In the interest of expanding our horizons, this year's Club Dueling
Championship was held in the Carter Lake Aqua Arena, using Division 20
boats. The three duelists who participated were Mike Garrity (reigning
champion), Don Jacques, and Norman McMullen.
The duelists accelerated as they left their respective
starting lines, heading for the central island. Mike and Don closed the
range and opened fire. Mike obtained a hit with his turreted VMG while
Don did the same with his side-mounted RL, though the incendiary RL round
failed to set Mike's armor on fire. At close range, Don fired one of his
right side-mounted torpedoes. Mike's underbody armor received major damage.
A follow-up torpedo was launched, but was shot out of the water by Mike's
VMG. In reply, Don got some light armor damage from Mike.
Norman rounded the central island and headed toward
Mike. Both opened fire. Norman's RL and HR did minor damage, while Mike's
side-mounted MFRs (with blow-through concealment) did major harm to Norman's
front armor. The boats were involved in sideswipe as the past each other.
Norman, with his armor damage, felt the few points of damage more than
Mike did. Still accelerating, Mike started to circle the central island.
However, Mike went over some floating mines left
by Norman. The damage was enough to breach his underbody armor, starting
the slow process of flooding his boat. His power plant also received some
minor damage in the mine blast. On the other side of the island Mike ran
into Don, firing his other set of MFRs. Don's armor was breached and the
pilot was killed, earning Mike the first kill in the event. Don's boat
continued to move straight, ending up on the beach next to the middle gate
two turns later.
Mike and Norman confronted each other again and
traded shots. Each suffered light damage to their left-side armor. Norman
dropped more mines, but Mike avoid them. In doing so, Norman was able to
engage Mike again, firing his RL and obtaining a hit. Mike fired back with
his VMG, finally breaching Norman's left side. In passing, Mike ran over
another set of mines left by Norman. But Mike's luck held, for the mines
were not set off.
The battling duo circled back around, exchanging
fire as they approached. Norman dropped more mines in passing, and Mike
again successfully avoided them. However, Mike's boat was steadily settling
in the lake as more and more water gushed into his boat due to his breached
bottom armor. While he had the opportunity, Mike fired into Norman's left
side, taking out the power plant.
Norman turned to the right, keeping his breached
armor away from Mike's weapon. He kept going right so as not to take on
water. While doing this continuous turn, Norman and Mike traded fire, damaging
each other's right armor.
In time, Mike's power plant shorted out due to the
rising level of water in his boat. In a last act of bravado, Mike closed
on Norman, ramming into his rear armor for minor damage. Coasting to a
stop, Mike's boat sunk near the central island. Norman coasted to a stop
just off-shore of the west edge of the lake.
Things weren't over, for Mike swam over to Norman's
boat. Thus began a hand-to-hand battle that lasted several turns, ending
in Mike's victory.
Duel Length: 30 turns.
Finishing Positions:
1st place - Mike Garrity (one full kill, maneuverability
kill, was sunk, and won hand-to-hand battle)
2nd place - Norman McMullen (one full kill, lost hand-to-hand
battle)
3rd place - Don Jacques (killed by Mike)
Boat Designs:
Barely Adequate Boat (B.A.B) by Mike Garrity: Speedboat, medium power plant, 2 medium propellers, pilot, boat top, turreted VMG, 4 MFRs (2 linked left, 2 linked right), blow-through concealment for MFRs, SWC - VMG. Armor: F35, L20, R20, B25, T10, U15. Accel. 5, top speed 72.5, HC 3; 6,710 lbs., $20,000.
Never by Norman McMullen: Speedboat, medium power plant w/PC and SC, medium propeller, pilot, boat top, RL right, HR left, MD w/floating mines rear linked to RL, link from RL to HR, bilge pump. Sloped Armor: F37, L38, R38, B37, T10, U40. Accel. 5, top speed 67.5, HC 2; 6,895 lbs., $19,975.
Acoustic Assassin 20 by Don Jacques: Speedboat, medium power plant, 2 medium propellers, pilot, boat top, RL w/incendiary ammo left, 4 homing torpedoes (2 left, 2 right), 2 foxers rear. Armor: F40, L40, R40, B40, T6, U30. Accel. 5, top speed 62.5, HC 3; 6,995 lbs., $19,995.