On a Walkabout with the Australians

[Last Rites]

I was gifted the Australian fleet box for the holidays. YAY! The ships are pretty sturdy looking. Similar to the Brits, but lower to the waterline much like the FSA. I'm very much up in the air on how to paint them. So far they are going the way of a British Khaki top with Vallejo Gunmetal Blue for the hulls. After that i'm not sure how to go about things. Since the fluff has these ships as the older variety may just highlight with some exposed steel and bronze.

I have only been able to field them once so far. Taking on the Ottos I fielded the list below.

Royal Australians:
2 x Cerberus Class Pocket Battleships
2 x Victoria Class Gunships
4 x Protector Class Frigates
4 x Protector Class Frigates

+ FSA Attachment:
1 x Saratoga Class Carrier w/ 3 x Freedom Class ACA2 Escorts
4 x PYB-2 Class Seaplanes


First time using another fleet other than the FSA, still a loss, but was fun to try something new! Hadn't really inspected the Aussies to closely before, but I knew a few things. Like the Free AUS have Energy turrets, and the Exp Engineers, and the pirate aspect of capturing, then controlling a model. What i didn't know was that when using the Royals there is no range band 4!!! On any of their stuff! Coming from using the FSA this was just plain bonkers to me. The next thing that i noticed was that they don

[Landlubber]

Have to admit--when I saw the first computer renders of the Aussie fleet, I was pretty "meh" about them.  But seeing them in person, I really like the design.  Some of their ships--maybe the sub tenders?-- look like commercial trawlers to me.  You need to post up some pics as you get them painted!

I've not yet faced them on the tabletop, however.

My next planned fleet acquisition will be the KoB and the EIMC.  I'd like to run a hybrid force consisting of models from both fleets (that's the amateur historian in me talking).  Anyone else see the renders for the Eclipse Mercenary Company on Spartan's blog?  Those airships look sweet.  I like the maiden figure on the bow, and the asymmetry of the large airship.

My wallet is cowering in fear already...

[Ruckdog]

I got the Aussies as a belated Christmas present myself! I've been digging through the rules today. Seems like a fairly intersting fleet...I'm not sure how effective the mini subs will be, but they are a cool idea. I'm not sure how to paint mine yet either. I've been toying with a utiltarian grey scheme, but I'm also thinking of trying a grey-blue dazzle scheme.

[Last Rites]

Had a 4 player free for all game the other day. More and more love for the AUS, even if this was only the 2nd time using them. Brought all 4 Victorias, and my gaud do the clean up! The double PB's lit up a Otto Dread, dealing 6pts of damage in a single activation. Following that the Crocs ran up and were able to board the dread!!! Never again will I pass up adding these to a fleet.

Still working on painting but getting there. 60/40 on spending on a Brit air box to add to the mix. Think my desire to have a pure naval force is outweighing my lust for testing new schemes.

[Ruckdog]

Glad they are doing well for you! I am anxious to give them a try on the table myself. I've started in on painting mine:

http://manbattlestations.com/forum/index.php?topic=534.0

[Last Rites]

Took the Aussies out for a swim over the weekend, under the 2.0 rules. I am growing more an more a fan of this fleet, yet there are still a few annoyances.

Here is the list I brought along with my opponents.

Cerberus Battleship
2x Tasmania Tender-Cruisers
2x Victoria Monitors
Victoria Monitor
3x Protector Frigates
3x Protector Frigates
4x SAS Fighters
5x SAS Fighters & Ace
SAW Recon

Against a stout Russian force composed of the following

Fleet Carrier
Battleship
3x Cruisers
3x Destroyers
4x Frigates
5x SAS Dive Bomber
4x SAS Dive Bomber
5x SAS Fighter & Ace
5x SAS Fighter

Fair warning this isn't a battle report, so much as how the AUS stood up. From all that I have read about the Russian so far, and being short on points and larges, I didn't think the result would be the rout it turned out to be.

The lone battleship more than held up its own against the closing Russian battleship. This over and over again the shield gen saved its skin on would be crits and damage points. Meanwhile the guns are still the nastiness they were in 1.1. Devastating Ordinance is nothing to be trifled with. It is worth noting that the entire force excels at boarding. Moving a ample 8", she moves quickly to deploy the 7 AP on board. Throw in the fact that the boarders are considered Aggressive, and you can either totally grab or get just about there in any boarding assault.

With three Victorias in the fight I thought they would shine a bit more than they did. I completely forgot to apply the Rugged Construction MAR when these guys were being attacked. Hopefully next time i will remember this as they are frequently the targets in the early statges, before the battle cannons can truly get in. Getting there in another problem. The Victorias only move 5" at a time now. Even with the Tesla Gens they putts around in RB3-2 taking damage. Thankfully enough the main gun is strong enough to withstand the loss of fire power from hull point loss. Maybe in the future i'll rethink their initial placement, as they were pretty far from the action...and in the open.

Tender-Cruisers are crazy expensive for a single weapon system, however the benefit of carrying the Crocs is well worth fielding two (more on them later). Since they are relatively frail I brought a recon plane to spot targets for indirect fire. This little guy was a total waste, as EVERY spotting attempt he tried was a (1)...They were able to come out from behind the island they hid at towards the end of the match, immediately getting rammed by a very upset Battleship. By far the weakest of the Devastating turrets, they lack any real punch or defense. Perhaps keeping them close to a Guardian Gen BB in the future as ad hoc escorts will work better.

The two under strength frigate groups were nothing really to write home about. I do like the fact that after suffering a singe point of damage they are still capable units however. Very good for coming in late in the fight with the advanced engines to play clean up.

Lastly, my favorites by far, Crocs are brutal lil buggers. As I deployed their tenders behind an island they didn't make their assault until Turn 3. I see this as a bonus as by then there is significant damage to which ever target you choose, lowering its defenses. I mucked up the Terror Tactics MAR from the Combat Coordinator on the BB, adding only a single die to the 8 AP trying to grab the Russian BB. In reality this should have been a whooping 16 AP, provided they all landed on board. Worth noting too is the fact that they are very very very hard to hit while diving, and do not have to surface to board. CC that has taken a decent loss is nothing to the amount of bat shiii Reckless marines incoming!

All in all I really like this boarding minded fleet under 2.0. If only i could finish painting them...very curious as to what new additions Spartan may have in mind for them. Since I already have a sizable FSA Air force i'm holding off on adding any to this fleet. Has anyone  learned some tactics to using this fleet I may be missing?