Combat PhaseSpring 1951 Turn 1Foreword: This is the first battle report. Please keep in mind that both sides start with limited tech, and advancements into new developments can be difficult. Additionally, your nation is not particularly well-developed, so fielding equipment can be costly. New weapons are expensive, and until your Economic Development Track has moved up a few levels you might find yourself struggling to put them on the field. This is intentional; your nation still needs time to develop and grow. Perhaps you can find yourself an ally to help soothe these growing pains?
Technological DevelopmentsThis turn Nogrania has attempted to mimic the developments of first-world countries and build their very first walker, the
NAF-SPAT-51 "Paradigm". Essentially an artillery piece mounted on a flat platform, the Paradigm uses four stumpy mechanical legs for locomotion. Each leg uses a number of hydraulic pistons attached to a hardened mount and terminates in a flat, wide foot. It's not particularly fast - an infantryman could keep up with it on foot. The legs "push" away from the craft one at a time in what can only be described as a crawling movement, causing it to move in a vague zig-zag pattern. It can't fire while moving, and the crew and engine are out in the open. The gearing that controls the legs is mounted on the underside of the craft, giving it a very low ground clearance. The walking function isn't particularly sophisticated and has a small envelop of freedom, and the legs are entirely unarmored.
For their revision, Nogrania has borrowed a Enfield conversion developed by Britain during WW2. The
NAF-SAR-51 "Kotow" is a shameless copy of the
M1915 Howell Automatic Rifle, which was a conversion of a standard No1 MkIII Lee Enfield rifle into a semiautomatic. This involves a gas piston that envelops the muzzle, travels down the length of the rifle, and terminates in a slide that automatically cycles the bolt with each shot. A number of other changes are made, most notably bumping the magazine size from 5 shots to 20. Though the rifle can no longer mount a bayonet, it is now equipped with a bi-pod to ease operation in the prone position. The trigger has been modified to require the user to physically reset it between each shot, preventing unintentional automatic fire. Jams occasionally.
Nogrania MilitaryGround Forces
Nogrania Mills Bomb – British grenades, developed in 1915. Features a distinctive “pineapple” shape, a pin, and lever spoon. Relatively heavy grenades with a seven second fuse, which results in infantry typically “cooking” them for a few seconds before throwing. The grooved surface results in unpredictable shrapnel spread. Not terribly useful for anti-infantry use due to the long cook-off time and short range, but can be used to throw off the tread of a tank or clear small areas. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
NG-11 “Earsplitter” Revolver – Standard infantry sidearm, proudly produced in Nogrania. Named after the deafening bang produced by the short-barrel 0.50” rounds. Six cylinder with a stiff trigger, single-action hammer, and smooth-bore barrel. Reloading is slow and requires spent shells to be ejected one at a time, meaning it is rarely reloaded during combat. Recoil makes it difficult to use, but has high stopping power and is accurate out to 40 yards, if the user is a decent shot. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
Enfield Pattern 14 – Rifle purchased from the United Kingdom in bulk after the first World War. Once declared “the most advanced service rifle of World War I”, it was recently declared obsolete by the British in 1947. Accurate bolt-action 5-round rifle with a “cock-on-closing” action chambered for .303 cartridges. Able to fire rapidly, but significantly heavy and with a small magazine. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
NAF-SAR-51 "Kotow" – A modification of the Enfield P14. A gas piston is mounted to the side, which automatically cycles the bolt between each shot. Trigger must be reset between each shot. Twenty round magazine. Pistol grip keeps the hand out of the way of the bolt. Bipod makes firing from prone easier. Does not feature a bayonet. Jams occasionally. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
Wickers Machine Gun – A copy of the famous Vickers Machine Gun, the Wickers is chambered for .303 caliber rounds to enable ammo cross-compatibility with the Enfield P14. Although reliable, the gun is heavy and water-cooled, requiring six men to carry and operate, relegating it primarily to static defense and anti-air roles were it not made illegal by Article VI of the Geneva Conventions. 2 Ore. [ILLEGAL]. [Cheap].
NG-31 “Ironcaster” Fieldgun – A 2” light artillery piece developed during Japans expansion in the Pacific, this relatively inexpensive cannon was designed to be quickly moved from place-to-place in order to rapidly defend Nogrania's shores. It finished development an entire month after Toskesh's 50mm “Sunrise” fieldgun, but the design team is quick to point out that it is 0.8 mm larger and therefor superior. Though the range was too short to target ships offshore, it was ideal for hitting beachheads during landings and retreating out of danger. It requires a truck to be towed from place to place, but with the Geneva Conventions that is no longer possible. We’ve taken the liberty of knocking the wheels off the frame and attaching skids to allow it to be pulled by horse, fulfilling compliance with Article IV of the Conventions. It’s still a decent gun, but not ideal for offense any more. 3 Ore. [Cheap].
SPAT-35 “Thatcher” Pattern 4 V3 – The Thatcher was designed soon after Toskesh's first Mobile Artillery piece came to the field and has featured numerous upgrades over the years to keep in step with enemy designs. Featuring a closed-in Ironcaster artillery piece with an extended barrel, the tank is turtle-shaped and low to the ground. It features a reasonably powerful engine, but has thin armor, a cramped interior, and a limited ammo load. The Thatcher does not feature any anti-infantry machinegun ports and relies on support to avoid being overrun. Tends to perform better in rougher terrain with plenty of cover and concealment, in order to make up for its weaker armor and small ammo load. It was struggling to stay relevant, even before it was made illegal by Article IV of the Geneva Conventions. 6 Ore, 3 Oil. [ILLEGAL]. [Very Expensive].
NAF-SPAT-51 "Paradigm" – Nogrania's first attempt at a legal mobile artillery piece. Uses four stumpy legs that make use of hydraulics to move in a crawling zig-zag pattern. Not fast by any means. Makes use of the 2" Ironcaster Field Gun as the main armament. Low ground clearance and exposed engine and crew. Must stop in order to fire, but is surprisingly stable. Can "rest" on its belly if all legs are in "push" configuration. Five crew members. Completely unarmored save for a thin shield mounted on the gun. 5 Ore, 3 Oil. [Very Expensive].
Air Forces
Locus 1944 V4 – Originally envisioned as a cheap aircraft, the Locus was ultimately over-designed and exceeded its targeted cost. Reasonably fast with a V12 motor, the Locus is a fixed-wing monoplane. Equipped with two Wickers and a two hard points on the wings to which 110 pound bombs can be attached, allowing it to pull double duty as both a fighter and dive bomber. Guns overheat quickly, and it features a rather sluggish roll rate and stability issues. Rendered illegal by Article V of the Geneva Conventions. 4 Ore, 4 Oil, 1 Aluminum. [ILLEGAL]. [Very Expensive].
Naval Forces
Herald-Class Destroyer – Little more than an upgraded steamboat, the Herald-Class features two 2” Ironcaster field guns mounted in closed turrets; one fore, and one aft. Two Wicker Machine Guns served as anti-air defense, but in accordance with the Conventions have been removed. The ship is powered by two oil-fired boilers. The ship is reasonably well-armored, but its small engine and armament keeps it light at a displacement of 1,100 tons. 6 Ore, 2 Oil. [Very Expensive].
Misc.
Wallace Truck – A simple diesel-powered truck. Four-wheel drive enabled, straight-six engine, and with enough room in the bed for ten soldiers to sit comfortably...although it can no longer be used for such purposes. Originally designed to transport military equipment, the Wallace is now only used for transporting raw goods. 4 Ore, 2 Oil. Provides +1 TC. [Expensive].
NG-AMR "Opera House" Pattern 2 – Surprisingly advanced for our technologically stunted nation, the Opera House is a vacuum-tube AM radio small enough to be worn as a rather heavy backpack. Infantry wearing this radio must forgo any equipment more heavy than their rifle or risk becoming over-encumbered. A handset is attached via cord, allowing the user to communicate quickly and easily. Communications are entirely unencrypted, but luckily the enemy doesn’t speak English. The Opera House can be added to vehicles for no added cost or weight. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
Nogrania Soldiers Uniform 1935 - Uniform distributed to most Nogrania soldiers. Grayish-green in color, it features stylish canvas leggings to go over the boots, a bandolier rig to hold ammo, grenades, and anything else the soldier might need, and a light overcoat for colder weather. Helmet is a dishpan-style flat-brim design made of mild steel, and provides protection if the soldier happens to get shot from directly above but not much elsewhere. Does not come with gloves, but does come with leather patches on the elbows and knees to make crawling and kneeling easier. 1 Oil. [Cheap].
Starting Resources:
Starting: 2/1
U.N. : 1/1
Available TC: 1
3 Ore, 1 Oil, 1 Cobalt
Economic Development Track:
0/3 -> 1 Ore Import
Toskesh has likewise attempted to circumvent the Geneva Conventions this turn by developing an entirely unheard of vehicle known as the "hovercraft". They've named this vehicle the
Xi-51 Qi-Chu. Like Nogrania's Paradigm, it is also a mobile artillery piece, but the means of locomotion are entirely different. A giant rubber inner-tube surrounds the outside of the craft and air is pumped into the interspace between the deck and the ground. This high-pressure area lifts the craft off the ground and causes it to hover, allowing it to be moved (relatively) easily by a pair of fans mounted on the rear. In order to generate the power required to keep the tube inflated, lift the craft, and power the fans, Toskesh engineers have cobbled together a crude turboshaft engine - the first such engine to ever exist on the island of Serouda. It takes three -
three - of them to power the Xi-51, but Toskesh has produced the worlds first functional (if prohibitively expensive) hovercraft. Although remarkably fast, the craft suffers from a number of issues preventing it from reaching its full potential. The engines won't run in wet weather, the large air intakes prevent the cannon from firing rewards, the stabilizing legs do a poor job of keeping the craft steady when firing, the engines must be running constantly even when stationary, and the rubber skirt is vulnerable to enemy fire. High obstacles and waves can cause the skirt to collapse require the craft to be stop and reinflate itself, making water travel risky and limiting it to areas with flat, level terrain. A Sunrise artillery cannon makes up the main armament, but can be removed to allow up to eight soldiers hitch a ride.
For their revision Toskesh focused on upgrading their turboshaft engines, producing the
Type 51 Turboshaft. This brings the power output up to a level comparable with turboshafts produced almost half a decade ago and drops the engine requirements for the Xi-51 Qi-Chu from three to two, lowering the expense
just enough for it to be Very Expensive rather than a National Effort.
Toskesh MilitaryGround Forces
Toskesh Model 24NG Grenade – A cheap copy of China’s cheap copy of Germany’s “Model 1924 Stielhandgranate”. Essentially an explosive charge on the end of a stick, which lets the user throw the device further and harder. Not particularly reliable and does a poor job of damaging anything more heavily armored than sheet metal, but is light and easy for troops to use. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
Meng 35 – Proudly designed and produced in Toskesh. Designed in 1935 during the interwar period, this 9 mm handgun features an 8-round magazine and is accurate out to 20 meters. Does not feature iron sights. Does not feature a safety. Does not feature a trigger guard. Reliable even when dropped in mud, and easy to reload. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
Mauser Model 1871 – Replete with the 1884 modification giving it an 8-round tubular magazine, the Mauser is a repeating rifle featuring a massive 11 mm round and smokeless powder. Purchased third-hand from Chinese surplus, this rifle is fairly outdated by the modern weaponry designed a half-century later. It’s cheap, reliable, and simple enough that every soldier can have one. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
Type 24.1 HMG – A knock-off of the original Type 24, the 24.1 is chambered in 7.92 mm. It is a top-fed water-cooled fully automatic machinegun. Usually supported by a tripod and a crew of four, it is typically used in defensive emplacements against air and infantry assaults. Already inferior to modern machineguns, the Type 24.1 was recently declared illegal by Article VI of the Geneva Conventions on Conventional Weaponry. 2 Ore. [ILLEGAL]. [Cheap].
TOS-31 “Sunrise” Fieldgun – A 50mm light artillery piece developed during Japans expansion in the Pacific, this relatively inexpensive cannon was designed to be quickly moved from place-to-place in order to rapidly defend Toskesh’s shores. It’s sadly 0.8 mm smaller than Nogrania's 2-inch “Ironcaster” fieldgun, but the design team is quick to point out that it was produced one month faster and therefor superior. Though the range was too short to target ships offshore, it was ideal for hitting beachheads during landings and retreating out of danger. It requires a truck to be towed from place to place, but with the Geneva Conventions that is no longer possible. We’ve taken the liberty of knocking the wheels off the frame and attaching skids to allow it to be pulled by horse, fulfilling compliance with Article IV of the Conventions. It’s still a decent gun, but not ideal for offense any more. 3 Ore. [Cheap].
IFT-29 “Wuhan” Pattern D.3 – Toskesh's most recently developed tank, the Wuhan has featured numerous upgrades over the years to keep it up-to-par with Nogrania designs. It was originally designed as Mobile Artillery but evolved into an Infantry Fighting Tank as warfare evolved on Serouda. It uses a slimmed-down Sunrise cannon for the main armament, and the shells are primarily HE for soft targets or solid shot for enemy armor. It is equipped with a top-mounted Type 24.1 for anti-infantry. It’s reasonably light, but box-shaped and plagued by a faulty and under-powered engine, hand-cranked turret rotation, and poor suspension. It tends to do better in flat, open terrain where the weak engine and poor suspension are less of an issue. It was struggling to stay relevant, even before it was made illegal by Article IV of the Geneva Conventions. 6 Ore, 3 Oil. [ILLEGAL]. [Very Expensive].
Xi-51 Qi-Chu – The first hovercraft ever developed. Uses two Type 51 Turboshaft engines to inflate the skirt, lift the craft, and provide propulsion. Uses two stationary rearward-facing fans with rudders for navigation. Features a 50 mm Sunrise Field Gun as the main armament and four (not very useful) stabilizing legs. Large air intake and fans prevent the craft from firing rearward. Burns fuel at a staggering rate. Skirt tends to collapse when met with high obstacles and waves, requiring the craft to stop and reinflate. Cannon can be removed to give up to eight soldiers a ride. Quite fast, but fragile. Turboshafts flame-out in wet weather. 4 Ore, 5 Oil, 1 Cobalt. [Very Expensive].
Air Forces
Immortal Mk.III-B – A fixed-wing monoplane. Features a 9-cylinder radial engine, gull-wings, and two Type-24.1’s. Pulls double-duty as both a fighter and dive bomber, with a single hard-point allowing up to 100 kg bombs to be attached. Guns tend to jam in high altitude and cold weather, and elevator will lock up at high speeds. Rendered illegal by Article V of the Geneva Conventions. 4 Ore, 4 Oil, 1 Aluminum. [ILLEGAL]. [Very Expensive].
Naval Forces
TOSN-34 “Dogbite” Destroyer – Little more than an upgraded steamboat, the Dogbite features three 50 mm Sunrise field guns mounted in open turrets; two fore, and one aft. Two Type 24.1’s serve as anti-air defense, but they have been removed in accordance with Article VI of the Conventions. The ship is powered by three coal-fired boilers using their own coal as protection to the port and starboard sides. The ship is virtually unarmored, otherwise making it fairly quick and light at a displacement of 1,100 long tons. 6 Ore, 2 Oil. [Very Expensive].
Misc.
Lingxin-Chao Pattern A Truck – A simple diesel-powered truck. Four-wheel drive enabled, straight-six engine, and with enough room in the bed for ten soldiers to sit comfortably, although it can no longer be used for such purposes. Originally designed to transport military equipment, the Lingxin-Chao Pattern A is now only used for transporting raw goods. 3 Ore, 2 Oil. Provides +1 TC. [Expensive].
Mk.4 Wireless Radio – Surprisingly advanced for our technologically stunted nation, the Mk. 4 is a vacuum-tube AM radio small enough to be worn as a rather heavy backpack. Infantry wearing this radio must forgo any equipment more heavy than their rifle or risk becoming over-encumbered. A handset is attached via cord, allowing the user to communicate quickly and easily. Communications are entirely unencrypted, but luckily the enemy doesn’t speak Mandarin Chinese. The Mk. 4 can be added to vehicles for no added cost or weight. 1 Ore. [Cheap].
Toskesh Standard Uniform 1935 – A standard uniform. Designed to be worn in layers for varying temperatures, going from a drab-green shirt and trousers to a heavy wool overcoat. Belt is equipped with pouches for ammo, hooks for grenades, and pockets for anything else a soldier might need. Helmet is thin, mild steel in a vague bowl-shape, more for show than for actual protection. Does not come with gloves, but does come with a stylish pair of suspenders to help hold up the wearers trousers and heavy belt. Features standard variants for airmen and tank crews. 1 Oil. [Cheap].
Type 51 Turboshaft – A slightly better turboshaft than our first attempt. Meets a more adequate power requirement through a more intelligent and efficient design. Produces more power for the same amount of fuel, but still obsolete by more modern standards. 1 Cobalt. [Cheap].
Starting Resources:
Starting: 2/1
U.N. : 1/1
Available TC: 1
3 Ore, 1 Oil, 1 Cobalt
Economic Development Track:
0/3 -> 1 Ore Import
Author
Topic: Arms Race: Iron Behemoths - Nogrania - GAME OVER (Read 52897 times)