AAR - The Chinese Federation versus Royalist Australians

"In the early months of 1873, the Chinese Federation continued their annexation of the South China Sea and began to look further afield - if they could put the pressure on their enemies in the Timor Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific, they could stifle any attempts at counter-attack before it began. One of their first actions targeted the coast of Western Australia - Britannian territory. 

The response of the Australian fleet was swift - the Seventh Battle Group had recently been patrolling the area, and moved quickly to intercept. Reinforced with additional support aircraft and escorting a bulky Titan-class Troop Transport, the hoped they could turn aside the Chinese aggressors before they came within range to bombard Australian territory. 

They met the enemy fleet near the headland of the Dampier Peninsula, emerging from the rocks to engage at close range. This bold attack would surely cost them dearly, but it was hoped the power of Britannian gunnery would smash them aside quickly..."

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Naval Battles of 1873

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

Alliance Nations - Updated!

UPDATED RULES FOR SOME OF THE ALLIANCE NATIONS HAVE ARRIVED - LET'S LOOK AT THE AUSTRALIANS

AAR - The Grand Coalition versus The Prussian Empire

"The grand Dreadnought Markgraf had been revealed, and was now loose in the North Sea. Escorted by Baron Grunner's Stavanger fleet and joined by reinforcements out of Toenning, the Hunter Fleet set out to cause havoc along the northern coast of the Kingdom of Britannia, starting with the oil fields beyond the Shetland Islands. 

At the Magnus oil field (once under Danish control but lost in the early months of the War), Prussian reconnaissance spotted a small convoy fleet moving amid the derricks, no doubt carrying supplies and manpower to maintain the production of oil. Concealed by covert technologies, they would attack and claim their first prey! 

Unable to respond in time and aghast at the prospect of losing their oil fields, the Kingdom of Britannia appealed to their allies in the north, the Russian Coalition. Enraged at the mere existence of the Markgraf, they consented to give aid immediately, and despatched a small Battle Group to intercept the Prussians at Magnus. 

The Kingdom of Britannia were assured their convoy would be defended, but the Russians had another objective in mind..."

- The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1873

AAR - The Russian Coalition and Royal Australians versus The Prussian Empire

"The month of January saw the Russian Navy continue their attacks down the Norwegian coastline, searching for the lost Dreadnought Dzerzhinsky, now known as the Markgraf. Following their victory at the Lofoten Listening Station and the capture of several important Prussian scientists who had been involved in the Markgraf project, the hunters moved down past Bergen towards Stavanger. last known port of the great Dreadnought. 

En-route, the Russian fleet was joined by more ships from the Kingdom of Britannia, a small flotilla of older vessels that would assist them in navigating the southern reaches of the Norwegian Sea. Their numbers bolstered, the Russian fleet commander plotted a course for the island of Utsira and its small port - there they would wrest control of the dockyards and arrange for refits and repairs, ready to move on Stavanger. 

Their course was spotted and reported to the Prussian Naval Command, who immediately ordered one of their Wolf Packs to travel north to defend the port. There, they were joined by two mighty Metzgers from the knightly households of Prussian-Scandinavia, ready to defend their sovereign territory from the Russian invaders. 

Battle would be met in the port itself..."

- The Hunt for the Markgraf (cont.)

Naval Battles of 1873

AAR - The Chinese Federation versus The Indian Raj and Royal Australians

"The rolling invasion of the Malaysian ports by the Chinese Federation devastated huge swathes of Grand Coalition territory, their immense fleets and land forces destroying any who stood in their path. Merchant and civilian vessels were no match for their new technologies, and the East India Merchant Company were hard-pressed to counter such a wide invasion with their limited, albeit elite, resources. 

Appealing to the Kingdom of Britannia, the East India Merchant Company were rewarded with the commitment of a Battle Group of the Indian Raj, veteran sailors with newly developed, impressive technologies. Supplementing this, they secured the services of several Australian ships who would work in support of Battle Group Katari. 

Driving through the Singapore Strait at full speed, the Coalition fleet moved against one of the earliest targets of the Chinese Federation, Pulau Tioman. Rumour abounded of a great Wall erected around the island, and a Great Beast that defended it, constantly circling behind the Wall. Scoffing at such nonsense, the young Fleet Captain Sardarilal M. Dhowan committed to the attack..."

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Naval Battles of 1872

AAR - The Indian Raj and Royal Australians versus The Prussian Empire

"In the Autumn of 1873, the Imperial Bond had renewed their pursuit of Grand Coalition shipping with vigour, seeking to ambush and destroy those convoys daring to travel close to the expanding ice sheets around Greenland and Iceland. The Prussian Empire and their Danish allies were especially active, operating from their bases in Greenland with impunity as the Americans struggled in the Pacific and the Kingdom of Britannia tried to hold their grip on North Africa.

Increasingly stretched despite the size of their Royal Navy, the Kingdom of Britannia drew upon allies from the colonies - the Indian Raj and the loyal Australian navies were ordered to send reserve fleets halfway across the world to help defend their convoys and give the Britannian Battle Fleets the freedom to engage in active warfare instead of escort duty.

New ships and new commanders brought fresh eyes to the brutal Atlantic theatre. Seeing the strength of the Prussian Navy around Greenland and the Federated States' disastrous attempt to attack them directly at Holsteinsborg, Admiral Sardarilal M. Dhowan formed a plan for an ambush, luring the Prussian Wolf Packs out with the promise of barely-defended merchant shipping. Using strange new technologies, he would hide his fleet and launch a bold counter-attack when the Prussians made their move.

The plan was as bold as it was obvious, but Dhowan was confident that the Prussians, who had not faced the Indian Raj on open water before, would be unprepared for their new tricks. He played his hand  just off Newfoundland, leading the fleet himself from the flagship Marutagana..."

 - New Eyes, New Enemies - Exploits of the Indian Raj in the North Atlantic

Naval Battles of 1873

AAR - The League of Italian States and Free Australians versus The Federated States of America

"In the wake of the attack at Pulau Tioman and the loss of the 47th Reserve Fleet, the Federated States of America took a far greater interest in the general disorganisation and rampant piracy crippling the war effort in the South China Sea,. The American command in the area authorised the activation of the 56th Reserve Fleet, resting and refitting in nearby waters, to engage the Chinese Federation and the Imperial Bond directly.

Bolstered by the addition of several newly commissioned cutting-edge ship designs and even one of the mighty Boston-class submersibles, the Reserve Fleet became a formidable force under the command of Rear-Admiral John T. Whiston, and made full speed for the Strait of Malacca where they could pass into the South China Sea past Singapore.

Before they could reach the Strait, they encountered several pirate vessels apparently operating under their own volition. Suspecting ties to the Imperial Bond, especially with the presence of an Italian Hunter Fleet, Whiston ordered the reconnaissance elements of his fleet to track them, and eventually found a small base amid a series of small islands off Banda Aceh. Seeing it as a personal duty to rid the area of such rogues, the order was given to attack..."

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Naval Battles of 1872

AAR - The Prussian Empire versus The Federated States of America and Royal Australians

"Some weeks after the triumph at the Gates of Holsteinsborg and the lifting of the blockade of the Davis Strait, the Prussian Empire despatched reinforcements to support their Greenland-based raiding fleets. Featuring new ships with the latest technologies and weaponry developed by Prussian scientists, the Empire was ready to go on the offensive once more. 

Their first target was the refuelling station at St. Anthony, site of a shameful defeat some months past that needed to be expunged. Their objective would be to deny the enemy any chance to escape by disabling their fastest ships, then deal with any defending capital ships before bombarding the station out of existence. 

Against them, the Britannian Navy had stationed one of their Dominion fleets, the Royal Australian North Atlantic Reserve Squadron. They were supported by the Federated States of America, whose 18th Patrol Fleet had a small flotilla passing close by, and had picked up on the approach of the Prussian fleet some hours beforehand. 

The stage was set for another titanic showdown...

- Echoes of Greenland - The Second Battle of St. Anthony

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

Running The Australians - Part Two

PLAYING WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF FREE AUSTRALIA AND THE DOMINION OF ROYAL AUSTRALIA - Part Two

In the second part of my look at the Australian fleets (first article here), I compare the areas where the Australians diverge, with their different Battleships and Submarine Tenders, plus some discussion of the awesome Crocodile-class Assault Submarines and some thoughts on which fleet I prefer and why.

Running the Australians

PLAYING WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF FREE AUSTRALIA AND THE DOMINION OF ROYAL AUSTRALIA - Part One

As discussed in the previous article, the Australian Naval Battle Group brings two fleets to the Dystopian theatre; allies of the Grand Coalition the Royal Australians and the mercenary Free Australians. In this article, I will discuss some of the great rules and units these fleets bring to the table, the ships and weapon systems they share, and the technologies that mark them apart.

Fightin' Around the World

THE DOMINION OF ROYAL AUSTRALIA AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF FREE AUSTRALIA 

Makin' Movies, Makin' Songs and Fightin' Around the World!

A sucker for all things Australian, I invested in the excellent Australian Naval Battle Group as soon as it was released. 1000pts of ships in one box, with multiple turrets and generator configurations, this was a great way for me to pick up some Mercenary allies for my Prussian fleet in the form of the Commonwealth of Free Australia and finally start a Grand Coalition Fleet with the Royal Australians, a Dominion of the Kingdom of Britannia.