Dwarf Navy
The Dwarf Navy covers all types of Dwarf vessels. All modern Dwarf ships are made of iron and powered by enormous steam engines that use paddles to move them through the water. [5a]
Contents
Air Power
The Dwarfs are able to field a well-structured airforce to protect their own ships as well as attack enemy vessels. Small steam-powered Gyrocopters armed with Gatling Cannons and Dwarf War Balloons make up the bulk of the naval air support available to a Dwarf Admiral. [4a] Larger versions of the Gatling Cannons used by the air-force are mounted on the ships themselves to provide additional protection. [4b]
Grudgebreaker-class battleships also carry small armed airships. [6b]
Captains
To be allowed to command a vessel, a Dwarf must prove themselves skilled in both battle and engineering, memorised the Book of Armaments and the Book of Charts as well as being knowledgeable of all the secrets of Dwarf ships. Only then will they be taught the rune-codes that open the hatches. [3a]
Charts
The Dwarfs have an extensive library in Barak Varr with the earliest looted from the Elves during the War of Vengeance. Later charts were purchased from the Tileans and together this has mostly eliminated the need for Dwarfs to explore - they prefer to always know where they are going! [5b]
Dwarfen Engineers
Many dwarfs of the Dwarf Engineers Guild find employment working with or on ships. These include:
History
Ghazen-Harbark were ancient Dwarf vessels, mainly used on rivers replacing the venerable Grubark which were used extensively before contact with the Elves. As trading began between the two races they were able to shift large quantities of goods to the new Elf cities. [2a]
The Dwarfs later set sail across the seas in great silversteel vessels, powered by ancestor turbines and steam engines with the centre of shipbuilding being the great sea-fortress of Barak Varr. [1a]
Mungrun Steelhammer accompanied an expedition by Estalian privateers to Lustria in one of his submersibles, hoping to explore the sunken city of Chupayotl. His charts were able to direct the fleet to its location but only one Dwarf survived to return, rescued thirty years later from an Arabyan galley. All he would speak off was webbed claws and great, black eyes. [1a]
By the early 2500s they had several hundred ships in their navy. Dwarf Master Engineers such as Brokk Gunnarsson seek to conquer the oceans including their depths with their powerful machines. [1a]
Ship Types
- Dreadnought: Even larger than Ironclads, and each is a floating fortress, complete with massive cannon turrets, far larger than anything seen on land. Very few engineers are capable of creating a Dreadnought and the enormous cost prevents them from being built in large numbers. The greatest Kings of Barak Varr have marked their reigns by commissioning a Dreadnought and each is a mechanical marvel. The first Dreadnought was created by the legendary engineer Hengist Cragbrow and every one since has owed something to his vision. [5b]
- Grudgebreaker-class battleship: The largest class of Dwarf warship, they are able destroy a cities defensive walls on their own. [1a]
- Gunboat: Developed in the 19th century IC, they are about the size of a Empire patrol boat with a crew of 8 - all of whom are well trained to fight. They are designed to protect river barges what Barak Varr rely on for their trade. They are armed with small turrets that mount a Swivel Gun or Volley gun.[6c]
- Ironclad: The typical Ironclad is the equivalent of other race's larger Men O' War. [3a] There are relatively few Ironclad vessels in existence, and most can grouped into broad categories with Ironclad sometimes being used as a 'catch-all' phrase to describe all iron ships. Each ship is a testament to the skill of the engineer who built it and they are able to reach Lustria when fully provisioned. [5b]
- Longships: Norse Dwarfs use ships similar to their manling neighbors, valuing their shallow draft but usually reinforcing the gunwhales with steel, adding a Breaker cannon to the prow and installing a Grubark style rowing system. [6c]
- Monitors: Monitors are smaller than Ironclads being the equivalent of other races ships of the line, [3a] often found patrolling rivers and inland lakes. They are rarely seen outside of the Black Gulf and the Tilean Sea. [5b]
- Nautiluses are capable of travelling beneath the waves. The first Nautilus was created by Hengist Cragbrow's one-time apprentice, Mungrun Steelhammer. Steelhammer wanted to make a name for himself, but knew that he couldn't match the scale of a Dreadnought, so built something completely different instead. Other Nautiluses have been built since, but it was and still is, an invention way ahead of its time. [5b]
- Steam Barges: Transport barges that maintain the vital trade between Barak Varr and the rest of the Karaz Ankor they are propelled by a steam engine and paddle wheel which when they are moored can be used to power a collapsible crane. They normally rely on gunboats for protection. [6c]
Weapons and Equipment
As Dawi warships are sealed they are extremely hard to successfully board and indeed, not a single seagoing Dwarf vessel has been captured since the first Ironclad was launched in the 18th century IC. In addition, all but the smaller gunboats have steel rams that allow them to repeatedly punch holes in enemy vessels with relative impunity. Should a captain wish to capture another vessel they will ram them and board using a hydraulic ramp. [6c]
- Breaker Cannons: A lighter version of the field cannon, although they are sometimes dismounted to be used with landing parties.[6a]
- Tempest Cannons: A heavy cannon that is often mounted on the warships of Barak Varr. [6a]
- Thunder Cannons: The largest cannon in the arsenal of the Karaz Ankor, it is used mounted in fortifications and requires a crew of five to operate. [6a]
Gallery
Grubark
Ghazan-Harbark
A Dwarf Nautilus
Grimnir's Thunder, a Grudgebreaker-class battleship. [1a]
Miniatures
Dreadnought
Ironclad
Monitor
Nautilus
Gyrocopoter
War Balloon
Sources
- 1: Dreadfleet rulebook
- 1a: Red Brokk Gunnarsson, pg. 54-55
- 2: Grudgelore
- 2a: Dwarf Shipping, pg. 49
- 3: Man O War Rulebook
- 3a: Dwarf Fleet, pg. 43
- 4: Sea of Blood Rulebook
- 5: White Dwarf 307 (UK)
- 6: Dwarf Players Guide
