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 bombing’s 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 versus German Aircraft: Allies Type Date Entered Service German Type Date Entered Service Basic Level Caproni Ca.3 * August 1915 vs Albatros D.II August 1916 Caproni Ca.42 * April 1918 vs Pfalz D.IIIa May 1918 Handley Page O/400 * March 1917 vs Fokker Dr.I July 1917 Nieuport 17 1917 vs Gotha G.V * August 1917 SPAD XIII April 1917 vs Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI * June 1917 Advanced Level Caproni Ca.3 * PLUS 2 x Nieuport 11

August 1915 January 1916

vs 2 x Albatros D.II

August 1916

Caproni Ca.42 * PLUS 2 x SPAD XIII

April 1918 vs 2 x Pfalz D.IIIa May 1918

Handley Page O/400 * PLUS 2 x Sopwith Camel

March 1917 vs 2 x Fokker Dr.I July 1917

2 x Nieuport 17

June 1917

vs Gotha G.V * PLUS 2 x Fokker Dr.I

August 1917 July 1917

2 x SPAD XIII

April 1917

vs Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI * PLUS 2 x Fokker D.VII

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 Enemy’s fighters in the Enemy’s 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 Enemy’s fighters in the Enemy’s 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.

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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 Türkenkreuz’ 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 Türkenkreuz’ 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 Türkenkreuz’ 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.V’s 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

Airships 52 225 tons 557 killed

1358 injured $7.5 million

17 shot down

66 to weather, accidents, or attacks on bases

Fixed Wing Bombers

52 82 tons

2772 bombs

857 killed

2058 injured $7 million

24 shot down

37 to accidents

Original Concept by Freebird-52

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