Devil's Due
Page 56
“King” Tony Scott
Eastern Sea Campaign
High Admiral Harvey Jenks—CINCEAST.
Enchanted Isles
Sir Thomas Humphries—Imperial Governor at
Albermarl.
Colonel Alexander—Garrison commander.
Second Fleet
USS Maaka-Kakja (CV-4)
Admiral Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan (L)
Lt. Cmdr. Tex Sheider—XO.
Gilbert Yeager—Chief Engineer, one of the original Mice.
3rd Naval Air Wing
2nd Lt. Orrin Reddy—Commander of Flight Operations (COFO), 9th, 11th, 12th Bomb Squadrons; 7th, 10th Pursuit Squadrons.
The wing is currently badly understrength and operating from shore near Puerto Viejo.
Sgt. Kuaar-Ran-Taak “Seepy” (L)—Reddy’s “backseater.”
USS New Dublin (CV-6)—6th Naval Air Wing.
USS Raan-Goon (CV-7)—7th Naval Air Wing.
Line of Battle
Admiral E. B. Hibbs
9 Ships of the Line, including HIMSs Mars, Centurion, Mithra, Hermes, plus:
USS Destroyer—Former Dom Deoses Destructor.
Cmdr. Ruik-Sor-Raa (L)—One-armed former commander of USS Simms.
Lt. Parr—XO; former commander of HIMS Icarus.
Attached DDs
HIMS Ulysses, Euripides, Tacitus
HIMS Achilles
Lt. Grimsley
USS Pinaa-Tubo—Ammunition ship.
Lt. Radaa-Nin (L)
USS Saanga—Fleet oiler.
USS Pucot—Fleet oiler.
2nd Fleet Allied Expeditionary Force
Army of the Sisters
General Tomatsu Shinya
Saan-Kakja (L)—High Chief of Maa-ni-la and all the Filpin Lands.
Governor-Empress Rebecca Anne McDonald
Lt. Ezekial Krish—Aide de Camp to the Governor-
Empress.
Nurse Cmdr. Selass-Fris-Ar (L)—Daughter of Keje-Fris-Ar.
*Sister Audrey is considered one of the “sisters,” but has an independent command.
X Corps
Total 8 Divisions with artillery train
General James Blair
4 Regiments Lemurian Army and Marines, 4 regiments Frontier troops, 10 regiments Imperial Marines
Colonel Dao Iverson—6th Imperial Marines.
Lt. Anaar-Taar (L)—C Company, 2nd Battalion.
Lt. Faal-Pel “Stumpy” (L)—A Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Maa-ni-la.
XI Corps and Filpin Scouts
General Ansik-Talaa (L)
Pursuing Don Hernan (TF Skuggik Chase)
Colonel Sister Audry—Nominal command; Benedictine nun.
“Lord” Sergeant Koratin (L)—Marine protector and advisor to Sister Audry.
Major Blas-Ma-Ar “Blossom” (L)—2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.
Colonel Arano Garcia—“El Vengadores de Dios,” a regiment raised from penitent Dominion POWs on New Ireland.
Teniente Pacal—Garcia’s XO.
Spon-Ar-Aak “Spook” (L)—Gunner’s Mate, and 1st Sgt. of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.
Captain Ixtli—Commander of the Ocelomeh (Jaguar Warriors).
Captain Ximen—Commander of the Christian rebels.
In Contact with New United States Forces
Lt. (jg) Fred Reynolds—Formerly Special Air Division; USS Walker.
Ensign Kari-Faask (L)—Reynolds’s friend and “backseater.”
Enemies
Japanese
General of the Sea Hisashi Kurokawa—Formerly of Japanese Imperial Navy battle cruiser Amagi; self-proclaimed Regent and Sire of all India; currently confined to Zanzibar.
General of the Sky Hideki Muriname
Lieutenant of the Sky Iguri—Muriname’s exec.
Signal Lt. Fukui
Cmdr. Riku—Ordnance.
Grik (Ghaarrichk’k)
Celestial Mother (G)—Absolute, godlike ruler of all the Grik, regardless of the relationships between the various Regencies.
General Esshk (G)—First General of all the Grik, and
Regent Champion Consort to the new Celestial
Mother.
The Chooser (G)—Highest member of his order at the Court of the Celestial Mother; prior to current policy, Choosers selected those destined for life—or the cookpots—as well as those eligible for elevation to Hij status.
General Ign (G)—Commander of Esshk’s new
warriors.
In Persia
General Halik (G)
General Shlook (G)
General Ugla (G)
General Orochi Niwa (Japanese)
Holy Dominion
His Supreme Holiness, Messiah of Mexico, and by the Grace of God, Emperor of the World—“Dom Pope” and absolute ruler.
Don Hernan de Devina Dicha—“Blood Cardinal” and commander of the “Army of God.”
League of Tripoli
At Zanzibar
Maggiore Antonio Rizzo (Italian)
At Grik City
Capitaine de Fregate Victor Gravois (French)
Oberleuitnant Walbert Fiedler (German)
Aboard Savoie
Contre-Amiral Rauol Laborde (French)
Capitaine Dupont (French)
SPECIFICATIONS
American-Lemurian Ships and Equipment
USS Walker (DD-163)—Wickes (Little) class four-stacker destroyer. Twin-screw steam turbines; 1,200 tons; 314′ x 30′. Top speed (as designed): 35 knots. 112 officers and enlisted (current) including Lemurians (L). Armament: Main, 3 x 4″-50 + 1 x DP 4″-50. Secondary, 4 x 25 mm Type 96 AA, 4 x .50 cal MG, 6 x .30 cal MG. 40-60 Mk-6 (or equivalent) depth charges for 2 stern racks and 2 Y guns (with adapters). 2 x 21″ quadruple-tube torpedo mounts. Impulse-activated catapult for PB-1B Nancy seaplane.
USS Mahan (DD-102)—Under repair at Madras. Wickes class four-stacker destroyer. Twin-screw steam turbines; 960 tons; 264′ x 30′ (as rebuilt). Top speed: 25 knots. Rebuild has resulted in shortening and removal of 2 funnels and boilers. Otherwise, her armament and upgrades are the same as those of USS Walker.
USS James Ellis—Walker class four-stacker destroyer. Twin-screw steam turbines; 1,300 tons; 314′ x 30′. Top speed: 37 knots. 115 officers and enlisted. Armament: Main, 4 x DP 4″-50. 4 x .50 cal MG, 6 x .30 cal MG. 40-60 Mk-6 (or equivalent) depth charges for 2 stern racks and 2 Y guns (with adapters). 2 x 21″ quadruple-tube torpedo mounts. Impulse-activated catapult for PB-1B Nancy seaplane.
USS Andamaan—Protected troopship converted from Grik BB. Twin-screw, triple-expansion Baalkpan Navy Yard steam engine; 18,000 tons; 800′ x 100′. Top speed: 16 knots. Crew: 400. 100 stacked motor dories mounted on sliding davits. Armament: 4 x DP 4″-50, 4 x .30 cal MG.
USS Tarakaan Island—(Respite Island class SPD in self-propelled dry dock.) Twin-screw, triple-expansion steam; 15,990 tons; 800′ x 100′. Armament: 5 x DP 4″-50, 6 x .30 cal MGs.
USS Santa Catalina (CA-P-1)—Protected cruiser; formerly general cargo. 8,000 tons, 420′ x 53′, triple-expansion steam, oil fired. Top speed (as reconstructed): 12 knots. Retains significant cargo/troop capacity, and has a seaplane catapult with recovery booms aft. 240 officers and enlisted. Armament: 6 x 5.5″ mounted in armored casemate. 2 x 4.7″ and 5 x 4″-50 DP in armored tubs. 1 x 10″ breech-loading rifle (20′ length) mounted on spring-assisted pneumatic recoil pivot.
Carriers
USNRS (US Navy Reserve Ship) Salissa (Big Sal, CV-1)—Aircraft carrier/tender, converted from seagoing Lemurian Home. Single-screw, triple-expansion steam; 13,000 tons; 1,009′ x 200′. Armament: 2 x 5.5″, 2 x 4.7″ DP, 4 x twin-mount 25 mm AA, 20 x 50 pdrs (as reduced), 50 aircraft assembled, 80–100 in crates.
USNRS Arracca (CV-3)—Aircraft carrier/tender converted from seago
ing Lemurian Home. Single-screw, triple-expansion steam; 14,670 tons; 1009′ x 210′. Armament: 2 x 4.7″ DP, 50 x 50 pdrs. Up to 80 aircraft.
USS Maaka-Kakja (CV-4)—Purpose-built aircraft carrier/tender. Specifications are similar to Arracca, but it is capable of carrying upward of 80 aircraft, with some in crates.
USS Madras (CV-8)—Purpose-built aircraft carrier/tender. Second of 4 smaller fleet carriers (850′ x 150′, 9,000 tons). Faster (up to 15 knots) and lightly armed (4 x Baalkpan Arsenal 4″-50 DP guns—2 amidships, 1 each forward and aft). Can carry as many aircraft as Maaka-Kakja.
USS New Dublin (CV-6) and USS Raan-Goon are virtually identical.
Frigates (DDs)
USS Donaghey (DD-2)—Square-rig sail, 1200 tons, 168′ x 33′; 200 officers and enlisted. Sole survivor of first new construction. Armament: 24 x 18 pdrs, 8 x 12 pdrs, 12 x MG 08 “Maxim” 7.92 x 57 mm MGs, Y gun and depth charges.
*Dowden class—Square-rig steamer, 1,500 tons, 12–15 knots, 185′ x 34′; 218 officers and enlisted. Armament: 20 x 32 pdrs, Y gun and depth charges.
**Haakar-Faask class—Square-rig steamer, 15 knots, 1,600 tons, 200′ x 36′; 226 officers and enlisted. Armament: 200 x 32 pdrs, Y gun and depth charges.
***Scott class—Square-rig steamer, 17 knots, 1,800 tons, 210′ x 40′; 260 officers and enlisted. Armament: 20 x 50 pdrs, Y gun and depth charges.
Corvettes (DEs)—Captured Grik “Indiamen,” primarily of the earlier (lighter) design. “Razeed” to the gun deck, these are swift, agile, dedicated sailors with three masts and a square rig. 120–160′ x 30–36′, about 900 tons (tonnage varies depending largely on armament, which also varies from 10 to 24 guns that range in weight and bore diameter from 12–18 pdrs). Y gun and depth charges. Nearly all of these, as well as many DDs, have been converted to AVDs (Destroyer-seaplane tenders).
Auxiliaries—Still largely composed of purpose-altered Grik “Indiamen,” small and large, and used as transports, oilers, tenders, and general cargo. A growing number of steam auxiliaries have joined the fleet, with dimensions and appearance similar to Dowden and Haakar-Faask class DDs, but with lighter armament. Some fast clipper-shaped vessels are employed as long-range oilers. Fore and aft rigged feluccas remain in service as fast transports and scouts.
USNRS—Salaama-Na Home—Unaltered, other than by emplacement of 50 x 50 pdrs. 1014′ x 150′, 8,600 tons. 3 tripod masts support semirigid “junklike” sails or “wings.” Top speed: about 6 knots, but capable of short sprints up to 10 knots using 100 long sweeps. In addition to living space in the hull, there are three tall pagodalike structures within the tripods that cumulatively accommodate up to 6,000 people.
Woor-Na Home—Lightly armed (ten 32 pdrs) heavy transport; specifications as for Salaama-Na.
Aircraft
P-40E Warhawk—Allison V1710, V12, 1,150 hp. Top speed: 360 mph. Ceiling, 29,000 ft. Crew: 1. Armament: 6 x .50 cal Browning MGs, and up to 1,000-lb bomb.
PB-1B “Nancy”—W/G type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Top speed: 110 mph. Max weight: 1,900 lbs. Crew: 2. Armament: 400-lb bombs.
PB-2 “Buzzard”—3 x W/G type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Top speed: 80 mph. Max weight: 3,000 lbs. Crew: 2, and up to 6 passengers. Armament: 600-lb bombs.
PB-5 “Clipper”—4 x W/G type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Top speed: 90 mph. Max weight: 4,800 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 8 passengers. Armament: 1,500-lb bombs.
PB-5B—As above, but powered by 4 x MB 5 cyl, 254 hp radials. Top speed: 125 mph. Max weight: 6,200 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 10 passengers. Armament: 2,000 lbs bombs.
PB-5D—4 x 10 cyl, 365 hp radials. Top speed: 145 mph. Max weight: 7,800 lbs. Crew: 5–6, and up to 8 passengers. Armament: 5 x .30 cal, 2,500 lbs bombs/torpedoes.
P-1 Mosquito Hawk or “Fleashooter”—MB 5 cyl 254 hp radial. Top speed: 220 mph. Max weight 1,220 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x .45 cal Blitzerbug machine guns in wheel pants.
P-1B—As above, but fitted for carrier ops.
P-1C—Third variant, with a 10 cyl, 365 hp radial. Top speed: 275 mph. Max weight: 1740 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x .30 cal Browning MGs in wings.
Field artillery—6 pdr on stock-trail carriage; effective to about 1,500 yds, or 300 yds with canister. 12 pdr on stock-trail carriage—effective to about 1,800 yds, or 300 yds with canister. 3″ mortar—effective to about 800 yds. 4″ mortar—effective to about 1,500 yds.
Primary small arms—Allin-Silva breech-loading rifle (.50–80 cal), Allin-Silva breech-loading smoothbore (20 gauge), 1911 Colt and copies (.45 ACP), Blitzerbug SMG (.45 ACP). M-1917 Navy Cutlass, grenades, bayonet.
Secondary small arms—Rifled musket (.50 cal), 1903 Springfield (.30–06), 1898 Krag-Jorgensen (.30 US), 1918 BAR (.30–06), Thompson SMG (.45 ACP). A small number of other firearms are available.
MGs—1919 water-cooled Browning and copies (.30–06). 41 lbs without mount, 400–600 rpm, 1,500 yds.
Imperial Ships and Equipment
Until recently, few shared enough specifics to be described as classes, but can be grouped by basic size and capability. Most do share the fundamental similarity of being powered by steam-driven paddle wheels and a complete suit of sails, though all new construction is being equipped with double-expansion engines and screw propellers, and iron hulls are under construction.
Ships of the line—About 180′–200′ x 52′–58′, 1,900–2,200 tons. 50–80 x 30, 20 pdrs, 10 pdrs, 8 pdrs. (8 pdrs are more commonly used as field guns by the Empire.) Speed: about 8–10 knots. 400–475 officers and enlisted.
Frigates—About 160′–180′ x 38′–44′, 1,200–1,400 tons. 24–40 x 20–30 pdrs. Speed: about 13–15 knots. 275–350 officers and enlisted. Example: HIMS Achilles, 160′ x 38′, 1,300 tons, 26 x 20 pdrs. New construction follows the design of the Scott class DD.
Field artillery—The Empire of the New Britain Isles has adopted the Allied 12 pdr, but still retains numerous 8 pdrs on split-trail carriages—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 600 yds with grapeshot.
Primary small arms—Allin-Silva breech-loading rifle (.50–80 cal), rifled musket (.50 cal), bayonet. Swords and smoothbore flintlock muskets (.75 cal) are now considered secondary and are issued to native allies in the Dominion.
Republic Ships and Equipment
Princeps class monitors—210′ x 50′, 1,200 tons. Twin screw, 11 knots, 190 officers and enlisted. Armament: 4 guns in two turrets, 4 x MG08 8 x 57 mm (Maxim) MGs on flying bridge. The Republic has finally begun construction of blue-water warships, though details are scant.
Field artillery—75 mm Quick Firing breech-loader influenced by the French 75. Range: 3,000 yds with black powder propellant and contact fuse exploding shell.
Primary small arms—Breech-loading bolt-action, single-shot rifle, 11.15 x 60R (.43 Mauser) cal. Secondary small arms—M-1898 Mauser (8 x 57 mm), Mauser and Luger pistols, mostly in 7.65 cal.
Republic military rank structure—A combination of ancient and new, with a few unique aspects. An army, commanded by a general, is ordinarily composed of 6 legions. Each legion, commanded by a colonel, has 6 cohorts. The senior cohort commander (and XO) is the prefect, and roughly equivalent to a major. The remaining cohorts are led by senior centurions (captains), who still command one of the 6 centuries in the cohort through their senior optio (2nd lieutenant), who has a junior optio (like an ensign) as his assistant. Other centurions are roughly equivalent to 1st lieutenants. The Republic also has provisions for temporary, special-purpose rank appointments. A military tribune may be given specific tasks requiring them to outrank all prefects and below, as well as single-ship captains. A legate may supersede the colonel of any legion for a specific purpose, unless countermanded by the general of the army the legion is attached to. Likewise, legates act as commodores at sea.
Enemy Warships and Equipment
Grik
ArataAmagi class BBs (ironclad battleships)—800′ x 100′, 26,000 tons
. Twin-screw, double-expansion steam. Top speed: 10 knots. Crew: 1,300. Armament: 32 x 100 pdrs, 30 x 3″ AA mortars.
Akagi class CVs (Aircraft Carriers)—800′ x 100′, 12,000 tons. Twin-screw, double-expansion steam. Top speed: 14 knots. Crew: 1,100. Armament: 10 x 3″ AA mortars, 10 x Type 89 MG (copies) 7.7 x 58 mm SR cal.* 40–60 aircraft.
Azuma class CAs (ironclad cruisers)—300′ x 37′, about 3,800 tons. Twin-screw, double-expansion steam, sail auxiliary. Top speed: 12 knots. Crew: 320 Armament: 20 x 40 or 14 x 50 pdrs. 4 x firebomb catapults.
Heavy “Indiaman” class—Multipurpose transport ships and warships. Three masts, square rig, sail only. 180′ x 38′, about 1,100 tons (tonnage varies depending largely on armament, which also varies from 0 to 40 guns of various weights and bore diameters). The somewhat crude standard for Grik artillery is 2, 4, 9, 16, 40, 60, and now up to 100 pdrs, although the largest “Indiaman” guns are 40s. These ships have been seen in diminishing numbers and are apparently no longer made.
Tatsuta—Kurokawa’s double-ended paddle/steam yacht. It was also the pattern for all Grik tugs and light transports.
Aircraft—Hydrogen-filled rigid dirigibles or zeppelins. 300′ x 48′, 5 x 2 cyl 80-hp engines. Top speed: 60 mph. Useful lift: 3,600 lbs. Crew: 16. Armament: 6 x 2 pdr swivel guns, bombs.
AJ1M1c Fighter—9 cyl 380 hp radial. Top speed: 260 mph. Max weight: 1,980 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x Type 89 MG (copies) 7.7 x 58 mm SR cal.*
DP1M1 Torpedo Bomber—2 x 9 cyl 380 hp radials. Top speed: 180 mph. Max weight: 3,600 lbs. Crew: 3. Armament: 1 x Type 89 MG (copy) 7.7 x 58 mm SR cal.* I torpedo or 1,000 lbs bombs.