Rolling on the River...

jason taylor · 09-10-2007, 11:39 PM

To most Anglo-Saxons the Russian navy is best known for the fact that John Paul Jones served in it as a mercenary as well as for the fact that it's proudest ship was commanded by a great officer with the proud Russian name of Sean Connery, but was finnally tracked down by the shy-but-brilliant analyst Alec Baldwin.
The fact is Russia has never done all that well at sea, and indeed has never really needed to. But Russia has a fine tradition of fresh-water warfare.
During World War II the Red Navy prowled up and down the long rivers doing raids, insertions and exstractions, minor amphibious assaults and generally making life miserable for the Fascist Pigs. The Red Navy played an important part in the destruction of Army Group Center. The Germans who had never really conceived of such a thing before were completely outclassed in fresh water even though the Kreigsmarine did try to keep it's end up.
The unique setting is a great idea for an RPG. It has the advantage of tremendous variety. The PCs can spend time bringing supplies to Stalingrad, render assistance to the partisans holeing up in the marshes, go on long campaigns and in between make mayhem just for the heck of it. The setting also gives the weird benefit of being able to play through the entire Great Patriotic War-and actually survive which would be difficult in the infantry and armor.
As a side note the US Navy spent a bit of time in riverine campaigning in the reconquest of the Phillipines. I believe there was also some in the CBI theater.

09-10-2007, 11:39 PM	#1
jason taylor Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon	Rolling on the River... To most Anglo-Saxons the Russian navy is best known for the fact that John Paul Jones served in it as a mercenary as well as for the fact that it's proudest ship was commanded by a great officer with the proud Russian name of Sean Connery, but was finnally tracked down by the shy-but-brilliant analyst Alec Baldwin. The fact is Russia has never done all that well at sea, and indeed has never really needed to. But Russia has a fine tradition of fresh-water warfare. During World War II the Red Navy prowled up and down the long rivers doing raids, insertions and exstractions, minor amphibious assaults and generally making life miserable for the Fascist Pigs. The Red Navy played an important part in the destruction of Army Group Center. The Germans who had never really conceived of such a thing before were completely outclassed in fresh water even though the Kreigsmarine did try to keep it's end up. The unique setting is a great idea for an RPG. It has the advantage of tremendous variety. The PCs can spend time bringing supplies to Stalingrad, render assistance to the partisans holeing up in the marshes, go on long campaigns and in between make mayhem just for the heck of it. The setting also gives the weird benefit of being able to play through the entire Great Patriotic War-and actually survive which would be difficult in the infantry and armor. As a side note the US Navy spent a bit of time in riverine campaigning in the reconquest of the Phillipines. I believe there was also some in the CBI theater.