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[TopHat]

PTW.

[Doomblade187]

~~snip~~

At the Derboise-Demisonne front, most army leaders are satisfied with the current performance of the KPAF. Outside Dreidansk however, the generals insist that more forces should have been devoted to the defense of Dreidansk instead of to the north. In particular, the inability to effectively intercept the Verusan bombers had a marked effect on the morale of defenders. More squadrons of aircraft might have been able to stop the bombs, allowing the army to effectively defend the city. After the Fall of Dreidansk, strategic planners estimate the Verusans will follow up with a push on Estwice owing to its close proximity.

In the south, the navy officially requests you send planes to counter the Verusan Sky Crusader squadrons there. The army and marines here are still aiming to encircle or capture Basselton, with the defence of Mizogorod a lower priority as Verusan troops there are at the end of a long logistical chain.

~~snip~~

Possible use cases for these naval balloons include convoy overwatch and spotting for bombardment of hostile shores. The navy admirals are still not convinced of their use though, and the junior officers approach you with another petition – continuing the loan of the Hykib balloons for a raid on the Verusan city of Risleis next turn.

An attempt by a pilot in the Crimson Knights to take photos while doing stunts fails, as the heavy camera slips out of his hands in a sharp turn. Airshow attendances do seem to be on the uptick, though.

High command has increased your budget by 3 PP, as the country devotes more factories to war.

Spoiler: Projects (click to show/hide)

Equilibrium Fighter Monoplane | 10/19 progress | 2 PP per die | Rushed 0 times | 6 PP invested

Spoiler: Designs and Technology (click to show/hide)

Planes:
-Feather-1914 Scout Plane: A unarmed, single seater biplane. High stability makes it easy to fly, but also woefully inadequate for anything other than scouting. Lightweight wooden fuselage combined with a five-cylinder rotary engine gives it good speed in the air. Now comes with ailerons for improved roll capability. Cost 3/1
-Equilibrium Fighter Monoplane: A single-seater monoplane with a 7-cylinder rotary engine and correspondingly good speed. It’s armed with a Type 11 LMG firing forward through the propeller arc with the aid of a rudimentary synchronisation gear, which reduces the fire rate and occasionally jams the gun. The synchronisation gear prevents the blades from being shot off, but pilots are reminded not to shoot more than two belts of rounds anyway. Cost 5/2.
Balloons
-Hykib Observation Balloon: A single-pilot hydrogen balloon designed for aerial observation. Its elongated and finned shape helps it remain stable even in high winds. The basket has an inbuilt telephone to relay messages from the pilot to the ground, and what can charitably be described as a very rudimentary parachute. Painted a glorious red throughout. Cost 2/1
Equipment
Lvoc Camera: A glass plate medium camera with a 150mm focal length, coincidentally about the size and shape of a 150mm artillery shell. Requires manual changing of the plate for each photograph taken and is moderately durable. Cost 1 PP.
Type 11 machinegun: An air-cooled light machine gun firing 7.65x53 mm Argentine rounds at 600 RPM. Sometimes overheats after prolonged use. Cost 1 PP.
Artillery Spotter Equipment: A set of good binoculars with range markings and a Kolechian ‘comtant’, a combination of compass and sextant for taking precise bearings. Questions of whether a sextant is really necessary for doing so are met with offended looks. Cost 1 PP for 2 squadrons.
K-09 “Dogbite” Mortar Round: A 155mm high explosive mortar shell, carrying 45kg of high explosive. Is very temperamental when roughly handled. Cost: 1 PP.
Pilots:
-Coordinated: Strength in numbers! Kolechian pilots work well together and are better coordinated in combat.
-Uniforms: Red with silver accents. Pilots are issued a thick, flowing red cape which flutters gloriously in the wind, inspiring the men on the ground.
Technology:
-Basic biplane design
-Basic/Intermediate monoplane design
-Basic/Intermediate balloon design
-Wooden frame construction
-Basic control surfaces: wing warping, elevator and rudder and ailerons.
-Foster mount technology
-Rudimentary synchronisation gear
Resources:
-1 Pilot Training Institute: Teaches new pilots what each lever does. When to pull each lever is up to the student.
-1 Developmental Airfield: Designs new planes and other air-related equipment. Produces five dice worth of progress every turn.
-19 production points base

Spoiler: Squadrons (click to show/hide)

Squadron 1 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to secure air superiority along Derboise-Demisonne Road

Squadron 2 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG | Air Superiority | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to secure air superiority outside Dreidansk

Squadron 3 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera, Type 11 LMG | Aerial Reconnaissance | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform aerial photoreconnaissance along Derboise-Demisonne Road

Squadron 4 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera, Type 11 LMG | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform aerial photoreconnaissance outside Dreidansk

Observer 1 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at Derboise-Demisonne frontlines

Observer 2 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting outside Dreidansk

Observer 3 | Hykib Observation Balloon | No Equipment | Naval Testing | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to naval testing

Crimson Eagles | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera | Performance | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned as the KPAF's Official Acrobatics Squadron

Spoiler: Equipment (click to show/hide)

None

Spoiler: Statistics (click to show/hide)

Prestige: Little
Status: Auxiliary Service
Army Relations: Lukewarm
Navy Relations: Neutral

Production Points: 19
Total Maintenance: 8

Here is the military priorities list.

As such, we need to loan a sky eyes to the raid, at least one more plane to Estwice, one squadron south to counter verusa. Beyond that, we should be able to perform flanking. I suggest running the equilibrium again the main verusan force, btw.

[Rockeater]

IRCC changing the plane lead to expirince loss too

[Kashyyk]

The Verusans are going to push for Estwice or Mizogorod. Because the marines have already abandoned Mozogorod it may be worth ignoring it ourselves. This leaves Estwice.

We can't abandon Estwice, that'll be too damaging to army relations. With our new fighters, I'm confident we would win any large scale air engagements head on, so I would back the majority of our forces being sent to turn around the Estwice situation.

[Cnidaros]

Anyway, don't forget we get 2:1 for our observer equipment.

Extra equipment not assigned will be listed under the Equipment spoiler.

Anyway, any votes for Nuke's plan, or alternative plans?

[NUKE9.13]

The majority seems to be opposed to my plan, on the basis that the army hasn't actually asked us to support the push on Demisonne.

Well, maybe they're right. Maybe if we cut back our support for the northern front, they'll realise what they're missing. They might even advocate for a higher budget.
But rather than throw everything at the central front like a bunch of reactionary idiots, perhaps we should send a large contingent south- we have been asked to support a push there, and if we send enough we might tip the scales and cause Basselton to fall.

Squadron 1 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG, K-09 “Dogbite” Mortar Round | Bombing | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Attempt bombing enemy positions around Basselton with Dogbite Mortar Rounds.

Squadron 2 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera, Type 11 LMG | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Recon duty around Estwice (Camera swapped from Squadron 3)

Squadron 3 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Defend skies around Estwice (Camera swapped to Squadron 2)

Squadron 4 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera, Type 11 LMG | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Recon duty around Basselton.

Squadron 5 | Prototype Equilibrium Fighter Monoplane | Air Superiority | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 2
Keep the skies around Basselton clear / Escort bombers

Observer 1 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Artillery spotting at Basselton

Observer 2 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting outside Estwice

Observer 3 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Naval Testing | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to naval testing

Crimson Eagles | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera | Performance | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned as the KPAF's Official Acrobatics Squadron


Expense:
Maintenance: 8
New Equipment: 1+1=2 (Mortar Rounds, Artillery Spotter Equipment)
New Squadrons: 5 (EFM)
Total: 15

[Nirur Torir]

I don't like that plan:
 Our more experienced pilots in Squadron 1 and 3 are on bombing and recon duty.
 I'd prefer more general orders - "Defend skies around Estwice front" instead of "Defend skies over Estwice." There is a difference, and if the battle doesn't go to the city this turn, those planes won't help much.
 I want the EFM on air superiority instead of escort duty.

Additionally, I want to gamble on using rookie pilots in the EFM squadron. I'm expecting a % XP loss instead of a flat number, and that the planes are close enough that we won't see them drop from rookie.

I'm a little iffy on bombing this turn. We don't have enough pilots for bombing and recon, and the photos are likely more effective than dropping a few mortar rounds from a fighter.

[NUKE9.13]

-Bombing is deliberate, as they are more comfortable flying their planes they are more likely to be able to handle a new kind of combat. Recon is not, I'll swap that to defence.
-I mean, we've been told Veruca will be attacking Estwice this turn. But sure, I can change "over" to "around".
-I have it on Air Superiority/Escort. I could change it to purely AS, I suppose.
-I don't think the minor boost in performance is worth the risk. Although, maybe the GM will answer this question?
Cnidaros, would Rookie Feather pilots lose a level of experience if they swapped to EFMs?
-We've already seen that bombing using the starting plane can be (somewhat) effective. And I have a recon squad in the south, so why not try bombing as well?

E: Also, needless to say from a grand strategy perspective the above plan is terrible, since it leaves the northern front entirely unsupported. But the majority seems to be in favour of doing so.

E2: Actually, a question: do we want to continue spending maintenance on the acrobatics squadron, which seems to be doing jack shit for us? Might be better to send it to the front lines again.

[Nirur Torir]

I'm not ready to give up on the acrobatics squadron entirely, but recalling them to the front this turn is tempting. 6 squadrons over 3 areas gives us much more flexibility than 5.

[Cnidaros]

-I don't think the minor boost in performance is worth the risk. Although, maybe the GM will answer this question?
Cnidaros, would Rookie Feather pilots lose a level of experience if they swapped to EFMs?

This kind of goes against my rule on keeping the exact experience number under the hood, but yes for Squadron 3, no for Squadron 1.

[Doomblade187]

I actually support keeping the airshow squadron going, or maybe rotating a squadron out to airshow and rotating them in. Airshow attendence is increasing, which is a good sign.

[Nirur Torir]

Plan C: 1 squadron to the Derboise front, 2 to the Estwice front, 3 to the southern islands. Balloons to the Estwice and island fronts. Crimson Eagles sent to the front.

Plan C
Expense:
Maintenance: 8
New Equipment: 1+1=2 (Mortar Rounds, Artillery Spotter Equipment)
New Squadrons: 5 (EFM Prototype)
Total: 15

Pilot/plane/gear reorganization:
 EFM prototype to Squadron 1, Squadron 1's old planes to Squadron 5.
 Squadron 4's Type 11 LMG to Crimson Eagles.
 New Mortar Rounds to Crimson Eagles.
 1 New Artillery Spotter Equipment to Observer 3.


Squadron 1 | Equilibrium Fighter Monoplane | No Equipment | Air Superiority | Rookie(?) | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 3
Air Superiority along Estwice-Dreidansk Road.

Squadron 2 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG | Escort Squadron 5 | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Escort Squadron 5.

Squadron 3 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera, Type 11 LMG | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Air Superiority along Derboise-Demisonne Road. Reconnaissance if no enemy planes are in the area.

Squadron 4 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Aerial photoreconnaissance along Estwice-Dreidansk Road.

Squadron 5 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG, K-09 “Dogbite” Mortar Round| Bombing | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Bombing support for Basselton assault.

Crimson Eagles | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera, Type 11 LMG | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Air Superiority over Basselton.

Observer 1 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Artillery spotting along Estwice-Dreidansk Road.

Observer 2 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Artillery spotting outside Basselton

Observer 3 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Naval Testing | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to naval testing

[NUKE9.13]

Sure, that works.

Plan C: (1) NUKE9.13

[Nirur Torir]

Plan C: (2) NUKE9.13, Nirur

[Kashyyk]

It may be worth swapping the acrobatics team out for neophytes. We need the experience on the front.Acrobatics is supposed to get us prestige after all.