Secret weapons of the Kaiser (Part III)

Just a quickie post while I’m waiting on supplies to finish off my VSF forces. The first two secret weapons of the Kaiser were listed yonks ago on the blog and tbh I can’t be arsed posting a link, so bugger that, here’s the third secret weapon.

Dampftruppen Ausf A and B

Powered by the revolutionary Borsig Bauman flash boiler and guided by a clockwork gyroscope the Dampftruppen Ausf A assault automata were intended as line breaking shock troops. Impervious to all but a lucky shot and untroubled by fear. They proved pivotal when first used in large numbers against the French at the battle of Spicheren in 1870. 

Capable of nearly three mph, these unfeeling death machines had a combat endurance of thirty minutes when fully stoked but were only able to travel in a straight line after launch and had no obstacle crossing capability. To avoid capture and the subsequent examination of their secret internal workings they used a tilt mechanism and timer to trigger an internal bomb when their steam pressure dropped below a certain threshold. 

Prussian troops affectionately referred to the new automata as “clankers” and often strapped bags of nails around them to act as extra shrapnel when the machines finally went boom.

The Ausf A was withdrawn from service in late 1872 when Napoleon III’s forces countered their almost impervious iron carapace with massive defensive magnets at Campigny sur Marne.

A greatly embarrassed Von Moltke ordered the immediate withdrawal of the Aust A from service.

Directly following the Ausf A’s failure the greatly improved (and completely retooled in brass) Aust B had to wait fifteen years to make its battlefield debut at Folkestone. Given a varied weapon load out which fired automatically at any heat signatures detected ahead of its intended path (and retaining its Ausf A auto destruct) it still lacked an ability to traverse anything but the most modest of obstacles.

The Ausf B boasted several weapon load outs and shown here is the explosive dart gun (left) the storm steam projector (centre two) and the the galvanic electro aetheric disruptor (right).

A hand tinted lithograph of the fearsome “clankers” venting excess steam after coming ashore in Folkestone. It is said that many volunteer infantry fled at the first sight of their spectral green glowing eyes and fearsome brass moustaches. 

Less exciting but probably more useful is this ten man squad of sausage munching square heads, representing the nun ravishing baby bayonetters of the Konigsberg 3rd infantry division. 

I painted them with gloss varnish by mistake and all attempts to lower the shine with matt has given them a satin complexion instead. Hey ho. 

Right then it’s time to sling my hook I suppose. 

P.s. If Mr Parrot could see his way clear to furnishing me with some weapon noises for the Dampftruppen I’d be greatly obliged.

P.p.s. Might be having a dabble at some 1:2400 Spanish Armada stuff soonish (if the mood remains upon me). Peter Denis rules, squared battle board and Tumbling Dice minis.