I am now imagining a Goldfish using its fins to smash into infantry. I always knew those things were sinister.
Pretty cool sketch. The only glimpses of ground combat I saw were in that original GoI demo, you have to wonder what role these airships played in the war. They can't be airplane killers or else there'd be no point in airplanes attacking airships. We're already acquainted with their utility in airship-to-airship combat, but if the only reason you're building airships is to kill other airships why not just send planes to kill their expensive airships and just not bother? Troop and supply transport is a pretty obvious use but it's a little boring if its weapons are only meant to serve as deterrents, that'd mean some other machination is the real star of the GoI world.
I'm guessing they normally serve as megabombers, capable of carrying much heavier payloads than these primitive airplanes, capable of leveling entire cities not with one giant flash as with a nuke, but with many, many fires. Weapons of mass terror, dropping horrible chemicals and fires to destroy not only buildings but torture those poor souls trapped inside, so that they scream and traumatize any unlucky survivors so that they may spread horror stories and destroy their nation's morale.
Every fight in Skirmish is another attempt to both prevent this happening to your people and to inflict this suffering on others.
Floating support by fire or artillery battery platforms.
Following the reduction of enemy airships, or in the event of their absence otherwise, these airships could be utilized to provide indirect fires, or large bore fires in direct lay, all across the battlefield. This could be useful in reducing enemy defenses, obstacles, and vehicles, but also incredibly useful for lane proofing (mine clearing) operations. Depending on the state of communications during this period, they could also drop a comm line to a rear element, which would allow the rear element to speak directly to the airship itself and relay ground traffic regarding the tactical situation.
Having the ability to provide these sorts of continuous suppression would support ground troops IMMENSELY, as they wouldn't have to worry about getting their own internal support weapons to key terrain in the expeditious fashion that they would otherwise have to. Having this sort of firepower screaming over your shoulder means you advance UNDER your suppression, and you're on top of the enemy before they've really got a chance to orient themselves. Left unchecked, this sort of support could easily end a battle before it began.
It could also supply illumination using the mounted flare gun, in the event of a night assault. Used correctly, these flares could be utilized to illuminate the enemy AND destroy their ability to see in the dark.
The ability of larger vessels to carry smaller aircraft could be used to conduct fast, hit and run style raids on facilities. Depending on the method of insertion, the airships themselves could be the release point for a raid, as well.
