The Unseen Servant forums

Posted: **Wed Jun 23, 2021 11:21 pm**

joertexas wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:55 pm If Freya takes Freddie, what happens to "Florence"?

Her primary role is Tech, so... that?

There might be occasion when Freddie, as the only person who's passed the range course, has more important things to do than drive. Technically he's HQ defence platoon squad, we're just using him to give Freya a combat-effective body on her team who can drive while the others fly drones.

EDIT

Another thought:

Kit is now our PC infantry commander (with two NPC squads in support), so he will need to relinquish command of his IFV on deploying. Should he take an Inchin tanker as vehicle commander and only 7 troops, or 8 guys and have the IFV remotely commanded by Jess or Sugar when he debusses?

Safety/flexibility suggests an NPC tanker aboard,

Thoughts, gurusql?

Posted: **Wed Jun 23, 2021 11:57 pm**

Once again...

Merc Company Org Chart v4.6.pptx: (48.34 KiB) Downloaded 24 times

Posted: **Wed Jun 23, 2021 11:57 pm**

OK, what is the best place that I can get some understanding of all the equipment and the standard kit for our unit. I have been trying to understand, but with all the discussions, I has turned to mush.

I see a bunch of names that seem like I have a semi-reasonable guess on what they do, but with the name of the IFV (which I assume is Infantry Fighting Vehicle) tells me nothing as to the capabilities, how troops get in and out, how fast, how much fire can it take, etc. Where is Binder getting the shopping list from?

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 12:12 am**

joertexas wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 11:57 pm Once again...

Merc Company Org Chart v4.6.pptx

Looking good.

If we need to shift a body out of Kit's vehicle there are two empty seats in Jakobs squad.

edit

Looking at the compilation below it seems that Kit's squad is fine as is.

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 12:30 am**

gurusql wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 11:57 pm OK, what is the best place that I can get some understanding of all the equipment and the standard kit for our unit. I have been trying to understand, but with all the discussions, I has turned to mush. I see a bunch of names that seem like I have a semi-reasonable guess on what they do, but with the name of the IFV (which I assume is Infantry Fighting Vehicle) tells me nothing as to the capabilities, how troops get in and out, how fast, how much fire can it take, etc. Where is Binder getting the shopping list from?

Sorry, I'm demonstrating badmin, aren't I?

I generated the shopping list in consultation with Tiglath, and the rest of you. I recruited the extra personnel, then I bought the equipment we needed for them, and improved existing kit. As the discussion on the forum brought up extra requirements, I fulfilled them. The budget was set according to the spending agreed on the thread - we upgraded the Bartizan, replaced and upgraded existing assets, recruited and paid wages, and I spent the remainder on... things. Many, many things.

The kit lists are at the first and last pages in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=849&t=10122&p=554523#p554523

Basically, every trigger-puller has Chameleon Combat Armour (henceforth CA) and a 9mm Advanced Combat Rifle (ACR) as standard. Each squad also has a SAW (heavy duty, full-auto ACR). Two squads (yours is one) have a PGMP-12 (Plasma Gun, Man Portable, Tech Level 12) high-energy weapon. Officers have upgraded optics on their CA. All CA is psionically shielded. All troopers (and all vehicle/technical/medic/support personnel) also have a Chameleon Combat Environment Suit (ChamCES, or CES), for base area/non-combat duty. Or just when we don't want to look like the dangerous people we actually are.

Regarding the Infantry Fighting Vehicles (

), I don't know all the exits, that's for Tiglath to describe. I assume rear ramp/door. Maybe top hatch? Perhaps even belly hatch. That might be useful for more than crew escape. They are Grav vehicles with a Rapid Pulse Plasma Gun Type A (RP-A for short). This is a nasty weapon, but only the earliest iteration of an increasingly nasty family of weapons. We can add an old-fashioned .50 cal MG to yours if you like, or the spare Tac missile launcher if you have someone who can use it.

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 12:52 am**

Here is a compilation of what we know about the IFVs (snippets from various posts):

The Grunt Class AFV is a family of task specific vehicles built on a common grav chassis. Overview: they are compact (4dt) so as to be optimised for interstellar transportation. The APC variant is a turreted transport for ten infantry plus two crew. It has TL14 avionics allowing a top sped of 1000kph, cruising speed of 750kph and NoE at 180kph. It has 5000km range radio and laser comms and active sensors (with HUD for the crew) to the same range. Defences include Electronic Masking, Laser sensor and a full range of expendables (sand/aerosol, smoke and flank mounted APERS system). Offensive armament is either the hard hitting PB-12 (Pen 54) or the more versatile RPA-12 (Pen 44 +2). The modest hull armour is rated at 35 so is proof against man portable plasma weapons and most mid tech RAM grenades. Bottom line: It is compact and light on armour but therefore cheap. It is not a main battle tank - it's a merc taxi! However, it has the sensor suite to stay out of trouble and pick its fights.
It seems a brace of APCs (@10 seats) would likely solve your line troop's mobility issues (taken with the other vehicles you possess).

These vehicles will serve well - within their limits. One of these is the mid tech niche of being immune to man portable plasma and therefore vulnerable only to fusion (if that happens it's all over anyway) and solid stuff folk shoot your way. Now, there is a solution to that last but it would cost you 3.5MCr (to you for cash). It's a Grunt APC retaining the RPA-12 (Pen 44, Hitting at +2) but with only four seats because the rest of it is full of gauss needles, a VRF gauss gun and a TL14 point defence system. Big ticket - but stops people breaking your toys (and your lads/ladettes). Yet another option...

Clearly I revel in my role as, whilst insecurely restrained in the child seat of your shopping trolley, I reach stuff off the shelves and drop it in...

There is some "recon redundancy" in purchasing the Grunt AFVs and they come with ECM (listed as EMM under the Mega Traveller design system). They also come with hybrid TL 13/14 active sensors with 500km range. So, while your new military vehicles are "electronically masked" you para military G Carriers and civvy rear echelon vehicles (Bus & Ambulance) are not.

NB The HQ/Gunship launch also has a full starship sensor suite with active and passive arrays.

As to AFV crew you can hire mooks to work "the downstairs" as the vehicle runs on the commander's expertise as per Striker. I'll allow that to be PC's expertise if you are loaded aboard and can perform "backseat driving". The tankers you were interviewing would be competent enough to rate as Veterans (so a +2 task DM) and Collace is awash with Grav Vehicle 0 folk so finding those with some military training and better driving skills won't be hard.

Answer: Yes, the Grunt series simply switches out one role for another but retains the functionality of the basic chassis just like other AFV families (e.g. M113). If you want it to not carry a squad you can trade out the four seats for more VRF ammo.

NB The "Swatter" PD variant still retains its RPA-12.

I will also assume the pair of APCs mount the rapid pulse RPA-12 (Pen 44 +2 to Hit) [So net +4 with your Veteran commanders] unless you want the "single shot" PB-12 (Pen 54 +0 to Hit) instead? The broad difference is Pen 54 allows you to engage tanks and get hits on starship hulls (AV 60) (but only on a six!) Pen 44 will happily shoot up other APCs/infantry/materiel.

APC Armament
In fairness if you are fighting something that well armoured it has likely all gone horribly wrong. If a "one off nasty surprise" crops up on the battlefield then your go to anti tank system is Jess' missiles. Plasma guns (and all energy weapons) are automatically spotted when they fire so using your APC as a tank hunter would be very risky indeed. While it might be nice to have the luxury to punch above your weight you are probably better off limiting your APCs to jobs within their mission parameters.

The real answer is, of course, to buy some more AFVs with a dual purpose AT / Direct Fire support role!

You can add pintel mounts to any of your new vehicles to add additional firepower from your arsenal: HMGs, missile/grenade launchers, etc

Please assume that you can mount/dismount weapons as you wish.

This means once back on Collace you can add pintel mounted .50 cal HMGs to all the vehicles you want - I believe even the bus sports one .50 cal!

Also the Tac Missile system can be added

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:27 am**

Regarding the IFV-PD, what's the purpose for this vehicle that the regular version can't fill?

As it stands, we have 1 1/2 squads that are protected by decent armor. The IFVs aren't tanks, but they're much more survivable than the G Carriers in combat. Basically, those troops will have to dismount and walk or use grav belts to enter combat.

The two IFVs can support each other with their own armaments, but they can't deliver two full squads under fire. Given the rapid firing plasma cannons and whatever coaxial armaments the IFVs have, do we really need the VRF gauss with it's prodigious ammo cost and limited range?

A couple more items:

What rank does Kit now hold? Captain?
What rank does Freya hold? W/O?
There was talk of bringing Liv in as the Intelligence Officer. Did she accept that assignment?

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:36 am**

Bindoner - Thank you for the clarifying pieces of information!

joertexas wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:27 am What rank does Kit now hold? Captain?

Ankit "Kit" Ghoshal is a Lt. in SEMC and was a Major in the Imperial Marines

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:22 am**

The VRF is an anti-missile system. That is a function that the standard armament cannot perform. As missiles are the standard anti-armour weapon we really need it. An RPG will take a G-Carrier (remember the Bartizan), we vitally need the capacity to intercept such threats.

Delivering troops under fire is a sub-optimal manoeuvre, we should try to avoid needing to do that.

The risk of a direct approach is mitigated by the ability of the mortar to lay smoke and the PD can cover the G-Carriers too.

If it's really vital to deploy on target and under fire four extra bodies might not be as effective as the VRF firing in the ground role. It is still a devastating weapon in its own right.

I don't think there's a coax, but we can put a pintle mounted .50 on things.

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:30 pm**

The Bindoner wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:22 am The VRF is an anti-missile system. That is a function that the standard armament cannot perform. As missiles are the standard anti-armour weapon we really need it. An RPG will take a G-Carrier (remember the Bartizan), we vitally need the capacity to intercept such threats.

Delivering troops under fire is a sub-optimal manoeuvre, we should try to avoid needing to do that.

The risk of a direct approach is mitigated by the ability of the mortar to lay smoke and the PD can cover the G-Carriers too.

If it's really vital to deploy on target and under fire four extra bodies might not be as effective as the VRF firing in the ground role. It is still a devastating weapon in its own right.

I don't think there's a coax, but we can put a pintle mounted .50 on things.

Good deal.

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:31 pm**

gurusql wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:36 am Bindoner - Thank you for the clarifying pieces of information!

joertexas wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:27 am What rank does Kit now hold? Captain?
Ankit "Kit" Ghoshal is a Lt. in SEMC and was a Major in the Imperial Marines

Got it.

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:53 pm**

joertexas wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:27 amRegarding the IFV-PD, what's the purpose for this vehicle that the regular version can't fill?

There was talk of bringing Liv in as the Intelligence Officer. Did she accept that assignment?

In reverse order yes Liv signed on!

I'll (simultaneously!

) add to the above answers to say that the PD vehicle's cost and role is defined by its fire control. The system functions like contemporary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS (with a bit of Trophy thrown in).

As to a historical match for the Grunt the late WW2 British Cromwell tank shares a lot of its characteristics: used as armoured reconnaissance not as armour, reasonable protection, dual purpose gun, fast and with its main role being a troop carrier! Oddly enough fighting in a mostly asymmetric environment where its anti armour predators were a very real but rare threat fits the Grunt concept too!

The PD vehicle on overwatch mitigates the "medium" armour strength of the IFVs by providing a defensive "umbrella" to counter incoming anti tank missile and artillery fire. There are ways PD systems can be defeated: energy weapons and oversaturation being two.

The Grunt design is always compromised by cost and available space hence no coax weapon (to save on ammo volume) but relies on external APERS mines. If you find the need for a coax system the answer would be to retro fit a support energy weapon (like a gatling laser).

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:12 pm**

Tiglath wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:53 pm If you find the need for a coax system the answer would be to retro fit a support energy weapon (like a gatling laser).

Don't we have one of those from Inchin?

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:37 pm**

Yes!

And...
Roll(2d6)+1:
5,6,+1
Total:12
Blast - can't argue with that!
...someone thought to retro fit it.

If you want it mounted coaxially on the IFVs (fireable by the vehicle gunner) - its done.

If you want one on each of the vehicles they are 15KCr apiece (you'll need two more).

Effective range: 180m (Pen 9) [+2 autofire]
Long range: 360m (Pen 4) +2
Extreme range: 1.8km (Pen 1) +2 (can be linked to your missile system to designate targets).

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:45 pm**

Mounting on the IFVs sounds good to me, plus 2 more if we afford it

More (Fire)Power!

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:28 pm**

Tiglath wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 8:13 pm
BackworldTraveller wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 6:15 pm Well, it will be good to have a Veteran of the unit's pervious actions on hand to provide a bit of unit history and panache. I seem to have recruited from the bottom of the social scale and having Camp Freddie would be good.

Has anyone written the guy's bio yet?
Please go ahead and bring him to life!

He's not trained on the Ma Deuce but could fire it untrained (but not whilst driving).

With Grav Vehicle 1 he is a proper driver and might have some specific (JoT style) expertise as an ex Collace "wheelsman"/getaway driver. I'm sure you've seen the film...

Camp Freddie is a bit of a gem! (Not)
767723
Bribery+1, Combat Rifleman+2, Computer+0, Handgun+1, Grav Vehicle+1
I'm not sure he ever saw the inside of a school! As a draftee, he was used in the front line at every opportunity. He joined SEMC because it was quiet. Despite the spectacular deployments, he avoided being noticed for decoration or promotion at any point - and spent his spare time enjoying the soldier's life.
Born on Collace: Grav Vehicle+0, Computer+0
Drafted into the Infantry having failed to become a Merchant
Year1: Initial Training: Combat Rifleman+1; Grav Vehicle+1
Year2: Counter Insurgency: Combat Ribbon (Army Life) Handgun+1
Year3: Police Action: Combat Ribbon (Army Life) Bribery+1
Year4: Raid: Combat Ribbon (Narrowly avoided Court Martial), No Skills!
And from SEMC: Combat Rifleman+1

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:46 pm**

What rank does Freya hold now?

Latest iteration...

Merc Company Org Chart v4.7.pptx: (48.91 KiB) Downloaded 17 times

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:37 pm**

Tiglath wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:51 pm
BackworldTraveller wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 2:51 pm Any chance of some vislight chameleon kit bags for transporting "Stuff" out of sight?
The answer is yes

the but is since this would be civvy stealth rather than military gear (less spies/deniable people) it will run right through "v. expensive" and into "f. expensive".

The expense would preclude general issue but "background blending near invisible luggage" (if I understand the request correctly) would be doable for one or two depending on capacity 20 to 50 KCr. Like all stealth tech it is advantageous but not perfect and becomes more detectable as range closes. Invisible hasn't been invented but this would get you close to the security guy before he notices your big old bag of Matrix/Deadpool guns.

What sizes are those? In terms of weapons/equipment capacity? How small can we get away with is the real question. Budget issues.

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:38 pm**

joertexas wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:46 pm What rank does Freya hold now?

Her previous rank was O3 (if that helps)

Posted: **Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:51 pm**

shaidar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:45 pm Mounting on the IFVs sounds good to me, plus 2 more if we afford it

More (Fire)Power!

I think it's a good investment. Another 45k spent.

Further to gurusql's query on standard load out:

Every ACR has an underslung RAM grenade launcher with a three-round magazine.

We also have an allotment of MANPADs (6 crates of one-man anti-air missiles) and LAW (issued 1 per Rifleman and 2 each for the Technical crew for Inchin. Let's stick to 1 per Rifle.)

EDIT

Shall I assume the LAW is the TL7 Disposable ATGL @ 100Cr each for upping stock levels?

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