 Gotha bombers returned to their bases without loss, and the raid showed how unprepared London and the southeast coast was against an aerial attack. A second attack on London was launched on July 7th, but this time Londoners did not stand in the streets to watch. This raid accounted for 54 deaths and 190 injured, and one G.IV was shot down and other three were damaged, while one British fighter was lost. Daylight raids continued in August, but precautions against them were improved. For this reason, Operation Trkenkreuz turned to night-time raids. While this gave protection from fighters and more protection against anti-aircraft fire, it brought its own problems navigation and landing especially dangerous due to the G.IV design with fuel carried in engine compartments. On May 19th 1918, 38 Gotha G.Vs performed the largest raid of Operation Trkenkreuz against London, but suffered heavy losses 6 G.Vs were lost to RFC fighters and another one crashed on landing. With a loss rate nearing 20%, the raids were called off and the G.Vs concentrated their efforts on the Western Front. Results of Strategic Air Attacks on England in World War I Number of Air Raids Bombs Dropped Killed and Injured Damage Attackers Lost 17 shot down Airships 52 225 tons 557 killed 1358 injured $7.5 million 66 to weather, accidents, or attacks on bases 24 shot down 37 to accidents

Fixed Wing Bombers

52

82 tons 2772 bombs

857 killed 2058 injured

$7 million

Original Concept by Freebird-52 Page 2