The Battle of the Bend
A Union raiding force has broken through the lines and was headed towards Corinth. A scratch force of available men and machines was gathered to stop or delay it.
The Initial Start for the Confederate Forces
Based around a bend in the rail line the Confederates setup around the Lightning Cannon, with a Mechanical Man and the timberclad Landship CSL Georgia to the right and a 12 pounder Napoleon anchoring the left.
The Union Forces First Turn
The Union forces advanced across the field, except for one Motor Horse and an Armored Landship that failed their sustains. On the right Captain Owens on his Motor Horse, accompanied by gatling armed steamcycles, zoomed forward, while on the left two armored landships advanced furthest.
Confederate Right Advances
A Squad of rifle musket armed infantry, accompanied by Professor Peterson, his giant Mechnical Man, and a rocket armed Zouave advance into woods. The CSL Georgia crosses the railroad tracks and promptly breaks down. It is supported by a squad of Zouave Veterans and a sniper armed with a Whitworth Repeater.
The Union Left Advances
The armored landships on the left wait for the two squads of cavalry to catch up with them while the Napoleon sets up to bombard the Confederate lines.
The Union Right Advances
Two squads of cavalry join the steamcycles advancing behind the woods on the right flank
The Armored Giant Attacks
Professor Peterson's giant Mechnical Man attacks a Union armored landship that had broken down. Several turns were spent with the Mechnical Man doing some damage to the landship while the shot from the landship bounced harmlessly off the giant.
Man Against Man
Lt. Smith attacks the rocket armed Zouave in an attempt to keep him away from the landships.
Advance in the Center
A squad from the left and the right advance to the center corral while the third armored landship finally arrives. A much depleted Motor Horse squad advances to the top of the hill (many breakdowns and some losses from artillery fire from the Confederate Napoleon).
The End of Lt. Smith
After two turns of combat Lt. Smith kills the rocket armed Zouave but is killed himself by infantry.
Union Cavalry Advances
A sqaud of Union cavalry sweeps past the battle between the Mechnical Man and the armored landship.
Man vs. ?
Captain Owens takes on Little Jethro (they grow them big up in the hills). Both are killed in the encounter.
The Center Holds
The Union cavalry dismounts, and supported by the steamcycles, cuts down many of the crew of the Lightning Cannon. That cannon, despite a +1 to +6 SRM, did remarkably little to the Union landships.
The Gunfight
On the Union left dismounted cavalry engage in a gunfight with a squad of Confederate infantry.
Surprise Move
Because of the relatively uselessness of the famous Lightning Cannon the train moves to reveal two squads of Confederate infantry.
The Fall Back
Confederate troops fallback on the right and form up around the still broken-down CSL Georgia.
Mechanized Firing Line
The remnants of the Motor Horsmen (armed with semi-auto carbines) line up next to a gatling armed landship.
A Giant Falls
The giant Mechnical Man had shutdown for six turns on a lucky hit. The landship shot it repeatedly for little effect. Then one turn before it started back up a lucky penetrating shot shut it down for good.
The Cannon Falls
After killing cavalry, Motor Horsemen, and steamcycle crew the Napoleon falls to the charge of what was left of a cavalry squad. This unit was the most effective of the Confederate units, dealing out much death to the Union side.
The Center Falls
Thanks to some bad card draws, the surprise in the middle results in the two Confederate squads being savaged by fire from the ironclads, the cavalry and the Motor Horsemen.
Battle Summary
The battle did not go the way I had planned. The very deadly Lightning Cannon (1d6 times 10 inches range, +1d6 SRM) did little to the Union landships (knocked off some armor and damaged a start on one). Based on this I am going to start dividing weapons into two types, light and anti-armor. Light will use the standard pentration chart (which often does little damage) while a penetrating hit by an anti-armor weapon (+0 SRM or better) will go on the catastrophic hit table. I feel that this will make the landships more vulnerable and even out the balance of power on the battlefield. Too often it ends up with nothing but landships chasing each other around the table.