The Victorian Battle Squadron,

Big Gun R/C Warship Combat

   Hope you will find this material helpful.  The Australian Battle Group was formed in November 1997, and we have modellers in Canberra, Yass, Newcastle, Sydney, Townsville, Perth, and Melbourne, amongst others.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Radio Controlled Fighting Warships! This is a Hobby/sport (WARSHIP COMBAT) where model warships manoeuvre and attack each other and is very popular in the USA. They can also attack or defend convoys and shore installations. Each ship is equipped with CO2 propelled BB cannons for attack and electric pumps for defence. The ships are made to sink having only thin balsa as armor and all electrics are waterproofed and when raised and patched (temporarily with masking tape), are ready to fight again. These warships and cargo ships are available from the US as kits or as parts.

   The strange thing is that there is really no “Canberra Fleet against your Newcastle Fleet". It is always the Allies against the Axis for 95% of the time. So select your ship carefully as that will decide your side and your fate. While our numbers are low we will have to use common sense in our fleet composition. The Americans stick to the Allies/Axis Fleets even when the numbers are very lopsided eg 5 Battleships against 1 Battleship and 1 Cruiser.  Each fighting skipper should also try to build a cargo/transport/tanker vessel. This will add to our convoy fleet and gives us convoys to protect or attack, we can add harbour facilities and coastal batteries to be bombarded.

We have Exemptions (to the Firearms Act 1996), from All of the States and Territories, to use these low-powered CO2 cannon on private water and Skippers and Spectators will have to sign a Waiver. Eye protection is compulsory for ALL.

This is a Big Gun Group and all armour, cannon and speed is proportional to all ships, unlike International or Small Gun Clubs, which use the commercial kits, and are also called Warship Combat Clubs. The differences are:-

 1. International-(Small Gun) 80% of  US Clubs. All ships have same calibre BB cannon (.177") and same armour (1/32" balsa). Full forward and reverse speeds and preset turrets at up to 15 degrees off the stem-stern line mean the ships are positioned to aim the guns. The small BB has the penetration range down to 2m max. Only some large Battleships are allowed traversing turrets. Everyone is equal and there are many hits and sinkings. This is a lot of fun and most kits come in this format.
 2. Big Gun- This has 3 armour sizes ( 0"-6.99"=1/16", 7"-11.99"=3/32", 12"+=1/8") and 4 different BB calibres to cater for the Battleships, Heavy and Light Cruisers and Destroyers. Speeds are proportional and there is little reverse. Turents can traverse. Because of the bigger BB ( 3"-10.99"=3/16", 11"-14.9"=7/32", 15"-20"=1/4"), the range can be up to 20m for the 1/4" (Battleships) as BB’s skip on the water but the engagements are around the 5m or less (the maximum penetration range of balsa) and hits and sinkings are fewer. This is more realistic to the purists.

Both formats also have convoys of merchant ships which have to be protected and if permanent ponds or dams are available, shore installations can be built and be bombarded. Cargo ships are unarmed and slow but do have pumps and extra rudder control to help survive surface attack, and shore installations would have oil tanks, harbour facilities and defence batteries which could be destroyed for additional points. No elevation of cannons is permitted.
 
 

   This page hammered, glued together and fencing wire applied by T. Collins, VBS.
     Last fiddled with on 18Feb2000