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Wings of Charis

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Wings of Charis
Post by kel   » Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:32 am

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Hi new to the forum

I was wondering while recently rereading Like A Mighty Army if Charis could possibly start building an Air Force?
Not using planes but something similar to Zeppelins for bombing and recognisance of enemy perstitons they would also make handy psyclogical weapons against the temple forces. Also setting up spotting balloons to provide early warning and to direct artillery.
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by SWM   » Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:54 am

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It's been suggested. One question that came up was whether there is any proscription about flying. It would be quite plausible for the Proscriptions to declare that flight is the prerogative of the Angels, but we have no textev either way.
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by 6L6   » Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:38 pm

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Charis has to stay one or two steps ahead of the temple in order to win the war. With blimps they would be able to insert special forces to destroy locks or capture locks ahead of a dash by land forces. they would also be useful in a raid to liberate the concentration camps.
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by SYED   » Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:10 pm

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They know the value of have the high ground, which is why they build towers so they can monitor battles, and give information to help targetiing. A balloon would increase the range of their sight.
it would be exeedingly dangerous for front line battles, but for coast observation points, and other places very useful for monitoring the region.
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by kel   » Sat Jun 14, 2014 7:11 am

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What about using a ridged airships like a zeppelin or another design as long ranged bombers and scouts? It would also prove useful to deploying scout-sniper teams behind church lines to cause trouble and train and arm the reformist behind temple lines aka partisans. As for the bomber idea they could be to hit Harchgongs army in Sidermark as well as the army of gods as well as some military targets behind there lines. Also the thought of how Clyntahn will react when he finds out also another strong reason to to do it he may just have a heart attack this time.
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by phillies   » Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:41 am

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Moored balloons as done in the Civil War, and as seen with America's first successful aircraft carrier, the George Washington Parke Custis (1861; I said aircraft not airplane), have some merit. However, they have a big radar/laser signature, and might cross the highly hypothetical smite this continent line.

We already know the continent smasher has active emissions since it detected probes incoming and destroyed them. It might, even though active stuff degrades as r^{-4} with distance r, readily detect an unstealthed balloon.

The Confederates thought balloons were extremely successful. Union Generals using them were OK. The army bureaucrats and the civilian Aeronautical Corps got along poorly.

With respect to Aereon engineless maneuverable dirigibles, I am the fellow who called them to the attention of John Campbell, leading to a Harry Harrison novel that was, let us say, enthusiastic in writing about their effectiveness. They are impressive at very short range only. The pre-Civil-War unpowered cross-Atlantic balloon discussions used orthodox balloons.
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by Direwolf18   » Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:00 pm

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I think the most valuable use of a Zeppling/Dirgible would be non-military usage. Yes I said Non-Military. The Hindenburg could make a westward Atlantic crossing in 53 to 78 hours and eastward took 43 to 61 hours. (Via wikipedia)

Think what this would mean about linking up the Empire as a political entity. It would allow key political figures (Like say the Emperor/Empress and various Archbishops) to travel the Empire and visit their non Charisian/Chrisholmian subjects on something like a regular basis. That month each way in travel time between Chrisholm and Charis could be used doing such things like visiting Zebediah or Emerald.

That being said there very well might be a proscription against flight. We don't know, although most Safeholdians would definitely be very very leery of flying machines.
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by 6L6   » Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:02 pm

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Yes, most would, but a few would go for it. Think of a team of commandos droping out of an airship armed with AK 47's
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Re: Wings of Charis
Post by SYED   » Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:04 am

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there are proposals of ballons being used to ship cargo. This might be useful for to acount for roads and water ways, it is direct tavel.
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