Kolechia Design Phase, Late Winter 1915Equilibrium Fighter MonoplaneProgress: 18+1 = 19/19. 2 PP spent.
This close to the end of the project, several engineers are already in a celebratory mood. Fortunately, the last few papers are signed, sealed and sent off to the factories without too much delay, and the Equilibrium Fighter Monoplane (or EFM for short) is officially ready for mass production. A few of the former general’s fine cigars are passed around the design offices in celebration!
Project Complete! You can now deploy as many squadrons of Equilibrium Fighter Monoplanes as you can afford.
Requisition: Army Field RadioAfter a few rounds of negotiations, the army wireless companies agree to turn over the plans for their field radio set. This is the
KTW-15 trench radio, which is brand new by Kolechian army standards. It’s a spark-gap radio set that transmits Morse code signals, designed to be operated by teams of three men. The set consists of the spark-gap transmitter unit with battery which can be set to two frequencies, a crystal receiver, and a horizontal aerial assembly which is 60m long. The KTW-15 can broadcast up to 4km on a good day, but range is usually only 2-3 km. All up, the entire thing weighs 60 kg, which is split up among the three men. In combat, this radio sees use by battalion and occasionally company-level command. However, given the sometimes significant interference from other radiosets, communication by field telephone where lines can be laid is often preferred.
KTW-15: A trench radio set with a spark-gap transmitter and crystal receiver, which sends and receives Morse code. Weighs 60kg, with a 60m aerial assembly and has a range of up to 4km. Suffers from bad interference if operated too close to another set on the same frequency. Cost 2 PP.
It is now the Revision Phase, Late Winter 1915. You have 4 dice remaining to spend on Revisions or bank for the next turn.
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 but allows easier aiming. 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.
-KF-15 Signal-Illumination Flare Pistol: The K-15 fires up to eight Rainbow flares in colours from red to purple for signalling, and a bright white for illumination, allowing planes to signal to the ground. Each pistol is single-shot only but are cheap enough to be issued in bulk.
-KTW-15: A trench radio set with a spark-gap transmitter and crystal receiver, which sends and receives Morse code. Weighs 60kg, with a 60m aerial assembly and has a range of up to 4km. Suffers from bad interference if operated too close to another set on the same frequency. Cost 2 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
-Pyrotechnics
-Basic spark-gap radio, crystal receivers
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.
-22 production points base
Squadron 1 | Equilibrium Fighter Monoplane | No Equipment | Air Superiority | Rookie | Piotr | Maintenance Cost 3
Currently assigned to secure air superiority along the Estwice-Dreidansk Road
Squadron 2 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG | Bomber Escort | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to escort Squadron 5 at Basselton
Squadron 3 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera, Type 11 LMG | Air Superiority | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to secure air superiority along the Derboise-Demisonne Road
Squadron 4 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Lvoc Camera | Aerial Reconnaissance | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform aerial photoreconnaissance along the Estwice-Dreidansk Road
Squadron 5 | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG, K-09 "Dogbite" Mortar Rounds | Level Bombing | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to bombing support at Basselton
Crimson Eagles | Feather-1914 Scout Plane | Type 11 LMG, Lvoc Camera | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to secure air superiority over Basselton
Observer 1 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting along Estwice-Dreidansk Road
Observer 2 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at Basselton
Observer 3 | Hykib Observation Balloon | Artillery Spotter Equipment | Naval Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to naval raiding
1 x Artillery Spotter Equipment
Prestige: Little
Status: Auxiliary Service
Army Relations: Mostly Friendly
Navy Relations: Lukewarm
Production Points: 20
Total Maintenance: 11