OBT Forum

I was thinking of Hostile/Toxic Enviroment troops. Someone adept at working in nuclear/biological/chemical zone.

....How did I miss this? I must have been distracted...

I did post something akin to this in the RPG section, but without going into that, for 2785AD I would think that every state out there (with a few exceptions) would have infantry equipment modeled largely on the SLDF:

* In the TH, that's a no-brainer -- SLDF and HAF leftovers (functionally the same thing) should be literally lying around on the ground, with a large admixture of RWR gear recovered and reused by guerrillas.

* I think the Combine infantry would be the closest to 3025, overall, as they are the most conservative of the bunch.

* The Lyran infantry are going to have gear almost the equal of the SLDF/HAF, and in some cases, surpassing it.

* The Leaguers and Suns will be fairly baseline, two or three steps down from the SLDF/HAF, like the Kuritans, but somewhat gaudier and less functional...Remember, there has been c.200 years of 'mostly peace' -- even with police actions, military mindsets tend to ossify rapidly when not in use.

* The Confederation will have the widest variety of forms, ranging from small units (battalion- to regiment-sized) at the SLDF/HAF levels, to hordes of division-sized clouds of raw infantry armed with a STEN Gun-equivalent...they might even have hand grenades and "uniforms" of headbands or t-shirts if they are seen as "loyal".

* Outside of the RWR and the Taurians, I doubt that the Periphery states will spend that much on their infantry -- they'll have a lot of it, certainly, but the OA doesn't like standing armies to begin with, and the Canopians are far more concerned with spending thin budgets (tourism has GOT to have fallen off with all the fighting) on battlemechs.

* The Taurians will be in transition, replacing SLDF gear with native equipment as fast as they can, probably doing division-scale straight-across handover and replacement (troops march to the depot, clean their old weapons and gear, hand them in to Armory and Supply, then check out new weapons and gear at the warehouse/armory next door). The ex-SLDF gear will then be sold, giving Taurian Citizens first pick -- the Taurians believe in making lots of heavy weapons available to their Citizens since they're pretty sure that said weapons are going to be aimed at anyone landing who shouldn't be.

* RWR guerrillas will be carrying a mix of RWR and SLDF gear.

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[[Note that I am rather disparaging towards the Confederation...What I'm writing about them also applies to the militia units of every state - the Capellans just seem to have always fielded a far greater number of 'ad hoc' militia-type units]]

As a baseline, the infantryman of 2785 will have:

- a uniform (at higher levels, this will incorporate a GORTEX-like liquid-resistant layer to aid in NBC defense; you'd be amazed at what can pass for a 'uniform')
- a pair of sturdy boots
- a rifle, with about 200-300 rounds, or power cells for an equivalent number of shots
- body armor (maybe - about 40% of Confederation infantry probably won't) of some kind
- a helmet (at the high end, it will include a built-in gas mask; mid-range will allow a mask to either fit over it, or be attached to it; or, the troops will carry the mask separately, and will have to doff the helmet to put it on...unless they are either lazy, badly-led support troops or 40-50% of Confederation infantry)
- some kind of harness to hang magazine pouches and other gear from (if they have armor, it will be built into the armor's exterior)
- a pocket knife
- a utility knife
- a very shiny - and sharp - bayonet (more for intimidating civilians than harming troops)
- at least one 1-qt/2-liter water bottle, either of food-grade plastic or cheap metal (at higher levels, there will be a replaceable activated-charcoal filter in the neck; lower-tech forces will use purification tablets or hand-/gravity-pumped small unit-sized (squad to platoon) filter tanks)
- some kind of mess kit
- some kind of rain gear (serape, hooded poncho, zeltbahn, or a full rain suit)
- a large rucksack (emphasis on sack, if you're in the Confederation), likely with a waterproof layer
- a sleeping bag of some kind (or a blanket if you're really low tech)
- In decent regular forces (....) every trooper will have a personal comm-unit. These will be 'frequency-hoppers', that shift their signals across 5-20 separate channels at a time, to cut down on enemy radio intercepts. Channels and algorithms will be changed anywhere from every 2-5 hours to two or three times a month.
- Any regular or better unit will have at least infrared night goggles for its troops; higher tech forces will have 'light amplifier' goggles that do not require an external IR light to work....


.....That's what I can think of right now......

I would think the FWL would enjoy the most variation in their infantry composition and supply given the number of competing states.

Also Resolution 288 has either just been implemented or has yet to be implemented - so federal control and/or standardization of equipment will years away. I think you'd find more diverse quality here rather than the CC...

 

Interesting KM, different regional infantry might make sense with the FWL.

My thoughts dwell on the Capellan Confederation and infantry. Life is cheap and for a poor nation like Liaos a military based on the common soldier might make the most sense. From the Home Guard Militia that make up the bulk of the CCAF to the more specialized elite troopers of the Liao Rangers I can see a massive number of conscripts. Almost Soviet or Mao like with an AK style assault rifle known for its ruggedness not sophistication.

That's probably very close to the truth. Given the CC's preference for human wave attacks during the Jihad and the callousness in which the Chancellor uses his subjects, I don't expect Capellan Infantry to be "expensive" units.

With the FWL quality would be determined by provincial requirements. Like I said, federalization of the FWLM at this point is either a minor component or just being instituted/reorganized beyond the norm with the passage of Resolution 288.

That being said, I expect some of the best infantry to come from Andurien, with some of the worst hailing from Regulus. I would place the remaining big states somewhere in the middle.

I would also reevaluate your descriptions of the LC's infantry branch. The Lyrans love building and buying "heavy" equipment, i.e. 'Mechs, tanks, etc. - material with some longevity and power to it. Infantry are cheap and "light." From what I've read about the LC during the Succession Wars and their use of infantry, I'd place their equipment right in the middle between the CC and FWL's best. There's also the fact that the LCAF is rife with fraud and laundering of all sorts. With plenty of LC quartermasters and officers lining their pockets with the profits of illegal war material sales. Dumping small & medium arms is a quick way to earn a dishonest S-Bill...

With DC, I would consider the DCMS treatment and troop equipment above the CC, but below that of the LC. The DC was well known for using Chain Gang units and prisoners as infantry cannon fodder. With that in mind, I would expect the DCMS to treat their infantry with mild disdain - satisfied in the knowledge that regardless of outfit, they have the honor or motivation to perform as expected.

Of the five major Houses (IMO) I would expect the AFFS to enjoy the best infantry standard across the board. While other states have exceptions to the rule - I believe the majority of the AFFS's infantry to be the best outfitted and supplied.

KM-
with regards to the FWL- it is worth noting in HMSB p.114 that the FWL's laser rifles are said to be inferior to those of the LC or DC (at least in 3025).  I suspect that the equipment assigned to the LC troops may be superior (technically) but that equipment is more plentiful in the FWL.

Something worth noting as well is that basic loadouts are going to change depending upon the unit's role.

As an example, airborne infantry is going to be carrying a lighter load than mechanized infantry due to the fact that there is a practical limit to what a parachute can slow down enough to avoid broken bones.  Since an airborne trooper will need to carry extra ammunition on his person compared to a mechanized one (no handy IFV to help carry extra), he will skimp elsewhere on weight.  Look for the mechanized trooper to be wearing heavier body armor, for example.

There're probably a thousand-and-one little differences, but it would probably be easiest to give "standard" loads for mechanized (or motorized)infantry, leg infantry, airborne infantry, jump infantry, special operations infantry, and anti-'Mech versions of each.  Or to give one "standard" load and simply note the variations for each type.

Mechanizing Infantry. While contemplating a new dropship design that carries large numbers of motorized/mechanized infantry I started to think what actually moves them and does it fit. Such infantry platoon crucibles mass 7 tons the most mass per infantry types. Jump infantry platoons mass 6 tons, although there is 21 soldiers here as opposed to 28, and we know that they have special jump packs that facilitate their movement around the battlefield. Foot infantry has no exotic transport as a 28 man platoon weighs only 5 tons to transport via spacecraft.

Well all this got me thinking what mechanizes these infantry? A 50 ton hover Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) or Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) seem out of the question. Even 30 ton helicopters (I know this is probably not mechanized infantry rather air cavalry) seem to weigh too much. You got 2 tons per infantry platoon to work with. So what moves all 28 of them at that rate? Scooters? Motorcycles? Hoversleds?

It is an interesting topic for this thread in particular cause mechanized infantry is likely the Frontline Standard at this time. Discuss!