19C - Prussian VSF Vehicles

With the end of the Martian Invasion the Prussian General Staff decided that they needed some weapon that could reliably defeat any future Martian Invasion or any other European power invading Germany (looking at you Great Britain).

However they were split into two opposed camps. Those that wanted to build a system of small forts across the country armed with the latest advanced radium guns to provide defence to any area while the army concentrated and those who said a vast fleet of mobile guns would be better as these could bring the full weight of the army against the invader.

Both sides had complex arguments to support their positions and many friends in the nobility and the Parliament. It was up to the Kaiser to break the deadlock. As usual he did not fail with a plan to adopt the worst of both sides.

He introduced the General Staff to the PanzerFestungKampfWagon - the Armoured Fortress Battle Wagon!  The General Staff dutifully clapped and cheered (although not without the Chancellor egging them on from behind the Kaiser)

The PanzerFestungKampfWagon was a cross between a small fort and a bus. It was heavily armoured, slow, limited capacity and usually late to any engagement.

To add insult to injury, the Kaiser determined that its movements through the Empire should not frighten the populace so it's plans included fake windows and a back porch to reduce its military appearance.

So without further nonsense here it is.

A column of Panzers move up to attack the invading British forces. Deadly radium guns at the ready.

A closer view. The crews atop the Panzers are ready for any situation!

A view from a passing flying machine. In the middle machine the crew have added fake clothes line with pants and shirt to increase the appearance of domesticity

A British agent's photo from the trees.

Another view of these terrible war machines.

While the Prussians did not appreciate the appearance of the Panzers at least they did not fall over like the British ones did when their gyroscopes failed. Who knows what the French will come up with.

19C - British VSF Vehicles

Well my previous post demonstrated my complete lack of British VSF Vehicles.  A Super Heavy Tank is all well and good but what about the real VSF vehicles.

So off to the drawing board.  Of course there is no use using those atrocious antipodean artefacts developed by the colonials in Australia. (see my War of the Antipodes posts). Something purely British was required.

So a competition to design the new British - Light Assault Vehicle

Baron Bernard Buttonly came up with the winning design - Battle Balls.

These gyroscopic balanced battle balls carried two twin Gatling Guns in turrets either side. A single track around its middle provided the motive force with direction being changed by speeding or slowing the gyroscope.

Four landing legs could be deployed when the battle ball came to a halt.

So here are the pictures.

Here you can see the perfectly balanced vehicle. Crew on one side balanced by engine on the other side.  The single track is powered from the internal engine. A cupola at the top allows the officer to direct his drivers while gunners each side look for targets.

Passing an infantry column heading to the front. The second battle ball needs to brake while the one in front accelerates.   

A full company of battle balls pass a recently captured Prussian fort, the manoeuvrability of the battle balls is shown by the forth one leaning into the turn.

So a bit of fun for the British and a easy project.

Ping pong balls, tracks from some old Airfix Stuart Tanks, some plastic pipe, cotton buds and bits and bods (or in the case of the figures - half bods) and all done. 40k decals too.

 

19C - War in Europe - Assault on German Town by British Super Heavy Tank

This is a quick solo battle using my 19C rules to test my new rule section for Super Heavy Tanks.

This is a British Super Heavy leading the assault on a river crossing at German town. The Prussians have put together a holding force consisting of a few old guns in an ancient fort supported by the local militia regiments.

The Prussians forces are six companies of troops, four light artillery pieces and two large heavy fortress guns.

The British have one Super Heavy Tank with two heavy guns and three Gatling guns, two light scout vehicles with twin Gatling guns, five infantry companies, two cavalry companies and four mobile Gatling guns.

Opening deployment

The British attack

Main Prussian defence line

End of the first turn - the British move up and suffer casualties.

End of second turn

Both sides have taken casualties but mostly the British

End of the third turn, the British assault the Prussian defenders.

Casualties mount on both sides.

The Prussian forces on the near side of the river have been reduced to one infantry stand. A British scout car ventured over the bridge and was destroyed by Prussian canon fire.

Casualties start to even out.

Turn 5 - The Super heavy tank approaches the bridge and receives some hits, in return fire it disables a Prussian gun.

Turn 6 - the Super Heavy Tank destroys two Prussian guns and receives some hits but is still mobile and deadly.  The Prussian commander decides discretion is the better part of valour and orders the retreat before the British cavalry can break through.

The rules for the super heavy did not really work very well and I will have to rethink them.  I also need to be clear on definitions of vehicles and what they can be armed with.  I think I will go with light vehicles can have one light weapon (Gatlings or light artillery), medium - two weapons with the heaviest a medium artillery, and heavy vehicles three weapons with the heaviest heavy artillery.  My super heavy will need further thought.

Still a bit of fun to get the figures on the table and brought to light my lack of VSF vehicles for the British and Prussians plus the complete lack of a French army.