Design Phase, Hot Season 1939 AC
Proposal: Submersible Engineered Aquatic Litter (SEAL) Diver Propulsion Vehicle and RebreatherThe SEAL is a manportable single passenger diver propulsion vehicle with an integrated rebreather system. Able to steathily transport an elite combat swimmer from an offshore vessel to beachside and back again, the SEAL will harbinger a new era combat swimmer special operations. From stealthy reconnaisance of potential landing zones, demolition of obstacles before an assault, infiltration of covert operatives, or even daring sabotage operations far behind enemy lines, the potential for special operations is limitless.
Tech-wise, the SEAL is a shortened Backstab II torpedo, re-engineered to safely transport a combat swimmer who must also manually control said torpedo. Lighter and shorter than a full torpedo, the SEAL is manportable and difficult to spot with its small silhouette. A swimmer being unable to steer a torpedo at full speed, the high speed internal combustion engine has been replaced with a low speed electric engine. (Yes, voltaic cells have limited potential compared to the wonders of fossil fuels, but the lack of gaseous and auditory emissions are an acceptable trade for this application.) The dorsal fins of the torpedo have been modified into a steering yoke. Although the swimmer is also safety tethered to the torpedo, the swimmer is towed by his handholds on the yoke. A small instrument panel including a battery gauge, dive watch, speedometer, and compass are highly visible from this position, allowing navigation via instruments. The asymmetry of the dorsal swimmer is offset by a detachable "dry bag" duffel bag near the ventral fins. The removable water-tight duffel allows a swimmer to bring ashore and back otherwise water-sensitive gear such as small arms, demolitions equipment, maps, documents, or even a full disguise for further infiltration. Of additional utility, an adjustable ballast chamber and retractable anchor allows the SEAL to be safely secured later retrieval once the swimmer hits the beach. Additional tie down points have been added to the exterior of the vehicle to aid in securing the SEAL to the exterior of a mothersub.
Barium hydroxide CO2 scrubbing canister and pressurized oxygen cylinder replace the fuze and warhead in the nose. (Placing the these consumables in this easily removed assembly allows for rapid maintenance and refielding post mission.) A hose with a mouthpiece runs the full interior length of the craft, providing an integrated rebreather for the combat swimmer towards the aft.
Of additional note, the propeller is cast well sap resin composite. Beyond its inherent sound absorbing properties, this synthesized material can further improve the stealth of our vessels. More flexible than metal, high strength well sap resin composite creates a "hydro elastic effect," reducing noisy cavitation at higher propeller speeds. While possibly cost prohibitive on larger vessels, the low material use and power requirements of the SEAL make an idea testbed for experimental materials.
SEAL selected combat swimmers will receive a specialized uniform essential for SEAL operations. Each man will be fitted with a rubbery wet suit, to provide a measure of warmth in cold dark waters. His eyes will be protected with a pair of watertight goggles (aesthetically similar to the Sikari Mask MK.III). His feet will be shod in hard rubber swim fins. Should his rebreather fail, a basic snorkel is attached to the strap of his goggles. When all else fails, a water-proof stainless steel dive knife is strapped to his leg. The serrated dive knife also features a wire-cutting notch.
Difficulty: Hard NormalResult: 2+1=3,
Buggy MessThe idea of a manned torpedo was originally laughed at. It wasn't understood why until the technicians and engineers returned with their interpretation of our ideas.
The SEAL DPV/R is a Backstab II with only the barest of modifications. The explosive warhead is removed and replaced with a dummy, and there's a small seat-shaped indent on the torpedo for the rider. The SEAL DPV/R can be secured to a ship or submarine's deck or towed behind it. The vehicle requires submersibles to surface in order to be removed, manned, and launched. The rider can control the direction of the torpedo, but only by a couple of degrees, through a joystick and relatively sloppy mechanical parts that are prone to failure.
A nozzle on the diver's mask can be attached to a port on the SEAL DPV/R to connect to the air supply. Unfortunately the entire assembly is riddled with issues, from punctured hoses to easily ruptured tanks to CO2 buildup due to faulty filters (which also leaves our divers needing some recovery time after extended trips, which, with the top speed of 3 knots, was most trips where the parent ship didn't want to be spotted).
The largest nail in the coffin was the attempted sap resin composite for the propeller. Steel-Sap Resin Composite proves to be too brittle for use, even after most of our development time and resources were dedicated to the creation of working propellers. Their sound-absorbing properties are also nearly nonexistent thanks to the permeation of steel throughout. While the resin being quite rigid and brittle hasn't proved to be an issue through it's use on our submarines, being an integral component of a part under occasional extreme stress and duress has unveiled the material's physical weakness. As a result, the propellers on the SEAL remain original.
The "volunteers" for infiltration via SEAL all get the same basic kit: a tight-fitting rubbery suit that did little to keep the water
or cold out, goggles that provided distorted vision, swim fins that were tightened by straps that came loose during use, and a knife strapped to their leg that would also come undone during the course of swimming.
Overall, not that great.
They come at a cost of
4 Ore and
4 Oil, making them
(CHEAP) even if they are near-useless.
----------------
You've got one Revision this phase to fix any issues you may think you have, wherever they may be. You're also still responsible for providing submissions for the lore contest by the end of this turn! And pick your new trait!
IT IS NOW THE REVISION PHASE.The Rupture: 3 Ore, 2 Oil, 2 Wood, 2 Wellmaterials
The Mesas: Ore, Pact Caelium, Empty (2/3 Nodes)
Badlands: Pact Gavrillium, Empty, Pact Caelium (2/3 Nodes)
Desert: Oil, Empty, Pact Gavrillium (1/3 Nodes)
Volcanic Range: Empty, Pact Caelium, Empty (1/3 Nodes)
Burning Hills: Pact Caelium, Empty, Empty (1/3 Nodes)
The Wastes: Empty, Empty, Empty (0/3 Nodes)
South Peaks: Pact Gavrillium, Pact Gavrillium, Empty (2/3 Nodes)
Southern Stormlands: Empty, Empty, Empty (0/3 Nodes), Heavy Pact Presence
The Mudflats: Empty, Empty, Empty (0/3 Nodes)
E. Boiling Seas: Total Control
W. Boiling Seas: Total Control
E. Maelstrom: V. Minor Initharian Control, Pact Fortress In Strait
W. Maelstrom: Light Initharian Control, Pact Fortress In Strait
Ore: 4
Oil: 3
Wood: 2
Wellmaterial: 2
Land
Samarata 1902: A 7mm bolt-action rifle with a 5-round box magazine effective out to 1000m. Light, reliable, and can utilize a variety of sights. Costs 2 Ore and 2 Wood. (CHEAP)
Mk.III Musakila Machine Gun: An 8.5mm automatic machine gun utilizing 20- or 40-round box magazines. Rate of fire is sacrificed for an effective range of 1200m. Costs 4 Ore. (CHEAP)
Niramata Mk.II Heavy Mortar: A 105mm mortar utilizing HE, Smoke, and LIE Shells. Rifled barrel gives solid accuracy out to it's max range of 4km. Costs 5 Ore. (CHEAP) (LIE Shells[E])
Havezara-108 Mk.IV: A 108-mm artillery piece on a split-tail carriage and easily towable with a barrel that can be pulled back to reduce profile. Reliable and effective. Currently fires HE rounds out to 16km. Has a gun shield for some protection. Costs 6 Ore. (EXPENSIVE) (Lie Shells[VE])
Sikari Mask Mk.III: A gas mask/wellwood flute that resembles a bird's face. Evokes a stronger emotional response than the old flute. Costs 4 Wellmaterials. (EXPENSIVE)
Legion Issued Explosives: A satchel of 8 dirty pipe bombs that rarely work and when they do are often suboptimal. Blasting cap sets off a volatile compound that also causes severe damage to mucus membranes. L.I.E. is unreliable in every sense of the word. Costs 4 Ore and 4 Oil. (CHEAP)
-Legion Issues Explosives Set: A satchel of 8 pipe bombs (3HE, 3Frag, 2Chem) compatible with a variety of triggers including a pull-pin, pressure plate (set to 200kg), timer, and electrical wire. Loses grenade functionality but greatly increases reliability. Costs 7 Ore and 4 Oil. (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Strings of Motion: Specially-made string instruments using a variety of Well-based materials to produce an effect of mildly quickening the body. Military use sees armies covering a bit more ground than one would expect. Costs 6 Wellmaterials. (VERY EXPENSIVE)
Legionary "Terra Nova Expedition" Uniform: A tough uniform that comes in one of three colors with hot and cold weather variants. Basic kit includes a machete, gas mask, excellent boots, and smooth shades. Helmet is shaped like a rimmed dome. Worn by all Embrallish soldiers.
Rogi Hunter-Killer Vehicle: An open-topped 4 crew vehicle with a 50mm cannon, hits speeds around 45km/h, and is protected by 30mm front armor and 20mm of armor everywhere else. Has a pintle-mounted machine gun. Fast and agile, more than adequate for heavier hit-and-runs. Cost 5 Ore and 3 Oil. (CHEAP)
Sea:
Submersible Engineered Aquatic Litter Diver Propulsion Vehicle and Rebreather: A colossal disappointment. Essentially a torpedo with a seat that generally doesn't want to do it's job at a cool 3 knots. Not much to write home about, unless you're deploying with one, in which case you might want to finish that will. Still, can occasionally put somewhere in the general area of where they're supposed to be close to. Costs 4 Ore and 4 Oil. (CHEAP)
Mamkirali Naval Lander: A large tracked amphibious transport capable of transporting 22 soldiers or, currently, a single Havezara and crew. Forward cabin has a cupola to provide Commander with 180 degree FoV and protected by 20mm armor. Cargo compartment is protected by 10mm armor and is left uncovered due to fumes from the engines venting into it. The pipes also transport Wellquartz noise from a mechanism installed in the engine, boosting mood of troops within. Has two rear-mounted Musakilas. Costs 5 Ore, 3 Oil, 4 Wellmaterials. (EXPENSIVE)
Hetham-Class Submarine: The Hetham is 77m long and is capable of going 12 knots surfaced and 6 submerged. It is armed with 4 bow and 2 stern torpedo tubes and can carry 20 torpedoes, and comes with a single 80mm deck gun. Utilizes WellSonar for improved detection abilities and has basic communication equipment. The engine room has a WellSap coating to dampen noise. Costs 3 Ore, 3 Oil, and 4 Wellmaterial. (EXPENSIVE)
Mukebaza-Class Heavy Cruiser: The Mukebaza is a 186m long ship utilizing 4 propellers powered by 4 steam turbines to give the ship a 30-knot speed. It is armed with 3x3 200mm guns, 4x2 120mm guns, and 10x2 20mm AA guns. Armor consists of 80-150mm at the belt, 80mm at the deck, and 100mm on the conning tower. Utilizes WellSonar for improved detection abilities and has basic communication equipment. Costs 5 Ore, 4 Oil, and 3 Wellmaterials. (EXPENSIVE)
The Leviathan: The submersible flagship of the Great Fleet. Massive, dependable, and armed with 32 torpedoes and four 25mm autocannons. Can stay asea for nearly a year. Cramped, but well-stocked. Uses a variety of wellmaterials to improve it's sonar systems while making itself practically invisible to them. Survivability is improved thanks to a pair of internal hulls running the length of the ship as well as three more specialized internal hulls. Always a (NATIONAL EFFORT).
Air:
Mk.II Baza Fighter: The Baza is a gull-winged single-propeller aircraft capable of speeds of 380km/h. It has two machine guns in the nose and carries two 50kg bombs. Armor is practically nonexistent. Costs 3 Ore and 3 Oil. (CHEAP)
Special:
Unique Resource - Wells: Wells are strange, relatively poorly understood subterranean environs housing any number of forms of cave-adapted life whose parts can be used to manipulate the world through sound.
-Wellquartz: A mineral found within wells that evokes a range of blissful feelings with intensity dependent on the tone.
-Wellbronze: A metal capable of detecting sound and responding with vibration. Electrical current focuses the detection cone and increases sensitivity and clarity.
-Wellvine Sap: A plant extract that can be processed into a resin capable of absorbing and nullifying sound. The resin is also brittle and inflexible.
LIE Shells : Shells used for indirect fire that disperse a highly lethal chemical cloud. Available at one Expense Level above LIE on any weapon tagged (LIE Shells), with current shell cost in brackets for easy reference.
Traits:
Well Of Knowledge: The Embralish Empire is always very well informed on their opponents. While the means is not always know, it is almost always spot-on. Any credit can be replaced for an Espionage Credit, and espionage rolls gain an extra roll. A small bonus is also applied to rolls for designs related encryption, decryption, and infiltration.
Sea Wolves: Our submersible fleet has proven itself to be lethal and fearsome, and more resources have been dedicated to our submersible fleet. Submersible ships and related designs and revisions are one difficulty lower.
M1 'Nima': 8mm rounds, 10-round box magazine semiauto rifle. Effective range of 425m. Almost perfectly silent save for the sound of the refocyte firing mechanism striking and triggering the rounds. 75cm long, weighs 3.6kg. (CHEAP)
M2 'Haaheo' Heavy Rifle: 9kg, 100cm long 8mm rifle utilizing refocyte battery-charged refocyte plate to fire rounds (some refocyte) out to 850 meters. Functional against light armor with the use of Refocyte bullets. Has bipod and scope. (CHEAP) (Refocyte Bullets)
-M2.1 'Haaheo-B' Rifle: A 7kg version of the Haaheo sans bipod. The rifle is balanced with the battery mounted forward of the receiver. Unknown properties involving refocyte lead to reduced RoF. (CHEAP) (Refocyte Bullets)
M1 'Kakala': 8mm Light Machine Gun, utilizes 30-round box magazine or 80-round pan magazine that feed into the top of the gun. Effective range of 500m and is practically silent save for the rapid clapping of metal-on-metal firing the rounds. (CHEAP)
Wikiwiki Armored Carrier: A lightly armored, very fast, very durable civilian truck turned military transport. Can reach 130km/h in perfect conditions due to "Supercharged Coilengine" with batteries charged via some suspension mechanism. Cab houses a driver and gunner for the pintle-mounted Kakala on the roof, while the bed has seating for eight. Bed can be covered by a cloth or hard cover. Capable of towing equipment if necessary. (CHEAP)
Ho'oula-Class Destroyer: 105m long ship propelled up to 50 knots by a pair of "Supercharger Coilengine"-powered propellers. Armed with 4x2 120mm guns, 4x2 50mm flak guns, two aft torpedo tubes, mine track. Armor practically nonexistent. Also has a "Refocyte Bow" used to plow into targets covered by a rubber sheet when not in use. Seems to have a basic electronic and radio suite. (CHEAP)
Kaipo'u-Class Battleship: 250m long, reaches speeds of 28 knots thanks to "Supercharger Coilengines" powering four propellers. Armed with 5x1 300mm cannons, 10x2 120mm Refocyte cannons, and a handful of 50mm flak and Kakalas. 200-300mm belt armor, 300mm conning tower armor and 80mm deck armor. Seems to have a basic electronic and radio suite. (NATIONAL EFFORT)
INFS Kona: Inithar's flagship and superbattleship that led to "Kona-type" referring to extremely large combat ships. Has a 2x300mm conventional cannon, 16 2x180mm Refocyte Guns and some 50mm flak. Well-armored, fairly quick, and agile for it's size. Has a coverable refocyte prow. Refocyte guns use shells of varying purity based on requirements for the rounds. The first Kona-type vessel. Always (NATIONAL EFFORT).
Unique Resource - Refocyte: A metal that in it's base state stores energy applied through impact until a threshold is reached, where it will deliver the entirety of the stored force at the point of impact. An uncharged piece resembles silver and will become a dark green as it charges. The Initharian's in-depth work on the material has seen it introduced into every spere of life.
Supercharger Coilengines: Engines utilizing Refocyte Coils in some manner along with refocyte batteries to act as superchargers. Practically silent.
Refocyte Bullets: High-purity steel jacketed Refocyte bullets capable of punching holes in light armor and causing spalling. Always considered available for any weapons with the tag (Refocyte Bullets) at one Expense Level higher than the weapon itself.
Refocyte Active Sonar: A modernized active sonar system utilizing a refocyte plate kicking against steel and picked up by hull-mounted hydrophones. The ping echo allows the sonar operator very good detection abilities.
Trait - A Sea of Colors: The Initharians have communicated through atypical means for millenia. This manifests as a keen ability to learn and utilize nonverbal communications on the battlefield as well as provide a number of difficult codes to crack when communicating verbally. We'd need to interrogate an Initharian to find out what exact effect this has on our conflict. (READ: prod them on discord to let you know, don't try to capture one in-game)
Trait - Acknowledged Marine Fellowship: The importance of trained and equipped Marines in this war is clear. We'd need to interrogate an Initharian to find out what exact effect this has on our conflict. (READ: prod them on discord to let you know, don't try to capture one in-game)
Author
Topic: Mechanized Warfare: Embral Thread / Final Phase, 1941 Cold Season (Read 23686 times)