Magadan Squadron

A BRIEF RETURN TO DYSTOPIAN WARS

Something Old, Something New

WHAT'S ON THE PAINTING TABLE THIS WEEK?

AAR - Clash Of The Titans

"The walls of Bremerhaven lay in ruin, and the full force of the White Banner Northern Fleet descended into Prussian waters. Enraged by the maddening search for the Markgraf and the losses they had suffered, the Russian Admiralty committed the full weight of their North Sea assets into the attack - the twin kingships of Monarkh Squadron and the immense Petrushka. 

Against them stood Baron Karl-Ehrhart Grunner and the Markgraf, his own flagship Grendel and the Sachsen, recovered from Greenland as the winter ice thawed. The Teutonic Order also committed their grand Hochmeister-class Dreadnought-Robot Carolus Rex, only recently repaired and refitted following battle at Midbrødøya. 

Such a commitment of tonnage and ordnance was unheard of, and grossly foolhardy - truly, two of the Great Nations of the world had been driven insane by their mutual antagonism, and their folly would see the deaths of thousands upon thousands of men. In the hunt for one vessel, the Russian Coalition had sacrificed entire fleets, and in their pride the Prussian Empire had crippled their North Sea operations - and impacted those beyond it. 

Here, at the walls of Bremerhaven, there would be a reckoning - not just for the Markgraf, but for the entire World War..."

- The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1874

Fleet Carriers

ANOTHER BIG ADDITION FOR THE RUSSIAN COALITION

AAR - The Russian Coalition versus The Prussian Empire

"The attack upon Bremerhaven was launched at the beginning of summer, as the waters of the bitter North Sea began to warm and the Russian fleets held in the ice of the Kara and Berents Sea could begin to head south. The Petrushka was with them, and none could stand before its wrath as the incredible power of the Sturginium-powered Bombard was unleashed upon the defences of the port. 

The Curtain Wall - first line of defence for Bremerhaven but weak in the face of concentrated Russian bombardment - was sundered in mere hours. The attack continued, driving great rents in the structure that would allow an entire fleet to sail through and into range of the city itself. 

The Prussian retaliation was swift - even as the Bombardment Group prepared to withdraw to allow the next wave of Russian ships to attack, their interceptors leapt upon them. Leading elements of the 76th Iron Fleet, lead by the rugged SMS Kronprinz and the belligerent SMS Hetzer II would catch them before the walls. 

Whether they had the firepower to deal with the Petrushka was another question entirely..."

- The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.) 

Naval Battles of 1874

Incoming Fire

THE RUSSIAN COALITION GETS SOME HEAVY FIREPOWER ADDED TO THE ARSENAL

AAR Battle Patrol - The Russian Coalition versus The Prussian Empire

"In the wake of their disastrous run past the Jutland peninsula, the Russian Coalition were forced to push back their attack on Bremerhaven and regroup. The Petrushka was integral to their plan, and the recovery of the hulk became their top priority. Fortunately, the Kalmar Navy had been similarly forced to withdraw - Battle Group Adglek had suffered significant damage, and could not face a second wave of Russian squadrons. 

Dragged from the depths of the ocean, the Petrushka rose once more. Repairs would take several days, and it was the duty of the White Navy to defend the repair vessels as they frantically pieced the Dreadnought-Robot back together. Aerial support from the long-range squadrons from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth held back the Prussian attack from the sky, while patrols of White Navy vessels tried to intercept any Imperial Bond attack..."

The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1874

Repair Job

RUDNITSKY REPAIR CRUISERS JOIN THE RUSSIAN COALITION

AAR - The Kingdom of Denmark versus The Russian Coalition

"For many months the Markgraf had been held at the Prussian port of Bremerhaven, safe from the vengeance of the Russian Coalition and their allies. A fortified city zealously defended by the Prussian Empire, Bremerhaven was considered unassailable by most military tacticians. For many, the only option was patience - to lure the Markgraf out into open water once more where they could have their chance to retake the vessel. 

The Russian Coalition were not famed for their patience, however, and the Tsar demanded that this costly pursuit come to an end and Russian pride restored. He ordered massive reinforcement for the White Banner Northern Fleet, diverting flotillas, squadrons and entire Battle Groups into the North Sea. Plotting their attack upon Bremerhaven, they were bolstered by the immense siege-engine, the Petrushka. The power of the Sturginium-powered Bombard on its shoulder would shatter the harbour walls of Bremerhaven and force the Markgraf out into the water, or be destroyed in anchor. 

Attempting to avoid the attentions of the Teutonic Order patrolling the shores of Norway, the Petrushka travelled down through the storms and swells of the North Sea. Accompanied by Battle Group Kreml, it built up a strong pace that would carry it south and straight into the walls of the Prussian port. 

First however, it would have to break through the minefields of the Kingdom of Denmark..."

- The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1874

Shadow of the Colossus

THE PETRUSHKA DREADNOUGHT-ROBOT STRIDES INTO BATTLE

Kingships

THE DYSTOPIAN ARMS RACE ESCALATES AS A SECOND DREADNOUGHT IS FINISHED FOR THE RUSSIAN COALITION

March Additions

PAINTING PROGRESS!

AAR - Royalist Australians versus The Russian Coalition

"...with the Markgraf safe in port at Bremerhaven and the Prussian fleet lying low, the Russian Coalition turned their attention to the hated Black Company - mercenaries headed by the traitorous "Black Wolf" Vladimir Nikonov. For many months the Black Company had been operating in the North Sea and though the Russian intelligence initially suspected Prussian involvement, some believed their allies in the Kingdom of Britannia of employing and enabling them. 

In the second month of 1874, a White Navy patrol detected anomalous readings in the rocks off the coast of Scotland - Black Company mercenaries! Leading them was the badly damaged Manticore-class Support Skimmer Subjugator - crippled in battle with the Prussian Navy, spewing fire and leaking deadly radiation the ship was a major hazard that had revealed the location of the fleet to the Russian Coalition. A taskforce was hastily assembled to track and intercept them before they reached their hidden base. 

Crucially, the readings had also been detected by the Kingdom of Britannia. They despatched their own taskforce to aid the mercenaries amid the rocks. Meeting the Russian fleet, their role in employing the Black Company could no longer be denied and the situation escalated wildly. Shots were fired, and soon both fleets found themselves in a major engagement with their supposed allies..."

The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1874

AAR - The Russian Coalition versus The Prussian Empire

"In their continuing pursuit across the North Sea, the White Navy deployed huge numbers of Reconnaissance Planes from their Carrier Groups, developed for longer flights across a wider range. They all searched for a single target - the rogue Dreadnought Markgraf. Though initially unsuccessful, they did bring unprecedented mapping of the Prussian Hunter Fleets' locations, giving Grand Coalition convoys a chance in their dangerous journeys.

The Prussian Navy were not lax in this time - they followed the Reconnaissance Planes in turn, tracking them to their Carrier Groups of origin and taking the opportunity to avoid the slower Russian formations, or attack them and achieve significant victories. It was during one of these missions that the infamous Donner Squadron was despatched from escorting the Markgraf to attack a pair of carriers off the Caister Oil Fields. 

For the Russian Coalition, their game of bluff and double-bluff had paid off - aerial attack on the Markgraf was all but impossible with Donner Squadron protecting it, but in drawing them away from the Dreadnought they could pick them off and deny the Markgraf aerial cover in the future. 

The great Skyship Ilyushin was despatched with all haste to engage Donner Squadron and deal with them once and for all..."

The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.) 

Naval Battles of 1874

Battleship of the Sky

THE RUSSIAN COALITION ARE JOINED FROM THE AIR 

Hull Breaker

SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THE RUSSIAN COALITION

The Hunt for the Markgraf - Year One

AN OVERVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR

AAR - The Kingdom of Denmark versus The Russian Coalition

"In the wake of the disastrous clash at Midbrødøya, the Markgraf plunged deeper south along the Norwegian coastline, eventually clearing the Skagerrak and closing on the Kingdom of Denmark. Off Thisted, the mighty Dreadnought was met by the Søværnet and escorted to the port of Thyboron for refit and repair. 

Baron Karl-Ehrhart Grunner had exerted his authority on the Danes, but they would not tolerate his presence for long - already a fleet of Russian ships had entered their territorial waters and Battle Group Agdlek, "fleet in being" at Naval Base Frederickshavn, had been forced to leave port and commit to intercepting them. 

The Russian fleet remained in pursuit of the Markgraf, but with it protected in port they diverted their attentions to a pair of Sturgnium refineries north of Agger. A swift raid on these refineries would damage the Danish war effort for relatively little cost, or so it was hoped. Unfortunately they underestimated the speed of Battle Group Agdlek, and soon found themselves facing a strong fleet in the shallow waters off Agger..."

- The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1873

AAR - The Russian Coalition versus The Prussian Empire

"The Markgraf, once the pride of the Prussian Navy, their greatest prize and invaluable asset in the North Sea theatre, had become a great weight around the neck of Baron Karl-Ehrhart Grunner. Following his early victories, he was now being hunted by some of the most powerful Naval Powers in the world. His political support was drawing thin, and his demands for aid met stony silence. 

With reinforcement lacking and his options running out, Grunner embarked on a highly risky strategy - his fleet would lure their pursuers to the Norwegian coastline and seek to double-back and outflank them amid the rocks. At the same time, they would draw the attention of the fiercely territorial Teutonic Order of Prussian-Scandinavia. Enraged by the presence of foreign interlopers in their waters, it was hoped the Teutonic Order would deploy their infamous Battle Robots to intercede on their behalf. 

The plan was, at least initially, a complete success. Seneschal Gerhard mobilised his Baronial Court as soon as the Russian fleet appeared on the horizon. At Midbrødøya, the immense Battle Robots clambered down the rocks and into the ocean, led by their master aboard the Hochmeister-class Dreadnought-Robot Carolus Rex.

...but Grunner had underestimated the size of the Russian fleet. A truly titanic clash would occur as the Teutonic Order strode into battle with a huge fleet of enemy warships. By days end, both sides would be reeling from the cost of Grunner's arrogance..."

The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1873

Russian Renaissance

LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE WHITE NAVY