We intend to put out a land vehicles book out for Hive, Queen and Country this year. Like the Flying Machines book link it will have utility for almost any Steampunk, VSF, Pulp setting. Here are the basic ideas we are working with. If anyone has comments please feel free to post them. People are also welcome to join the various discussions on the Hive, Queen and Country Yahoo Group link
Organization of Fighting Machines
Most forces started as a trials unit in an existing branch. The Royal Engineers in the British Army, the Quartermaster Corps in the US Army, Artillery in the French Army and Russian Army.
I don't know enough about the other armies to build this information.
I think the French will go back to "Napoleonic" ideas. They will develop column tactics with their "Artillery Carriers" leading the columns of "Infantry Carriers" (what would these be called in French?). The Artillery vehicles will be formed into Assault Artillery Batteries (or brigades, battalions or regiments?). The Infantry carriers will be part of the Infantry units, integrated with the troops.
The Russians will mirror the French but will have some additions made by the Zuck advisors
The US Army will start with a few machines in the Quartermasters Corps. These will remain with that organization until after the start of the Second Hive War. Once the US begins ramping up their armor use they will mechanize their Cavalry units as well as their artillery. The First Volunteer Mechanized Cavalry under Roosevelt was an example of these initial efforts. Some of the Cavalry units used walkers, others fielded Tanks.
In HQC (and other VSF settings) there will be a few basic categories of vehicles
Railway Guns-often lightly or unarmored these are artillery weapons mounted on rail cars. They can be anti-flyer batteries (like Flak Trains), medium artillery that can be fired with little preparation as field, siege or coastal artillery or heavy artillery for the siege or coastal role in which the mounts require substantial site preparation before they can be put into action
Armored Trains-These carry light or medium weapons that can be fired while on the move or once the train has stopped, but require no preparation. These trains are expected to hold their own in direct combat with enemy ground forces. They are designed for tactical ground combat
Tanks are tracked ground vehicles designed for use off road, there are five sizes in HQC Tracked vehicles may be personnel carriers, self-propelled guns, or serve other tactical purposes but in HQC they are all called tanks (due to the derogatory remarks about them by the Cavalry Division's CO during the First Hive War-"Those are nothing but bloody great stinking tanks of paraffin!" So Tanks, Bloody Tanks Stinking Tanks or Bloody Stinking Tanks are all OK
Super Heavy80-120 tons
Heavy 50 to 79 tons
Medium 20-49 tons
Light 6-19
Tankette ->6 tons
Armored cars
These are designed for use on roads or other good firm going. They are lighter but cheaper and faster than Tanks.
Walkers
These can have two, four or more legs. They are even by 1900 a marginal technology. They can traverse some terrain that even tracked vehicles can't handle but are extremely fragile. They are tall and obvious on the battlefield. They can't carry heavy armor or weapons. When they work they can be fast and appear in unexpected locations. They can quickly decimate a native force or even a European one that has only traditional arms. Otherwise they are considered to be "fresh meat" for any force with more conventional vehicles or good artillery support.
British Empire
Armoured trains and railway guns, designed to fight the Hive have massive fire power and light or no armor. They were used in set piece battles to first blunt swarm raids and then as bases of fire to support maneuver elements.
Railway batteries with coastal artillery or anti flyer artillery for defense of the Home Islands
Various armored fighting machines designed to protect against the Hive, carry maximum firepower and be mobile enough to outrun the Hive.
The Royal Marines operate amphibious assault vehicles from Royal Navy vessels
Prussia and the North German Alliance
Many of their vehicles are built by Krupp of Essen. The Germanies prefer smaller vehicles that often have their main armament hull mounted to fire forwards with limited traverse. This allows them to put a heavier cannon in vehicles smaller than those of other nations. They are designed to fight from ambush as part of the fortified borders of the German States, sniping at long ranges and picking off enemy vehicles and artillery.
The German nations have also purchased a number of very heavy Krupp guns mounted on railway carriages for use against enemy siege batteries. A small number of armored trains are also used for border patrol
French Empire
Heavily armoured, slow vehicles with moderate to heavy firepower designed to assist Infantry with defeating enemy defensive lines. Generally will use a lighter but faster firing gun (the famous French 75mm Model 1897 will be typical of the heaviest weapon being mounted in most cases) French heavy vehicles often have multiple turrets or sponsons. In other nations vehicles a main turret of a super heavy vehicle might mount a 100mm gun the French would have two smaller turrets with 75mm ones. The have staked victory on a hail of high explosive rounds during the assault.
The French Siege artillery is almost all rail mounted and the heaviest pieces are all at Corps level.
Russian Empire
Purchases or licenses most of its armor from France. They include a number of dedicated rail borne units of smaller vehicles (purchased from Great Britain). A number of armored trains have been built to escort the rail borne armored units and to patrol the vast expanses of the Empire.
Triple Alliance has purchased both German and English machines. They use armored trains to patrol the coasts, borders and to keep order in the colonies. They have bought walkers for use in the jungles of Brazil, and the Andes mountains as well as the rough terrain along the French border, where the rugged conditions make the use of conventional vehicles difficult.
Austria-Originally they purchased Krupp vehicles but recently the firm of Skoda has begun to produce vehicles being used to rearm the Dual Monarchy's armies.
Kingdom of Italy
The Italians have three different requirements, One to protect their Northern borders, second to police their colonies and thirdly to ensure the safety of their Venusian aerolyth mine. For the first task they have purchased walkers for scouting and screening with Prussian armored vehicles for heavy firepower. The second task is performed by a variety of British built vehicles and armored trains. On Venus heavy purpose built armored trains and rail patrol vehicles are supported by faster and light fighting machines. The mines themselves are defended by heavy Prussian vehicles.
Japan
Has purchased both British and Prussian vehicles. The defense of the Home Islands, particularly from Russian attack is critically important. For the most part heavier vehicles with emphasis on weapons and armor, as opposed to mobility, have been fielded.
China and the Turks
The Chinese and Turks have bought little armor and what they have is mostly inoperative.
The United States
The Second Hive War was a turning point in American History. The vast "Arsenal of Humanity" took years to become fully engaged in the war effort but once it did produced the thousands of vehicles need to cleanse the Western Hemisphere of the Hives. The U S Army initially bought British, French and Prussian machines, then licensed them and finally by the end of the war was building fast, powerful vehicles of their own design. Named for historical Battles or commanders these vehicles were noted for their ruggedness and reliability.
Tank type names
Russia
Leaders of the Russian army
USA
Leaders, mostly American Civil War and American Revolution
Washington
Grant
Sheridan
Sherman
Custer
Prussia
Big cats (I could not resist this)
British
Scary things that all begin with the same letter instead of "c" perhaps "t"?
Tribune
Tempest
Typhoon
Tornado
Or "s"
Sword
Spear
Sabre
Scimitar
Scorpion
French
Cheeses (OK, just kidding) Perhaps Napoleonic Victories?
Triple Empire (Spain, Portugal and Brazil)
Figures from the Age of Exploration
Cortez
Pizzaro
