AAR - The Chinese Federation versus The Black Wolf Mercenaries

"The Black Wolf Mercenaries had not been seen in The Cauldron for many months, but almost a year since their disastrous defeat at the hands of Battle Group Hsien, the mercenaries had returned to the South China Sea. 

From the dense archipelagos, the mercenaries began their attacks on Federation shipping as if they had never left, quickly drawing the attention of the Dragon. The cat-and-mouse game began anew, but this time the Black Company were not reckless as before. They patiently drew the grand fleet dispatched against them deep into the island chain, where they could take advantage of the terrain to surround the enemy and smash them asunder. 

Once more the Black Company and the Chinese Federation met amid the islands, but history would not repeat itself here...

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Battles of 1873

AAR - The Prussian Empire versus The Black Wolf Mercenaries

"Some two months had passed since the ambush at Visund Oil Field, and the Prussian Hunter Fleets still keenly felt the loss of U-113, vessel of Submarine Commander Grönemeyer. The Markgraf had withdrawn to the south, and the Prussian hold over the shipping lanes in the North Sea faltered. 

A new player emerged from hidden bases along the Scottish coast - the mercenaries of the Black Company. Piratical and beholden to no Great Nation, their attacks at the end of the last year had forced the Markgraf to turn away from the northern oil fields, and now they had free reign to attack the shipping lanes and plunder as they pleased. 

Baron Grunner could not stomach this conceit - his experience against the Black Company off Greenland had bred a deep disdain for these renegades, and the loss of his best Submarine Commander still enraged him. While the Markgraf evaded Grand Coalition patrols, he charged Carrier Group Lützow with engaging the Black Company - defending Prussian shipping, ensuring his Wolf Packs would have unrestricted access to the North Sea oil fields, and denying them the chance to attack the Markgraf again. 

The Black Company were a scourge, and would need to be dealt with quickly..."

The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1874

AAR - The Black Wolf Mercenaries versus The Prussian Empire

"...in the wake of the bloody engagement with the Federated States of America and the prolonged duel with the Enterprise-class Dreadnought Dortmunder, the Markgraf was badly damaged and exposed. Struggling through the bitter waters of the North Sea, the remnants of Baron Grunner's Hunter Fleet sought protection amid the oil fields, hoping to mask the location of the Dreadnought while it was repaired. 

Calls for assistance were sent out to Prussian-held ports along the Norwegian and Danish coast, demanding reinforcements to protect the vessel. Encrypted with the latest Prussian ciphers, these messages were nonetheless intercepted and decoded by the brigand mercenaries of the Black Company. Their contacts in the Britannian Admiralty quickly promised them untold riches for the capture or destruction of the rogue Dreadnought, and using their advanced technologies they made all speed for the North Sea oil fields. 

Deploying a massive fleet of aerial and naval vessels out of hidden ports on the Scottish coast, the Black Company were not content to destroy the Markgraf but wished it for themselves - much as they had done two years previously, they would capture a Dreadnought and drag it back to their pirate anchorage. Their fleet was unnaturally fast and could reach the target before any Russian or Britannian squadron, but they would not beat the Wolf Pack of renowned Submarine Commander Jurgen Grönemeyer... 

Battle would be joined amid the dense Visund Oil Field..."

The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1873

AAR - The Chinese Federation versus The Black Wolf Mercenaries

"Pulau Salor had seen the end of the contract between the Black Company and the Chinese Federation, and in the months since, the mercenaries had been busy. Hunting from hidden bases throughout the archipelagos and unexplored volcanic islands, their Submarines and skimming warships had targeted Chinese shipping to the point where the Federation could no longer safely support their recent conquests. Their supply lanes were under threat, and the losses were allowing the Grand Coalition the breathing space it needed to regroup and begin a meangingful counter-attack.

The situation was reaching critical mass when Chinese intelligence finally pinpointed one of their larger enclaves, a mercenary port used by the Black Company as well as several other smaller pirate organisations and individual privateers. New, immense flying vessels bearing the colours and heraldry of the Black Wolf had been seen flying toward a small island chain - these new technologies and reinforcements had made the mercenaries arrogant, and now they would suffer for it.

Battlegroup Hsien was despatched immediately, tasked with wiping these nefarious rogues from the sea and sky. Assembling a fleet equipped to carry several entire regiments of conscript-soldiers, Battlegroup Hsien would invade the port as they would an enemy country - swarming over their defences in numbers so great even the feared guns of the Black Company would prove useless..."

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Battles of 1873

Black By Popular Demand

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE NEW RULES AND SOME NEW MODELS FOR THE BLACK WOLF MERCENARIES

Black Thoughts

THE FIRST SHIP FOR THE BLACK WOLF MERCENARIES AERIAL BATTLE GROUP HAS BEEN FINISHED... OR HAS IT? 

Back In Black

UNBOXING THE NEW BLACK WOLF MERCENARY AERIAL BATTLE GROUP

AAR - The Black Wolf Mercenaries and Chinese Federation versus The Honourable Eclipse Company

"In the wake of the disastrous ambush at the Natuna Archipelago at the hands of the Honourable Eclipse Company, the Chinese Federation redeployed several Battle Groups to scour the islands and rid the South China Sea of these tenacious mercenaries. 

To assist them, the naval commanders of the Federation hired mercenaries from the southern oceans - ships of the Black Company whose loyalty was expensive and motivations unknown. Though unused to using mercenaries and privateers, the advanced technologies of the Black Company would aid them in tracking the hidden bases of the Eclipse Company and bombarding them out of existence.

The Grand Coalition were buoyed by the response of the Chinese Federation - violence would guarantee the service of the Eclipse Company where a more prudent, financial bidding war may have resulted being outbid and losing their contract, but worried at the sight of even more mercenaries being drawn into the chaos of the South China Sea theatre.

At Pulau Salor, Battle Group Hsien would encounter an Eclipse Company Brigade Headquarters, and battle would be joined amid the rocks of the small island, the Black Company leading the initial attack..." 

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Naval Battles of 1873

Air Wolf

THE BLACK WOLF MERCENARIES GET SOME AERIAL SUPPORT WITH THE MARCH RELEASE

AAR - Black Wolf Mercenaries versus The Prussian Empire

"Patrol Fleet Knarr did not return from investigating the mysterious energy readings beyond Hellissandur, and the Kingdom of Denmark immediately appealed to their allies, the Prussian Empire, for assistance. The threat of a foreign power operating in their territorial waters, especially one as impenetrable and secretive as the Covenant of Antarctica, was completely unacceptable.

From the fortified stronghold of Holsteinsborg, Prussian commander Karl-Ehrhart Grunner was instructed to send out a strong force of gunships to attack them directly, joining up with another fleet out of Iceland beyond Kap Farval. This Interdiction Fleet would be lead by his own flagship, the Hetzer, commanded by his subordinate Vice-Admiral Weichmann. 

Covenant spies were aware of this plan even before Grunner, and unable to respond with their own fleet in time, engaged the services of the mercenary Black Company based at Ammassalik. They had suffered a disastrous defeat earlier in the year at Grunner's hands, and were eager to repay the Prussian Navy in kind. A force lead by the Death Bringer-class Submarine Grave Warden sallied from the Rogue Anchorage and intercepted the Prussians in the Labrador Sea, just before Kap Farval. Their target, the flagship of the hated Grunner..."

- Echoes of Greenland - Interception in the Labrador Sea

Naval Battles of 1872

Allies and Mercenaries in Dystopian Wars 2.0

KNEE-JERK REACTIONS TO THE NEW RULES FOR ALLIANCE NATIONS AND MERCENARY COMPANIES

The Greenland Campaign - A Retrospective

NINE GREAT GAMES WERE RECORDED ON THIS BLOG OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS - IN THIS POST, WE TAKE A LOOK BACK OVER THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF THE TWO GREAT POWERS AND THEIR MERCENARY ALLIES IN THE GREENLAND CAMPAIGN

AAR - Prussian Empire versus Black Wolf Mercenaries

"The capture of the great Dreadnought Sachsen by the treacherous Black Wolf Mercenaries was a loss the Prussian forces could ill afford, and fleet commander Karl-Ehrhart Grunner took the matter to heart. He planned a surprise attack on the Black Company just as they dragged their prize into port. 

Leading the raid was Grunner's best hunter, veteran submarine commander Jürgen Grönemeyer, with an array of vessels and airships filled with Luftlancers and Marines ready for a major boarding assault. Against him stood the infamous Sea Snake; already a veteran of hunting Prussian ships in his Death Bringer-class Submarine, the Red Viper. 

The attack was audacious, timed as the Sachsen was being dragged into the entrance of Clavius Point, and the Black Company knew they were coming. It is difficult to imagine what Grönemeyer thought his chances were of surviving the coming engagement, let alone escaping with his prize... "

 - The Blockade of Greenland

Naval Battles of 1872

The Sachsen is slowly drawn to Ammasalik - the "Rogues Anchorage" and home of the Black Company and their allies

AAR - Black Wolf Mercenaries versus Prussian Empire

"Following the destruction of the Argo, Prussian and Danish forces out of Greenland began their campaign of raids and piracy across the northern Atlantic with impunity. Prussian fleet commander Karl-Ehrhart Grunner sent word to the Prussian naval command; hunting season was back on, but they needed reinforcements. 

Pleased with the destruction of the Argo but cautious of Grunner's use of mercenaries - especially the notoriously violent and unpredictable Black Company - the Prussian naval command sent Konteradmiral von Monts and the grand Dreadnought Sachsen to "assist" Grunner with his handling of the Greenland theatre. 

As the Prussian fleet passed the southernmost point of Greenland, Kap Farval, they found an unpleasant surprise waiting for them..."

- The Blockade of Greenland

Naval Battles of 1872

A Slightly Darker Shade of Black

PAINTING THE BLACK WOLF MERCENARIES 

In this entry, I will discuss some of the colours and choices made when painting up my Black Wolf Mercenaries, how to avoid a "cartoonish" colour scheme and how painting black doesn't have to be boring.

Hunting Season! 

Taking The Black

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE BLACK WOLF MERCENARIES

"Led by the ruthless "Black Wolf" Captain Vladimir Nikonov, this mercenary fleet strikes fear into the hearts of Admirals the world over. Selling his services to the highest bidder the Black Wolf is a hunter without equal, excelling at coordinating his ships is lightning fast assaults to cripple the enemy before they know what has hit them."

Everything you've heard is true. The Black Wolf Mercenaries are here and they've broken Dystopian Wars. 

AAR - Black Wolf Mercenaries versus Federated States of America

"No less than three weeks after the attack on Holsteinsborg, the Argo was reported to have joined a flotilla escorting a convoy of merchant and troop ships travelling perilously close to the island of Ammassalik; den of the piratical Black Company. 

Prussian fleet commander Karl-Ehrhart Grunner had not been idle since the Argo's first attack. With the promise of raw materials and exclusive hunting rights, he had drawn the Sea Snake into his service. Commander of the Red Viper and lieutenant to the Black Wolf himself, the Sea Snake was a reaver of infamous repute with an entire fleet of Black Company ships at his disposal. Practically salivating at the thought of the riches to be reaped from this convoy, he prepared his ambush..."

 - The Blockade of Greenland

Naval Battles of 1872

The Red Viper