This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Sun 05 Apr 2009.

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:10, Sun 05 Apr 2009.

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:11, Sun 05 Apr 2009.

In this campaign, the Vistula Queen is a more modern river tug than the model presented in the original v1.0 module. The “new” Queen’s layout and dimensions are roughly the same but there are a few important technical differences I’d like to point out. The following was researched and written by the esteemed gear-head, ChalkLine.

“That dumb-arse idea of using the diesel pistons to power the engine can go off to D&D land and we'll toss the whole motor into a shed somewhere. In it's place, we'll have Jozef construct his own tube boiler and use a three-stage steam piston engine from an old factory. No matter how good Jozef is, he's going to have gauges as well. I showed that section of a mate of mine who's a maritime engineer and he was in hysterics. Still, she's going to be a hard job for three men down there, and the upkeep and crewing rules we can keep - along with the lobster-cooker.

Now, our new Krolowa is all steel and the hull is reinforced, she should be able to stop 7.62 NATO at close range for the hull, and 5.56 NATO to the superstructure.

The massively reinforced hull and even more reinforced bow of a tug is a serious thing to be considered (especially those that work ice-bound rivers). With a full head of steam that thing can easily sink less well protected vessels and smash down obstructions. This is not a frail vessel, but the bulldozer and tractor of the brown water environment. Also, modern tugs can turn on their own length, unlike other ships. River tugs do not have the central skeg-prop of harbor tugs, but they are extremely manouverable in comparison with almost all other vessels, and bow thrusters are usually mandatory.”

When the campaign begins, the refitting of the Wisla Krolowa is underway.

The crew has filled innumerable sandbags which are available for use. Additional materials for fortifying or modifying the Queen will need to be acquired by the PC’s.

Safety valve — Pressure relief valve to stop the boiler exceeding the operating limit.
Generator — small steam turbine directly coupled with electrical generator to headlights etc.
Throttle Lever/Regulator — Controls the opening of the regulator/throttle valve (#.31) thereby controlling the supply of steam to the cylinders.
Steam dome — Collects the steam at the top of the boiler so that it can be fed to the engine via the regulator/throttle valve
Air pump — Provides air pressure for operating the brakes on the prop shaft.
Smokebox — Collects the hot gases that have passed from the firebox and through the boiler tubes. It may contain a cinder guard to prevent hot cinders being exhausted up the chimney. Usually has a blower to help draw the fire when the regulator is closed. Steam exhausting from the cylinders is also directed up to the chimney through the smokebox to draw the fire while the regulator is open.
Blower a circular pipe below the chimney petticoat pipe, with holes to blow steam upwards. Provides a draught to encourage the fire when stationary and the blastpipe is not effective. This draught also prevent smoke and flame from entering the cab.
Petticoat pipe is a pipe with a bellmouth-shaped end extending into the smokebox and the other end in the smoke stack. Its function is to enhance and equalize draft through the boiler tubes.
Main steam pipe — carries steam to the cylinders.
Smoke box door — Hinged circular door to allow service access to the smoke box.
Valve gear/motion — System of rods and linkages synchronising the valves with the pistons and controls the direction and power output of the engine.
Main rod/Connecting rod — Steel arm that converts the horizontal motion of the piston into a rotation motion of the drive shafts. The connection between piston and main rod is supported by a horizontal slide-bar behind the cylinder.
Piston rod — Connects the piston to the cross-head axle, which drives the main/connecting rods.
Piston — Driven backward and forward within the cylinder by steam pressure, producing mechanical motion from steam expansion.
Valve — Controls the supply of steam to the cylinders, timing is synchronised by the valve gear connect to the Drivers. Steam locomotives may have slide valves, piston valves or poppet valves.
Valve chest/steam chest — Small chamber (sometimes cylindrical) above or to the side of the main cylinder containing passageways used by the valves to distribute live steam to the cylinders.
Firebox — Furnace chamber that is built into the boiler and usually surrounded by water. Almost anything combustible can be used as fuel but generally coal, coke, wood or oil are burnt.
Boiler tubes — Carry hot gasses from the fire box through the boiler, heating the surrounding water.
Boiler — Water container that is heated by hot gases passed through boiler tubes, thereby producing steam.
Superheater tubes — Pass steam back through the boiler to dry out and 'super heat' the steam for greater efficiency.
Regulator/Throttle valve — Controls the amount of steam delivered to the cylinders (also see #.8).
Superheater — Feeds steam back through boiler tubes to superheat (heat beyond just boiling point) the steam to increase the engine efficiency and power.
Chimney/Smokestack — Short chimney on top of the smokebox to carry the exhaust (smoke) away from the engine so that it doesn't obscure the engineer's vision. Usually extended down inside the smokebox - the extension is called a petticoat. Some railways, e.g. the Great Western Railway, fitted a decorative copper cap to the top of the chimney.
Water compartment — Container for water used by the boiler to produce steam that is subsequently usually exhausted from the cylinders.
Coal bunker — Fuel supply for the furnace. Variations may hold wood, coke, or oil. Fed to the firebox either manually or, in later engines, mechanically.
Grate — Holds the burning fuel and allows unburnable ash to drop through.
Ashpan hopper — Collects the unburnable ash from spent fuel.
Blast pipe — Directs exhaust steam up the chimney, creating a draught that draws air through the fire and along the boiler tubes.
Snifting valve (not shown) — An anti-vacuum valve which permits air to be drawn through the superheater and cylinders which allows the engine to coast freely when the regulator is closed.


Thanks to Mark101 for the list of steam engine parts.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 03:17, Tue 02 June 2015.

Top Speed: 15kph (without tow), 10kph (with tow)

Length: 35m

Beam: 10m

Draft: 2m

Displacement: 200 Tons

Crew: 8


Tug Defenses:

Hull: can stop up to and including 12.7mm AP

Superstructure: can stop up to and including 7.62mm rounds

Bridge doors and shutters: can stop up to and including 7.62mm rounds

HMG Gunshields: can stop up to and including 7.62mm rounds

Vasilek Gunshield: can stop up to and including 7.62mm rounds

Quarterdeck fighting positions: can stop up to 5.56mm at medium range, 7.62mm at long range

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This message was last edited by the GM at 22:23, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

The Krolowa's equipment includes the following:

1 inflatable 6-man life raft, plus numerous flotation and rescue devices such as life preservers and life jackets.

1 CO3 [sic] fire extinguisher, plus buckets for sand or water at strategic locations throughout the tug.

A well stocked "sick-bay" in the galley, plus first-aid kits throughout the tug. The sick bay is the equivalent of a Doctor's medical kit; the first aid kits are Personal Medical Kits.

A 60 kilowatt generator permanently installed below decks and a 60-kilowatt portable generator kept in the machine shop on the main deck (to supply it with power).

A white light spotlight mounted above the bridge.

2 pairs of 4x binoculars.

*One battery powered portable laser range finder.

150 meters of heavy-duty steel cable for hauling and securing the barge.

200 meters of hemp cable and hawsers for docking and anchoring.

300 meters of light line of all sizes and weights.

2 Soviet-made DShK machineguns mounted on the companionway on either side of the bridge, and [see Weapon's Locker] rounds of ammo.

1 Very pistol, and an assortment of hand-held and pistol flares, signal rockets, and line-carrying rockets.

An extensive set of mechanic's and engineering tools for use on the engines and for repair work throughout the boat.  These are equivalent to a Basic Tool Kit, Power Hand Tools and Electrical Repair tools combined, and an Arc Welder. The Machine Shop on board is the equivalent of a Portable Machine Shop, but without the trailer.

The galley includes a large refrigerator and small freezer, and a galley stove which is the equivalent of a military field cooker. Crude but efficient water purification equipment has been fabricated and installed as well.

The storeroom includes a small ethanol still. A section of the storeroom has been converted into a shower. There is even a bathtub, taken from an abandoned building, which the crew uses for laundry as well as bathing.

1 Krakow Flag

1 Polish Flag

1 Warsaw Flag

1 Black (Pirate) Flag

1 Soviet Union Flag


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This message was last edited by the GM at 03:42, Thu 04 June 2015.