March 20 1916
Report to the Admiralty:
As you know, the Mexican navy planned to strike the Northeast coast of Venezuala by seizing the Isle de Margarita. Several regiments of Mexican troops loaded on transports left Barranquilla on March 16 to accomplish this task. The Mexican navy assigned the Moltke, Queen Mary and Oldenburg, with the armored cruiser Cochran and protected cruiser Hirado and Chikuma.
We assigned Hiei, Texas and Mikasa, with the armored Cruisers Colorado and Amalfi with several Protected Cruisers and a squadron of Destroyers.
After leaving port the fleet sailed north, then sailed east to close from the north on the Isle de Margarita. The convoy was spotted by Venezualian patrol craft on 17 march at 1300 hrs. Our forces drive off and pursue two protected cruisers Birmingham and Berlin. The pursuit carries our fleet and the Mexican screening ships into the enemy.
The Brazilians have Arkansas, Wyoming and Viribus Unitas, with the armored cruisers Scharnhorst, Jules Ferry and Devonshire. The Venezualians have Von der Tann, Tiger, Satsuma and Radetzky with the armored cruiser Berwick. The two fleets are on opposite courses, with our ships about 15,000 yds west of the enemy. Our opening salvos from Hiei and Texas savage the Wyoming with multiple 14″ hits. The enemy turns away and screens their capital ships with multiple smoke screens.
We turn north to get around the smoke and are out of the action for 20 minutes. The combined enemy fleets engage at long range with the Mexicans as they drive north toward the convoy. The Wyoming having engineering hits from our earlier 14″ fire slows the entire Brazilian force. This allows the Mexicans time to engage each enemy force seperatly at first. The action devastates Oldenberg early with multipe fires burning and several turrets knocked out. Queen Mary and Moltke are also crippled, but they succeed in driving off the Brazilians.
The Venezualians attempted to sail past the now slow Mexican fleet to get at the troop ships. The timely arrival of Hiei And Texas force the action. They emerged from the smoke and opened fire at 15,000 yards. A 14″ shell plunges through the thin deck armor on the Radetzky, slowing her down to 12 knots. The venezualian fleet now has the Mexicans to the east and our forces to the southwest. If they continue north their slower ships will be destroyed. When they see the Brazilian fleet retiring to the south, they to are forced to break off and retire. It is decided not to continue the action and retire back to port.
It is unfortunate that for much of the action our ships were screened from the action, but for the times they were engaged their fire was decisive. They crippled the Wyoming early and prevented the Brazilians from exploiting their force advantage and tactical position. Later when the Venezualian ships were on the verge of breaking into the convoy, 14″ hits cripple and slow the two predreadnoughts forcing the Von der Tann and Tiger to turn to protect them.
Damage from the action to our force is light.
Hiei: light damage 2×12″, 1×6″,1×5″
Texas: light damage 5×13.5″, 1×11″, 2×5″
Mikasa: moderate damage 1×11″, 2×10″, 1×7.5″
Colorado: moderate damage 4×9.4″
Amalfi: light 2×6.4″
The Mexican fleet was heavily damaged requiring two to three months for repair. Our fleet will be ready for action in two to three weeks.
Apr 13
14
Raid on San Andres
December 24 1915
Report to the Admiralty
Sirs as you are aware on Dec 20 at approximately 0600 we received a report from the Garrison and weather station on San Andres island that they were under heavy naval bombardment from enemy surface forces. The last report we had prior to losing contact was enemy ground forces coming ashore. The fleet was immediately notified at Barranquila. At 1000 hrs the fleet left port and at high speed proceeded north by west toward San Andres.
Our forces consisted of the four Danton class Predreadnoughts, Danton, Diderot, Condorcet and Mirabeau. They were escorted by the two Armored Cruisers Rurik and Washington, with the protected Cruisers Dublin and Mainz. The Mexican squadron consisted of the Dreanought Ostfriesland and Battle Cruiser Derfflinger with the old Predreadnought Ibuki. They were escorted by the Armored Cruisers Edgar Quinet and Defense with a screening force of the Protected Cruisers Breslau and Hirado.
At 1715 hrs. on December 22 the Mexican Protected Cruiser Breslau Sighted an enemy Protected cruiser. After contacting the fleet Breslau closed and engaged at long range. Breslau scored several hits as she pursued the enemy cruiser. The Mexican fleet turned NNE to close on the sighting. Our fleet turned to follow five minutes later. Breslau sighted enemy capital ships believed to be the Lord Nelson, Agammenon, and Iron Duke at approximately 1725 and turns away to the south east. The Mexican fleet arrives on scene and turns east to bring all guns into action.
The Venezualian force is joined by the Brazilian Armored Cruisers San Marcos and Edinburgh. Two two fleets settle on a 12,000 yard range and continue on an easterly course. Derfflinger and Ostfiesland double on Iron Duke. Iron Duke targets the small Ibuki with her 13.5″ guns. Our force arrives on the scene just in time to engage the Brzilian main fleet of Agincourt and Kaiser suported by Venezualian Armored Cruisers Gneisnau, Waldeck Rousseau and Garibaldi. The Brazilian fleet is traveling south and then turns on a westerly course, which is mirrored by our force. The Breslau makes a further sighting of a small convoy of three transports escorted by the Verite and two protected cruisers.
The Four Dantons double on the Agincourt and the Kaiser, while two of the Dantons use their 9.4″ secondaries to assist the Armored cruisers in engaging the enemy Armored Cruisers. the enemy fire is very ineffective in the first ten minutes of action. With 24×12″ guns between them the enemy manages only thirteen hits during the entire action and almost half of the hits failed to explode. Our fleet fire is very accurate and continuous. The 9.4″ secodaries on the Dantons’ do yeomens work wrecking havoc on the enemy Armored cruisers. Garibaldi is forced out of line first as the other two Armored cruiser try to cover her withdrawl. Enemy Destroyers also begin to lay smoke for the injured cruiser. The lead Destroyer is struck several times by 6″ rounds and wheels out of line and rolls over onto her side sinking by the stern. At the same time numerous 9.4″ shells are seen hitting the Waldeck Rousseau. She tries to turn away, but it is to late. She gets behind the smoke screen but slowly sinks by the bow. A second Destroyer is hit while attempting to lay smoke and sinks quickly.
The Brazilians decide they have had enough and turn away at about 1800. We detached our two Armored cruisers which are joined by the Protected Cruisers and make an attempt to intercept the transports far to the east before dark.
To the north and east the Venezualian and Meican fleets Pound on each other for 30 minutes. Ibuki, and Ostfreisland are heavily damaged and forced out of line. The Mexicans are able to cripple Iron Duke, but Derfflinger has “D” turret disabled by a 12″ hit and the Mexicans call it a day. The Venezualians are happy to see them go as the sun is getting low in the sky and they receive word of the threat to the convoy by our Armored cruisers. Verite and the two protected Cruisers turn to engage as the convoy continues east. Rurik is quickly struck three times by 12″ fire, one in the midship damaging her engineering section. Our protected cruisers hammer their opponents and force them out of action, but it is to late as the Lord Nelson is sited to the south approaching at high speed. We are forced by the late hour to recall our forces and retire.
The incursion by the enemy and attack on San Andres turned out to be a raid. The weather Station was completely destroyed and the garrison suffered moderate casualties ( see Army report #12201915 ). Though we were unable to get at the transports we did engage and defeat the enemy surface fleets sinking an Armored Cruiser and two Destroyers and damaging most of their other ships. Damage to our fleet is as follows-
Danton: Moderate damage, 2×12′, 6×8″, 1×7.5″, 1×6″
Diderot: Heavy Damage, 11×12″, 3×7.5″
Condorcet: Moderate Damage, 1×10″, 2×8″, 8×6″
Mirabeau: Light Damage 8×6″
Rurik: Moderate Damage: 4×12″
Washington: Moderate Damage, 9×7.5″, 4×6″
Dublin: Heavy Damage, 8×6″, 1×4″
Mainz: Heavy Damage, 21×4″
The Mexican fleet was more heavily damaged but all ships returned to base and are now undergoing repairs as are our ships. A small force of Destroyers and several cargo ships will resupply San Andres. It is expected to have the base back on line by the end of December. Special comondation goes out to the Captains and crews of our four Danton class Battleships for an excellent job of gunnery.
Report to the Admiralty September 26 1915
On September 20 our navy in conjunction with the Mexican navy began operation Whirlwind, the resupply and reinforcements for the Mexican troops already ashore at Pueblo Nuevo. A report on the land action by General Rodriguiz is attached to this report.
The joint convoy and screening battle fleet sail well north of land with the intention of approaching Pueblo Nuevo from the northeast. On september 24 at 0330, in conjunction with the major forces, a Destroyer squadron does a sweep along the coast in order to discover any enemy forces that may attempt to intercept the convoy.At approximately 1130 on September 24 just north of Pueblo Nuevo the Destroyer sweep encountered several enemy Protected Cruisers. The sighting was immediatly reported to the main fleet. The Destroyers broke contact after a running long range dual with the Cruisers. Enemy fire was inaccurate and there were no causualties.
The fleet detached from the convoy and sailed south at flank speed in order to sweep away any enemy interference. Our fleet consisted of the Battlecruiser Hiei, and our new flag ship Texas. They were accompanied by the Armored Cruisers Amalfi and Minotaur, with the Protected Cruisers Chatham and Magdeburg. The Mexican fleet consisted of Derfflinger and Goeben with the Armoured Cruisers Shannon and Chochrane with the protected cruisers Kolberg and Bremen. Several squadrons of Destroyers escorted the two fleets.
At 1400hrs the Kolberg and Bremen sight an enemy Protected Cruiser Stettin and begin to exchange long range fire. The Mexican fleet turns first west and then to the Northwest to parallel the approaching Brazilian fleet. The two forces close to 12,000 yards and continue to exchange broadsides. The Mexican fleet finds the range on the two Brazilian Armoured Cruisers Maryland and California. Both Cruisers are repeatedly hit by 12″ and 11″ shells from the Mexican Battle Cruisers. The Brazilian Battleships Cavour and Courbet double on Goeben and soon have her damaged and burning.
Our Flag ship along with Hiei were able to engage the Brazilian fleet at long range and succeeded in punishing Courbet with multiple 14″ hits. The two Brazilian Battleships continue north still engaged by the Mexican Fleet. The Courbet and Cavour shift their fire onto Derfflinger and also savage her. In an effort to stemm the northerly progression of the action the Mexicans throw in the Kolberg and Bremen. Both ships are hit mutiple times. Kolberg rolled over and sank after an 8″ shell rupture her hull and knocked her boilers off line. Pumps stopped working and the ship lost all steam. Bremen was also targeted and unlucky. Heavily damaged she limped behind a smoke screen where the crew was removed and the ship scuttled.
Our fleet had to break action with the Brazilian fleet in order to engage the fast approaching Venezualian fleet. Led by the sister to our own Texas, the New York with Von der Tann and North Carolina. They are also accompanied by the Armoured Cruisers Black Prince and Berwick. Sailing in an Easterly direction and partially screened by heavy smoke from the Brazilian ships they break out and turn on a northeasterly course. Von der Tann using her superior speed dashing out front. She immediatly engages the damaged Armoured Cruiser Chochrane and drives her off with numerous 11″ hits. A timely smoke screen saves the stricken ship.
The Hiei in an effort to slow the Von der Tanns’ northerly advance turns her 14″ guns on her at 15,000 yards. On the second salvo Von der Tann is hit. It is unknown what damage was done but the ship was slowed considerably and her fire became inaccurate. Von der Tann turns to the east and then south to rejoin the main Venezualian fleet. The New york engages Hiei and Texas. New York Is joined by the two Armoured Cruisers Black Prince and Berwick. The South Carolina is covered by a smoke screen and does not engage. It is unknown why the ship pulled behind a screen, but it is believed that there must have been some type of weapons failure which required repair. She would later appear and engage our ships.
With South Carolina out of the action and Von der tann turning away the Hiei and Texas concentrated on the New York and the two Armoured Cruisers. Our own Amalfi and Minotaur join in. Hiei targets Black Prince and hits her several times with 14″ fire. South carolina emerges from the smoke after 10 to 15 minutes and assists New York in holding off our forces. Black Prince is hit several more times by 14″ fire as she turns into a fresh smoke screen. Black Prince sinks quickly, rolling onto her port side. South Carolina is now targeted by Hiei and on her second salvo several 14″ shell are seen to hit her.
The Venezualan Destroyers are sent in to assist in breaking off the action. We send in our own destroyers who engage a protected cruiser Birmingham. We are able to sink one enemy destroyer and heavily damage several others along with the Birmingham. Unfortunately DD V25 was sunk by a torpedo. She went down with all hands after breaking in two. The enemy ships from both fleets withdrew from the area.
The convoy continued on to their objective and landed their supplies and reinforcements. They also brought long range Naval guns to bolster there own defense and blockade naval traffic on the west coast of the Peninsula de Paraguana.
The Mexicans lost two Protected Cruisers Kolberg and Bremen, while we lost V25. damage to our fleet is as follows
Texas: Moderate damage, 6×12″, 10×5″
Hiei: Heavy Damage, 8×14″,5×12″, 1×6″,3×5″
Minotaur: Moderate Damage, 2×11″, 1×10″, 6×6″
Amalfi: Moderate Damage, 2×10″, 2×9.2″,2×8″, 1×6″, 2×5″
Chatham: Light Damage, 4×6″
Magdeburg: Moderate Damage, 2×9.2″, 1×6″
Casualties 189 killed 335 wounded, Most of the dead were aboard V25.
After action debriefing shows our ships were well handled. A special commendation to the gunnery staff on board Hiei. Their action broke the Courbet and greatly assisted the Mexican fleet being able to continue the action. It was also fire from Hiei that turned Von der Tann for getting to the convoy. Finally her salvo that ravaged the South Carolina, which was fresh to the action convinced the enemy to run for home. Hiei will require about 3 months of yard time, the rest of the fleet require no more than a month once docking facilities become available. Flooting dry docks purchased from the United States should be here within the week. This will greatly facilitate repairs and rotate ships back to active duty status.
End report
Captain E. Lopez
After Action report August 16 1915
Speacial attention Columbian Admiralty
Sirs,
As you are aware our fleet was involved in a major action with the Brazilian and Venezualan fleets on August 14 two days ago.
A combined operation with the Mexican navy was planned for the evacuation of our land forces on the Peninsula de la Guijara. In conjunction with this operation the Mexican navy was planning to land two regiments at Pueblo Nuevo on the east coast of the Peninsula de Paraguana.
The enemy fleets upon hearing of the landings left Maracaibo and attempted to intercept.At 1600 0n August 14 the lead elements of the Venezuelan fleet found our forces and turned to engage on a parallel course. The Mexican force consisting of the battlecruisers Haruna and Queen Mary, with the Armoured cruiser Cochrane, screened by the protected cruisers Kolberg and Breslau engaged the Venezualans. Our forces consisted of Dreadnoughts Delaware and North Dakota with the Predreadnought Mikasa led the way followed by the Armoured Cruisers San Giorgio and Rurik. They were screened by the Protected Cruisers Mainz and Magdeburg. We altered course to intercept a Brazilian squadron.
The two actions have very different results. Our forces far to the east of the Mexican vs. Venezualan action engage and force the Brazilian forces to turn away. The Flag ship Arkansas, is doubled on by Delaware and North Dakota. Multiple 12″ hits force her out of line with engineering hits and fires. Mikasa engages in a duel with the modern armoured cruiser Blucher. Blucher is heavily damaged in the exchange. The armored cruiser Scharnhorst comes in to help the wounded Blucher and is also heavily damaged. The entire Brazilian forces falls back behind a smoke screen. It was later learned the Blucher sunk at this time due to progressive flooding from damage.
The action took an ugly turn when the Venezualan fleet arrived and began to engage our force. Apparently the Mexican navy was neutralized after 15 minutes of action. Haruna and Queen Mary are knocked apart by Iron Duke and Lion and screened by Destroyers as they run for it. The Venezualan fleet is joined by the Kaiser from the brazilian fleet. We are hopelessly out gunned by the combined forces of Venezuala and Brazil. Admiral Gonzalez realized however that to sail away would be to sacrifice almost 6,000 men in the landing fleet. The two fleets sailed parallel courses at 10,000 yds and battered each other. North Dakota is hit hard as are Mikasa, San Giorgio and Rurik, but we are able to drive off the enemy forces.
We believe over all this action proved a great success. The landing was successful with minimal casualties. Our combined fleets gave as well as they received in damage and sunk the modern Armoured Cruiser Blucher. The Admiralty should be proud of Admiral Gonzalez and the Fleet.
Damaged ships
Delaware: Moderate damage, 2×13″hvy, 5×12″, 5×6″, 4×5.9″
North Dakota: Heavy Damage, 5×13″, 5X12″, 5×5″, 1×4″
Mikasa: Heavy Damage, 6×12″, 14×8.2″,6×5.9″
San Giorgio: Heavy Damage, 3×12″, 7×8.2″,4×6″
Rurik: Moderate Damage,2×7.6″, 4×6.4″, 3×5.9″, 3×4″
Mainz and Magdeburg were undamaged
Casualties: 110 killed, 230 Wounded
As a side note a second operation to evacuate troops from Punta Gallinas was attempted by a force of six Destroyers. This action went off without oposition. All troops evacuated and will be reequiped to join our Mexican brothers at Pueblo Nuevo.
The Mexican navy report Haruna and Queen Mary were moderately damaged and should be ready for action in 1 to 2 months of yard time.
North Dakota, Mikasa and San Giorgio will require 5 or 6 months of yard time before they are ready for action.This should give us enough time to bring new recruits into the fleet.
Commander Rodrequiz reporting
After action report to the Columbian Admiralty, June 4 1915.
Two days ago, June 2 1915 the combined Columbian/Mexican fleet were manuevering north of the diputed Peninsula de la Guajira, when word was received that the brazilian/Venezuelan fleet had left Maracaibo. Further information was received that the fleet was escorting transports for an invasion of Peninsula de la Guajira. Our fleets immediatly steered a course to intercept.
We received word later on the morning of June 2, that enemy forces were coming ashore at Tucuracas on the Peninsula. We continued south at Flank speed and at 1200 hrs sighted enemy screening forces. Our combined fleet deployed for action and engaged the enemy. It appears that the initial contact was with a portion of the Brazilian fleet. In a short time our forces began to have success. Two Brazilian protected cruisers, Sydney and Augsberg open fire on the Mexican Protected cruisers Hirado and Chikuma. Our own light forces come into action led by Monmouth, followed by Dublin and Nurnberg.The enemy turns to the south when they realize how outgunned they are. During the turn Sydney is penetrated and her magazines explode. She sinks immediatly with all hands. Augsberg attempts to run but soon suffers engineering hits and begins to slow. Overwhelmed by our light forces multiple hits leave her wrecked and sinking. A rain of 4.1″ shells from Nurnberg sends her to the bottom.
The Brazilian Armoured Cruiser force comes to late to save their light screening ships. The Brazilian Tennessee and Duke of Edinburgh engage our own Armoured Cruisers Washington and Montana. Our ships prove their supperiority as they begin to hit with 10″ gun fire. The enemy turns away, but can not escape our fire. Tennessee slows and sinks by the bow. The Duke of Edinurgh retires heavily damaged and burning. She still had all guns in action, but is saved by the arrival of the main enemy fleet.
Further north The enemy Predrednought Swiftsure and the armoured Cruiser Jules Ferry intercede to keep our light forces from the landing fleet. The Mexican Armoured Cruisers Defense and Achilles along with the protected cruisers engage in a running battle. Swiftsure is mortally wounded by 9.2″ fire from the Mexican ships. The enemy succeed however in keeping our ships out of the landing area and also in punishing the Meican Armoured Cruisers.
The main fleets come into action at about 1230 hrs. The enemy force consists of the Brazilian battleships Viribus Unitas and Seydlitz along with the Venezulian force of the Battle Cruiser Tiger and the two predrednoughts Satsuma and Lord Nelson. Our force of the Battle Cruiser Kirishima and the predrednoughts Diderot and Condercet are joined by the Mexican Battlecruises Kongo and Derfflinger and close the action. Within minutes Viribus Unitas is struck hard. On fire and slowed to 12 knots she is forced out of line. A timely torpedo run by Venezualian Destroyers force our ships away and allow the Viribus Unitas to escape and repair her engineering damage and put out the fires.
Our armoured cruisers join the main fleet and engage in a running battle with the Venezualian ships The action lasts for 30 minutes, but we are unable to break through to the landing. Washington and Montana are forced to turn away after exhausting their ammunition. The Venezualian fleet withdraws toward the landing. Our own Ships break off the action low on ammunition and suffering damage, which will be listed later.
The Brazilian fleet attempts to withdraw to the Southwest, but Defense and Achilles catch the Swiftsure escorted by several Destroyers. The wounded ship is put down along with two Destroyers screening her. The last action begins with the Mexican fleet closeing on the transports. The arrival of the Venezualian ships saves the transports. The range closes to 9,000 yards and in 5 minutes the Mexicans are driven off heavilly damaged. Derfflinger is slowed to 12 Knots as the Mexicans limp away. All action ends at approximately 1320.
After action reports from the Captains involved show we have heavilly attrited enemy naval forces. It is disappointing that we were unable to close on the landing forces, but the enemy proved to be both skilled and very brave sacrificing their ships and men to screen the landings.
Our damage consists of the following
Kirishima moderate damage: hits 5×13.5″, 7×7.6″, 4×6″
Condorcet moderate damage: hits 4×10″, 2×9.2″, 4×7.5″
Diderot heavy damage: hits 5×12″, 4×9.2″, 4×10″, 4X5″
Washington moderate damage: hits 2×10″, 2×9.2″, 2×7.6″, 3×6″
Montana light/moderate damage: hits 1×10″, 5×6″
Monmouth Heavy damage: hits 3×10″, 2×6″, 1×3.5″, 9×7.6″
Dublin very heavy: hits 1×10″, 2×9.2″, 3×7.5″, 2×6″
Nurnbergh Heavy damage: hits 4×7.5″, 1×6″
Naval personel 275 killed 859 wounded
Enemy ships sunk
Swiftsure hits 22×9.2″, 11×7.5″
Tennessee hits 9×10″, 5×6″
Sydney hits 6×6″, 3X4.1″ magazine explosion
Augsurg hits 34×6″, 11×4.1″
G37 hits 3×6″
G38 hits 8×6″, 2×4.1″
The fleet fought very well in the action. Our inability to coordinate more closely with the Mexicans prevented an overwhelming victory.
The Mexican navy reports Light to moderate damage on their ships, most should be repaired and ready for action in approximatly 60 days.
AKI is now available at the Square. They have a large selection of enamels, acrylics, books and Dvds on painting and weathering vehicles. This article is for both the Plastic Modelers and The Miniature Gamer. AKI has come out with a great series of chipping and scratching agents. I have some good first hand reports from guys who have used the product and they are thrilled by the results. Easy to use and great results. Most Modelers are familiar with some of the older scratching techniques. For some of the 40K people who also build plastic vehicles, these scratching agents are so simple to use. Put on your base color, then apply the agent over the top. Your finish color goes on and you are ready to start chipping away to expose the first coat. Use a stiff brush like a stippler brush and water, then jab or poke at the spot you are weathering. Small amounts of paint will flake off. Remove as much as you want for the effect you are looking for. After it dries finish any other washes or dry brushing you want. Then seal with dullcoat, or Glosscoat protecting the model from wear and tear.
AKI has also come out with a whole series of acrylic paint Modulation sets. These sets are great for shadowing through highlighting on the model. There are nine sets total for armored or military vehicles, including one for the late war German dark brown primed vehicles. Instructions on using the paints are on the box you get.
There are a huge selection of enamel weathering effects that can be used on your model. Fuel stains, grease, dust, water drops you name it AKI has it. There are several DVDs’ available to help and learn how to use all the different agents that are available. So if you are looking for some new products that will help in giving you that super job on your model, check out the new AKI products at the Square. We will try and give any help we can on using these new products.
After Action Report to the Columbian Admiralty:
Sir, On May 2 1915 our navy in conjunction with the Meican navy were at sea for extensive training exercises. Our Fleet consisted of the 1st Battle S quadron. The 1st Battlesquadron had the Battlecruiser Hiei, Super Predreadnoughts Aki and Danton. Also assigned was the 1st Cruiser squadron with the Armored Cruisers Rurik and Amalfi. The 4th scouting Squadron with th Protected Cruisers Chatham, Hamburg and the weak Armored cruiser Monmouth was assigned skreen for our force. Five V-25 torpedo boats were also assigned. The Mexcan fleet Had their 1st BC Squadron with Moltke and Goeben. They had a squadron of Armored Cruisers, Natal, and Warrior. The old Predreadnought Ibuki was also assigned. Scouting was performed by their protected cruisers, Leviation, Bremen and Konigsberg. Five L-class torpedo boats escorted the fleet.
At 1000 hrs, while executing joint manuevers in the Colombian Basin, The Leviation and Konigsberg Sighted a scouting force of the enemy. Our ships began to engage the enemy cruisers, but were forced to turn away as the Dreadnought South Carolina came into sight.The Konigsberg was unlucky and was hit by 12″ fire from the South Carolina on the opening salvo. The hits damaged Konigsbergs power plant slowing her to 12kts, and led to her eventual loss as she was to slow to open range. The enemy Armored Cruiser Blucher, caught her and sank her with 8″ gun fire.
Our fleet closed on the enemy and discovered the Venezualan Fleet. Our fleet was traveling ESE at 18kts. The Mexican fleet turned to a westerly course to give us room to deploy. This manuever ran the Mexican fleet into the Brazilian fleet, which was operating with Venezuala. Our fleet performed brilliantly and soon gained the upper hand fighting the Venezualans.We shattered their Armored Cruiser force sinking the Ernest Renan and driving Verite out of line. We would have destroyed the entire Venezualan fleet,but they retired behind a smoke screen. We sunk several of their Torpedo Boats and damaged others involved in laying smoke sceens. We were forced to disengage when we received a distress call from the Mexicans. We turn to a westerly course immediatly and at 21 kts closed on the Brazilian fleet.
The Meicans engaged the Brazilians. The Ibuki is hit almost immediatly by Von Der Tann. Several fires force Ibuki out of line. The Cavour and Courbet double on the Moltke and shoot her out of line Meican fire is largely ineffective. The Mexicans send in their Armored Cruisers to try and slow the Brazilians. The Goeben is also pounded as she attempts to cover the shattered Moltke and Ibuki. The charge by the Mexican Armored cruisers, though brave is forelorn. They are caught between the reengaging Venezualian fleet and the Brazilian armored Cruisers Blucher, San Marco, and the Predreadnought Regina Elena. The Warrior is torpedoed and sunk. Natal is hammered by 12″, 10″,8″,7.5″,and 6.4″. She goes down burning along her entire length. The Mexicans succeed in slowing the hated Regina Elina. Our fleet intercedes at this point and sink the Regina Elina.
We are able to hold off and ultimatly drive off the combined fleets of the enemy. Aki and Danton are both heavily damaged in the exchange. We were able to pull out a minor victory sinking and heavily damaging the enemy fleets. We are hoping that with more training the mexican gunnery can improve. Continued joint training will also improve fleet manuevers and communications. Our actions were continually hampered by the lack of coordination and inability to communicate. We were lucky to extricate the Mexican fleet without further lose.
For special commondation I recommend the ships and crews of The armored Cruisers Rurik and Amalfi along with the Protected cruiser Chatham. These ships performed brilliantly during the action.
Your Servant, Admiral Armando Cortez on board the Battlecruiser Hiei.
This will just be a short article on the different types of glue and the different applications for each. First there are four basic types of glue with some variation within each type. CA or super glue will be the first type of glue we will look at. There are several good brands of super glue on the market. Jet and Pacers’ Zap are two brands we carry at the Square. Super glue is used primarilly on metal and resin figures. It comes in four basic viscosities. Just remember the thinner or more watery the glue, the faster it sets. The down side of the very thin super glue is that it is difficult keeping it in one place on your work. The thicker or slow super glue will take a while for it to set. The one thing to remember about super glue is that it has very good tensil strength, but no shear strength. I’m sure you’ve all had that metal miniature that falls over and parts come off. The fall basically applied a small amount of sideways or shear pressure causing the super glue to release. To over come this, pinning can be helpful (thats a topic for another time). A related product to the super glue is the accelerant. This product reacts with super glue and causes it to set immediatly. It is very helpful in getting parts together that are difficult to hold at a proper angle for very long.Super glue will also work on resin models. I generally recommend resin be washed or cleaned prior to glueing or painting. Resin uses mold release agents and also have a residual agent from the curing process. This needs to be removed so the glue will adhere to the surface. Super glue and accelerant can also be used for small gap filling.
The second glue used is plastic glue. Similar to super glue, it also comes in various viscosities. Very thin plastic glue sets very quickly, while the thick plastic glue takes a while to set up. As the name implies plastic glue is good for only one product, PLASTIC. It actually melts the surface of the plastic and welds it together. This weld has both shear and tensil strength. This is the only glue I recommend on plastic, though I know some of you use super glue as well. Over time you will not get as good of results using super glue instead of plastic glue. Testors, Plastruct, and Microscale make various plastic cement.
The third type of glue is epoxy. Epoxy comes as a two part product, one a resin and the other a hardening agent. The two parts are mixed in equal amounts with varying cure times. The most common cure time is five minutes. They also make 30 min. and longer types, but generally the five minute is what you use for hobby applications. The long curing types are more durable for construction applications. Epoxy has both shear and tensil strength. It can be used on any surface, Metal or resin or models with dissimilar parts(plastic to metal or metal to resin etc.). Epoxy is very strong, but it is much more difficult to work with. You need to mix small amounts of glue and any left over product will cure and be lost. You also need to hold your work or clamp it in order to get the epoxy to cure and hold the parts. Pacer makes a very good 5 minute epoxy.
The final glues are the general purpose glues. The first that comes to mind is Elmers or a product called Goo. Elmers glue is good for making terrain or applying material to bases or display stands. It is relatively inexpensive, but has a long cure time. Another nice thing with elmers is it thins and cleans up with water. One great application of elmers is to cover or coat any terrain prior to using the terrain. A mixture of four parts water one part elmers with just a drop of dish soap will give you a mixture that you can spray on your terrain. Use an old windex spray bottle to apply the mixture. It will give a clear hard protective surface on your terrain.
There are also some specialty glues out there with very limited applications. Canopy glue for model airplane canopies designed to attach, but not cloud clear plastic, or tacky adhesives for attaching foliage to tree armitures. I hope this helps when facing a project that you need to glue. I’m sure we can help answer any questions you might have when you stop in at the Square.
Templecon is a yearly convention held out in Rhode Island. Privateer Press hosts a keynote every year at Templecon which they use as one of the two major points in the year to announce new products ( their own Lock-n-load convention in Seattle being the other). This year was no exception, with new info released on the next level-7 boardgame, a new warmachine based deck building game (similar to Dominion), a new organized play system that amounts to a worldwide championship system, and….
a new Warmachine Faction: The Convergence of Cyriss.
Posted in Articles Warmachine by .
Jan 13
31
New Products at the Square
Lots of new product this week at the Square. The first os several deliveries from Warlord has arrived. In it the new U.S. supplement has arrived refilling or empty shelf. The book has all the information you will need to run U.S. forces in WWII, either the European or Pacific fronts. Besides infantry, the book also has vehicle infotmation. In the order as well were numerous American resin vehicles to restock our shelves. We are still waiting for the German Vehicles. Bolt Action is becoming popular as a WWII skirmish game. A large group are getting together tonight. I’m hoping ten to fifteen players will be gaming every week.