Cupola Dreams: The Armored Fighting Vehicles of Hestia
- Thread starter NothingNow
- Start date
Non-Aligned Nations
Vogon Republic
The Vogon Republic is a relatively stable society located on the far western shore of the Western Continent. The temperate climate and general spread of natural resources are enough to support Vogon’s healthy and well educated population of 25M. The country is split 2/3 temperate and 1/3 Taiga with the majority of the population living in the temperate north. The country as a whole is not overtly militaristic and, over the years, has relied heavily on its economic and trade links to the Commonwealth to provide the majority of its military equipment. Although likely to favour the Commonwealth and its allies, Vogon has so far remained neutral in the growing Hestia-wide conflict.
Vogon’s primary AFVs are as follows:
917MC: VdC Jaguar: (an export model of the Commonwealth’s Mackenzie Mk II AC)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 6” (4.11m)
Width: 8' (2.44m)
Height: 7' (2.14m)
Armament: 1 x 2pdr (40mm) Gun, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
918MC: VdC Coyote: (an export model of the Commonwealth’s Coyote)
Crew: 4
Length: 14' (4.2m)
Width: 7' 6” (2.28m)
Height: 7' 6” (2.28m)
Armament: 1 x 2pdr (40mm) Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 36mph
920MC: VdC Diabo: (a home-grown conversion of the Jaguar)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 6” (4.11m)
Width: 8' (2.44m)
Height: 8' 6” (2.59m)
Armament: 10 x 6” Rocket Tubes
Speed: 45mph
921MC: VdC Trovao: (a home-grown conversion of the Tampa Bay’s Ranger)
Crew: 4
Length: 16’ (4.88m)
Width: 7' (2.14m)
Height: 7' (2.14m)
Armament: 1 x 75mm Gun, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 25mph
922MC: VdC Vingador: (a home-grown conversion of the Jaguar)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 6” (4.11m)
Width: 8' (2.44m)
Height: 7' 6” (2.28m)
Armament: 2 x 0.5” HMG
Speed: 50mph
922MC: VdC Dragao: (a home-grown conversion of the Coyote)
Crew: 4
Length: 6’ (4.88m)
Width: 8' 2” (2.49m)
Height: 8' 4” (2.54m)
Armament: 4 x 100mm RR, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 30mph
Paraquat
Whilst Paraquat has had numerous small-scale skirmishes with Vogon in the past, it is currently in a state of mutual co-existence with all of its neighbours. Two thirds of the country is Taiga wilderness with the majority of the small population of 12M living in the temperate north. Whilst Paraquat shares trading links with the Commonwealth and Tampa Bays it is culturally, economically and militarily closer to its eastern neighbour Rhaban with whom they share a common language.
Paraquat’s primary AFVs are as follows:
917MC: VB Lancero: (Based on the Commonwealth’s Fox, the Lancero is adapted for the southern Taiga)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 9” (4.19m)
Width: 7' 5” (2.26m)
Height: 7' 5” (2.26m)
Armament: 1 x 2pdr (40mm) Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 35mph
918MC: VB Centinela: (a joint project built with Rhaban)
Crew: 4
Length: 18' (5.49m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 8' 2” (2.49m)
Armament: 1 x 45mm Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
919MC: VB Vibora:
Crew: 4
Length: 19' (5.79m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 9’ (2.74m)
Armament: 1 x 6pdr (57mm) Gun, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 45mph
Libon
Libon is a small country entirely located within the southern Taiga region. Whilst the country does possess a number of strategic resources, its harsh climate has limited its economic development. Libon’s economy, as it is, is based heavily on off-shore fishing in the southern ocean. Ruled over by an ancient dynastic family, the small population of 4M is reasonably well educated but very insular in its dealings with the outside world. A point of interest is that Libon shares a very similar language with that of the core countries of the UNSR. That said, there are few is any trade or economic links between the two other than a one-off purchase of a battalion of light tanks from the Scorpius Empire in 916MC. It is believed that this purchase was more a statement of prestige rather than any political or military alignment.
Libon’s primary AFVs are as follows:
916MC: RvdK: (a purchase of old UNSR GV Mk Is)
Crew: 2
Length: 12' 5” (3.78m)
Width: 6' 4” (1.92m)
Height: 6' 8” (2.03m)
Armament: 1 x 20mm Cannon, 1 x 8mm MG
Speed: 26mph
Rhaban
Rhaban is a relatively small but prosperous country on the south western coast of the Western Continent. Entirely within the temperate zone, Rhaban’s climate supports a healthy rural economy which is more than enough to support its population of 20M with a sizable excess for export. Rhaban shares close ties with Paraquat and Tampa Bays and has an emerging industrial capability which supports a small but active defence market. Rhaban shares a eastern border with Bognor, a nation with which it has fundamental differences of opinion. Although currently at peace with Bognor, this is most definitely not the usual state of affairs.
Rhaban’s primary AFVs are as follows:
916MC: VB Explorador (an export version of the Tampa Bay’s Ranger)
Crew: 3
Length: 11' 9” (3.58m)
Width: 7’ (2.14m)
Height: 7’ (2.14m)
Armament: 1 x 37mm Gun, 1 x 0.3” MG
Speed: 30mph
918MC: VB Centinela: (a joint project built with Paraquat)
Crew: 4
Length: 18' (5.49m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 8' 2” (2.49m)
Armament: 1 x 45mm Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
919MC: VB Toro: (based on a conversion of the Tampa Bays Atlas 3)
Crew: 4
Length: 19' (5.79m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 9’ (2.74m)
Armament: 1 x 45mm Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
Bognor
Bognor is located within the temperate/Mediterranean zone of the south western coast of the Western continent. Sitting between Rhaban to the west, Tampa Bays to the north and Orantain to the east, Bognor is somewhat of an anomaly. It shares no economic or trade arrangements with its immediate neighbours and indeed is usually in a state of perpetual conflict with Rhaban. Interestingly, Bognor and Libon share a common language but have little or nothing to do with each other. Bognor’s cultural and linguistic similarities to the UNSR have not gone without considerable concern although Bognor seems to show little interest in direct negotiations with the UNSR. Bognor maintains its own small but independent arms industry, equipping its own forces rather than importing foreign designs. Whilst good for the local economy, this has limited the potential of Bognor’s armed forces – much to the relief of its neighbours.
Bognor’s primary AFVs are as follows:
913MC: Pswn FN.2205 Adlaar:
Crew: 2
Length: 13' 9” (4.2m)
Width: 5’ 7” (1.7m)
Height: 6’ (1.83m)
Armament: 1 x 8mm MG
Speed: 45mph
914MC: Pswn FN.1402 Schorpioen:
Crew: 3
Length: 12' (3.65m)
Width: 5’ 10” (1.78m)
Height: 4’ 6” (1.36m)
Armament: 1 x 47mm Gun
Speed: 25mph
918MC: Pswn FN.2603 Verdediger:
Crew: 4
Length: 15' 6” (4.72m)
Width: 7’ 5” (2.26m)
Height: 6’ 6” (1.98m)
Armament: 1 x 75mm Gun, 1 x 8mm MG
Speed: 50mph
Vogon Republic
The Vogon Republic is a relatively stable society located on the far western shore of the Western Continent. The temperate climate and general spread of natural resources are enough to support Vogon’s healthy and well educated population of 25M. The country is split 2/3 temperate and 1/3 Taiga with the majority of the population living in the temperate north. The country as a whole is not overtly militaristic and, over the years, has relied heavily on its economic and trade links to the Commonwealth to provide the majority of its military equipment. Although likely to favour the Commonwealth and its allies, Vogon has so far remained neutral in the growing Hestia-wide conflict.
Vogon’s primary AFVs are as follows:
917MC: VdC Jaguar: (an export model of the Commonwealth’s Mackenzie Mk II AC)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 6” (4.11m)
Width: 8' (2.44m)
Height: 7' (2.14m)
Armament: 1 x 2pdr (40mm) Gun, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
918MC: VdC Coyote: (an export model of the Commonwealth’s Coyote)
Crew: 4
Length: 14' (4.2m)
Width: 7' 6” (2.28m)
Height: 7' 6” (2.28m)
Armament: 1 x 2pdr (40mm) Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 36mph
920MC: VdC Diabo: (a home-grown conversion of the Jaguar)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 6” (4.11m)
Width: 8' (2.44m)
Height: 8' 6” (2.59m)
Armament: 10 x 6” Rocket Tubes
Speed: 45mph
921MC: VdC Trovao: (a home-grown conversion of the Tampa Bay’s Ranger)
Crew: 4
Length: 16’ (4.88m)
Width: 7' (2.14m)
Height: 7' (2.14m)
Armament: 1 x 75mm Gun, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 25mph
922MC: VdC Vingador: (a home-grown conversion of the Jaguar)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 6” (4.11m)
Width: 8' (2.44m)
Height: 7' 6” (2.28m)
Armament: 2 x 0.5” HMG
Speed: 50mph
922MC: VdC Dragao: (a home-grown conversion of the Coyote)
Crew: 4
Length: 6’ (4.88m)
Width: 8' 2” (2.49m)
Height: 8' 4” (2.54m)
Armament: 4 x 100mm RR, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 30mph
Paraquat
Whilst Paraquat has had numerous small-scale skirmishes with Vogon in the past, it is currently in a state of mutual co-existence with all of its neighbours. Two thirds of the country is Taiga wilderness with the majority of the small population of 12M living in the temperate north. Whilst Paraquat shares trading links with the Commonwealth and Tampa Bays it is culturally, economically and militarily closer to its eastern neighbour Rhaban with whom they share a common language.
Paraquat’s primary AFVs are as follows:
917MC: VB Lancero: (Based on the Commonwealth’s Fox, the Lancero is adapted for the southern Taiga)
Crew: 3
Length: 13' 9” (4.19m)
Width: 7' 5” (2.26m)
Height: 7' 5” (2.26m)
Armament: 1 x 2pdr (40mm) Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 35mph
918MC: VB Centinela: (a joint project built with Rhaban)
Crew: 4
Length: 18' (5.49m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 8' 2” (2.49m)
Armament: 1 x 45mm Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
919MC: VB Vibora:
Crew: 4
Length: 19' (5.79m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 9’ (2.74m)
Armament: 1 x 6pdr (57mm) Gun, 1 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 45mph
Libon
Libon is a small country entirely located within the southern Taiga region. Whilst the country does possess a number of strategic resources, its harsh climate has limited its economic development. Libon’s economy, as it is, is based heavily on off-shore fishing in the southern ocean. Ruled over by an ancient dynastic family, the small population of 4M is reasonably well educated but very insular in its dealings with the outside world. A point of interest is that Libon shares a very similar language with that of the core countries of the UNSR. That said, there are few is any trade or economic links between the two other than a one-off purchase of a battalion of light tanks from the Scorpius Empire in 916MC. It is believed that this purchase was more a statement of prestige rather than any political or military alignment.
Libon’s primary AFVs are as follows:
916MC: RvdK: (a purchase of old UNSR GV Mk Is)
Crew: 2
Length: 12' 5” (3.78m)
Width: 6' 4” (1.92m)
Height: 6' 8” (2.03m)
Armament: 1 x 20mm Cannon, 1 x 8mm MG
Speed: 26mph
Rhaban
Rhaban is a relatively small but prosperous country on the south western coast of the Western Continent. Entirely within the temperate zone, Rhaban’s climate supports a healthy rural economy which is more than enough to support its population of 20M with a sizable excess for export. Rhaban shares close ties with Paraquat and Tampa Bays and has an emerging industrial capability which supports a small but active defence market. Rhaban shares a eastern border with Bognor, a nation with which it has fundamental differences of opinion. Although currently at peace with Bognor, this is most definitely not the usual state of affairs.
Rhaban’s primary AFVs are as follows:
916MC: VB Explorador (an export version of the Tampa Bay’s Ranger)
Crew: 3
Length: 11' 9” (3.58m)
Width: 7’ (2.14m)
Height: 7’ (2.14m)
Armament: 1 x 37mm Gun, 1 x 0.3” MG
Speed: 30mph
918MC: VB Centinela: (a joint project built with Paraquat)
Crew: 4
Length: 18' (5.49m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 8' 2” (2.49m)
Armament: 1 x 45mm Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
919MC: VB Toro: (based on a conversion of the Tampa Bays Atlas 3)
Crew: 4
Length: 19' (5.79m)
Width: 9’ (2.74m)
Height: 9’ (2.74m)
Armament: 1 x 45mm Gun, 2 x 0.303” MG
Speed: 50mph
Bognor
Bognor is located within the temperate/Mediterranean zone of the south western coast of the Western continent. Sitting between Rhaban to the west, Tampa Bays to the north and Orantain to the east, Bognor is somewhat of an anomaly. It shares no economic or trade arrangements with its immediate neighbours and indeed is usually in a state of perpetual conflict with Rhaban. Interestingly, Bognor and Libon share a common language but have little or nothing to do with each other. Bognor’s cultural and linguistic similarities to the UNSR have not gone without considerable concern although Bognor seems to show little interest in direct negotiations with the UNSR. Bognor maintains its own small but independent arms industry, equipping its own forces rather than importing foreign designs. Whilst good for the local economy, this has limited the potential of Bognor’s armed forces – much to the relief of its neighbours.
Bognor’s primary AFVs are as follows:
913MC: Pswn FN.2205 Adlaar:
Crew: 2
Length: 13' 9” (4.2m)
Width: 5’ 7” (1.7m)
Height: 6’ (1.83m)
Armament: 1 x 8mm MG
Speed: 45mph
914MC: Pswn FN.1402 Schorpioen:
Crew: 3
Length: 12' (3.65m)
Width: 5’ 10” (1.78m)
Height: 4’ 6” (1.36m)
Armament: 1 x 47mm Gun
Speed: 25mph
918MC: Pswn FN.2603 Verdediger:
Crew: 4
Length: 15' 6” (4.72m)
Width: 7’ 5” (2.26m)
Height: 6’ 6” (1.98m)
Armament: 1 x 75mm Gun, 1 x 8mm MG
Speed: 50mph
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Nice designs Claymore.
I hope to have an update posted later today if I can get my lawn sprinklers to cooperate.
Damn and blast those sprinklers Sir!
Thanks for the compliment... just trying to fill in some of the background as one or two of the non-aligned nations will play their part in things to come...
Last edited:
Sounds interesting, makes me think I should try to do something with those blank spaces south of Vossland.Damn and blast those sprinklers Sir!
Thanks for the compliment... just trying to fill in some of the background as one or two of the non-aligned nations will play their part in things to come...
And yes, dam those blasted sprinklers!
NothingNow
Banned
Is a nice update.
I should really get to work on creating that thing about fighting in the Med.
I should really get to work on creating that thing about fighting in the Med.
NothingNow
Banned
The Battle of the Lema Islands, 12-13 June 921MC
The Battle of the Lema Islands, 12-13 June 921MC
Order of Battle
Combined Fleet:
Izerian Navy, Task Force 10 (“The Flying Squadron”)
Centauri Mediterranean Fleet
The Battle of the Lema Islands were the culmination of fifteen months of preparation by the Izerian and Dzundarian navies, which had been conserving their strength against the numerically superior Centauri Navy.
Indeed, when the Centauri first began to blockade the mouth of the Mediterranean, the Combined Fleet fell back, refusing to contest the region, and surface forces mostly focussing on defending the Tanatic Gulf and Dzundarian Bight, while submarines and aircraft attacked targets of opportunity. The blockade itself wasn’t particularly effective, given the extensive rail connections across the affected region, allowing for trade between Dzundar and Vossland or even Eryxia to continue almost completely unabated.
The Battle of the Mouth was the first attempt to challenge this status quo, as calculations by the Izerian Admiralty Board, and communications with their cobelligerents indicated that the Centauri and Zind navies were potentially quite overstretched, and that a series of major battles could effectively break the blockades of the Mediterranean Sea and Calimar, while forcing further consolidation. With that in mind, Izeria and Dzundar began to plan their first attempt at breaking the blockade.
It was a simple plan really. Find the Centauri Mediterranean Fleet, and using a combination of airpower, and superior surface forces, bleed it dry.
Fortunately for the Combined Fleet, the Centauri commander was urgently looking to prove himself with a real success, decided to launch a raid into areas held by the combined fleet.
The fleets met early in the morning of the twelfth, about 50km north of the Lema islands, as the Sadalsuud and Formalhut-class Destroyers of the Izerian 3rd Destroyer Squadron encountered the Centauri forces’ advance scouts, the Centaurus and Cetus. The Cetus fled back towards the Centauri main fleet shadowed by Izerian floatplanes as the Centaurus attempted to create a diversion before being dispatched by a pair of heavy torpedoes fired from the Sadalsuud.
Formalhut, side elevation.
With both sides now making contact, the battle began with a furious charge by all three fleets towards the islands, their destroyers leading the way.
The first fleet action would be the fiercest, as the fast wing of the Centauri fleet attempted to smash through the 3rd Destroyer Squadron, only to be driven back by a flurry of torpedoes, and the arrival of the main Izerian force.
At about eleven AM the Centauri Iustinianus Augustus-class battlecruisers and Izerian Republic-class Fast Battleships began a long range gunnery duel, with the Iustinianus Augustus and Valens Augustus being outranged by the Elderly Republic and Constitution, mostly surviving because they were mistaken for vessels of the slower Dictator-class, allowing them to close to effective range for their 28cm guns before the Iustinianus Augustus was crippled and set ablaze by a series of direct hits from the 36cm main armament of Republic, and the losses to her escorts forced the Valens Augustus to attempt to withdraw southward at one thirty PM along with the three Dictator-Class Armored Cruisers which had been attached to the force, albeit under pursuit from the Izerian force, with the occasional torpedo attack from the Izerian Destroyer Squadrons.
Iustinianus Augustus displays her main guns.
Republic, side elevation.
This pursuit would last four hours, and result in the sinking or crippling of all three Dictator-class Armored Cruisers after contact was made with the Dzundarian Fast Attack Squadron, and the thoroughly modern, and much better armed Sikandar Mutesem-class Battlecruisers, finally forcing the Centauri admiral to order his remaining forces to scatter in an attempt to increase the odds of at least one vessel making it back to Centauri.
The Sikandar Mutesem on a peacetime cruise.
The Centauri fleet broke into two major components after sunset, the five mostly intact Scirocco-class destroyers of the 6th Destroyer Squadron, and the Valens Augustus (which now only had the use of her aft 28cm turret and secondary 15cm guns after a pair of lucky shots by Illustrious knocked out the traverse on her forward turrets,) escorted by the destroyers Aquila, Cetus and Sextans.
This led to the Izerian and Dzundarian forces also breaking up to search for the Valens Augustus, as the remaining Destroyers were considered a comparatively low priority.
The Dzundarian squadron’s scouting group, composed of the Sikandar Mutesem, the light cruisers Mesih Pasha and Piri Reis and three X100-class Destroyers would be the group to encounter the 6th Destroyer Squadron in a hard fought night battle, during which the Mesih Pasha would be crippled, but left afloat, the Sikandar Mutesem would sustain moderate damage from a pair of torpedoes, X108 would be holed below the waterline and X101 would be lost to her torpedoes detonating on deck, to the loss of four of the five destroyers in the squadron by sunrise, and the grounding and subsequent capture of the destroyer Ciclone.
X101, heading towards the sound of gunfire one last time.
The Valens Augustus and her escorts were lucky enough to evade contact until six PM on the thirteenth, when a chance encounter with the Constitution, and her quartet of escorts and a flight of bombers resulted in the loss of the Aquila and Sextans, to a torpedo run by Indefatigable and a barrage of 12cm shells from Izar detonating their boilers and magazine respectively. With sunset on the second day, the Izerian fleet withdrew to resupply and effect repairs, allowing the Valens Augustus and the miraculously undamaged Cetus to limp home, believing themselves the sole survivors of the disastrous charge up the Med.
The Cetus returns to port.
Losses:
Izerian Navy:
Lost: Sadalsuud, Dubhe, Dabih
Damaged: Implacable, Sabik, Sirrah, Formalhut, Dziban
Dzundarian Navy:
Lost: X101, X108.
Damaged: Sikandar Mutesem, Mesih Pasha, X105, X109
Centauri Navy:
Lost: Iustinianus Augustus, Gaius Marius, Scirocco, Aliseo, Ardente, Fortunale, Groppo, Tifone, Ghibli, Monsone, Aquila, Centaurus, Sextans
Damaged: Valens Augustus
Captured: Rutulus, Ciclone
Interned: Flavius Stilicho, Uragano
It is advantageous at this point to also mention the relative advantages and disadvantages of the fleets.
Namely, that Izerian and Dzundarian torpedoes, the product of a significantly harsher environment than their Centauri counterparts were easily the most advanced on the planet, being faster, longer ranged, and significantly less likely to produce a wake. Izerian torpedoes used a Rankine cycle engine heated by a Sulfur hexafluoride/Lithium reaction (which was also a convenient cover for the Izerian chemical weapons program’s love affair with Disulfur tetraflouride,) while Dzundarian torpedoes used a high-test peroxide wet-heater, compared to the thoroughly orthodox compressed air wet heaters used by Centauri and Zind torpedoes, and both nations used their 61cm torpedoes heavily on cruisers and destroyers. That in mind, Izerian dual purpose guns were something of a joke, with slower elevation than their Centauri counterparts, while Dzundarian destroyers lacked the capability entirely, instead relying entirely on high speed and medium caliber anti-aircraft weaponry to defend themselves.
Centauri capital ships consistently found themselves out-gunned and on the back foot during the engagement, a result of them not being intended for the line of battle, as the larger Republic and Sikandar Mutesem classes were, but rather for the role of commerce raider, which made them grossly unsuited for a stand-up battle in the case of the Dictator-class, and only marginally effective in the line of battle in the case of the Iustinianus Augustus-class. They did have the advantage of faster-firing main guns, although this is of questionable value given the shorter range of their 28cm guns and generally less effective shells used.
They were however, comparatively numerous with a good internal layout and excellent damage control allowing the Valens Augustus and Flavius Stilicho to survive damage that should have sunk them, and in general the Dictator class, while exceedingly slow for a cruiser or battlecruiser class with a top speed of just 26kts compared to the Illustrious-class’ 35kts (only slightly slower than a contemporary Mediterranean-pattern Destroyer) and the Admiral-class’ 31kts, did have an armament which gave the most aggressive captains pause on only 40% more tonnage than an Illustrious-class heavy cruiser at full load.
Illustrious, side elevation.
The Dictator-class Armored Cruisers Flavius Stilicho and Gaius Marius forming up into line.
The Battle of the Lema Islands, 12-13 June 921MC
Order of Battle
Combined Fleet:
Izerian Navy, Task Force 10 (“The Flying Squadron”)
- 2 x Republic-class Fast Battleships (Republic and Constitution)
- 4 x Illustrious-class Heavy Cruisers (Illustrious, Indefatigable, Implacable, Indomitable
- 3 x Sadalsuud-class Destroyers (Sadalsuud, Sabik, Sirrah)
- 2 x Formalhut-class Destroyer (Formalhut, Izar)
- 5 x Deneb-class Destroyers (Deneb, Dubhe, Dziban, Diphida, Dabih)
- 2 x Sikandar Mutesem-class Battlecruisers (Sikandar Mutesem, Hamza Yildirim)
- 2 x Admiral-class Light Cruisers (Mesih Pasha, Piri Reis)
- 6 x X100-class Destroyer (X101, X102, X105, X107, X108, X109)
Centauri Mediterranean Fleet
- 2 x Iustinianus Augustus-class Battlecruisers (Iustinianus Augustus, Valens Augustus)
- 3 x Dictator-class Armored Cruisers (Rutulus, Gaius Marius, Flavius Stilicho)
- 10 x Scirocco-class Destroyers (Scirocco, Aliseo, Ardente, Ciclone, Fortunale, Groppo, Tifone, Uragano, Ghibli, Monsone)
- 4 x Aquila-class Destroyers (Aquila, Centaurus, Cetus, Sextans)
The Battle of the Lema Islands were the culmination of fifteen months of preparation by the Izerian and Dzundarian navies, which had been conserving their strength against the numerically superior Centauri Navy.
Indeed, when the Centauri first began to blockade the mouth of the Mediterranean, the Combined Fleet fell back, refusing to contest the region, and surface forces mostly focussing on defending the Tanatic Gulf and Dzundarian Bight, while submarines and aircraft attacked targets of opportunity. The blockade itself wasn’t particularly effective, given the extensive rail connections across the affected region, allowing for trade between Dzundar and Vossland or even Eryxia to continue almost completely unabated.
The Battle of the Mouth was the first attempt to challenge this status quo, as calculations by the Izerian Admiralty Board, and communications with their cobelligerents indicated that the Centauri and Zind navies were potentially quite overstretched, and that a series of major battles could effectively break the blockades of the Mediterranean Sea and Calimar, while forcing further consolidation. With that in mind, Izeria and Dzundar began to plan their first attempt at breaking the blockade.
It was a simple plan really. Find the Centauri Mediterranean Fleet, and using a combination of airpower, and superior surface forces, bleed it dry.
Fortunately for the Combined Fleet, the Centauri commander was urgently looking to prove himself with a real success, decided to launch a raid into areas held by the combined fleet.
The fleets met early in the morning of the twelfth, about 50km north of the Lema islands, as the Sadalsuud and Formalhut-class Destroyers of the Izerian 3rd Destroyer Squadron encountered the Centauri forces’ advance scouts, the Centaurus and Cetus. The Cetus fled back towards the Centauri main fleet shadowed by Izerian floatplanes as the Centaurus attempted to create a diversion before being dispatched by a pair of heavy torpedoes fired from the Sadalsuud.
Formalhut, side elevation.
With both sides now making contact, the battle began with a furious charge by all three fleets towards the islands, their destroyers leading the way.
The first fleet action would be the fiercest, as the fast wing of the Centauri fleet attempted to smash through the 3rd Destroyer Squadron, only to be driven back by a flurry of torpedoes, and the arrival of the main Izerian force.
At about eleven AM the Centauri Iustinianus Augustus-class battlecruisers and Izerian Republic-class Fast Battleships began a long range gunnery duel, with the Iustinianus Augustus and Valens Augustus being outranged by the Elderly Republic and Constitution, mostly surviving because they were mistaken for vessels of the slower Dictator-class, allowing them to close to effective range for their 28cm guns before the Iustinianus Augustus was crippled and set ablaze by a series of direct hits from the 36cm main armament of Republic, and the losses to her escorts forced the Valens Augustus to attempt to withdraw southward at one thirty PM along with the three Dictator-Class Armored Cruisers which had been attached to the force, albeit under pursuit from the Izerian force, with the occasional torpedo attack from the Izerian Destroyer Squadrons.
Iustinianus Augustus displays her main guns.
Republic, side elevation.
This pursuit would last four hours, and result in the sinking or crippling of all three Dictator-class Armored Cruisers after contact was made with the Dzundarian Fast Attack Squadron, and the thoroughly modern, and much better armed Sikandar Mutesem-class Battlecruisers, finally forcing the Centauri admiral to order his remaining forces to scatter in an attempt to increase the odds of at least one vessel making it back to Centauri.
The Sikandar Mutesem on a peacetime cruise.
The Centauri fleet broke into two major components after sunset, the five mostly intact Scirocco-class destroyers of the 6th Destroyer Squadron, and the Valens Augustus (which now only had the use of her aft 28cm turret and secondary 15cm guns after a pair of lucky shots by Illustrious knocked out the traverse on her forward turrets,) escorted by the destroyers Aquila, Cetus and Sextans.
This led to the Izerian and Dzundarian forces also breaking up to search for the Valens Augustus, as the remaining Destroyers were considered a comparatively low priority.
The Dzundarian squadron’s scouting group, composed of the Sikandar Mutesem, the light cruisers Mesih Pasha and Piri Reis and three X100-class Destroyers would be the group to encounter the 6th Destroyer Squadron in a hard fought night battle, during which the Mesih Pasha would be crippled, but left afloat, the Sikandar Mutesem would sustain moderate damage from a pair of torpedoes, X108 would be holed below the waterline and X101 would be lost to her torpedoes detonating on deck, to the loss of four of the five destroyers in the squadron by sunrise, and the grounding and subsequent capture of the destroyer Ciclone.
X101, heading towards the sound of gunfire one last time.
The Valens Augustus and her escorts were lucky enough to evade contact until six PM on the thirteenth, when a chance encounter with the Constitution, and her quartet of escorts and a flight of bombers resulted in the loss of the Aquila and Sextans, to a torpedo run by Indefatigable and a barrage of 12cm shells from Izar detonating their boilers and magazine respectively. With sunset on the second day, the Izerian fleet withdrew to resupply and effect repairs, allowing the Valens Augustus and the miraculously undamaged Cetus to limp home, believing themselves the sole survivors of the disastrous charge up the Med.
The Cetus returns to port.
Izerian Navy:
Lost: Sadalsuud, Dubhe, Dabih
Damaged: Implacable, Sabik, Sirrah, Formalhut, Dziban
Dzundarian Navy:
Lost: X101, X108.
Damaged: Sikandar Mutesem, Mesih Pasha, X105, X109
Centauri Navy:
Lost: Iustinianus Augustus, Gaius Marius, Scirocco, Aliseo, Ardente, Fortunale, Groppo, Tifone, Ghibli, Monsone, Aquila, Centaurus, Sextans
Damaged: Valens Augustus
Captured: Rutulus, Ciclone
Interned: Flavius Stilicho, Uragano
It is advantageous at this point to also mention the relative advantages and disadvantages of the fleets.
Namely, that Izerian and Dzundarian torpedoes, the product of a significantly harsher environment than their Centauri counterparts were easily the most advanced on the planet, being faster, longer ranged, and significantly less likely to produce a wake. Izerian torpedoes used a Rankine cycle engine heated by a Sulfur hexafluoride/Lithium reaction (which was also a convenient cover for the Izerian chemical weapons program’s love affair with Disulfur tetraflouride,) while Dzundarian torpedoes used a high-test peroxide wet-heater, compared to the thoroughly orthodox compressed air wet heaters used by Centauri and Zind torpedoes, and both nations used their 61cm torpedoes heavily on cruisers and destroyers. That in mind, Izerian dual purpose guns were something of a joke, with slower elevation than their Centauri counterparts, while Dzundarian destroyers lacked the capability entirely, instead relying entirely on high speed and medium caliber anti-aircraft weaponry to defend themselves.
Centauri capital ships consistently found themselves out-gunned and on the back foot during the engagement, a result of them not being intended for the line of battle, as the larger Republic and Sikandar Mutesem classes were, but rather for the role of commerce raider, which made them grossly unsuited for a stand-up battle in the case of the Dictator-class, and only marginally effective in the line of battle in the case of the Iustinianus Augustus-class. They did have the advantage of faster-firing main guns, although this is of questionable value given the shorter range of their 28cm guns and generally less effective shells used.
They were however, comparatively numerous with a good internal layout and excellent damage control allowing the Valens Augustus and Flavius Stilicho to survive damage that should have sunk them, and in general the Dictator class, while exceedingly slow for a cruiser or battlecruiser class with a top speed of just 26kts compared to the Illustrious-class’ 35kts (only slightly slower than a contemporary Mediterranean-pattern Destroyer) and the Admiral-class’ 31kts, did have an armament which gave the most aggressive captains pause on only 40% more tonnage than an Illustrious-class heavy cruiser at full load.
Illustrious, side elevation.
The Dictator-class Armored Cruisers Flavius Stilicho and Gaius Marius forming up into line.
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NothingNow
Banned
Yeah that's an accident. She's supposed to be a copy of a Type 1936 destroyer. And as absurdly lucky as Yukikaze was.
I just noticed I never mentioned the name or gave any stats of the new Vossland heavy tank.
ZP-VII Matadore:
Weight 48 tons
Length 6.75 m (22 ft 2 in)
Width 3.32 m (10 ft 11 in)
Height 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in)
Crew 5
Main armament 90 mm Morlock M-13 cannon
Secondary armament 2 x 50 cal. heavy MGs and 1 x 7 mm MG.
and a reminder pic.
New post coming up.
ZP-VII Matadore:
Weight 48 tons
Length 6.75 m (22 ft 2 in)
Width 3.32 m (10 ft 11 in)
Height 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in)
Crew 5
Main armament 90 mm Morlock M-13 cannon
Secondary armament 2 x 50 cal. heavy MGs and 1 x 7 mm MG.
and a reminder pic.
New post coming up.
In the winter of 921 - 922 The empire of Zind was in dire straights, fighting a war on three fronts was straining their economy and draining their manpower pool.
The H.E. of Zind had reached out to the UNSR and they had agreed to an economic and military pact of mutual aid to each other.
The UNSR had delivered on that aid sooner than the Zind had expected or even hoped for, for shortly after the agreement had been signed shipments of GV Mk IV medium tanks had been delivered to Zind, some of these tanks were slightly used and had been refurbished but all were in good condition.
The Zind military had been planning on replacing their Zord medium tanks and had designed a new tank but it had failed to live up to expectations, however the GV Mk IV was well liked by the zind except for its 5 cm gun which the Zind felt was too smal for modern warfare but they did like its sloped armour and overall performance.
Zind engineers came up with a solution to the lack of firepower, they tried out the turret from their failed medium tank and with a little reworking were able to successfully mount the turret to the GV Mk IV.
This combination gave the Zind a reasonably fast and well armoured medium tank with a 76mm cannon. The Zind were very pleased with the new hybrid and soon converted all the GV Mk IVs they had received and put the hybrid into production. The new medium was dubbed the GV-IV Badger.
The H.E. of Zind had reached out to the UNSR and they had agreed to an economic and military pact of mutual aid to each other.
The UNSR had delivered on that aid sooner than the Zind had expected or even hoped for, for shortly after the agreement had been signed shipments of GV Mk IV medium tanks had been delivered to Zind, some of these tanks were slightly used and had been refurbished but all were in good condition.
The Zind military had been planning on replacing their Zord medium tanks and had designed a new tank but it had failed to live up to expectations, however the GV Mk IV was well liked by the zind except for its 5 cm gun which the Zind felt was too smal for modern warfare but they did like its sloped armour and overall performance.
Zind engineers came up with a solution to the lack of firepower, they tried out the turret from their failed medium tank and with a little reworking were able to successfully mount the turret to the GV Mk IV.
This combination gave the Zind a reasonably fast and well armoured medium tank with a 76mm cannon. The Zind were very pleased with the new hybrid and soon converted all the GV Mk IVs they had received and put the hybrid into production. The new medium was dubbed the GV-IV Badger.
In the spring and summer of 922 Vossland, Izeria and Calimar all launched attacks against the Zind, this post will only deal with the Vossnian offensive.
In early 922 Vossnian meteorologist predicted an early spring for the Zind front, Vossnian generals upon learning of this rushed to put their plans drawn up over the winter months into action as soon as possible. The Vossnians had been in communication with their allies and they had been promised that they would all be launching offensives of their own come spring, none would be to the scale of that of the Vossnian offensive but the Zind would not know this and it was hoped that the numerous attacks would throw the Zind off balance allow all three nations to make some gains against the enemy in 922.
Interestingly enough the Zind had decided to remain on the defensive for 922 and would only launch counter attacks when it suited their interests and allow their enemies to drain their resources and man power for a change.
Field Marshall Zhutton would comment to a close friend that it was the only true mark of military brilliance the H.E. had ever shown.
Vossland launched its offensive on April 20th, it was launched from three different staging areas, the Vossland Corridore, the Weissen pocket and from Wold. The Zind were expecting the Vossnians to attack but not for at least another month and so the attack had caught them in mid preparations and at half strength.
The Zind as was their habit immediately sprung into defensive mode and prepared to hold to the last man but instead had received the surprising order to fall back. The Zind forces obeyed the order and fell back in an orderly and disciplined manner.
The Vossnian were taken by surprise by this unexpected behavior on the part of the Zind and almost halted their offensive for fear of a trap but aerial reconnaissance showed no signs of such a trap so Vossnian commanders urged their troops further forward.
By early summer the Vossnian forces had reached their goals and were now hoping to push even further but they had used up great amounts of fuel and supplies by this point and were forced by logistics not the Zind to halt their offensive.
The battle came to a halt for a short space of time but the Zind then launched a series of small scale counter attacks up and down the lines, a concentrated attack in force at one point might have had some temporary success but the Zind only seemed interested in harassing their enemy and reminding them that they were still in a war.
By mid summer the Vossnians were once again ready to take the offensive to the enemy but the Zind had built up a strong fortified line across the front and after a month of hard fighting the Vossnians halted their offensive to regroup and re-asses the situation.
The Vossnians came to the conclusion that the Zind had taken on a new strategy and were deliberately letting the Vossnians extend and exert themselves for little gain.
In mid August the Vossland army dug in and prepared for the next phase in the war.
The battle lines in mid August of 922.
In early 922 Vossnian meteorologist predicted an early spring for the Zind front, Vossnian generals upon learning of this rushed to put their plans drawn up over the winter months into action as soon as possible. The Vossnians had been in communication with their allies and they had been promised that they would all be launching offensives of their own come spring, none would be to the scale of that of the Vossnian offensive but the Zind would not know this and it was hoped that the numerous attacks would throw the Zind off balance allow all three nations to make some gains against the enemy in 922.
Interestingly enough the Zind had decided to remain on the defensive for 922 and would only launch counter attacks when it suited their interests and allow their enemies to drain their resources and man power for a change.
Field Marshall Zhutton would comment to a close friend that it was the only true mark of military brilliance the H.E. had ever shown.
Vossland launched its offensive on April 20th, it was launched from three different staging areas, the Vossland Corridore, the Weissen pocket and from Wold. The Zind were expecting the Vossnians to attack but not for at least another month and so the attack had caught them in mid preparations and at half strength.
The Zind as was their habit immediately sprung into defensive mode and prepared to hold to the last man but instead had received the surprising order to fall back. The Zind forces obeyed the order and fell back in an orderly and disciplined manner.
The Vossnian were taken by surprise by this unexpected behavior on the part of the Zind and almost halted their offensive for fear of a trap but aerial reconnaissance showed no signs of such a trap so Vossnian commanders urged their troops further forward.
By early summer the Vossnian forces had reached their goals and were now hoping to push even further but they had used up great amounts of fuel and supplies by this point and were forced by logistics not the Zind to halt their offensive.
The battle came to a halt for a short space of time but the Zind then launched a series of small scale counter attacks up and down the lines, a concentrated attack in force at one point might have had some temporary success but the Zind only seemed interested in harassing their enemy and reminding them that they were still in a war.
By mid summer the Vossnians were once again ready to take the offensive to the enemy but the Zind had built up a strong fortified line across the front and after a month of hard fighting the Vossnians halted their offensive to regroup and re-asses the situation.
The Vossnians came to the conclusion that the Zind had taken on a new strategy and were deliberately letting the Vossnians extend and exert themselves for little gain.
In mid August the Vossland army dug in and prepared for the next phase in the war.
The battle lines in mid August of 922.
New post is up and I believe we are all on the same time scale now.
Wunderbar!
I like the Badger, very nice and a good use of excess (now generally redundant) GV Mk IVs. What fine fellows the UNSR are!!
I will look to getting the next instalment of the western war up an running in short order although we are having a Squadron reunion this weekend so won't be able to do much until next week.
No problem, take your time. I need to think up some more stuff for the next phase of the war and draw up an AFV or two or three.Wunderbar!
I like the Badger, very nice and a good use of excess (now generally redundant) GV Mk IVs. What fine fellows the UNSR are!!
I will look to getting the next instalment of the western war up an running in short order although we are having a Squadron reunion this weekend so won't be able to do much until next week.
1 September 922
The 1st of September 922 broke across the home countries of the Commonwealth as a prelude to the onset of autumn. Warm breezes carried the scent of ripening fruit and the drone of a dragonfly or the soft call of a songbird was the only sound to distract from what was clearly going to be a perfect day. Far to the south the coming of September heralded the approach of spring and a release from the cold grip of winter. The morning was clear and for the first time in several months, the soldiers of the RHA were waking to a degree of warmth and rough comfort. Only on the eastern coast of the Celedon Sea did the gathering clouds suggest the possibility of rain, but then again, it almost always rained in these parts.
Unfortunately, history will only ever recall the pleasant details of the 1 September 922 as a minor footnote when compared to the enormity of what befell the Western Continent on that fateful day…
The UNSR’s plan was simple in its intent, brutal in its delivery and would commit 3 entire Army Groups across 3 widely separate fronts of operation.
The 1st of September 922 broke across the home countries of the Commonwealth as a prelude to the onset of autumn. Warm breezes carried the scent of ripening fruit and the drone of a dragonfly or the soft call of a songbird was the only sound to distract from what was clearly going to be a perfect day. Far to the south the coming of September heralded the approach of spring and a release from the cold grip of winter. The morning was clear and for the first time in several months, the soldiers of the RHA were waking to a degree of warmth and rough comfort. Only on the eastern coast of the Celedon Sea did the gathering clouds suggest the possibility of rain, but then again, it almost always rained in these parts.
Unfortunately, history will only ever recall the pleasant details of the 1 September 922 as a minor footnote when compared to the enormity of what befell the Western Continent on that fateful day…
---oOo---
The UNSR’s plan was simple in its intent, brutal in its delivery and would commit 3 entire Army Groups across 3 widely separate fronts of operation.
- Army Group South was to be given the honour of delivering the coup de grâce to the RHA in southern Tampa Bays and liberating the remainder of the south west mainland. Excluding the inevitable resistance of the RHA, Army Group South was expected to encounter the least military opposition but would face the greatest logistical challenges.
- Army Group Centre was to clear all opposition in the Otral Kingdoms facilitating the replacement of the government with one suitably compliant to the needs and desires of the UNSR. Whilst rebel Otrally forces were expected to help the UNSR, nothing would be allowed to prevent the removal of resident Celedonian forces and the total subjugation of the country. Fighting was expected to be intense but relatively short lived.
- The UNSR had paid close attention to the performance of the Commonwealth over the past three years and whilst they generally held them in contempt there was also a grudging respect for the Commonwealth’s tenacity and solidarity. Consequently, Army Group North was given the short-term objective of driving hard into Spietato and Drakonia in order to initiate a general withdrawal of Commonwealth forces back to their own borders and in so doing reestablish the buffer zone between the two nations. Naturally, the concurrent destruction of any entrapped Commonwealth forces would be encouraged and pursued vigorously. The longer-term objectives of Army Group North were less well defined but would generally see a continuance of operations against the Commonwealth, if deemed prudent, once Army Groups South and Centre had achieved their aims.
---oOo---
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