Battle of Castle Rock Lake

          The Battle of Castle Rock Lake was a naval action fought between the UFP Navy and an unknown Rival Troop on Lake Castle Rock, within site of the Shore. It resulted in a decisive naval victory for the UFP, as the enemy surrendered unconditionally.

Buildup

      The UFP, in the form of the BSA Troop 333, had been encamped in the State of Castle Rock, and had multiple times been patrolling the water in or around Naval Base Freedom (Castle Rock Lake). This all came to a head when it was finally claimed that the UFP Ruled the Waves of the Lake. 

Engagement Begins

      On July 18th, 2018, the Federation Kayaks Iowa, South Carolina, and Illinois set out on the Lake for their routine Patrol. However, almost immediately after hauling out of the bay, the trailing boat Illinois reported vessels launching, more than 5. Immediately, the Iowa, under the command of John B.G., moved to intercept, with Conner Zink's South Carolina and Drew Anderson's Illinois holding distance behind.

      Upon reaching hailing distance, John yelled over to the vessel, "Unknown vessels, please identify and state intentions! This is the Federation Vessel Iowa." Their response is unknown, but it is generally considered that the lead vessel ordered his fleet to disperse, giving no response to Iowa, and the vessels of the enemy fleet moved to strategic positions. Immediately realizing that if action wasn't soon taken his fleet would be surrounded, John gave the order, and the call went out to"Fire!" 

      The South Carolina was the first vessel to fire, despite Iowa giving the order first, opening up with a salvo of splashfire on the secondary vessel Fearsome. The shots raked the vessel, as it was unprepared for immediate fire. The Iowa also opened up, and the vessel capsized due to unpreparedness. However, the Iowa was now taking fire from the third and first vessels of the enemy fleet. Going to full steam, the Iowa and South Carolina moved out of the battle zone, still under fire.

      Meanwhile, the Illinois was still taking heavy fire from the remaining vessels, and being a slower ship, she was forced to continue at one-quarter speed to avoid being trapped. One of the enemy vessels stopped firing, and proceeded to ram the Illinois and capsize her. However, thanks to the efforts of the crew, Illinois was soon righted and returned to combat.

     Three remaining vessels had now turned to chase Iowa and South Carolina, and were not stopping. John, aboard the Iowa, ordered the two ships to disperse in different directions. Once the vessels were in optimum position, they opened up on the enemy fleet with coordinated raking fire, using all of their paddles to splashfire the enemy. The enemy vessels, unprepared for the turn, managed only light sporadic fire. Iowa rammed one of the enemy vessels, which caused both ships to capsize. However, the Iowa was righted and returned to battle. The Iowa returned to battle, coming up behind the Illinois. The two ships raked another vessel causing it to permanently capsize.

       All three Vessels formed up again, and opened up on the closest vessel. It turned off, but the ship behind it came up to speed, on a direct course for the Iowa. John and his vessel were able to dodge the ship, but the South Carolina was not able to do the same. Both vessels locked up, each trying to capsize the other, but the South Carolina was struggling. Iowa locked up with the enemy vessel, and with teamwork, the enemy ship capsized. After this, three enemy vessels turned into the shore, and run up the white flag. Three ships had now surrendered. 

        One of the Remaining enemy vessels next rammed the Illinois, causing her to once again capsize. The South Carolina rammed another vessel, causing both of them to capsize. Two more ships ran up the White Flags, and now the Federation held numerical superiority. Iowa fired salvos at one of the remaining enemies, enough to force it to turn off from the attack, and the South Carolina fired on the same ship. The commander of the kayak turned his body to try and avoid the shots, but in doing so shifted the weight of the ship too far to port. The Kayak capsized, and surrendered. All three ships cheered out, " Sun Prairie rules the Waves!" But the battle was not yet over.

       The final enemy kayak rammed the Iowa so quickly that the ship capsized, and the enemy continued on. The South Carolina raked the vessel , but the enemy was still able to assault the Illinois and capsize her as well. The South Carolina rammed the enemy, and both ships capsized. But by this point the Iowa had righted itself, and was assisting the Illinois. Having enough, and realizing that the Federation Navy would eventually triumph, the final vessel surrendered, and scuttled it's kayak to prevent the ships's capture.

Repercutions

        Both Conner Zink and Andrew Anderson have been nominated for the Federation Valor and Honor Medal, the highest award in the Federation. John B.G., Commander of the Fleet, refused nomination for the medal.

        In addition, the USS South Carolina, a new battleship of the UFP Navy, was named for the Kayak used in the battle.