NS Infantry discussion thread

[The Archangel Conglomerate]

Body armour, need something cheap with moderate protection for mechanized troops

Kevlar vests? Maybe cheap steel plates?

New weapons, maybe assault rifles, once again need something cheap and fairly accurate

Definitely a Kalashnikov derivative

A lighter MG - at 19lbs the M1T5 is slowing down units and the 30 round clip is to small and unreliable

MG3. Accept no substitutes

[Ardavia]

Trying to design a MT military, this is the current version.

INFANTRY

The normal infantry soldier wears an OptiCamo BDU made of smart fibres, which can change pattern depending on the environment, and carries the Assault Rifle Model 2037, AR-37.

The soldier also carries a combat knife that fits as a bayonet to the rifle, which can double as a wire cutter together with the flash hider, as well as M75 fragmentation grenades. The M75 carries nine ounces of explosive and has a kill radius of 8 meters and a wounding radius of 25 m.

The helmet has a communications unit built in, and it features a visor that can protect from small shrapnel. Shaped to cover the head, parts of the forehead and neck, it provides decent protection against fragmentation and shrapnel. It weighs about 0.9 kg and is a shape-moulded Kevlar helmet.

Combat webbing features two pouches on each hip, a belt to hang grenades from between the pouches on the front, five pouches over the chest and one on each arm, as well as a pistol holster on the right leg. The webbing is hung over the BDU and between the BDU and webbing goes the body armour, ceramic-reinforced Kevlar plates protecting the chest and back in a body vest. These plates are rather small, but numerous and they are placed on top of a flexible mesh, making it mobile and flexible. The webbing also holds ammo slings for five magazines, which goes on the side of the chest. The chest pouches are usually filled with 10-round stripper clips, very useful for quickly filling an empty magazine.

Weapons

The Assault Rifle Model 2037, 7.62x39mm is the main infantry weapon, based off the Russian-developed AK-103. Chambered for 7.62x39mm, it can put down about 800RPM, has three fire modes (safe, full-auto and three-round-burst) and uses two types of magazines; the standard magazine with 30 rounds and a casket magazine with 100 rounds. All rifles have a folding stock and a flash hider as standard equipment. Manufactured in the EC, it is mass-produced and issued to all troops. It is also used as a Designated Marksman Rifle and Squad Automatic Weapon. The DMR features a 3x scope, while the SAW is rather different, featuring the casket magazine with 100 rounds and a reinforced and longer barrel. It also has a bipod available to be attached on rails for all configurations of the rifle. The DMR is chambered for 7.62x54R.

The PD 42 USP, the standard service pistol of EC forces, fires the 7.62x25mm round. Rugged and reliable, it has been praised for its compactness and ability to withstand harsh conditions. The PD 42 USP was developed by Fàbrique National in the Belgian territories in 2042 and is manufactured there. It is designated the Personal Defender Model 2042 Universal Service Pistol, by the way. It is standard issue to officers as a ceremonial sidearm.

The MP33, officially designated the Machine Pistol Model 2033, 7.5mm Felix, is the standard SMG in the Commonwealth’s military and is a modernized derivative of the WWII era Suomi KP/31. Chambered for the 7.5 Felix round, it features a relatively long and heavy barrel for increased accuracy, a lightweight polymer folding rifle stock, a 100 round casket magazine instead of the 71 round drum magazine of the original KP/31 and finally, a rail on top allows for attachment of optics or electronics. It operates on a straight blowback action and is regarded as a very reliable weapon. Aesthetically similar to the WWII-era PPSh-41, it is also used as a firing port weapon in APC’s. It can lay down 900RPM. Usually fitted with a foregrip which is attached to a freefloat underbarrel rail. Standard issue to NCOs.

The Remington XY1000 Sniper Rifle 7.62x54Rmm is a specialized marksman rifle chambered for 7.62x54R. It comes with a bipod as standard issue and features x6 magnification on the scope. Suited for medium to long range, it is an excellent weapon. Originally made by Remington in the US, the EC military bought a single rifle and reverse-engineered it, using it to begin manufacturing of its own version, rechambered to 7.62x54R unlike the original which was chambered for .308. Of course, this means the rifle was no longer similar to the original, but it still retained the Remington title and the original XY1000 designation. It operates on a semi-auto gas-blowback mechanism.

The Mark XVIII Pattern V Assault Rifle 5.45mm is a specialist weapon available for issue to Jaegers. It’s a bullpup rifle that holds the receiver and the mechanism inside the stock, which is also the location of the magwell, and it fires the 5.45x539mm round. The trigger is connected to a rod that reaches the mechanism and the barrel is relatively long, nearly the full length of the rifle, as a result. It features a rail on top, one under the barrel and one on the rifle’s side. The top one allows for optics to be attached, the underbarrel one is for underslung grenade launchers and the side one is for laser sights. The M18P5 has been praised as reliable and rugged, but it has been criticized for being slightly hard to handle regarding recoil, because of the lightweight polymer forming the shell of the gun, only counterweighted by the barrel and the receiver, which slightly offsets the balance of it. It can be called both the Mk18 and the P5, but the P5 is more widespread.

The 9K338 Igla, designated the SA-24 Grinch, is a Russian-developed weapon adopted by the EC. It is a MANPADS and is usually issued on a company level; each squad that doesn’t carry an 81 mil instead brings one of these.

The Mark 62 Anti Materiel Rifle, 20x135mm is the heavy sniper rifle of the EC military and it has immense amounts of power. It has an effective range of close to 3000 meters if you hit at that range and can rip any infantry target to shreds. It has a 6 round magazine that goes on top. Because of this slight flaw in design, the scope goes on the side. It is used against APC’s and IFV’s as well as other light armour. The rifle is bolt-action and it is served by one man. The safety can only be disengaged by cycling the rifle, which corresponds with standard procedure for the rifle, which states that the rifle may not be handled with a round in the chamber or a magazine inserted. Upon having the rifle placed, the user will insert the magazine and cycle the bolt, chambering a round. The cycling also simultaneously disengages the safety and then the rifle is ready for use.

It weighs close to 40 kg and the magazine is 2 kg empty, 2.6 kg when loaded. The bolt is pulled backwards, turned to the side, then up again and pushed forward. The backwards movement allows for a round to drop down, the turning motion pushes it into the chamber and locks it in place, and the bolt then closes the chamber tight.

The Mark XIX Missile Launcher is an EC-made launcher based on the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle. It is entirely unguided, but for its purpose, it fits the job. The Mk19 is designed for delivering thermobaric grenades at long distance in urban combat, and does that very well according to the users. The M44 Fuel Air Explosive grenade delivered by the Mk19 to ranges up to 450 yards produces a fireball with a diameter of up to 10 meters upon exploding, which can take down an occasional wall or two in the vicinity.

ORBAT

The order of battle in an EC army is as follows:

There is a total of eight Army Corps currently active, another 32 can be mobilized in times of war. One Army Corps is three Field Armies and each Field Army has its own logistics. One Army Corps has half a million men, which makes the number of soldiers on active duty number roughly 4 million. In total, the EC can mobilize 19 million personnel. This is roughly 1% of the total population of the Commonwealth. In addition to the 19 million personnel in reserve, another 32 million are logistics personnel also in reserve. Thus, a full mobilization of the reserve would be extremely costly.

The EC army operates with a very flexible doctrine that includes several types of regiment-and-below doctrines. However, many higher officers choose to adapt their tactics to the situation instead of utilizing the prepared doctrines, which gives them a lot of battlefield flexibility.

The Field Army

A Field Army has a total of about 160 000 men at its disposal, not counting Field Logistics.

- Field Command
- 3 Legions of 52 500 men per Legion
- 3 Divisions per Legion
- The Field Logistics Division

Each Division of 17 500 men splits into:

-One Command Regiment of 500 men
-One attached Combined Arms battalion of 1250 men

And three Brigades, numbering a total of:

-Three Combined Arms Regiments of 1000 men each
-Six Motorized Infantry Regiments of 1000 men each
-Three Armoured Regiments of 1250 men
-Three Combat Engineer Regiments of 1000 men

One Brigade consists of one Comb. Arms Regiment, two Mot. Inf. Regiments, one Arm. Regiment and one CE Regiment.

A Combined Arms Regiment splits into:

-200 footsoldiers
-300 BTR-90/BMP-3 crewmen
-These APC’s and IFV’s are used to support the tanks and transport troops on the battlefield
-20 communication and command soldiers
-480 T-90 crewmen
-A Comb. Arms Reg. brings 160 T-90’s as heavy armour.

A Motorized Infantry Regiment consists of:

-750 footsoldiers in 30 platoons
-50 drivers driving trucks with 15 soldiers in each
-200 specialized infantry, jaegers (A Jaeger Battalion is attached to each infantry regiment)
-Jaegers are light infantry who spearhead operations

An Armoured Regiment brings:

-750 T-90 crewmen using 250 T-90’s as the main force
-300 BMP-3 crewmen with 100 BMP’s as support for the tanks
-150 T-72 crewmen manning 50 T-72’s as a vanguard force
-50 SP Artillery crewmen manning 10 howitzers as fire support

A Command Regiment is the unit that sets up a forward base in an area, establishes communications and commands the operations of the division. It consists of:

-150 engineers, vehicle mechanics, etc
-300 rear-duty soldiers
-50 C&C soldiers

The Combat Engineer Corps are an independent branch of infantry attached to Field Armies in regiment-sized units and they are responsible for setting up defences in combat zones, building bridges and so on. A CE regiment consists of:

-300 Engineers
-250 Vehicle Crewmen, manning everything from bridge-building vehicles to transport trucks
-150 Support Soldiers
-300 Transporters, specialized APC and truck drivers who assist the trucks of motorized regiments

Field Command is the smallest of the three parts of a Field Army, splitting into:

-Central Command
-One Infantry Regiment
-Two Combined Arms Regiments
-Four Communications Battalions
-One Engineer Regiment

A Communications Battalion is a tiny unit, numbering just 250 men in total. It is responsible for setting up and maintaining communications between a Field Army Central HQ and the FOB’s set up by the divisions. It consists of:

-50 Communications Soldiers
-200 engineer soldiers

An Engineer Regiment is responsible for setting up a Field HQ and is usually only deployed to secured zones. Numbering 800 engineers per regiment, they set up larger radio equipment, behind-the-lines defences and camps, unlike the Combat Engineers.

A Field Command unit usually also has two or three independent reservist Motorized Infantry Regiments attached to them. These reservists only serve as rear-duty soldiers and guard the Field HQ. These are usually second-rate soldiers not fit for frontline service and thus are commanded to rear-duty.

On a squad level, a normal infantry squad consists of

-One automatic rifleman with an AR-37 in SAW configuration
-Three riflemen carrying AR-37 rifles
-Two anti-tank specialists carrying an RPG-29
-Two storm troopers with P5 assault rifles or MP33 SMG’s
-Two grenadiers armed with AR-37 rifles with attached grenade launchers
-One designated marksman with an AR-37 in DMR configuration
-And one NCO armed with a MP33 SMG

Every soldier in the unit carries two rockets for the RPG, and the AT specialists carry three each, bringing the number up to a total of 25 rockets. The riflemen in a designated mortar squad also carry an 81mm mortar if they need fire support. Each soldier in the squad carries two rounds for the 81 mil as well. A designated mortar squad does, however, not carry an RPG.

An automatic rifleman carries, in addition to his AR-37 SAW, a PD 42 pistol as standard issue. The designated marksman and the AT specialists do as well, but not the other troops. Any soldier who wishes to can, however, buy his own pistol.

Two squads and one officer form a platoon of 25 men. 10 platoons form a battalion and 3 battalions form a regiment together with the C&C group and the Jaeger battalion, which is an attached independent unit. 3 platoons form a company, and only one of the six squads in a company carry the 81 mil, that squad is the designated mortar squad and especially trained for this task.

An Army Jaeger fireteam is a smaller unit, only eight men

-One automatic rifleman with an AR-37 SAW
-Three riflemen with AR-37 or P5 rifles
-Two submachine gunners with MP33 SMG’s
-One designated marksman with an AR-37 DMR
-One NCO with an AR-37 SAW

Army Jaeger fireteams usually operate in urban areas, which means they use flexible weaponry that can potentially lay down a lot of fire.

The Jaeger Corps is the independent unit that is the inspiration of the Jaeger battalions of the Army and it is an elite unit similar to the USMC. However, the Jaeger Corps are rarely called upon and they usually only are deployed for missions that require extreme skill and precision in harsh terrain. They also rarely deploy from naval resources, instead preferring airborne or land insertion. Thus, the ECJC spends most of its time fighting internal threats. In regular military operations, the Jaegers spearhead the EC forces.

The ECJC is 15 000 men strong and they split up into six brigades and have their own transports and support. Each brigade of 2500 men is an independent unit, and they split further into five regiments of 500 men. Each regiment consists of

-Command with 50 men
-Three infantry battalions of 125 men each
-A reconnaissance battalion, 75 men

A Jaeger infantry battalion splits into five platoons of 25 men each, and each platoon is four fireteams of eight men and an NCO. These fireteams operate on their own, usually deep behind enemy lines, performing recon for other EC forces. They also spearhead military operations, usually with the support of other branches. Amongst the ECJC, the reconnaissance battalions are regarded as the best soldiers they have. They usually have a lot of firepower and range, which is because of their usual operational areas, mountains and other harsh terrain.

An ECJC fireteam consists of

-Two riflemen with AR-37 or P5 rifles
-One designated marksman with a DMR AR-37
-Two automatic riflemen with a GPMG
-One NCO with an AR-37
-One grenadier with a Mark 19 launcher and an AR-37

When moving in hostile or occupied territory that has not yet been secured, a Field Army will march in a certain formation, with heavy armour on the flanks supported by AFV’s and IFV’s. Behind this outer ring is another of IFV’s and AFV’s with APC’s supporting them. Behind these two, the infantry walk or drive in trucks. This massive formation can take up several miles in width alone, not to mention length, because of the necessary gaps between the units in order to prevent being an easy target. Usually, however, no Field Army is grouped like this, instead preferring to operate in smaller groups on a battalion-or-lower level with a fighter or helicopter screen covering them from above.

When defending, they will usually dig in heavily with infantry trenches and anti-tank obstacles.

VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT

Vehicles in use by the EC military include, but are not limited to:

T-90 Main Battle Tanks
T-72 Main Battle Tanks
BTR-90 Armoured Personnel Carriers
BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles
UAZ-31512 transport vehicles
GAZ Vodnik HMMMWV
SA-23 SAM platforms
Ural trucks

Tu-22M Backfire strategic bombers and radar planes
Tu-16 Bear radar planes
MiG-35 Fulcrum-F multirole fighters
MiG-29 Fulcrum-E multirole fighters
MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors and recon planes
MiG-25 Foxbat interceptors (Only deployed on EC territory, not on foreign ground)
Mi-28 Havoc helicopter gunships
Ka-60 Kasatka transport choppers
Su-25 tactical bombers

Opinions?

[Inquilabstan]

So I have been thinking about reworking my army lately and would like to float changes past NS's resident military experts.

Changes:
Body armour, need something cheap with moderate protection for mechanized troops
New weapons, maybe assault rifles, once again need something cheap and fairly accurate
New uniforms, moving away from olive drab, black or white, some kind of basic camouflage pattern
A dedicated desert combat unit, for counter insurgency operations
A lighter MG - at 19lbs the M1T5 is slowing down units and the 30 round clip is to small and unreliable

1:Something from the 6B series.
2: Ak-103/74M, FAL
3: Flora, Lizard pattern, Woodland?
4: Good idea.
5: PK, MAG, MG-3

[3 State Alliance]

So I have been thinking about reworking my army lately and would like to float changes past NS's resident military experts.

Changes:
Body armour, need something cheap with moderate protection for mechanized troops
New weapons, maybe assault rifles, once again need something cheap and fairly accurate
New uniforms, moving away from olive drab, black or white, some kind of basic camouflage pattern
A dedicated desert combat unit, for counter insurgency operations
A lighter MG - at 19lbs the M1T5 is slowing down units and the 30 round clip is to small and unreliable

The FN Mk 48 is a pretty good light machine gun. Only 8.2 kg empty. The recoil is worse than with a full blown GPMG (FN MAG, PKM, MG3), and the range is a bit less (800m against area targets from the bipod) but you can't have everything I suppose.

You could also just build your entire squad around a proper GPMG, with a machine gun team composed of at least a gunner and assistant gunner, and two rifle teams (who protect, enable the maneuver of, and carry extra ammo for the machine gun team), plus the squad commander.

This video demonstrates pretty well what that would look like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz0a_QGifPM

Its pretty similar to what I was using, but the M1T5 team would be accompanied by a pair of marksmen.

[Purpelia]

Fun fact. Internally my rifle resembles a mix between the K31 and the M14. Just better.

[Spreewerke]

Fun fact. Internally my rifle resembles a mix between the K31 and the M14. Just better.

Your rifle is internally a bolt-action and a long-stroke semi-/full-automatic?

[Purpelia]

Fun fact. Internally my rifle resembles a mix between the K31 and the M14. Just better.

Your rifle is internally a bolt-action and a long-stroke semi-/full-automatic?

In a word, yes. It's a bolt-action strait-pull rifle similar to the K31 but with a front long stroke like operating rod similar to the M14. Except that it's better in that it's pump operated and thus there is no gas tap to foul the rifling and harm accuracy. (Hey, it's 1890!)

[Spreewerke]

Your rifle is internally a bolt-action and a long-stroke semi-/full-automatic?

In a word, yes. It's a bolt-action strait-pull rifle similar to the K31 but with a front long stroke like operating rod similar to the M14. Except that it's better in that it's pump operated and thus there is no gas tap to foul the rifling and harm accuracy. (Hey, it's 1890!)

That sure is a hipster way of saying "my gun is a pump-action rifle with a single slide action bar."

[Inquilabstan]

Quick question. Are the 1P78 Kashtan and PO 3.5x21P effective, and if so, which is better?

[Purpelia]

In a word, yes. It's a bolt-action strait-pull rifle similar to the K31 but with a front long stroke like operating rod similar to the M14. Except that it's better in that it's pump operated and thus there is no gas tap to foul the rifling and harm accuracy. (Hey, it's 1890!)

That sure is a hipster way of saying "my gun is a pump-action rifle with a single slide action bar."

Actually its a non obvious way to say that I have disassembly pictures of the two rifles in question opened up on the side and I am mixing and matching as I go.

[Blackledge]

A pump-action standard issue rifle for infantry? I rather like the uniqueness of it. And the art.

[Purpelia]

A pump-action standard issue rifle for infantry? I rather like the uniqueness of it. And the art.

It's not really a proper pump action. It feeds from a regular magazine and all. The pump is just a manual version of a regular gas operating system. As in, it literally works as if your AK had a pump handle where the gas piston should be.

[Bezombia]

A pump-action standard issue rifle for infantry? I rather like the uniqueness of it. And the art.

It's not really a proper pump action. It feeds from a regular magazine and all. The pump is just a manual version of a regular gas operating system. As in, it literally works as if your AK had a pump handle where the gas piston should be.

They (AK with handle on piston) exist, but on the side.

And there most certainly are pump actions with regular magazines.

[Kouralia]

A Regiment is only as good as its support.

*nods*

[Blackledge]

A pump-action standard issue rifle for infantry? I rather like the uniqueness of it. And the art.

It's not really a proper pump action. It feeds from a regular magazine and all. The pump is just a manual version of a regular gas operating system. As in, it literally works as if your AK had a pump handle where the gas piston should be.

What inspired you to take that route?

[Purpelia]

It's not really a proper pump action. It feeds from a regular magazine and all. The pump is just a manual version of a regular gas operating system. As in, it literally works as if your AK had a pump handle where the gas piston should be.

They (AK with handle on piston) exist, but on the side.

And there most certainly are pump actions with regular magazines.

I know there are. But this isn't really one as the whole bolt operation is not really of the same type. The closest designation I could come up with is a manual long stroke.

It's not really a proper pump action. It feeds from a regular magazine and all. The pump is just a manual version of a regular gas operating system. As in, it literally works as if your AK had a pump handle where the gas piston should be.

What inspired you to take that route?

The idea that a rapidly reloading rifle which can be "pumped" from the hip would be brilliant for cavalry and trench warfare.

[Blackledge]

The idea that a rapidly reloading rifle which can be "pumped" from the hip would be brilliant for cavalry and trench warfare.

So in your nation's history, trench warfare had already had a thorough effect by 1890?

[Spreewerke]

It's not really a proper pump action. It feeds from a regular magazine and all. The pump is just a manual version of a regular gas operating system. As in, it literally works as if your AK had a pump handle where the gas piston should be.

They (AK with handle on piston) exist, but on the side.

And there most certainly are pump actions with regular magazines.

Pump-action Romanian AK; 5.56 NATO.

Also working on imgur album over PU M91/30 now.

[Purpelia]

The idea that a rapidly reloading rifle which can be "pumped" from the hip would be brilliant for cavalry and trench warfare.

So in your nation's history, trench warfare had already had a thorough effect by 1890?

No, the official requirement was for a rifle that could easily be reloaded by horseman shooting from the hip as they ride. Purpelian cavalry was a huge force back in the day you know. So much so that they were the first to ever get tanks.

[3 State Alliance]

Well I got a lot of feed back, thanks to all for that, so here's my decisions.

A) I will adopt a locally made steel plate armour vest for mechanized infantry
B) still looking for an assault rifle, not a huge fan of the AK series, would prefer something in .30 carbine for logistical reasons
C)Troops will be issued urban grey camouflage fatigues and Cedar rainforest ponchos
D) was wondering if it was a good idea, thanks for the input
E)MG3 has the vote, it will start being deployed in frontline units soonish

thanks again folks, you're awesome

[Graditora]

http://i.imgur.com/VY3o1I9.png
Y/N?

[Bezombia]

Well I got a lot of feed back, thanks to all for that, so here's my decisions.

A) I will adopt a locally made steel plate armour vest for mechanized infantry
B) still looking for an assault rifle, not a huge fan of the AK series, would prefer something in .30 carbine for logistical reasons
C)Troops will be issued urban grey camouflage fatigues and Cedar rainforest ponchos
D) was wondering if it was a good idea, thanks for the input
E)MG3 has the vote, it will start being deployed in frontline units soonish

thanks again folks, you're awesome

B: .30 Carbine would be at best a heavy SMG, no where NEAR assault rifle territory.

[Blackledge]

http://i.imgur.com/VY3o1I9.png
Y/N?

Looks nice. Wish I had pics like that.

[3 State Alliance]

Well I got a lot of feed back, thanks to all for that, so here's my decisions.

A) I will adopt a locally made steel plate armour vest for mechanized infantry
B) still looking for an assault rifle, not a huge fan of the AK series, would prefer something in .30 carbine for logistical reasons
C)Troops will be issued urban grey camouflage fatigues and Cedar rainforest ponchos
D) was wondering if it was a good idea, thanks for the input
E)MG3 has the vote, it will start being deployed in frontline units soonish

thanks again folks, you're awesome

B: .30 Carbine would be at best a heavy SMG, no where NEAR assault rifle territory.

I see, well looks like we'll have to produce a new round...

we currently produce:
.303 British (Tiger series battle rifles)
NA.330 (M1T series machine guns & M2001 sniper rifle)
.30 carbine (M1 carbines used by support troops and police)
.45ACP (standard Allied sidearm caliber)

slated for production:
7.62×51mm (MG3, entering service)

[Purpelia]

B: .30 Carbine would be at best a heavy SMG, no where NEAR assault rifle territory.

I see, well looks like we'll have to produce a new round...

we currently produce:
.303 British (Tiger series battle rifles)
NA.330 (M1T series machine guns & M2001 sniper rifle)
.30 carbine (M1 carbines used by support troops and police)
.45ACP (standard Allied sidearm caliber)

slated for production:
7.62×51mm (MG3, entering service)

What year is this for?