The Dark Derby is a Zeppelin featured in Crimson Skies. It is the zeppelin of the pirate gang the Black Hats which was sent to intercept a Blake Aviation Security convoy.[1] An initial strike force of Black Hat Fairchild F611 Brigands and Curtiss-Wright P2 Warhawks were dispatched from the zeppelin to seek out and attack the convoy which consisted of the cargo zeppelins Mercury and Twain. While the Brigands distracted the William and Colt Peacemaker 370s, the Warhawks attacked the Twain with Aerial torpedoes, blowing two of its gas bags. Unlikely help for Blake came in the form of Nathan Zachary and the Fortune Hunters who shot down the initial Black Hat wave, though not until after the Black Hats had succeeded in shooting down the Twain.[2]
With reinforcements now aiding the Blake convoy, the Dark Derby moved closer to the convoy in hopes of targeting the remaining zeppelin the Mercury. As the Dark Derby attempted to move into a position where its broadside cannons would be able to shoot at the Mercury, it launched more Brigands and torpedo-armed Warhawks, in case the Dark Derby was unable to successfully shoot down the Mercury. However, Zachary and the Fortune Hunters were able to shoot down the new wave of Black Hats as well as Ulysses Boothe and Ace Dixon before turning their attention to the Dark Derby.[2]
The zeppelin made itself vulnerable as it had to open its cannon bay doors in order to shoot at the Mercury, which left it open to machine gun fire from Zachary and the Fortune Hunters. Utilizing previously gained knowledge from destroying the Promised Land,[3] Zachary targeted the cannons while the hatches were open, allowing him to destroy the zeppelin's gas bags one by one. After destroying three bags, the Dark Derby was unable to support itself and crashed below the cloud layer.[2]
Notes[]
- It is quite possible to destroy the Dark Derby before it ever gets in range of the Mercury by loading a plane up and using the aerial torpedoes stolen in the previous mission Rescue the Black Swan.
Strategy[]
- The Dark Derby is covered in turrets, so disabling them will be useful. Two of your wingmen will already be trying this, but if you do it as well it will quickly render the zeppelin defenseless.
- The zeppelin will drop Black Hat fighters to attack you, taking them out will make it safer to attack the zeppelin.
- One of the ways to destroy the Dark Derby is to shoot at the broadside cannons when the hatches open, like how you destroyed the Gemini.[4]
- High Explosive rockets are the best hard point option for taking out the cannons.
- Another way is to load up torpedoes and destroy three of the gas bags. That will be enough to take down the zeppelin.
- If you destroy all the engines of the zeppelin, it will be unable to keep up with the Mercury, keeping it safe.
- However, if the Dark Derby is out of range, it will not open its cannon hatches to fire, leaving torpedoes your only option. If you run out of torpedoes before destroying it, you will have to restart the mission.
Appearances[]
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