Victoria's Boys in Red

Prussian Empire Teutonic Knights

Spartan Games

   Although designed for the Dystopian Legions game, which inexplicably uses a noticeably larger 32mm-sized figure, I think these battle armor suits might just work for 28mm games. Has anyone tried this? I would love to see pictures of them next to a 28mm figure for size.

FLASH!

(cue Queen music...)

 

Aerial View

   Although British science and engineering admit no peers, it seems that the German Empire has finally fielded their first armoured vehicle. A crude design, naturally, but it might frighten the natives, or perhaps an unsteady Frenchman. Reportedly rather uncomfortable inside (hot and noisy), it does sport a rather effective Krupps gun and thick riveted plates of armour. I am certain that Her Majesty's valiant Tommies have nothing to fear, however.

[Editor's Note: This is an Ironclad Steam Tank, although I forget exactly which of their models it is off the top of my head. Perhaps Steam 7? I purchased it at Historicon over the summer, and just got around to painting it up. I think the green looks rather nice. I considered some splinter camouflage, but decided against it (obviously). Some projects finally moving ahead!]

   The above pictured weapon was seen by our intrepid reporters and loyal agents of the Crown as it was displayed for the German Imperial General Staff. Developed by the nefarious KFG (Kaiserlich Forshcungsanstalt fur Geheimewaffen (KFG), or Imperial Research Institute for Secret Weapons), this device focuses an intense beam of energy at a vast range. Thankfully, its destructive powers are limited to a direct line of sight! It is powered by an interchangeable galvanic storage unit mounted at the rear. A trained crew is supposedly able to exchange a depleted unit for a charged one in a matter of moments, at roughly the same speed as the loading of a conventional breechloading cannon.

 

   One can only hope that this new and dangerous development does not presage an aggressive move on the part of the German Empire.

 

[Editor's Notes: Obviously, this is an old GW lascannon. The big difference is the wheels. I got these from Nic at Eureka Miniatures (Thanks, Nic!) about two years ago. Or was it three? Any rate, I finally got around to painting it and putting it all together. I think it came out splendidly. The name, by the way, is supposed to mean "The Bright Lance Cannon, Model 1888). Now, if I could only find the crew for it, I had them here somewhere...]

Infanterie Regiment #32

   Thanks to Tango on The Miniatures Page, I have a new link to the archive that contains the classic Colonial / VSF wargames website: Major General Tremorden Rederring's Colonial Wargames Page. That site is very fondly recalled by many of us VSF nutters.

   In other news, I am painting some 28mm Prussian line infantry. Not done yet, but here's the in progress eye candy. Figures are Parroom Station.

  Somewhere in the depths of the Imperial German General Staff Headquarters, a stocky Prussian Junker of a Feldmarschall orders a lowly staff officer to work:

  "Der Kaiser has ordered that we prepare for him an outline of our forces presently available and planned for the future. This will be done immediately!

 "Zum befehl, Herr Feldmarschall!"

  The results are thus:

VENUSSTAADT / EARTH

High Command
  Duke Heinrich von Reichwald, Viceroy of Venusstaadt

IR.32

    Leutnant

    Feldwebel

    Gewehre (x9)
    Gewehre (x9) (Additional req'd to complete platoon. Parroom Station Prussians)

KFG Schutzenkompanie

Members of 1. Aetherbattalion's Special Weapons Company, armed with the latest in experimental German military hardware.

    Mortar (and Crew) (x2)

Feldbatterie

    C90 (+4 crew)
    Elektrokanone (+ Crew) (Kickstarter from Curious Constructs)

Fliegerjagerren
  Jaegers mounted with clockwork helicopter backpacks, from Eureka Miniatures. Armed with recirocating carbines (SMGs).

    Leutnant
    Feldwebel
    Jaegerren (x3)
    Jaegerren (x5)

1.Aetherbattalion

    Leutnant
    Feldwebel
    Gewehre (x8)
    Gewehre (x10)

Pappegaivolk Askaris (Parrotmen)

    German Officer
    Parrotfolk Chieftain
    Askaris (x18)

Society of Thule
    Count Friedrich von Ströheim, Grand Master, Society of Thule
    Feldwebel Krieg
    Herr Doktor Kobalt
    Jagerren (x4)
    Tod-truppen (x4)

Kaiserlich Luftkreigsmarine

    KLS Kolberg

Kaiserlich Panzerkampfwagon Regiment

    PzKw II #9 (Ironclad Miniatures Steam 13)

MARS

IR.41

    Leutnant
    Feldwebel
    Gewehre (x8)

Feldbatterie

  Elektrokanone (+ Crew) (Kickstarter from Curious Constructs)

2. Aetherbattalion

    Leutnant
    Feldwebel
    Gewehre (x8)

Martian Allied Contingent (Parroom Station Martians)
    Martian War Leader
    Martian Askaris (x19)

[Editor's Note: More dastardly plans, this time Germans in 25/28mm. Germany is more focused on control of Venus than Mars, as you can tell. Again, forces based for Venus are pretty much interchangeable with Earth bases.]

Luftschiffetruppen:

The Kaiser's Aether Marines

History

   The Kaiser's General Staff realized there was a need for troops in the Empire's off-world colonies even before those colonies were established. A temporary levy of line troops was sent with the original colonists to Venusstadt, but they proved inadequate for a variety of reasons: equipment failures, heat prostration, and poor familiarity with jungle maneuvers all led to less than satisfactory results when dealing with threats from local natives and wildlife. A new solution was needed, and a young officer named Oskar von Goster had it.

   Von Goster took advantage of the Kaiser's new holdings in equatorial Africa to train a new kind of soldier. These troops were to be prepared for service aboard airships and in colonial Venus, and were given the unique designation of Luftschiffetruppen, or "Airship Soldiers." Equatorial Africa provided the Germans with a long period of acclimatization to tropical conditions similar to those that would be encountered on Venus. It also provided the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of jungle fighting, so different from the tactics of open field warfare taught to the line infantry. The emphasis on small unit tactics and low level leadership initiative was quite different from the iron discipline of the Prussian line regiments and the esprit de corps of the hussars and uhlans. Service is entirely voluntary, the troops coming from any line regiment. Because of the extended training, Luftschiffetruppen will serve an additional two years with the colours before transferring to reserve status.

   One year of jungle and small units training is followed by four additional months of shipboard training with two small training vessels built especially for the task - another first in military history. The K.As Midgard and K.As Asgard were launched in early 1872, and are used to train the Luftschiffetruppen in airship landing assault, aerial assault, and aerial boarding techniques. The training vessels are also used to train the Aetherbattallions and the sailors of the Kaiserliche Aetherflotte. They are based in German Southeast Africa, at Wilhelmshafen.

   The first battalion of Luftschiffetruppen was ready for service in August of 1872, and embarked upon K.As Loki for transport to Venusstadt. A second battalion was entering the second phase of training at that time, and a third was just beginning the first phase. The training schedule called for three battalions to be at various stages of training at one time until a full regiment was built. An additional regiment was authorized by the General Staff, to be created at a reduced pace over the following five years. There are currently two regiments of Luftschiffetruppen serving in various capacities for the Kaiser's Imperial ambitions. The First Regiment is stationed permanently in Venusstadt Kolonie, the most important of the German off-world colonies. Second Regiment has a battalion stationed on Mars, and a second one serving as marines aboard airships on both Mars and Earth. The third battalion provides security troops at the Imperial German airship fields all across Earth. In addition, there is a training battalion that feeds new men into both the service regiments.


   The Luftshiffetruppen have fought in every major off-world battle since their deployment. Innumerable small conflicts with Venusian natives and Martians have been settled. Possibly the most famous of their battles was the Second Defense of Venusstadt. A large force of Venusian lizardmen - the largest recorded host of the vicious brutes - attacked the walls of Venusstadt at dawn on 21 July 1878. Luftschiffetruppen at the downport responded by stampeding a herd of domesticated dinosaurs through the foe, then opening fire with their Mausers. Additional support from a Gatling-armed walker and some special weapons of the Aetherbattalion contingent were also instrumental in halting the scaly warriors' advance against civilization on Venus.



[Editor's Note: It's been a long time since I last posted a Reginald's Regiments. This one has been sitting for a while. I decided it needed to be put out there, finally.]

   In the recently completed "A to Z" feature that I posted here, there were many times that more than one idea came to mind for a particular letter. However, being limited to choosing only one, I had to set aside these ideas for the time being. And many of them were good ideas. So, I have decided that I will do a series of "also rans", starting with this one. Each will be pretty short, and there will be multiple entries in each part of this series. I hope you enjoy.

"A" is also for... AUTOMATONS

      Barsoom, the Martian name for their own planet. The home of the incomparable Dejah Thoris, and the adopted home of the mighty warlord of Mars, John Carter, once of Virginia. Since Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote about the planet almost a century ago, it has captivated readers. The recent film by Disney showed it to us in a new light, and although the plot of the film was a weak amalgamation, the visual scope was great (except for the white apes. Oh well.). Barsoom also fell victim to the "I will cover this elsewhere" bug that got automatons - a theme that you may see several times throughout this series.

"G" is also for... GERMANY

   I skipped several letters to get to "G," as I do not have anything written down right now for the letters in between "B" and "G" on the 'official' list of ideas for the "A to Z". Does that last sentence qualify as quotation marks abuse? back to topic: Imperial Germany is often used as the OPFOR when facing the British in a VSF setting. As others have pointed out, this is a bit anachronistic, as the real rivals during the reign of Her Majesty (God Bless Her) Queen Victoria were the Russians and the French. Germanophobia didn't begin to develop until the very end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th, when a series of invasion novels starring the Germans as the invaders of Britain were published. I thought that Germany (or Prussia, as some would have it) was sufficiently covered with "K is for Kaiser".

   Enough for now - I will be back in a day or two with more, starting with "H is also for..."

ZEPPELIN

   Zeppelin (n.): a rigid cylindrical airship consisting of a covered frame containing multiple gas cells, and with a suspended compartment for passengers and engines.

   There was, of course, no way not to mention the Zeppelin and other forms of flying ships when discussing Victorian Science Fiction. You may as well leave out Her Majesty (God Bless Her!) as flying vessels! The idea of flying ships was written about by Victorian writers (Jules Verne published Master of the World in 1904, just a few years after Edward took the throne).

   Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin started designing the style of airship which would bear his name in the 1870s after seeing airships used by the Union in the American Civil War and the French during the short-lived Franco-Prussian War. The first real zeppelin (LZ-1) was built in 1899. Zeppelins were used as bombers in World War I and as commercial vehicles after the war until the Hindenberg crash in 1937 ended their popularity. (Oh, the humanity!) In my VSF universe, I have Zeppelin retiring from the military at a younger age due to injuries sustained, and getting into the development of airships sooner as a result. Zeppelins fitted with more powerful engines and using a wondrous lifting gas (hydrium, an idea copied from Kenneth Opel's Airborn novels) are commonplace in the late 19th century of my little universe.

   Besides zeppelins, which are just really cool, the VSF enthusiast has a variety of airships to choose from. Most use some for of lighter-than-air technology, which is often non-gaseous in nature, thus eliminating the need for huge gas bags to provide lift. Liftwood, cavorite, and unobtainite are some examples of this. The problem with massive gas cells is that they are, well, massive. Big, relatively slow targets, which can't be significantly armoured due to weight considerations. Using liftwood, etc., eliminates that liability and makes armoured airships much more practical.

    Some airships are small gunboats, intended to swiftly enforce the will of the Great Powers which build them. The British Naval Air Service's ubiquitous Aphid-class is a prime example of this type. Others are massive behemoths of armourplate and turreted 14" naval guns, bristling with batteries of quick-firing light guns, and cruising slowly through the air, dominating the sky. The Class IV dreadnought is one of these types of airship.

   I know of several good rules sets that exist for VSF airship fleet battles, in alphabetical order:

   I have played in games using all of the above rules except for Dystopian Wars, and enjoyed them all. Except for When Dreadnoughts Ruled the Skies, all of them also have associated ground forces rules suitable for playing air-to-ground engagements and mixed actions. If I have inadvertently left any systems you are aware of out of the above list, please let me know and I will be happy to add it!

   Kaiser Wilhelm II Hohenzollern, Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia, was born in 1859 and came to the throne in 1888. He was the eldest grandson of Queen Victoria through his mother, Victoria, and, more importantly, eldest son of Frederick III of Prussia. His love-hate relationship with Britain led to a fierce imperial rivalry for industrial, colonial, and naval dominance. Eventually, this rivalry would help to cause the Great War of 1914-18, even though he was supposedly on good personal terms with his cousins George V and Nicholas II. He was a terrible diplomat, usually angering the very nations he was trying to reassure (the Daily Telegraph interview comes to mind).

   That was the real history. In the alternate history that most Victorian Science Fiction is set in, Imperial Germany is (along with Imperial Russia) one of the great rivals of Britain for dominance of the Earth and the rest of the solar system. Germany is often given the 'bad guy' role as the "Hun," an image from the Great War a few decades after the Victorian Era. Prussian miliatrism and the autocratic government of the Reich (a term the Nazis hijacked later and stained forever) made them scary to the more democratic British.

   In my VSF universe, the Germans are the prime competitor for extraterrestrial colonies. Like in Space: 1889, they dominate Venus, where the British and Texicans and a few other nations with small settlements are considered by the Kaiser to be unwanted squatters. On British-dominated Mars, they have no official colony, but maintain friendly relations and have sent military aid and 'advisors' to the Galforrian Empire, the largest Martian nation not allied with Britain. In at least one other VSF universe that I am aware of, the Prussians have invaded England!

   So, "K is for Kaiser" - a good villain who really wasn't such a villain. Or at least, was no more villainous in the real world than any other European monarch.

    Jaeger means hunter. It was a term used for rifle armed light infantry, and generally considered to be an elite force. In America, we would call them Rangers. Like the old grenadier and fusilier designations, jaeger has, by the latter half of the 19th century, largely come to mean nothing more than an elite status over 'regular' line troops. They were usually equipped similarly to the line, although uniforms - especially dress uniform - would have been different. That's the historical model. But in VSF, as you know, the sky is the limit. And not always then.

    In particular, I am thinking about the whirlifliegerjaegers that Eureka Miniatures makes. I love these minis. They epitomize the crazy gadgetry that makes Victorian Science Fiction so much fun. I mean, having a big, heavy wind-up-key-and-spring powered helicopter backpack on your back to jump into combat. Totally impractical. But very cool. All of them are considered elites, because what military would give expensive experimental equipment to a bunch of raw conscripts to bust, or sell for booze money?

Hauptmann von Schtupp, Fliegerjaeger

    Flying troops like the fliegerjaeger are common to VSF gaming as well. There is a British equivalent, the Skywalkers. And several folks use rocket troops. Space: 1889's High Martians (Kraag Martians) fly without mechanickal devices. And then there are the flying mounts, biological and mechanickal. Lots of room for more aerial conflicts, air assaults, defense from airships, and so on.

  The dastardly Hun has rockets! Primitive terror weapons, fit only for the bombardment of innocent civilian areas. Note the lack of any sort of guidance - obviously an inferior product to our British Precision Munitions, which strike only military targets with uncanny precision - 94% of the time!