Verusa Revision Phase, Early Winter 1915Squadron Identification Organization and Uniform Excellence
In combat where multiple squadrons of aircraft are flying, pilots can possibly be detached from their squadrons and fly home with the wrong squadron of aircraft. Along with this squadron leaders are quite hard to identify once flying in formation ceases. It also turns out when going at high speeds far above the ground, it gets quite cold, especially as winter starts to set in. As such we have devised a way to solve these issues.
Firstly, in order to know who's apart of what squadron easier, aircraft are to be given paint jobs to look not only a bit more distinct from other squadrons but to strike fear into our enemies for squadrons which are more skilled. Squadrons will also be given emblems and said emblems will be painted on either the body next to the cockpit and or on the tail depending on the aircraft. Additionally as a bit of a moral booster, pilots who have become aces can paint their plane any way they like, though it's advised to paint something that wont get them confused with another squadron and should be distinct, although they can just stick with the paint job they and their fellows have if they wish.
Secondly, flight leaders will be given streamers to be attached to the wing to identify who is leading the flight and said streamers come in a few different colors and checkered versions of white and the other colors available as well so pilots can pick their favorite streamer to use.
Thirdly, to protect our pilots from frostbite and being uncomfortably cold, we shall issue them a new uniform. The new uniform has been nicknamed Sky Crusader Armour after an engineer mentioned it could protect from wind burn, anything getting into the eyes, neck chafing and even claimed that it could protect the wearer from fire to a minor extent, at least more than our current uniforms. It consists of a sheepskin jacket with inward facing wool, high collar, snug cuffs and waist, and buttoned pockets. Leather pants, leather boots, leather gloves, and a leather helmet with flaps to protect the ears. Glass goggles to protect their eyes from wind, oil, rain, and other hazards. And lastly a colorful variety of silk scarves to protect the neck from chafing and to clean goggles with, though white ones are recommended for pilots to use so they can see anything soaked on it easier if they need to use it to wipe something off their goggles.
Efficacy: 2
Squadrons are issued with painting supplies; the pilots and ground crew are told to give their planes distinct paintjobs per squadron. Unsurprisingly, this proves to be a great morale booster for the men, and several squadrons settle on some kind of animal for their squadron insignia, drawing on Verusa’s great biodiversity. Sky Crusader aircraft, previously mostly brown or black with only the red and blue roundel for markings, are now much more colourful, allowing pilots to keep track of and recognise aircraft from other squadrons more easily. Added to this effort, flight leaders are given multi-coloured streamers to attach to their wings, making them even more eye-catching. Against the blue and white skies, Verusan aircraft are now unmistakable, and there are no more instances of pilots following the wrong squadron back to their aerodromes. The lone Verusan Ace, Alderic, eventually opts to give his Rhino the same colours as his squadron, except for a single blue stripe near his wingtips.
In all the excitement over paintjobs, work on the new uniform doesn’t progress beyond a few proposals and concept drawings.
VRAC Manufacturing Plan The VRAC Manufacturing plan is simply the Verusa Royal Aviation Company making production of their first aircraft much easier, paying for the legal fees to fight against the Verusan Association of Artisanal Woodcarvers, and simply replacing the encrusted sheaths with sturdy, but much cheaper ones. They also will attempt to have oversight over the people working on actually making the aircraft cheaper so no one sabotages the work on making it not cost an arm and a leg to make just because they really like the fancy additions.
Efficacy: 5
The Verusan Association of Artisanal Woodcarvers is soundly defeated in court, and the Sky Crusaders and VRAC escape with a minimum of cancellation fees paid. With the pilots all distracted by their shiny badges and the prospect of new paintjobs, the engineers hurriedly go over the Emu blueprints with a fine-toothed comb. Features such as the lapis lazuli sabre sheaths are removed in favour of cheaper wooden ones, and the few already-made carved emu heads are repurposed as paperweights in the design offices to satisfy any remaining engineers who might object to less ornate work. The final effort results in the VRAC A.1 “Emu” being reduced to a purchase cost of 5 PP per squadron and 2 PP in maintenance.
Bar's Shelf Bomb Rack The Bar's Shelf Bomb Rack, or BSBR is simply a device designed to be attached to the wings or underbelly of our aircraft and carry Mk.1 "Bottled Fury" Bombs. Naturally, these would be useless if it wasn't for the amazing addition of a release which allows the Bar Shelf to release the bomb its holding away to ram into the ground where it will explode violently on our enemy's poor heads. All in all, its a simple and effective bit of equipment that has been specially designed to be easy to affix onto aircraft.
Efficacy: 3
The Bar’s Shelf Bomb Rack is exactly what its name implies: a bomb rack to hold the recently developed “Bottled Fury” bombs. It’s little more than a wooden rack holding two bombs, which can be released individually by pulling a short cord linked to the cockpit to open up the floor. In its current form, it can only be fixed under the fuselage of Rhino biplanes, but it is cheap enough to be built from spare materials around the aerodromes. The accuracy of our bombers should be improved over time as pilots get used to this standardised method of dropping bombs instead of lobbing them over the side and hoping for the best.
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.
It is now the Production & Deployment Phase, Early Winter 1915. You have 18 production points remaining.Project Crossguard | 5/11 progress | 1 PP per die | Rushed 0 times | 1 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
-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.
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. (In Development)
-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.
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 monoplane design
-Basic pusher configuration design
-Basic balloon design
-Wooden frame construction
-Basic control surfaces: ailerons, elevator and rudder
-Rhino Horn mount technology
-Shiny badges
-Camera mounting
-Basic Synchronisation Gearing
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.
-19 production points base.
Squire 1 | Rhino-NA Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun, Beehive Grenades | Balloon Defense | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to defend Rook 1 and 3 at Dreidansk
Squire 2 | Rhino Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Bomber Escort | Rookie | Alderic | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to escort Squire 5 at Dreidansk
Squire 3 | Rhino Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun | Aerial Reconnaissance | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform aerial reconnaissance near Basselton
Squire 4 | Rhino-P Biplane | Bolt Machine Gun, Hawk Eye Cameras | Aerial Reconnaissance/Anti-Balloon | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to perform aerial photoreconnaissance and shoot down enemy ballons at Dreidansk
Squire 5 | Rhino Biplane | Mk.1 "Bottled Fury" Bombs | Level Bombing | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to bomb enemy defenses near Dreidansk
Rook 1 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting at Dreidansk
Rook 2 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials | Artillery Spotting | Rookie | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 1
Currently assigned to artillery spotting in Basselton
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 Dreidansk
Rook 4 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | No Equipment | No Role | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 0
Currently mothballed
Rook 5 | Sky Eye Observation Balloon | No Equipment | No Role | Neophyte | No Aces | Maintenance Cost 0
Currently mothballed
1 x Barnson’s Bird-Watching Essentials
Prestige: Very Little
Status: Auxiliary Service
Army Relations: Warm
Navy Relations: Lukewarm
Production Points: 18
Total Maintenance: 8
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Topic: Knights of the Skies: Verusa Thread - Early Summer 1916, Production Phase (Read 60568 times)