Verusa Design Phase, Late Summer 1915Requisition:
We of the Verusan Sky Crusaders request an automatic rifle, which is:
-First and most of all belt fed, so that it may fire from a box of ammunition continously,
-Air cooled, but with a heavy barrel, so that it will be light in weight and cooled by air moving past the aeroplane to fire all of its ammunition,
-In the service rifle caliber, of something between 7mm and 8mm, so that there will be a balance of power and weight.
Requisition Machine Guns, Design VRAC A.1 with 3 Dice, spend 1 Die on Sky Eye, 1 die remains for revision
The commander of the artillery battalion puts in a word for you, and soon crates of an older-model
Bolt Machine Gun begin arriving at the aerodrome, along with plans for its manufacture. The Bolt is a belt-fed, air-cooled machinegun with a closed-bolt firing cycle. It fires at a rate of 450 rounds/min, is effective out to 2000m, and fires the .30-06 Springfield cartridge.
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.
The VRAC A.1 as its called in official documents, often called simply the A.1 or the Emu by most is a two seater biplane powered by a single inline eight piston water cooled engine behind the pilot that powers the four bladed wooden propeller behind it which pushes the aircraft forward. The wings are a fair longer then the old Rhino and has two ailerons on the top wing, one on the right end, and one on the left. The tail of the aircraft is supported by a set of wooden struts and a few wires to control the rudder and elevator, both of which are the most solid part of the rear of the craft. The landing wheels are made to be able to absorb some shock to be able to save the crew on a rough landing. The crew of the aircraft is an observer in the front of the aircraft and a pilot behind him, with the observer expected to do all of the scouting while the pilot simply flies. The observer also is to shoot at any enemy aircraft if he gets the chance, and the aircraft has two metal bars, one in between both seats, and one in front that one could screw a machine gun on if they had it, not that we actually have access to them...
Time: 3 | Progress: 2 | Expense: 6
News that a proposal for a new aircraft has been accepted spreads like wildfire among the engineers. Austerity is the order of the day as materials left-over from the Sky Eye are repurposed to the construction of scale models and drawing up of blueprints, with surprising efficiency. However, the excitement over an actual aircraft design manifests more in bouts of drunken cheering than in actual useful work, and the occasional suggestion to name the plane after a bird that can actually fly.
VRAC A.1 “Emu” | 2/15 progress | 2 PP per die | Rushed 0 times | 2 PP invested
Effectiveness: 6 | Cost: 1 | Bugs: 6
The VRAC A.1 “Emu” is an aircraft using the ‘pusher’ configuration, with a water-cooled engine turning a large four-blade prop just aft of the wings. The tail of the aircraft is connected to the wings via a framework of wooden struts. It’s also the first two-seater in Verusan service – an observer sits in front of the pilot, either observing or manning the machine-guns. There are two swiveling mounts for the Bolt machine guns, one forward-firing in the nose of the plane, and one rearward-covering between observer and pilot, that fires upward and to the rear. The latter mount obstructs pilot vision to the immediate front.
In terms of performance, the sole test pilot who’s flown it describes the plane as wonderful. Although bigger than the Rhino, it achieves a slightly higher top speed thanks to a more powerful engine. Maneuverability is also improved thanks to the introduction of ailerons, and the test pilot estimates it is the equal of the retrofitted enemy Feather-1914 planes in this regard.
However, such a marvel of design doesn’t come cheap. The Emu was obviously going to be more expensive than a Rhino, but the engineers seem to have gone overboard making their first plane design as elaborate as possible. The plans call for high-quality wood to be used throughout, includes a hand-carved model of an emu head as the main control lever, and even provides for cermonial sheaths encrusted with lapis lazuli in both the pilot and observer position.
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. Comes with shiny gemstone sheaths for the pilots to store their sabres in flight. Cost 6/3.
Sky Eye Observation BalloonProgress: 6+4 = 10/8. 1 PP spent.
Amidst the excitement of working on the “Emu”, a group of engineers find the time to finish up plans for the Sky Eye Observation Balloon. Reports from the men of Rook 1 indicate that the gold-rimmed monocles don’t actually help to see further, but they do make the observers look smart. The Sky Eye is now ready for mass deployment to the frontlines, where word is already circulating about their effectiveness.
Project Complete! You can now deploy as many squadrons of Sky Eye balloons as you can afford.
It is now the Revision Phase, Late Summer 1915. You have 1 die remaining to spend on Revisions or bank for the next turn.
VRAC A.1 “Emu” | 2/15 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. Cost: 3/1
-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. Comes with shiny gemstone sheaths for the pilots to store their swords in flight. Cost 6/3. (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.
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.
Technology:
-Basic/Intermediate biplane design
-Basic monoplane design
-Basic pusher configuration design
-Basic balloon design
-Wooden frame construction
-Basic control surfaces: ailerons, elevator and rudder
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.
-12 Production Points
Squire 1 | Rhino Biplane | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to observe enemy frontline along the Derboise-Jawanin Road
Squire 2 | Rhino Biplane | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to observe enemy frontline along the Demisonne-Dreidansk Road
Squire 3 | Rhino Biplane | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Aerial Reconnaissance | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to observe enemy frontline along the Derboise-Jawanin Road
Rook 1 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon (prototype) | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at the Demisonne-Dreidansk frontline
Prestige: Extremely Little “What are these new Sky Crusaders?”
Status: Auxiliary Service
Army Relations: Lukewarm “I think air spotting could be the future of artillery!”
Navy Relations: Neutral “Are balloons considered aircraft?”
Production Points: 11
Total Maintenance: 4
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Topic: Knights of the Skies: Verusa Thread - Early Summer 1916, Production Phase (Read 60081 times)