We return once again to the reports of Lt Algernon Carmichael-Jefferies of the 22nd West Kent Lancers, written during his long reconnaissance patrol across the Syrtian plains of Mars.
On the third week of the expedition we set up camp on the bluffs overlooking one of the smaller Syrtian cities. On the second day we observed a new (at least to us) class of large warship hovering in the skies above what appeared to be a port area – it must have arrived overnight. The vessel was longer and sleeker than the battleships that we had previously encountered, although it still looked fearsomely armed. When it finally departed, it was far less clumsy than the other squat, heavy ships seen over the capital city, moving gracefully and remarkably quickly. We surmise that it's a lighter, faster class of capital ship used to patrol the outer reaches of the Syrtian Martian empire where its superior speed allows it to rapidly intercept any trespassing enemy vessels. It's perhaps analogous to one of our own battlecruisers, although somewhat larger.
The city seemed to have a thriving merchant trade. Alongside a number of smaller craft, the Syrtians seem to use a number of large merchant vessels for carrying goods long distances between their urban centres. The steering vanes on these craft are positioned in the centre of the hull, unlike warships which have them at the rear of the main hull. We saw how this allowed them to make very tight and precise manoeuvres in the confines of the port area. Presumably on a warship this positioning would obstruct the view of the guns, so they accept lower agility in return for much wider arcs of fire.
We've created the vessels described in the good Lieutenant's report, so you can now field the Ul Rhymic battlecruiser in your Syrtian fleets, alongside the Ib Gahim large merchant vessel.
VAN-6008 – Ul Rhymic class Battlecruiser – £10.00 GBP
VAN-5023 – Ib Gahim Large Merchant – £8.00 GBP