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AERONEF

Bikini Atoll - By Commander Dave B.

First Battle of Bikini

I wanted to play a game that involved French, British and Japanese Nefs. My first choice of area would have been China, but I'm saving that option for later.

The Coral Seas offers an ideal location for a mixed Nef & Naval campaign. The masses of small islands are individually claimed by Holland, France, America, Britain/Australia and Japan. They are populated by the odd entrepreneur, evil genius in lair, fishing & whaling stations, hidden military bases and even the odd native with ideas and an ancient temple or two.

 island event
French vessels a in stand off with Australian

The Forces

All fleets were standard packs -
French fleet, French merchant fleet, British escort fleet, Japanese from Jap/US starter pack.

A Brit dig cruiser was added to “beef up” the Japanese.

The French received a commerce raider and 2 escort ships.

No attempt was made to balance the forces.

READ THE BATTLE REPORT HERE.

The Plot

A large asteroid, or is it?, has failed to crash into the sea. Hitting these shallow waters it has skipped across the surface until it hit a small atoll. The impact and residual heat has set fire to the vegetation, wreathing the asteroid and it's surroundings in stream and smoke.

The small atoll of Bikini is a small parcel of land with a small fishing village nestled in a poor, shallow harbour. This outpost is the oft forgotten property of France.

Naturally, vessels in the area rush to provide humanitarian aid in the finest traditions of national co-operation.

France sends a large fleet, a commerce raider with support and a merchant fleet loaded with, um, relief supplies in the form of marines and a contingent of serious looking men in tall hats who are usually accompanied by a niece or secretary and a chef.

They are under orders to secure the artefact and French territory at all costs. Oh yes, help the locals if it all possible.

Japan and Australia are technically allied with Britain, both fleets probably carry British “advisors” and are at least on nodding terms.

The Small Japanese fleet is under orders to observe, protect the interests of his imperial Majesty and those of the British crown. If an opportunity occurs you will seize the island for the Empire. Japan has already clashed with France in these waters and in China. The nation that has brought Russia to her knees does not fear a small European power! Oh yes, help the locals if it all possible.

The Australian Navy sends a strong task force with orders to seize the island for the Empire if possible. Unless of course, the commander feels more Australian than British in which case it will be a new territory of Australia! They were under strict orders not to start a war with France. Oh yes, and help the locals if it all possible.

Terrain

Bikini was recreated using Kallistra terrain, particularly the mountain terrain set. If we had had some individual hex's and the new angled end-hex's we would have done a better job. I forgot my 2mm terrain, so the port was represented by an artistically torn up business card.

Kallistra hex scenery The meteor is half of a GZG alien “thing” adapted to make a landed 6mm heavy Phalon dropship. No. it isn't painted! Nor are most of my models Toby photographs.
(And whose fault is that? T.)

Due to the scale we used the inch movement variant.