Is That a Dare ?

Background

The Klingon empire, expanding in every direction that hasn't demonstrated the strength to resist them, has encountered a previously unknown race, and has sent a task force to test their intentions. This task force has massed in the vicinity of a newly constructed forward supply base.

The Minbari, discovering an unknown race advancing into their zone of influence, has sent a task force to investigate. The fleet commander has been given orders to use careful diplomacy and show the utmost respect to this new race.

Fleet Scale

When we play fleet sized starship combat games we like to use 'Fleet Scale' (approx 1:8000) more than the more common regular scale. We also try to use ships that look in scale with each other and for that reason we have spent some time collecting ships from various manufacturers that we believe come close to matching the old AOG Fleet scale Babylon 5 ships.

However, for Bab 5, we do not subscribe to the ridiculous sizes some fans insist everyone must accept as official (JMS remains silent on the subject). In our games a Sharlin Warcruiser is 300 metres long.

Click on the thumbnails for the larger pictures.

The Battle

The Adversaries

For the Klingons we used a combination of Micromachine's Vorchas (repainted) and Yamato Romando's K'Tingas (and BOPs), painted by Mike Hoyt.

The Minbari Sharlin Warcruisers (and White Stars) are AOG's excellent old range of Babylon 5 Fleet Scale minis, painted by Stephen Thomson

The Klingons

The Klingon fleet consisted of two Battle Wings of 2 Vorchas and 3 K'Tingas each, and one Scout Wing of 3 K'Tingas and 18 Birds of Prey (combined into 6 squadrons of 3 BOPs each).

The Minbari

The Minbari were more simply organized into two wings, each containing 4 Sharlins and 9 White Stars (also combined into squadrons of 3 ships each).

Klingon Foward Base

The Klingons begin with their 2 Battle Wings at minimal power behind the base, and the Scout Wing on patrol. There are a number of asteroids in the battle zone which all fleets had to beware of.

Turn 1

The Minbari arrive. Following orders to show respect, they open their gunports.

Turn 1

The Klingons respond. The Scout Wing on patrol swarms out to meet the enemy.

Turn 2 - Klingon Left

The 1st Battle Wing quickly follows, advancing from behind the supply base towards the enemy. The Minbari begin launching Nial heavy fighters.

Klingon Right

Knowing the 1st Battle Wing could handle the left flank, the Scout Wing switches to the right. The Minbari split their fleet, half going to the left and half to the right. The BOPs ignore the White Stars and concentrate on the Sharlins.

Turn 3 - Klingon Left

The Klingon 1st Battle Wing engages the Minbari right wing. Long range fire from the advanced Minbari Laser Lances quickly destroy a K'Tinga. All ships begin to take damage. The White Star squadrons begin to switch to the other flank.

Klingon Right

Ignoring the White Stars on this flank has proven a mistake. Although successful in destroying 2 Sharlins, the Scout Wing looses all its K'Tingas and several squadrons of BOPs. The survivors begin moving towards the other flank, leaving the 2nd Battle Wing to mop up.

Turn 4 - Klingon Right

The K'Tingas of the 2nd Battle Wing advance too quickly and are jumped by massed Nial fighter squadrons before the Vorchas can come up and support them.

Turn 5 - Klingon Left

The two fleets have passed through each other, inflicting great damage along the way. Both Vorchas are badly damaged. One Sharlin is destroyed and the rest damaged. Both fleets turn towards the other flank where the Klingon 2nd Battle Wing is closely engaged with the Minbari left wing.

Klingon Right

The K'Tingas have been wiped out by the massed fighter squadrons, which now turn on the advancing Vorchas, who trade shots with the surviving Sharlins. The intact White Star squadrons prepare to swarm forward.

Turn 6 - Klingon Right

Forced to deal with the White Stars, the Vorchas of the 2nd Battle Wing pass the previously destroyed Sharlins, allowing the surviving ones to survive again. Finally getting behind the Vorchas, the White Stars brutally punish them.

Turn 7 - Klingon Right

The two surviving Sharlins from the Minbari left wing, along with massed fighter support, and fire from the Minbari right wing, attack the arriving Vorchas of the 1st Battle Wing, managing to finish one off and seriously damage the other. The Klingons, satisfied with the results of their combat test, decide to disengage.

Notes

While keeping the fleets together might have produced better results, we like the maneuvering required when you break up into wings and squadrons. We also like doing cross-over battles, and we find ASFoS works great for them. This was just a pickup game and we managed to complete it in under 3 hours.