Design Phase, Late Spring 1915Squire 2 of Rhinos and Squire 4 of Rhino-Ps, along with Rook 1 and 2 of Sky Eyes have reached Regular experience level. Knight 1 and Knight 2 of Emus have reached Rookie experience level.
On the northern front, the generals are mostly appreciative of the job the Sky Crusaders are doing at the moment. While the Kolechians have a distinct advantage in planes here, the spotter balloons have been useful in holding back their advance so far. With the critical situation in the central plains, the army has no intentions of advancing here in the next months, and will instead focus on holding the line.
In the centre, there is panic at the large numbers of EFMs in the skies overhead. The generals are united in their calls for more fighters to be sent to this front as soon as possible. The situation has taken a turn for the worse with the fall of Dreidansk: the main supply lines to Estwice have been cut, but there are still sufficient supplies in the city to hold out for a turn or two. In the upcoming months, the army is planning an immediate offensive to retake Dreidansk and reopen the road to Estwice. Support squadrons for this offensive are also sought for.
On Okinso, the marines and navy are reasonably happy with the quick recapture of Basselton. They hope to push up the Kodemo Trail again in the coming months, along with retaking the headland between Basselton and Livomir. The enhanced bombing efforts courtesy of the new Great Emu planes were useful in the combat around Basselton, but the Kolechian navy is still carrying out sporadic raids with the aid of their naval balloon squadron. If there are spare aircraft, the navy requests that a squadron be dedicated to shooting down these relatively defenceless balloons, or for naval search duties, although the endurance of a Rhino is not quite enough to effectively perform the latter.
Despite the currently warm relations with the army, there are rumours that the army may be looking to assert more control over certain aspects of the Sky Crusaders in the coming months. However, for the time being these rumours cannot yet be confirmed.
There is also the matter of the possible Midako deal to consider. For now, the Midako are asking only for the blueprints of the basic Rhino model, without weapons. In return, they offer 1 PP for the next two turns.
The guards from the Department of Security have set up a security check at the aerodrome’s entrance, annoying many workers. Meanwhile, their agent-in-charge has taken over a couple of the back rooms as his office, installing a rather ostentatious bookshelf and mahogany desk in one of them
.High command has increased your budget by 3 PP, as the country devotes more factories to war.
Verusan F1 Lesser European Swallow | 1/19 progress | 2 PP per die | Rushed 0 times | 2 PP invested
Planes:
-‘Rhino’ Biplane: A unarmed, single-seater reconnaissance plane. Very misleadingly named, as its fragile wood-and-canvas frame can’t withstand the slightest collision. On the other hand, it’s about as easy to turn as a charging rhino. At least it gets up to a good speed, powered by a five-cylinder rotary engine. Now comes with 'feet' on the wings. Cost: 3/1
--Rhino-F: A variant of the Rhino with a Bolt Machine Gun, modified to use the Crossguard synchronisation gear to shoot directly ahead through its own propeller arc. Cost 4/1
-VRAC A.1 “Emu”: A two-seater biplane with a water-cooled engine in the pusher configuration. The Emu mounts two Bolt machineguns, in front and rear-facing swivel mounts, operated by the observer sitting forward of the pilot. Is reasonably fast and maneuverable for its size. No longer includes carved wooden emu heads. Cost 5/2.
--VRAC A.1b “Great Emu”: A variant of the Emu sporting the air-cooled Barnett 1915 V12 engine in place of the old inline engine. The Great Emu is faster, but less manoeuvrable than a regular Emu, and has a greater bombload of 450 lbs. It also has integrated Bar’s Shelf-AABR bomb racks included to carry said bombs. Cost 6/2
-Verusan F1 Lesser European Swallow: A single-seat monoplane, using the new air-cooled Barnett 1915 V12 engine turning a four-blade propeller. It’s armed with a pair of forward-firing Crossguard-synchronised Bolt Machine Guns, giving it good firepower. The Swallow uses a metal frame of hollowed steel tubes instead of wood, giving it higher strength and cost. The wings are wire-braced with thick roots, with a moderate dihedral angle for stability. Speed in level flight is very good, and great in a dive, but manoeuvrability is below par. Cost: 7/2 (In Development)
Balloons:
-Sky Eye Observation Balloon: A three-man hot air balloon for aerial observation. Two observers sketch out enemy dispositions, while a phone operator relays information to the ground and controls the balloons’ altitude. Comes with spiffy gold-rimmed monocles to help the observers see ‘further’. Cost 1/1
Equipment:
-“Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials”: A set of gear for aerial observers. Currently consists of a set of high-quality binoculars, sketchpad and drafting pencils. Cost 1 PP for 2 squadrons.
-Bolt Machine Gun: A belt-fed machinegun capable of accurate firing out to 2000m. It is air-cooled and operates on a closed-bolt firing cycle. Cost 1 PP.
-Mk.1 “Bottled Fury” Bomb: Verusa’s first purpose-designed bomb! A 75-pound high explosive bomb, which is equipped with fins to stabilise it when dropped. Creates a slight fragmentation effect when it explodes. Cost 1 PP.
-Hawk Eye Camera: A fast shutter glass-plate camera, set at infinity focus for aerial photoreconnaissance. Requires the pilot to change the plates after every shot and is mounted to take photographs through a hole in the bottom of the cockpit. Cost 1 PP.
-Crossguard Gearing: A synchronisation gear that allows machine-guns to fire through a spinning propeller using mechanical impulses from a cam wheel, while reducing the rate of fire. The trigger is reconfigured to be a button on the control column, which actually serves to disengage the safety sear instead of firing the gun. A manual safety switch is also included in the cockpit.
-Firefly Flaregun: A single-shot flare pistol firing red, green, blue and white flares into the air for long-distance signalling. They are cheap and can be issued to every airman.
-Bar’s Shelf Bomb Rack: A simple wooden bomb rack that holds two Mk.1 “Bottled Fury” bombs, which are released by pulling a cord. Is currently only available for Rhinos.
--Bar’s Shelf-AABR: A pair of semi-retracting clamps that holds a single “Bottled Fury” bomb each, with multiple such pairs per aircraft. Now comes with a monocular, for pilots to see where their bombs are going. Cost 1 PP.
-Barracuda Torpedo: The Verusan Navy’s one and only torpedo, an eighteen-foot, 1600-pound monster powered by a wet-heater motor. The Barracuda has a range of up to 3000 yards, and comes with actual barracuda teeth, supposedly to "improve penetration of enemy hulls". Cost 2 PP.
-Clown Killi Aerial Torpedo: The Clown Killi is a Barracuda torpedo with a reduced range (and thus fuel load) of 1500 yards, and a smaller warhead of 300 pounds. Unfortunately, it weighs 1200 lbs, too much for any aircraft to carry yet. It is compatible with Bar’s Shelf-AABR bomb racks but suffers from a complete lack of clever slogans painted on it. Cost 2 PP.
-Pilots:
-Daring: For King and Country! Verusan pilots are more aggressive and willing to take risks in combat.
-Uniforms: Blue with purple accents. Pilots are commissioned with a ceremonial sabre, which they bring along for every mission, stored in a sheath in the cockpit.
-Knight of Flight Badges: A badge awarded to pilots who demonstrate heroism and bravery in combat above and beyond the call of duty. Comes in three different classes and is extremely shiny.
-Colourful: Sky Crusader aircraft are painted a wide variety of colours, standing out against the skies. Pilots are far less likely to follow the wrong aircraft home.
Technology:
-Basic/Intermediate biplane design
-Basic/Intermediate monoplane design
-Basic pusher configuration design
-Basic balloon design
-Wooden frame construction
-Simple metal frame construction (steel)
-Basic control surfaces: ailerons, elevator and rudder
-Rhino Horn mount technology
-Shiny badges
-Camera mounting
-Basic Synchronisation Gearing
-Basic hardpoints
-Basic V12 engine design
-Basic torpedo design
Resources:
-1 Air Academy: Trains new pilots how to take off. Landing is left as an exercise for the student.
-1 Experimental Aerodrome: Designs new planes and other air-related equipment. Produces five dice worth of progress every turn.
-28 production points base.
Knight 1 | VRAC A.1 "Emu" | Mk.1 "Bottled Fury" Bombs, Bar's Shelf-AABR | Level Bombing | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 2
Currently assigned to bomb enemy defenses outside Basselton
Knight 2 | VRAC A.1b "Great Emu" | Mk.1 "Bottled Fury" Bombs | Level Bombing | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 2
Currently assigned to bomb enemy defenses outside Basselton
Knight 3 | VRAC A.1 "Emu" | No Equipment | Air Superiority | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 2
Currently assigned to secure air superiority outside Basselton
Squire 1 | Rhino-F Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform defensive patrols along the Demisonne-Derboise Road
Squire 2 | Rhino Biplane | No Equipment | Public Touring | Regular | Alderic | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to public relations touring
Squire 3 | Rhino-F Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform defensive patrols around Estwice
Squire 4 | Rhino-P Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun, Hawk Eye Cameras | Aerial Reconnaissance | Regular | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform aerial photoreconnaissance outside Basselton
Squire 5 | Rhino-F Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Air Superiority | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to secure air superiority outside Basselton
Rook 1 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Regular | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at the Demisonne-Derboise frontlines
Rook 2 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Regular | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at the Dreidansk-Estwice frontlines
Rook 3 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at Basselton
Rook 4 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | No Role | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at Basselton
Prestige: Little
Status: Auxiliary Service
Army Relations: Warm
Navy Relations: Warm
Production Points: 28
Total Maintenance: 15
Author
Topic: Knights of the Skies: Verusa Thread - Early Summer 1916, Production Phase (Read 59976 times)