Thursday 26 November 2020

Send in the Cavalry

The latest Sierra Foxtrot army I've started working on is the most conventional - a "Southern Commonwealth Cavalry Squadron". A straightforward mixed armour/mech infantry formation (using sci-fi vehicles) from a fictional future Earth nation. 


The models are the Merka 5 tank, Earthforce APC, and Earthforce Home Guard, all from Rebel Minis. I also found (and I don't know if this is by design or convenient coincidence) the turret ring on the APC is a close match for the Animech weapons, which made for very easy conversion of ATGM and missile launcher variants. 

This force presented a good opportunity to do something I've needed to do for a while - actually write up profiles and army lists for the units. This force was quite easy to stat up. Not having any weird sci-fi units, I could just find a real-world unit that fit the role and tweak them slightly. It also provides a good baseline. Having the profile of a conventional army fixed will provides a starting point for stating out the more unconventional units. 


Southern Commonwealth Cavalry Squadron

While Earth is no longer the only human world, it remains a major population center, and home to several major powers. One of these is the Southern Commonwealth - a federal state including what was once the countries of Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and several Pacific Island nations.

The technology available to humanity is significantly below the level of the Malroids or Citadel forces, and even slightly below that of the Serpents. Nevertheless, it has proved sufficient for human armies to hold their own. The armored Cavalry Squadrons fielded by the Southern Commonwealth are an example of this. While Terran science has only vague theories as to the nature of the energy beams the Malroids use, battlefield experience has shown that the heavy armor of the Lion MBT provides a reasonable level of protection against them. Similarly the gauss rifles used by human infantry are also, for the most part, capable of taking on their equivalents in higher technology forces.

The composition of a Southern Cavalry Squadron would be reasonably familiar to soldiers from even as far back as the Second World War - a core of battle tanks and mechanized infantry, supported by artillery and heavy weapon vehicles.


A force based around a Southern Commonwealth Cavalry Squadron must contain;

  • An HQ Armour Section
  • Two Armour Troops

It may optionally add:

  • An additional Armour Troop
  • Up to three Mechanised Infantry Troops
  • An ATGM Troop
  • A Rocket Artillery Troop




SQUADRON HQ

The HQ of a Cavalry Squadron consists of a single Lion MBT (see below for profile).

COMBAT UNITS

2 or 3 Armoured Troops

The Lion main battle tank forms the core of SC armoured forces. Its frontal armour is heavy enough that it pushes the limits of Terran engineering (which impacts on the tank's mobility and reliability) but it has also proved strong enough to withstand almost any battlefield threat. The main armament is a tight-focus 1.2 megajoule charged particle cannon. Some tanks are also fitted with the 'Halfback' laser Close-In-Weapon-System for defense against missiles and air threats.



HQ Lion MBT with:
  • 2 Lion MBT Sections       [X0] points
  • 3 Lion MBT Sections       [X1] points

    Options

  • Add two 'Halfback' CIWS to each Lion for +[X2] points for a 3-strong troop, or +[X3] points for a 4-strong troop.

  • Armour
    Name Rating Mobility Front Side Top Notes
    Lion MBT Confident Trained Tracked 20 7 2

    Weapon Range ROF AT FP Notes
    1.2 MJ Particle Cannon 32" / 80cm 2 22 2+ Brutal, Stabilized
    Halfback CIWS 16" / 40cm 4 2 5+ AA

    0 - 3 Mechanised Infantry Troops

    The rugged APC-2 series of armoured vehicles are the backbone of Commonwealth armies. The basic hull and engine have been used in numerous variants, from the original IFV, to artillery and heavy weapons platforms, to command, ambulance, and armoured recovery vehicles. Commonwealth infantry lack some of the advanced gadgets their opponents have, but are brave and well-trained, and can generally hold their own. 



    • 5 Commonwealth Infantry Sections with 3 APC-2 Transports        [Y0] points


    Armour
    Name Rating Mobility Front Side Top Notes
    APC-2 Confident Trained Tracked 5 2 1

    Weapon Range ROF AT FP Notes
    720 kJ Particle Cannon 24" / 60cm 2 14 3+
    DFD-12 Missile Launcher 32" / 80cm 1 20 4+ Move or Fire


    So, that's at least the core units for the Cavalry Squadron done. The ATGM and launcher variants of the APC are still to-do;


    ... but I'll stat those up once I have the full troops finished. 

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