2
Independent Rifle Company,
11th
Gorkha Rifles
“The Lieutenant’s dead, Saab!” Naib-Subedar Sally Thapa winced, but there hadn’t really been any doubt about it, the culvert bomb had blown the lead Grasskat apart and not so incidentally trapped the two Tirats beyond it. At the same time some kind of LAW had blown the last load carrier in the convoy onto its side, trapping all thirty trucks, and B Platoon, between the cliff face and the gulley. Abandoned trucks were slewed willy-nilly across the road as their civvie drivers took cover in the ditches on both sides of the road from the ragged, but accurate, fire and occasional grenades raining down from the Pushtun separatists in the rocks above. Her men were firing back, as were the crews of the surviving Grasskats, but the angles in the rock defile were extreme and as usual the high ground had the advantage. “Bugger this,” Sally muttered, then keyed her ISS. “Tango One, get that wreck over the side of the road. Two Two Charlie,
suppress those sods up there. Two Two Delta, get those civvies back into their
trucks and turned around – don’t take no for an answer. Two Three and Two Four,
you’re with me.” She flipped momentarily to the company net. “Command, this is Two Zero Bravo. We’re engaged and pinned in place,
preparing to break out. Convoy will extract to the rear covered by the
Grasskats, Tirats will extract forward. Rendezvous and regroup at point Echo.” She glanced around, saw the men of 3 and 4 Sections waiting for her
orders. She reached down, unconsciously touching the kukri hung at her side,
then nodded at the rocks where the heaviest concentration of fire originated. “Two Three on the left, Two Four on the right. Let’s be amongst them.” Death in High Places, Lauren Tailyour, Armories Press US, 2302 In addition to the
infantry battalions of the Independent Gorkha Rifles, a number of smaller units
exist within the organisation, specialising in more esoteric tasks such as
close protection, or in conventional tasks where a full battalion would be
overkill. The smaller teams are parented by 1st Battalion, 11th
Gorkha Rifles, but a number of independent company groups exist. These Company
Groups form a notional (and very overstrength) 2nd Battalion to the
11th although there is no battalion level infrastructure to support
them and each company maintains separate accounts. 2 Independent Rifle Company
Group is one of these units, a conventional Infantry Company Group that has
developed a specialism in Internal Security and particularly in Lines of
Communication Security, Route Opening and Convoy Escort. While still capable of
operating within the forward battlespace, 2 Company is rarely called to do so.
For a Government Employer its speciality allows their own teeth units to be
concentrated in the frontline. For a Non-Governmental Organisation 2 Company is
a massive improvement over the gunmen and thugs they must so often hire their
security from. 2 Company’s
organisation is intended to generate three platoon-sized Escort/Security
Groups, while the fourth rifle platoon provides laager security and a reaction
force using the fast moving Fusilier HIFVs. Each Escort/Security Group consists
of one of the Grasskat platoons reinforced with a pair of Tirats from Patrols
Platoon and a Grasskat Logistics Vehicle from the Technical Support Platoon configured
with dozer blade, winch and crane as an engineering/recovery vehicle. 2 Company has spent the past two decades in and around the Indian Sub-Continent, the last five years working for the Afghani central government in the troubled Panjshir Valley region. That contract ended in early 2303 and the company is currently at the IGR Depot at Pokhara in Nepal where it is rumoured to be working up for a deployment on the French Arm, with the smart money saying that they will be responsible for the security of Zapamoga’s efforts on Nous Voila.
Index HeritageAs part of the
Independent Gorkha Rifles and more particularly 11th Gorkha Rifles,
2 Independent Company Group follows Indian Army rather than British Army
traditions. There are many similarities between the two, but there are a few
significant differences, most notably in rank structure and titles, and
particularly in the existence of Junior Commissioned Officers, who are unique
to those armies tracing their heritage to the British Indian Army. JCOs function
is some ways similarly to Warrant Officers in other armies, but are typically
part of the command structure of their units rather than technical specialists.
In particular platoons are normally commanded by a Naib-Subedar. Commissioned
Officer Ranks and titles parallel the British Army structure exactly, JCO and
NCO ranks are given in the tables below, note that the Indian infantry and
cavalry formations use different titles for the same ranks. As an Independent
Company not all ranks are present within 2 Independent Rifle Company, and the
Gurkhas retain the British Rifleman title for their private soldiers rather
than the Indian Sepoy/Sowar. Junior Commissioned Officer Ranks
Non-Commissioned Ranks
IGR promotion policy
for non-commissioned personnel demands that wherever possible no two
consecutive appointments should be outside of a rifle section. Vehicle and
heavy weapons crewmen must therefore switch back to rifleman roles in order to
win promotion, a policy that is held to reinforce the identity of the IGR units
as infantrymen first. Corporate AffairsDespite their
reputation as fighting men, the Independent Gorkha Rifles are at their core a
business. A business that is a military unit and a business with substantial
governmental backing, true, but still a business subject to the tyranny of the
balance sheet. The IGR as a whole is loosely modelled on the Korean Chaebol
structure, the battalions and other sub-units forming a cooperating group of independent,
like-minded corporations. Each unit functions as a corporation in its own
right, but the IGR as a whole provides a range of services that might be beyond
the resources of the unit alone. These are arranged through the non-profit IGR
Trust, which provides such facilities as accountancy and auditing, manages the
IGR’s physical estate such as the IGR Depot at Pokhara and also runs various
charitable and support organisations such as the Family Affairs Bureau and the
IGR Pension Fund. The IGR Trust also functions as a finance house to support
capital acquisitions by the individual units, being able to provide upfront
finances that allow IGR units to deal with defence contractors on a similar
footing to national defence ministries. The Trust is well respected on the
financial markets and is able to acquire funding on advantageous terms that
banks and venture capitalists would never offer directly to something as
risk-laden as a mercenary unit. Behind the day-to-day operations of the IGR
Trust is the Government of Nepal, which takes a hands-off approach, but acts as
the ultimate guarantor of IGR finances. Precise corporate
structures vary, but most IGR units have a governing board of corporate
officers that functions separately to, but in cooperation with, the chain of
command. In operational matters the chain of command takes primacy, but in
contractual and other financial matters the board assumes leadership. Ownership
of the units is usually vested in shareholders with a share capital that is
restricted to current and former unit members, the IGR Trust and the government
of Nepal. Both the IGR Trust and the government of Nepal hold so-called Golden
Shares able to outvote all other shares no matter the actual financial balance
of the shareholdings. These provide the units’ ultimate backers with veto
rights to ensure that the reputation of the IGR is never compromised. The corporate board of
2 Company consists of the commanding officer, the second in command, the senior
JCO, the Company Havildar Major, the Company Quartermaster Havildar and two
elected representatives from the rank and file of the unit. Corporate offices
are allocated between the board members as they choose, though by convention
the CO is chairman of the board and the CQMH is company secretary. The IGR
Regimental Council, IGR Trust and Government of Nepal are eligible to appoint
non-voting observers to the board (however the Golden Shares held by the IGR
Trust and the Nepalese government make the non-voting proviso strictly a
technicality). Company accounts are audited on an annual basis by independent
auditors appointed by the IGR Trust. 2 Company’s finances
are currently in relatively stable form, but most excess income beyond
day-to-day operating costs goes to service the loan taken out with the IGR
Trust to fund the Grasskat re-equipment programme. Pipers and PriestsNepal is still a
country where religion is firmly enshrined in daily life and the company
matches the society it recruits from. Fully eighty percent of the company are
practising Hindus (though with the Buddhist and animist elements common to the
various Nepalese forms of the religion). Hindu ceremonies are a traditional
part of Gurkha life and Gurkha units of battalion strength normally contain a
Hindu priest. As an independent company-sized formation 2 Company would not
normally contain a priest within its TOE, but by long standing arrangement the
company provides half the funds to provide one from discretionary funding while
the remainder is made up from a voluntary levy on salaries. One Gurkha tradition
that originated with the British rather than being brought from Nepal was the
use of pipers as part of regimental bands (the traditional bugles and drums of
rifle regiments are also used). 2 Company is too small to maintain a permanent
band, but several members of the company are proficient musicians and when the
need presents the company can turn out a small but impressive contingent of
pipers, buglers and drummers in full ceremonial white uniforms. Home LeaveGiven the traditional
overseas postings of Gurkha units and the importance of the family in Nepali
life, provision is made for extended home leave of five months every three
years. In other years local leave provision is more typical of non-Gurkha
units. 2 Company rarely serves in locations where it is possible or advisable
for the family of married company members to live locally, but the IGR Trust
maintains an extensive Family Affairs Bureau to provide assistance where
necessary. LanguagesThe operational
language of the company is Gurkhali, though all Officers and JCOs are fluent
English speakers, as are many of the NCOs and enlisted men. Various Nepali
dialects and sub-languages are also spoken informally by those who grew up
speaking them, but never during operations. A considerable portion of the
company personnel also speak Hindustani, Hindi, Urdu or other languages from
the sub-Continent to greater or lesser degree. After their last posting most of
the men can also make themselves understood in Pushtun. Personal FitnessGurkha units have an unparalleled reputation for personal fitness. 2 Company, on the other hand, spends most of its time riding around in vehicles. The potential for the men to fall short of the legendary capabilities of the average Gurkha obviously exists and in the past this has occasionally been the case. However, since Major Rai took over failure to meet fitness standards has no longer been tolerated. Each and every man and woman of the company must pass the standardised fitness tests of the British Army Brigade of Gurkhas, and they must do it on a quarterly basis, not the annual testing preferred by most other units. If the fitness test is failed then the Gurkha is given a fortnight to prepare for a retest. If the second test is failed then he or she will be dismissed from the company and shipped back to Nepal. Even the possibility of this is considered so shameful that each platoon takes a collective responsibility in ensuring that all of its personnel can pass the test. Subedar Thapa, a qualified fitness instructor, has taken it upon herself to personally coach the most marginal cases, such as Doctor Gurung.
Company Structure
Authorised company
establishment is 5 officers, 8 JCOs and 275 NCOs and men, and 47 vehicles. This
is very large in comparison to a typical, non-independent company, but not
extraordinarily so for independent formations. However, the company is rarely
at full strength during extended operations, with up to 15% of men on home
leave at any one time. Whenever possible the company will recruit to up to 25
men above its establishment in order to cover for men on home leave with
supernumerary personnel. The company comprises
an HQ platoon, four rifle platoons, a patrols platoon, support platoon and
technical support platoon. The five direct combat platoons (Rifle and Patrols)
are trained to operate in half-platoon multiples where required (or two vehicle
pairs in the case of the Patrols Platoon). HQ PlatoonVehicles (5)
FV8464 Grasskat-CP Command Vehicle * 2 FV846(MA) Grasskat IFV * 1 Hover Rover 350 GS * 2 Personnel (39)
Company CO (Major) + Signaller (Naik) Company 2i/c (Captain) + Signaller (Naik) Platoon commander (Subedar) Company Havildar Major Vehicle Crew (3* Naik, 4 * Rifleman) Company Command Staff (2 * Havildar, 3 * Lance Naik, 5 * Rifleman) Rifle section (1 * Havildar, 1 * Naik, 2 * Lance Naik, 4 * Rifleman) * 2 HQ Platoon is
configured for the control of widely scattered Escort/Security Groups and given
the largely fixed-base nature of company operations includes extensive tentage
and additional C4 systems with the company train to allow it to expand beyond
the limited space of the command vehicles whenever feasible. Given the distance
at which Escort/Security Groups may be operating from the company laager the
platoon includes one Grasskat-C configured as a Signals vehicle with full
satellite uplink/downlink capability in addition to long range voice and
datalinks. A Grasskat IFV provides the CO with the ability to lead from the
front during conventional engagements as well as carrying his bodyguard team
and personal signaller, while the Company 2i/c mans the fixed command post. Two
Hover Rovers are provided for liaison roles. The HQ Platoon itself is commanded
by a Subedar who also functions as Company Adjutant, with the Company Havildar
Major functioning as his senior NCO. Two infantry sections provide both close
protection of the HQ area and the CO’s bodyguard team. Rifle Platoon (Grasskat) * 3Vehicles (4)
FV846(MA) Grasskat IFV * 2 FV8461(MA) Grasskat APC * 2 Personnel (46)Platoon Commander (Lieutenant) + Signaller (Naik) Platoon 2i/c (Naib-Subedar) + Runner (Lance-Naik) Vehicle Crew (4 * Naik, 6 * Rifleman) Rifle section (1 * Naik, 1 * Lance Naik, 6 * Rifleman) * 4 A, B and C platoons
are configured as the core of Escort/Security Groups with Grasskats in the
Medium Armour configuration. The two FV8461s are allocated to the platoon
commander and platoon sergeant and have been upgraded with a low-cost satcoms
suite to allow continued contact with the company laager even in the face of
communications jamming or geographical difficulties. The Medium Armour
configuration was selected for the Grasskats in the expectation that most
contacts would consist of close-in engagements against opponents with light
anti-vehicle armaments (i.e. ambushes by irregular forces) rather than the
possibility of engaging heavy main force fighting vehicles at longer ranges.
Because the Escort/Security Groups will typically be operating at considerable
distance from the company commander they are extremely officer heavy by IGR and
Indian Army standards, with a Lieutenant commanding and a Naib-Subedar in the
role that would typically be filled by the platoon Havildar. B Platoon
currently diverges from strict TOE in being commanded by Subedar Thapa. Rifle Platoon (Fusilier)Vehicles (4)FV735 Fusilier HIFV * 4 Personnel (48)Platoon Commander (Naib-Subedar) + Signaller (Naik) Platoon 2i/c (Havildar) + Runner (Lance-Naik) Vehicle Crew (4 * Naik, 8 * Rifleman) Rifle section (1 * Naik, 1 * Lance Naik, 6 * Rifleman) * 4 D platoon is
configured as a reaction force in order to provide rapid support to any
Escort/Security Group that becomes engaged in an incident from which it is
unable to extract itself. It is recognised that tilt-rotor gunships and
transports would be even faster reacting, but tilt-rotors would require too
extensive a support infrastructure to be feasible within the company structure,
even if they were affordable. When not responding to emergency situations the
platoon provides the core of the company laager‘s defences. The platoon’s
Fusiliers are now somewhat elderly, but the Grasskat purchase has left little
money available for further vehicle upgrades. Patrols PlatoonVehicles (8)
FV 8423(MA) Tirat-S Security Vehicle * 8 Personnel (40)
Vehicle Crew (Naib-Subedar, 3 * Havildar, 4 * Naik, 16 * Rifleman) Dismounted Scout Team (Lance-Naik, Rifleman) * 4 Guided Weapon Team (Lance-Naik, Rifleman) * 4 Patrols Platoon uses
two vehicle multiples of Tirat-S Security Vehicles to add a potent punch to
Escort/Security Groups. The ‘spare’ pair of vehicles provides an independent
patrolling capability or can be used to augment D Platoon as part of the
Reaction Force. Like the Rifle Platoons’ Grasskats, the Medium Armour
configuration was selected. The loss in mobility from the heavier configuration
was accepted as it was recognised that in most circumstances the Tirats would
be limited by the low speed of the heavy logistics vehicles they would be
escorting. One vehicle of each pair carries a dismounted scout team, the second
a guided weapon team. The platoon organisation leaves two free dismount
positions in each vehicle that can be used as circumstances demand. Support PlatoonVehicles (8)FV 8465 Grasskat-MC Mortar Carrier * 2 Hover Rover 350 WMR * 4 Hover Rover 350 DC * 2 Personnel (30)
Platoon Commander (Naib-Subedar) + Signaller (Naik) Platoon Sergeant (Havildar) + Runner (Lance-Naik) Mortar Section (Havildar, Naik, 2 * Lance Naik, 4 * Rifleman) Direct Fire Section (Havildar, 3 * Naik, 8 * Rifleman) Aviation Section (Havildar, Naik, 4 * Rifleman) Support Platoon is
divided into Direct Fire, Indirect Fire and Aviation sections and primarily
charged with defence of the company laager. Indirect Fire Section operate a
pair of Grasskat Mortar Carriers armed with clip-fed L55A2 120mm Mortars,
Direct Fire section operates 4 Hover Rover 350s in the Weapon Mounted Recce
configuration and fitted with the Lightweight Powered Cupola. Standard armament
for the Rovers is a VR-5 on the front pintle mount with a VR-8 grenade launcher
and two Marut AVMs on the LPC. Aviation section operate 2 Hover Rover 350s in
the Drone Control configuration each equipped with 4 Vrikshaka Patrol Drones. Technical Support PlatoonVehicles (10)FV8462 Mod 4/5 (MA) Grasskat-L Logistics Vehicle * 4 AT8 Hover Logistics Vehicle * 3 Hover Rover 350 GS Liaison Vehicle * 2 Hover Rover 350 Ambulance * 1 Personnel (44)Platoon Commander (Subedar) + Signaller (Naik) Engineering Section (4 * Havildar, 8 * Rifleman) Technical Section (1 * Havildar, 2 * Naik, 3 * Lance-Naik, 6 * Rifleman) Medical Section (1 * Surgeon (JCO), 1 * Naik, 5 * Rifleman) QM Section (CQMH, 3 * Naik, 2 * Lance-Naik, 5 * Rifleman) Technical Support
Platoon is responsible for providing the Combat Service Support needs of the
company and the lack of higher echelon units to draw from means that it needs
both its own workshops and the personnel to run them. The platoon is organised
as four sections. Engineering Section
runs the four Grasskat-Ls which are in a hybrid combat engineering/recovery
configuration. Normally three of the Grasskats are dispersed with the
Escort/Security Groups to provide on-the-spot engineering/recovery capability
to convoys, while the fourth vehicle is retained at the company laager as the
Platoon Commander’s vehicle. Technical Section is
responsible for keeping the company’s electronic and mechanical equipment and
weapons running and operates three AT-8 compatible Modular Offloadable System
shelters, one configured as an electronics workshop, one as a mechanical
workshop and the third in a flatbed recovery vehicle configuration. Several
Technical Section personnel are qualified armourers and capable of field
maintenance of all weapons used by the company. Medical Section
operates one MOS configured as a Field Surgical Centre and an ambulance
configured Hover Rover. All personnel are trained as paramedical orderlies and
have the basic knowledge necessary to stabilise patients until Doctor Gurung
can get to them. The company priest, who is not technically part of the
company’s active duty strength, will typically station himself with the medical
team during emergencies and provide such help as he is able. QM Section is commanded by the Company Quartermaster Havildar and operates three MOS compatible AT8s in load carrier configuration and a pair of Hover Rovers that are used for general liaison duties. The section additionally holds two MOS shelters and several 25,000 litre POL blivets. One MOS is used as an armoury, the second is divided into two sections, the smaller holds a hydrogen cracking plant while the larger provides a a climate controlled environment for any stores that require it. At times the QM Section MOS have also been used as overspill office space for HQ Section. The AT8s are used both for general logistics purposes and, using Technical Section’s recovery flatbed, in the heavy recovery role for Hover-Rovers damaged too heavily to be recovered by towing. Recovery of the heavier vehicles within the company inventory is usually accomplished by winching them onto a heavy recovery trailer (also held by Technical Section) and towing them out behind one or more Grasskat-Ls. During moves of the company laager the AT8s are also used to transport the platoon’s six MOS shelters. As this requires offloading the flatbeds prior to picking up the MOS shelters any move using the AT8s alone will require at least three trips, and even then only if the POL blivets are transported empty. However many civilian vehicles are MOS compatible and it is standard practice to hire additional civilian MT whenever possible.
Personal Weapons and Equipment
All personnel within
the company are issued a Darra Arms B-83 Assault Rifle. The Pakistani built
B-83 bears a considerable resemblance to the old British Colonial Service Rifle
and is chambered for the same 7.5x37mm Caseless round. Officers, JCOs and
vehicle crews are also issued with the Ishapore Arsenal Chakra Close Defence
Weapon in 9x24mm Caseless. All personnel carry both a standard combat
knife/bayonet and a kukri. Each Rifle Section is
additionally issued with one VR5 SAW, a Grafton Arms L43A5 Light Support
Weapon, two UG-83 clip-on 30mm grenade launchers and two Darra Arms Model 90
Sonic Stunners. Lathi riot canes are available for all company personnel but
are normally stored on or in vehicles unless a crowd control problem is
anticipated. A single Bangalore Dynamics Marut AVM is held in each Grasskat or
Fusilier of the rifle platoons. One B-83 in Designated Marksman format is held
by each of the rifle platoons. Dismounted Scout Teams are issued with a Type 83
DMR and two silenced Chakras. Guided Weapons Teams are issued with six Maruts. Personal equipment comprises the Indian Army’s Moghul Warrior Integrated Soldier System, this is roughly equivalent to the British Army’s old Combat System 75. Body armour is integrated into the uniform design, but is a separate item and may be worn or not as the situation demands. All personal loadbearing equipment mounts to an assault vest via a quick release system. The gear is a modular design and individual riflemen are allowed to determine the precise configuration that suits them best. The standard helmet is a Mysorean design originally intended for police tactical squads. This combines a helmet shell, night vision optics and communications gear with a drop-down riot visor that covers the full face. An add-on flexible gorget seals to the neck of the uniform blouse and to the lower edge of the helmet and incorporates filters giving full protection against riot gases and limited protection against CBW agents. However the traditional slouch hat is preferred to the helmet under all but active combat conditions.
Doctrine and Tactics
Route OpeningRoute Opening is
essentially a counter-ambush technique, but not one popular with the troops who
must carry it out. Given a route that must be opened to friendly traffic, and a
potential threat, a small force is sent along the highway to rout out the
ambushers if possible, and to draw their fire if not. More than one trooper has
referred to it as ‘driving around wearing a sign saying shoot me now’. 2
Company uses a reinforced Escort/Security Group for these missions, which are
considered to have a high risk of enemy contact. The lead element of the sweep
is a fast pass by a Vrikshaka drone along the entire route (often several
different routes will be surveyed by the Vrikshaka to avoid absolutely
confirming the path of the patrol in advance). This is followed by the main
body of the sweep consisting of a Rifle Platoon in Grasskats reinforced by two
Tirat pairs with a Vrikshaka orbiting overhead. Where practical, only one Tirat
pair will use the road, with the remainder of the force paralleling the route
100-250 metres to the side. This exposes the minimum part of the force to IEDs
while allowing likely firing positions to be approached from unexpected
directions. Following behind the main force at a distance of two to four miles
and tasked as a counter-ambush force will be a two vehicle multiple from the
Fusilier platoon (or the full platoon if it can be spared or if the threat is
particularly high) together with a Grasskat-MC for immediate fire support and a
Grasskat-L for engineering support. Lines of Communications SecurityLoC Security is in
many ways a variation on Route Opening, and has also been described as ‘convoy
escort without the convoy’. Essentially it consists of patrolling the existing
lines of security, checking for IEDs or mines, making sure that no ambushing
force has established itself and carrying out random vehicle checks. The standard force for
a LoC Security mission is a two vehicle multiple from a Rifle Platoon
(generally Grasskat, but occasionally Fusilier) supported by two Tirats and
usually, but not always, a Grasskat-L. A Vrikshaka pass is the usual lead
element and will be followed by the patrol with one Tirat leading followed by
the Grasskats, with the second Tirat ranging out to the flanks. Occasionally a
second Tirat pair will be tasked to follow the main patrol at a varying
distance, often cued by a Vrikshaka orbiting at high altitude and tasked with
intercepting any suspects who went to ground while the main patrol was passing. Convoy EscortConvoy Escort is the
company’s meat and potatoes, the task they are contracted for more often than
not. The archetypal Escort/Security Group is used for these missions, with a
full Grasskat platoon supported by a two vehicle Tirat multiple and a
Grasskat-L for engineering support. In addition to these is of course the
convoy. This can range from lows of ten or so vehicles up to more than fifty,
for particularly large convoys the company will try to assign more than one
Escort/Security Group, but this is rarely possible. As is standard a
Vrikshaka pass will precede the convoy. This will be followed by a single Tirat
acting as IED security and running some 250 metres in advance of the lead
Grasskat, usually the platoon commander’s vehicle and usually paired with the
Grasskat-L in case of the need to remove any obstacles. The convoy will follow
the Grasskats with the vehicles ideally at a 50 to 100 metre separation. A
single Grasskat, usually the Naib-Subedar’s will bring up the rear. The
remaining two Grasskats of the rifle platoon will vary their position within
the convoy on a random basis, making it difficult for an ambushing force to
pick a particular point to strike in advance. The remaining Tirat will act as a
‘rover’, randomly varying its position within a 5km radius of the column. Ridgelines
that allow an overwatch position for large segments of the route are
particularly favoured. A Vrikshaka will range over a larger radius from the
convoy to give advanced warning of any force moving in the open. If any civilian
vehicles approach the convoy then the action taken will depend on the current
threat level. In a low threat environment the vehicle will be allowed to pass
by, in a medium threat environment it will be directed to pull over onto the
verge while the convoy passes and usually identities will be checked. In a
high-threat environment the vehicle may be fired on if it approaches
aggressively and if not it will be directed to pull at least 50m clear of the
road while the convoy passes. Identity checks and a vehicle search are also
likely. Whenever an
Escort/Security Group is engaged in convoy escort the full Fusilier platoon
will be retained at 5 minutes readiness to move to act as a relief force in the
event of an attack. If a convoy has to operate at considerable distance from the
company laager the Fusilier platoon may be deployed to an intermediate position
to reduce their reaction time. In the event that a
convoy is ambushed, company doctrine is to pin the ambushers in place while
waiting for the Fusilier platoon to arrive and surround them. This somewhat
aggressive approach recognises that an ambusher who escapes uninjured from an
attack is likely to do it again and seeks to make sure that there are very few
repeat offenders. If the Fusilier platoon is unable to respond in time the
Tirats will be used to outflank and ideally enfilade the enemy force while the
rifle platoon concentrates and then assaults on foot with the Grasskats
providing fire support. If possible civilian drivers will be evacuated from the
ambush zone while this is in progress, but this is a low priority tasking.
Military drivers are expected to defend their vehicles. If a convoy trip
extends over several days the Escort/Security group will usually be reinforced
with a two vehicle multiple from one of the other platoons and frequently with
a Hover-Rover DC, the objective being to provide adequate security for the
overnight laager. Wherever possible the convoy will overnight at or adjacent to
a friendly position. Crowd ControlCrowd Control is
perhaps the most unpopular task that 2 Company undertakes. It is an unfortunate
fact of life that crowds of people in need of the relief a convoy can bring may
well turn unruly and even violent as they are overtaken by desperation (equally
frequently the opposite reaction is true and the crowds may display tremendous
dignity in their misfortune). 2 Company
trains extensively for this role having formulated a three-element doctrine of
its own to deal with it. The first element of
the doctrine is Sound Training, Major Rai believing that only through frequent
and thorough training can a military force operate in a para-military role
while minimizing the potential for civilian casualties. The second element of
the doctrine is Implicit Threat. Implicit Threat is provided by deploying every
available man on foot, backed by the vehicles (which can be used as physical
barriers as well as psychological intimidation). Helmets and body armour will
be worn, personal weapons will be carried, but slung until needed, and all
personnel will carry lathis. Officers and havildars or designated substitutes
will carry sonic stunners. Scouts and designated marksmen will occupy whatever
high ground is available, the vehicles if nothing else, and provide a visible
overwatch threat. Three levels of escalation are identified: Threat, which
includes pushing and limited rock throwing; Riot, which includes extensive
rock-throwing and concerted attempts to break the company’s line; and Life
Threatening, which includes use of any kind of firearm or IED. Company doctrine
authorises set responses for each level of escalation. Threat will be responded
to passively, lathis will only be used to push protesters back from the line.
Riot will be responded to more aggressively, lathis may be swung and sonic stunners
may be used against ringleaders or if the crowd itself becomes a threat to
life. Life Threatening levels of violence from individuals will be met by
immediate counterfire against identified targets. Ideally this will come from
personnel tasked with overwatch, but any Company trooper is authorised to fire
if he believes life to be in danger. Engagement is the
final element of the doctrine and the Company’s plan to avoid escalation. All
personnel have been trained to watch for and identify the leaders in a crowd.
These may be respected elders, young firebrands, or natural leaders who don’t
realise the example they set to others. Wherever possible identified leaders
will be approached by officers or NCOs, with visors up or helmets off if at all
possible, and engaged in discussion – even if this takes the form of shouting
over the crowd. The simple concept is a variation on the Stockholm Syndrome and
relies on the fact that people are less likely to be violent to someone they
have formed a bond with, even if that bond is as simple as a moment or two of
conversation, and recognises that a helmeted, visored soldier in combat armour
may seem almost inhuman to a frightened mob. Major Rai is on record as saying
that the ideal way to end a riot is for everyone to sit down and have a nice
cup of tea, which might seem trite if people hadn’t seen him do it. Laager Relocation Moving the company
laager is a considerable logistics exercise and so is done as infrequently as
possible. Where the company’s employer is a national government the location
and establishment of new laager sites will always be made in conjunction with
the employer’s representatives, but where the employer is a corporate body or
foundation 2 Company will retain control of site selection. Essentially the
operation is a combination of route-opening and convoy escort. An initial
route-opening exercise will be carried out to allow a
physical on-site survey for final confirmation of the site’s suitability by
Technical Support Platoon and to establish an on-site presence. Once the
initial presence has been established, the unit 2i/c and multiples from D and
Support Platoons will relocate to the site to establish a perimeter and provide
physical security while Engineering Section constructs bunkers, trenchlines and
berms. Technical Platoon’s AT8s and any available civilian traffic will then be
used to relocate the unit’s supplies from the old laager to the new. As the
transfer proceeds the Patrol/Escort Groups and the CS and CSS assets
will progressively shift their base of operations from the old laager to the
new. As a final step the fixed defences of the old laager will be removed and
the CO along with the remaining elements of D and Support platoons will
relocate to the new site. Under ideal circumstances the old laager will be
returned to the state it was in before it was occupied by the Company, where
possible this task will be sub-contracted to local labour. Where a civilian settlement exists in reasonable proximity to the new laager the company will expend considerable time in hearts and minds efforts to bring the locals on-side. This starts from the moment the route opening/site survey team first arrives with the preferred entry being with pipes, drums and buglers leading the vehicles in full parade whites.
Equipment
Darra Arms B-83 Assault Rifle
The Darra Arms Bundook-83Assault
Rifle bears an unmistakeable resemblance to the legendary British Colonial
Service Rifle. This surprises no one, Darra Arms have a long history of
producing near-clones of successful weapons and pricing them at a point
guaranteed to make customers look twice at the original designer’s prices.
Frequently this has led to Darra Arms being sued, but the company’s own
designers are very good at making the design just sufficiently different that
no intellectual property is technically violated. Darra Arms can also afford
very, very proficient legal representation, so there is generally little point
in attempting to sue them. Professional analysts hold that copying is simply a
matter of tradition with Darra, which grew out of the informal consortia of Khyber
Pass gunsmiths who turned out copies of the AK-47, AKSU, Lee-Enfield and other
popular weapons from before Twilight until well into the 21st Century.
The truth of the matter is that as often as not Darra can build a clone that is
not just cheaper, but marginally better than the original. The Bundook-83 is a
classic example of this. The action of the rifle is a close copy of the
original, but the physical proportions and balance of the weapon have been
altered slightly and even experienced CSR users say it comes to the eye more
smoothly than the original. Equally the sighting complex has been swapped out
for one of Darra design, successfully combining a x4 sight with a x1.2 close
combat optic, in a value engineered format that has proved at least as reliable
in service as the original. Finally the magazine has been reworked and changed
to a four stack, 50 round design giving 15 extra rounds on the gun. 35 round
CSR magazines can freely be used on the B-83, but the B-83’s 50 round magazine
may only be used on the CSR if it has been fitted with a Darra manufactured
adaptor kit. The kits only cost Lv 25, but there are a lot of CSRs still in
service and even small profits add up when made in large numbers. The B-83 is the
standard rifle of the Pakistani military and is also used in considerable
numbers by Punjab, Nepal and Mysore, the last of which license built the design
until switching to a home-designed binary model in the later 2290s. Outside of
the sub-continent Armenia and Kenya are both users and Nigeria has negotiated a
license production deal that also allows it to sell to West African nations,
with Mali and Mauretania as acknowledged customers. Considerable numbers of
unmarked B-83s have also been found in the hands of various separatists and bandits,
from the Pushtun in Afghanistan to Berberan raiders. It is unclear which
production facility these weapons originated from. The only known offworld sale
was of 5000 rifles to Joi in 2300, but significant numbers of B-83s had been
seen on Joi during the revolt and the DGSE has never completely dropped their
suspicion that these may have been unlicenced copies from a Manchurian
production plant. Type: 7.5x37mm Caseless
Assault Rifle Country: Pakistan, in
service with Pakistan, Punjab, Nepal, Mysore, Armenia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali,
Mauretania and Joi. Weight: 3.9kg
(unloaded) Length: 82cm (Bulk = 3) Action: Single Shots or
Bursts Ammunition: 7.5x37mm
caseless ball Muzzle Velocity: 900mps Magazine: 50 rounds Magazine Weight: 0.55kg ROF: 3 Aimed Fire Range: 800m Area Fire Burst: 10
rounds (AFV = 1) Area Fire Range: 550m DP Value: 0.9 Price: Lv480 (Lv2 for
100 round box, Lv 3 for empty 50 round magazine) Darra Arms B-83 Designated Marksman Rifle
The Designated
Marksman variant of the B-83 falls short of a true sniper rifle, but it
replaces the existing sighting complex with an infinitely variable 8-power
scope and adds a butt monopod to go with the existing bipod. The butt is
additionally capable of taking spacers and recoil pads to perfectly fit it to
the shooter and the standard 60cm barrel is replaced with a 75cm heavy barrel.
A double set trigger completes the ensemble. A ten round magazine is available
to reduce the weight of the weapon for paramilitary sniper usage, but the
dominant use of the B-83 DMR is in the squad marksman role, where the standard
fifty round magazine is preferred. Type: 7.5x37mm Caseless
Designated Marksmans Rifle Country: Pakistan, in
service with Punjab, Nepal, Mysore, Armenia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Mauretania
and Joi Weight: 4.5kg
(unloaded) Length: 97cm (Bulk = 3) Action: Single Shots or
Bursts Ammunition: 7.5x37mm
caseless ball Muzzle Velocity: 900mps Magazine: 50 rounds Magazine Weight: 0.55kg
(10 round magazine: 0.2kg) ROF: 3 Aimed Fire Range: 1000m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds
(AFV = 1) Area Fire Range: 550m DP Value: 0.9 Price: Lv500 (Lv2 for
100 round box, Lv 2 for empty 10 round magazine, Lv 3 for empty 50 round
magazine) Darra Arms UG-83 Clip-On Grenade Launcher
The UG-83 is the
standard clip-on grenade launcher of the Pakistani military. Originally
designed as a part of the B-83 project, the UG-83 has ESA standard attachment
points and is usable with most weapons on the market today. The UG-83 consists
of an outer barrel and firing mechanism, into which is slotted a factory-packed
three-round magazine/inner barrel. The inner barrel houses the three caseless
grenades stored nose to tail with firing initiated electrically. While the
grenades are standard (and functionally identical to British L6x series
grenades) the propellant charges vary with the position of the grenade within
the barrel, the first grenade in the barrel having a faster-burning propellant
than the second, which has faster burning propellant than the third. This
undoubtedly complicates manufacture, but the result is that all three grenades
will exit the barrel with identical velocities and spin rates, giving
ballistically matched trajectories. The UG-83’s grenades
are available as HE (equivalent to L63), HEAT (equivalent to L66),
Flechette (equivalent to L64) and WP
(equivalent to L65), all supplied in three-round single type magazines. Type: 30mm Grenade Lancher Country: Pakistan, in service with Punjab, Nepal, Mysore, Armenia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Mauretania, Joi
and others Weight: 0.5 kg (unloaded) Length: 40cm (use bulk of rifle) Action: Single Shot Ammunition: 30x75mm Rifle Grenade Muzzle Velocity: 375mps Magazine: 3 rnd tubular magazine Magazine Weight: 1.0 kg ROF: 3 Aimed Fire Range: 125m (400m indirect) DP Value: As Rifle Grenade Price: Lv 75 (per sealed
magazine: HE Lv 7, HEAP Lv 10, Flechette Lv 7, WP Lv 15) Ishapore Arsenal Chakra Close Defence Weapon
The Chakra Close
Defence Weapon is yet another attempt to combine the functionality of a PDW and
an automatic pistol in the same package. The unloaded Chakra looks like a
largish pistol, a few historically-minded observers claiming it bears an
uncanny resemblance to the Model 1893 Borchardt, but almost uniquely in a PDW
the Chakra has two feed-paths. A conventional butt-loading double-row 20 round
magazine provides for normal usage as a heavy pistol in low-threat
environments, but for higher-threat environments a helical feed magazine is
available holding 45 rounds of ammunition, this mounts to the extreme rear of
the weapon, projecting back over the wrist. With the rear-magazine fitted the
butt-magazine is disconnected from the firing mechanism, but as soon as the
rear-magazine is exhausted the Chakra will automatically switch to the
butt-magazine. Automatic fire is only possible when feeding from the rear
magazine. A rather odd wrist-brace/semi-stock is available that clips to the
base of the weapon’s butt and then braces against the inside and top of the
forearm. Few normal users will use the wrist-brace with any regularity, but a
small but notable percentage of users from police SWAT teams and military SOF
units swear by it. A close-combat optic and laser pointer are standard
fittings. With the rear-mounted
magazine fitted the Chakra is extremely inconvenient to carry in a conventional
holster, with the preferred method of carry being a three-point chest-sling.
With only the butt-mounted magazine fitted the Chakra fits normally in a
conventional holster, although it is still on the large side for an automatic. The odd configuration
of the Chakra is generally considered to have been one of those good ideas that
should have been left on the drawing office floor, but the weapon itself has a
reputation for reliable action and accurate shooting, even under the
full-automatic usage that would normally have a pistol of this size climbing
uncontrollably. The Chakra is the
standard issue PDW of the Bengali, Nepalese, Bhutanese and Burmese forces and
is also sold on the civilian market in semi-automatic only format. It is
relatively common throughout Asia and is also seen in East Africa, Somalia
having brought it into service as the standard sidearm for its army and several
other nations having adopted it for police use. Type: 9x24mm PDW Country: Bengal, in
service with Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and Somalia Weight: 2.25kg
(unloaded) Length: 1cm (Bulk
= 1, 2 with rear magazine mounted) Action: Single Shots or
Full Automatic Ammunition: 9x24mm
fixed cartridge ball Muzzle Velocity: 500mps Magazine: Butt: 20
rounds, Rear: 45 rounds Magazine Weight: Butt:
0.25kg, Rear: 0.5Kg ROF: 3 Aimed Fire Range: 60m Area Fire Burst: 15
rounds (AFV = 2) Area Fire Range: 45m DP Value: 0.4 Price: Lv 425 (Lv2 for box of 100 rounds, Lv 2 for empty butt magazine, Lv 5 for empty rear magazine) Grafton Arms L43A5 Light Support Weapon
Introduced mid-century, the Grafton Arms L43 was in some ways the father of the short-lived fascination with storm-guns that arose during the CAW and the grandfather of modern squad level plasma weapons. Frequently described as a bastardized cross of sniper rifle and grenade launcher, the L43 was designed to utilize a high-velocity rifle grenade in a point-target role. A notoriously heavy weapon, the Grafton was nevertheless accurate and relatively pleasant to fire, particularly by the final generation L43A5 with gyro-stabilization and electronic sighting. Drawing on a feed mechanism developed for an experimental Grafton Arms automatic shotgun, the L43 is loaded via a 15 round magazine inserted into the weapon’s butt, the vertically aligned rounds being rotated 90 degrees to bring them in line with the barrel. Spent rounds are ejected underneath the mechanism. While this allowed easy use by left or right-handed personnel, the L43 was notorious for occasionally ejecting a hot case onto the shooter’s forearm, supposedly allowing experienced users to be identified by their burn-scars. The L43 never found a happy place in UK and foreign service, at various times being issued at squad, platoon and company level. By the time of the Kafer War the L43 was mostly gathering dust, even in the armories of colonial defence forces, but the desperation of the Kafer War, and the continued availability of ammunition, saw the L43 undergoing a minor renaissance, significant enough for Grafton Arms to rush a TISS compatibility package into production. Weapons fitted with this package are designated L43A5* and are compatible with the L99 High Velocity Selectable Detonation Rifle Grenade as well as the older L6x series. 2 Company’s L43s are the basic A5 model without the TISS package and never went out of service, the company being unable to contemplate the cost of re-equipping with plasma guns. Type: 30mm Grenade Lancher Country: United Kingdom, in service or held by many Commonwealth and some other nations Weight: 7.7 kg (unloaded) Length: 130cm (Bulk = 5) Action: Single Shot Ammunition: 30x75mm Rifle Grenade Muzzle Velocity: 750mps Magazine: 15 rnd box magazine Magazine Weight: 3.0 kg ROF: 3 Aimed Fire Range: 850m DP Value: As Rifle Grenade Price: Lv 750 30mm High Velocity Rifle Grenades Grenade, 30mm, Launched, High-Velocity, HE
Flechette APERS, L63A6
DP: As Explosion (EP = 2) Burst
radius = 10m The DPV of the fragments is 1.1/0.3, with any remainder halved after penetrating armour. Grenade,
30mm, Launched, High-Velocity, HE Enhanced APERS, L64A5 DPV: As explosion (EP = 3) Grenade, 30mm, Launched, High-Velocity, White Phosphorous, Smoke, L65A3Weight: 0.2kg Fuse: Impact Effect: Primary Burst Radius = 20m, DPV per fragment = 0.2 incendiary (does damage for 20 rounds unless put out) (will not penetrate armour), Smoke: 10x40m area, no concussion. Price: Lv 6Grenade,
30mm, Launched, High-Velocity, HEAT, L66A4 DPV: As tamped explosion (EP = 3) Darra Arms Model 90 Sonic StunnerAnother ‘improved
copy’, the Model 90 sonic stunner closely resembles the Quinn Optronics
Restraint Carbine in form and function. In putting their own stamp on the
design the Darra designers have considerably improved the ruggedness of the
Quinn design, shrouding the external fins of the pulse generator in a composite
forearm that means it is now possible to mishandle the weapon without risking
it being rendered unusable. In fact it is possible to buttstroke an opponent
with the Model 90 and carry on firing afterwards, something that would normally
put a Restraint in depot level repair. The other improvement Darra have made is
to double the size of the LMS cell, allowing 30 shots from a single magazine
(standard 15 shot Quinn Optronics magazines can also be used). The Restraint Carbine
remains dominant with paramilitary forces, Quinn Optronics having a
well-established sales force specialising in dealing with police and other law
enforcement agencies, but Darra’s Model 90 has considerable penetration of the
military market, where sonic stunners are popular golfbag equipment for
Operations Other Than War. Darra’s most prized order for the Model 90 remains
the 2298 order from the British Army’s Royal Military Police (which also
covered the civilian MoD Police), which provoked considerable complaints from
Quinn Optronics, but stopped short of a legal challenge. Type: Sonic Stunner Nation: Pakistan, in
service with United Kingdom and others. Weight (empty): 4.5 kg Length: 75 cm (Bulk
= 2) Action: Single shot Muzzle Velocity: 330 mps Magazine: 10 mj LMS cell
(30 pulses) Magazine Weight: 1.25 kg ROF: 3 Aimed fire Range: 100 m Area fire Burst: 3
pulses (AFV= 1) Area Fire Range: 40 m DP Value: 0.8
(0.4 area fire), stun damage only Price: Lv 145 (Lv 7.5 for 10 mj disposable LMS cell) KukriThe traditional
fighting knife/short sword of the Gurkhas is still issued to every Gurkha
soldier and has changed little over the centuries. It is also popular with
British and other troops for jungle operations and is a common barter item. It
is curved with a heavy, blunt back edge and is a superb cutting weapon. Length: 42cm (Bulk
= 0) Weight: 2 kg Melee Range: short Melee Skill Modifier:
+2 DP: 0.4 Cost: On issue or Lv10 LathiThe Lathi is the long
riot control cane of Indian subcontinent police. 2 Company uses a 120cm cane
manufactured from a semi-flexible rugged plastic. Length: 120cm (Bulk
= 2) Weight: 0.5Kg Melee Range: Long Melee Skill Modifier:
+1 DP: 0.1 (blunt trauma
only) Price: Lv 2.5 Bangalore Dynamics Marut
AVM
The Marut is a light
shoulder-fired AVM with a marginal SAM capability, primarily useful against
closing targets. Standard issue with the Bangalore military, the Marut is ideal
for 2 Company who only expect to engage aerial targets under the most unusual of
conditions. The missile comes packed in a launch-tube and the system integrates
with the Moghul Warrior ISS or a vehicle’s fire control system for sighting
purposes. Type: Light
anti-vehicle missile Nation: Bangalore Missile weight: 8kg Range: 750m (2000m vs
Aerial targets) Guidance: Automatic
following gunner lock on Homing value: 14 Attack angle:
selectable Damage: As tamped
explosion (EP = 35) Price: Not available Missile speed: 600 mps Missile endurance: 3.5
seconds Policetech Special Assault Helmet2 Company issues its
personnel with the Special Assault Helmet from Policetech of Mysore. The helmet
is a full-face composite design with an openable faceplate. The visor functions
as the display screen for the Helmet’s night vision system (with optics mounted
above the ears) an also includes both internal and external microphones. The
system is compatible with and is used as a sensor input to the Moghul Warrior
ISS, but the visor is not used as an ISS output, doctrine being to keep
non-essential information out of the soldier’s field of view at all times. Weight: 0.65kg AV: 0.8 Cost: Lv325 Moghul Warrior Integrated Soldier SystemMoghul Warrior is the
standard Integrated Soldier System of the Indian and several other armies.
Equivalent to (and interoperable with) the British Army’s Combat System 75, the
Moghul Warrior system was introduced in 2282 and is now considered obsolescent
by the Indian Army. Unfortunately the replacement Warrior:2300 programme has
encountered development problems and is not now expected to deliver prototype
hardware until 2305. For 2 Company, with
different operational concerns to a national force, Moghul Warrior remains
perfectly adequate. As is usual with Integrated Soldier Systems the electronics
are integrated into the basic combat equipment, however unlike more modern
systems the electronics are not
dispersed but are mounted in a protective armoured pad permanently mounted
within the back of the jacket. An add-on Cuirass can be worn as the front
component of the combat armour or left off as the tactical situation allows and
an additional rigid back-plate is available if required. Rather than using helmet
optics the ISS outputs to a display pad, which is typically mounted in a
drop-down pocket on the left breast. The uniform is a
limited inertial armour design with basic level biochemical warfare protection
and a smart surface allowing different camouflage schemes to be selected as
necessary. Individual schemes are a user-selected option at time of purchase.
Based on their expected area of operations 2 Company procured uniforms with the
Temperate (green-brown), Desert (sand-grey), Mountain (grey-brown-green) and
Policing (dark blue) schemes along with the default Winter (white-grey) and
SARBE (dayglo-orange) options. All camouflage modes can temporarily suppress IR
emissions if the wearer so selects and provided the optional 1.5 or 3l drinking
water reservoir is secured to the rear connector. With the water-reservoir
connected the uniform has a limited active environmental control ability (torso
only). A chemical chill can may be inserted into a socket in the water bladder
to pre-chill the contents to enhance the IR-suppression or environmental
conditioning functionality. However the expended chill can is a notable IR
emitter and must be disposed of carefully. Expended chill cans are perfectly
capable of starting fires if discarded into flammable materials such as dry
vegetation. SARBE mode may be selected to enhance IR signature at some cost in
battery life if the recovery of a casualty is particularly urgent or difficult.
To further enhance environmental control, the weave of the uniform is
self-adjusting to shed or retain body heat based on the operator’s core body
temperature as determined by various temperature sensors. The Moghul Warrior
system runs off batteries located in the lower part of the rear-torso pad. The
system can use 24 hour military specification battery packs, but is also
compatible with civilian market batteries which will usually have a
significantly shorter duration. Moghul Warrior Battledress Weight: 1.25kg Type: Inertial AV: 0.3 (limbs and
front torso), 0.5 (rear torso) Moghul Warrior Front Cuirass Weight: 1.25kg Type: Inertial+Rigid AV: 1.2 (front torso) Moghul Warrior Rear Cuirass Weight: 1.5kg Type: Inertial+Rigid AV: 1.5 (rear torso) Cost (complete system):
Lv1450 24 Hour Battery Weight: 0.25kg Cost: Lv 0.5
(disposable), Lv 5 (rechargeable) Environmental Control System Chill Can Weight: 0.25kg Cost: Lv 1 Moghul Warrior Base StationThe Moghul Warrior
Base Station is the platoon-level system integration node for the Moghul
Warrior ISS. The system works as a central node to the platoon network,
cross-correlating data from all sources and feeding the synthesized data both
back to the ISS of the individual platoon members and onwards to Moghul Lord or
other C2 systems in the net. The effect of this is that anything seen or heard
by one platoon member is available to all of them, it also provides synthesis
and correlation capabilities that no single platoon member could be capable of,
such as triangulation and trajectory analysis of both audio and visual signals.
This allows the position of snipers and other battlefield weapon systems to be
readily identified and plotted on the network’s tactical map. The system also
works as a communications rebroadcast node for the Moghul Warrior personal
encrypted radio system. Base-Stations are operable in several modes:
Rebroadcast, in which the system automatically transfers correlated data to the
higher level command nodes in the circuit as well as to individual ISS, Covert
in which the system listens but does not transmit (correlated data may still be
accessed by physically connecting a Moghul Warrior ISS via data-cable or via
vehicle fire control system displays) and LPI, in which the system rebroadcasts
to platoon network members only, where possible by daisy-chaining minimal power
transmissions from one platoon member to the next. ISS sets themselves will
automatically use LPI transmission modes such as daisy-chaining wherever
possible. The Moghul Warrior
Base Station is available in both vehicle and manpack models. All 2 Company vehicles have the Vehicle Model
installed and connected to whatever vehicle management or fire control systems
they may possess. Each platoon holds a single Manpack model usually carried by
the platoon commander’s signaller. Several spare Manpack Models are held at
company level and are issued at need, such as where a platoon is tasked to
operate both on foot and as two multiples. Moghul Warrior Base Station (Vehicle Model) Rebroadcast Range: 100
Km (or via satellite uplink if available) Weight: 20.0kg Cost: Lv 5000 Moghul Warrior Base Station (Manpack Model) Rebroadcast Range: 50
Km (or via satellite uplink if available) Weight: 7.5kg Battery Life: 8 hours
(rechargeable battery packs cost Lv 25 and weigh 1.5Kg) Cost: Lv 8,500 Moghul Lord Command and Control SystemMoghul Lord is the
Company and Above Command Element of the Moghul Warrior Combat System. A single
Moghul Lord node can process and integrate inputs from up to 75 Moghul Warrior
ISSs or 10 Moghul Warrior Base Stations (or any combination of roughly
equivalent processing load). Inputs from other compatible systems such as
airborne or orbital reconnaissance systems may also be integrated, in most
cases with no operator intervention. When several Moghul Lord nodes are operating
in a shared network environment they may be configured either to load-share,
with inputs divided between all available systems and consolidated information
cross-patched between nodes or to operate in a hierarchical system mimicking
the chain of command. Output from the system is to a user-definable number of
operator consoles (in practice a maximum of six per node is recommended), with
the consolidated tactical situation also cross-patched to any number of linked
Moghul Lord nodes and downwards to linked Moghul Warrior ISS or Base-Stations. The information feed
from the system includes all of the information available from a Moghul Warrior
Base Station, but additionally the system includes extensive intelligence and
logistics overlays, giving a commander all the information he should need to
fight on any but the hottest battlefield. 2 Company have two
Moghul Lord nodes, one in each of the Grasskat-Cs of HQ Platoon. The company
command post vehicle has a node with five operator stations, while the
communications vehicle has only four, the company network technician taking the
fifth position. Moghul Lord Command Node Rebroadcast Range: 100
Km (or via satellite uplink if available) Weight: 50.0kg Cost: Lv 15,000 Moghul Lord Operator Station Weight: 35.0kg Cost: Lv 1,500 INDEXVehicles
FV846 Grasskat and VariantsThe Company’s
Grasskats are standard Grasskats in the Medium Armour configuration. The only
variations from the baseline specification are the fitting of Moghul Warrior
Base Stations in all vehicles except the Grasskat-CPs, which have the Moghul
Lord C2 system instead, and the hybrid engineering/recovery configuration of the
Grasskat-Ls, which have both the heavy lifting arm and towing bars of the
Redkat recovery vehicle and the dozer blade and other specialist engineering
tools designed for the Redkat engineering vehicle. Most importantly perhaps,
the Grasskat-Ls have a MASINT IED detection system capable of detecting any
conventional military explosive at a range of 20 metres or less and most
improvised explosives at a range of two hundred and fifty metres. Ground
penetrating radar able to penetrate up to two metres at a range of twenty
metres is also fitted. Unfortunately the MASINT system can be swamped by
signals from friendly vehicles carrying munitions. See:
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dheb/2300/Equipment/EG/Redkat/Grasskat.htm FV 8423 Tirat-S Security VehicleThe Company’s Tirats
are standard Tirat-Ss in the Medium Armour configuration. As with the Grasskats
the only significant variation from the baseline specification is the fitting
of Moghul Warrior Base Stations in all vehicles. The MASINT IED detection system
fitted to the Grasskat-Ls is a standard part of the Tirat-S sensor suite. See:
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dheb/2300/Equipment/EG/Redkat/Tirat.htm FV735 Fusilier
Hover Infantry Fighting Vehicle The British Exospace
Fusilier HIFV superseded the Halberdier HAPC in British Army service, but that
was nearly five decades ago now. At the time the Fusilier was a major step
forward over the old Halberdier in having the power-to-weight ratio to support
a respectable armament and armour suite, although jump-jet capability was still
a generation in the future. It has served well all over human space, but is now
strictly speaking obsolete, with the vast majority of British Army Fusilier’s
brought up to the new Rifleman standard and many of those in use with other
first and second line nations retired, scrapped or sold on to more impoverished
forces. 2 Company’s Fusiliers
came off the production line at Ambernath Arsenal in Bombay (British Exospace’s
licensee for East Asia) in the early 2280s. They have been used hard and served
well, but are now maintenance hogs. Every man in Technical Section would love
to see the back of them and the Company Board would be happy to meet their
wishes, but there is simply no cash available to fund the re-equipment package. Type: Hover IFV Crew: 3 Combat Weight: 18 tons Armour: Rear: 10,
Plenum: 5, Others: 20 Armament: 1x 25mm Autocannon in Remote Turret with 100
rounds and +2 Fire Control, 1x Coaxial Vickers VR-5 MG with 2000 rounds 1 Marut AVM (three manual reloads carried
internally, 2 turns to reload with vehicle stopped) Signature: 3 Evasion: 7 Sensor Range: 10km Cargo: 1000kg + 8
Passengers Max Speed: 160kph Cruise Speed: 120kph Combat Movement: 240m Off Road Mobility: full Power Plant: 0.75MW MHD
Turbine Fuel Capacity: 575kg of
hydrogen Fuel Consumption: 25kg
per hour Endurance: 23 hours Price: Lv200,000 for a
second hand system on the open market (Original 2265 purchase price was
approximately Lv530,000) Hover Rover 350The Hover Rover 350
was the UK’s second generation hover utility vehicle design, replacing the
Reynard I in service from the late 2260s. The Company’s vehicles were procured
in the most austere configuration from Hawker’s Pune production line in the
early 2290s. All have been fitted with the Moghul Warrior Base Station. Type: Light Utility
Hover Vehicle Crew: GS: Driver DC: Driver, Drone Operator*2 WMR: Driver, Commander, Gunner Ambulance: Driver, Medic*2 Weight: 1.25 tons Armour: Front: 2, Top:
1, Sides: 2, Rear: 2, Plenum: 1 Armament: GS, DC: Front Pintle Mount
Only WMR: VR5 with 1000 rounds on
Front Pintle Mount
VR8 with 250 Rounds on Lightweight Powered Cupola
Marut AVM*2 on Lightweight Powered Cupola Ambulance: None Signature: 1 Evasion: 7 Sensor Range: 2km (WMR:
3Km) Cargo: GS: 5 passengers and 750kg DC: Vrikshaka drone *4 WMR: 1 Passenger or 150Kg Ambulance: 2 Stretcher patients
or 3 seated wounded. Max Speed: 150kph
(30kph with jump jets) Cruise Speed: 120kph Combat Movement: 240m Off Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 0.35MW MHD
Turbine Fuel Capacity: 150kg of
hydrogen Fuel Consumption: 7.5kg
per hour (Increased 10 times when jump jets engaged) Endurance: 20 hours Price: Lv25000
exclusive of weapons (new production, Lv7500-15000 surplus depending on
condition and equipment fit) AT8 Hover Logistics VehicleThe AT8 (officially the All-Terrain Medium
Logistics Vehicle, 8 Tonne) is the most common medium load carrier in British
service and fulfils the same role in many Commonwealth and other armies,
serving alongside its larger and smaller siblings, the AT16 and the AT4 (the
latter more commonly known as the Quad). Like the AT16, but unlike the Quad,
the AT8 is usually fitted with the Modular Offloadable System of
interchangeable loadbeds, allowing it to switch from general load carrier to
specialist vehicle in minutes. MOS compatible equipment shelters are a common
standard worldwide, holding everything from perishable goods to electronics to
vertical launch missile systems.
2 Company has three
AT8s in Technical Support Platoon. Like the Hover-Rovers these came off
Hawker’s Pune production line. Each is normally fitted with the standard cargo
loadbed, but the vehicles are also used to transport the various MOS compatible
equipment shelters within the company when required. As with other company
vehicles the Moghul Warrior Base Station is fitted. Type: Hover Logistics
Vehicle Crew: Driver + 2
Passengers (in cab, more possible in carried module) Combat Weight: 12 tons Armour: Front: 2, Top:
2, Sides: 2, Rear: 2, Plenum: 1 Armament: 1x Pintle Mount above Cab Signature: 5 Evasion: 3 Sensor Range: 5km Cargo: 8000kg Max Speed: 150kph Cruise Speed: 105kph Combat Movement: 210m Off Road Mobility: full Power Plant: 1.25MW MHD
Turbine Fuel Capacity: 500kg of
hydrogen Fuel Consumption: 40kg
per hour Endurance: 12.5 hours Price: Lv25,000 Vrikshaka DroneThe Vrikshaka drone is produced by Bangalore Dynamics and is in relatively widespread service as a tactical UAV throughout East Asia. The drone is powered by a small tail-mounted propfan and has a folding diamond wing configuration. It is launched from its transport canister using a mechanical catapult system that propels it some ten metres into the air, giving it just sufficient time to deploy its wing from the folded position and assume powered flight before it can strike the ground. As recovery may be at very low altitude it is normally recommended that no standing personnel be within fifty metres of a launching Vrikshaka. Once the Vrikshaka has reached fifty metres of altitude it will confirm it has a handshake with a control system and switch to semi-autonomous mode, allowing the operator to assume control and direct it on its mission. Once the mission is over the Vrikshaka can be switched to autonomous recovery mode and will return to a pre-selected recovery site where it will execute a vertical landing using an ultra-low-level stall technique, landing on four skids deployed from the rear of the propfan shroud. Once the Vrikshaka has been refueled it may be reinstalled in its transport container ready for another mission. The Vrikshaka comes equipped as standard with turret mounted multi-spectral sensors and a laser designation capability. 2 Company operates the Vrikshaka from Drone Control configured Hover Rovers. The Transport Containers are mounted two at either side of the cargo bay leaving a cramped space between for a single drone controller position with the second drone controller in what is normally the front passenger position. The opinion of most other operators is that a single Hover Rover is really too small to carry both the drone cannisters and operator consoles and it is more common to detail two vehicles to the task, but as ever 2 Company is forced to try and squeeze a quart into a pint pot. Type: Tactical VTOL UAV Nation: Bangalore Crew: None Armament: None Range Finder: +2 Cruise Speed: 200kph Combat
Move: 400m Signature: 2 Evasion: 9 Sensor Range: 8 km (+2) Cargo: None Weight: 70Kg Armour: 1 (all aspects) Endurance: 4 Hours INDEXPersonalities
Major Sher Rai Officer Commanding
2 Independent Company Group An officer who has
worked his way up from the ranks, Major Rai is very well respected by his men,
although not even his fellow officers would claim to know him well. A quiet man
by nature, Major Rai seems to become even quieter during combat, radiating a
calm confidence in his subordinates as he fights the company with the minimum
of command interference. Major Rai is very well
respected outside of the company and marked for greater things by the
Regimental Council of the Independent Gorkha Rifles. As company commander for
the past three years he has been responsible for handling re-equipment with the
Grasskat and Tirat, replacing the older Indian APCs previously in use, a task
which he has achieved without noticeably disrupting company operations or,
perhaps more importantly, taking company accounts into the red. He has also
formalised the doctrine for operations other than war that have evolved within
the company and his articles in various military journals have been well
received, culminating in a recent invitation to deliver a guest lecture at
Sandhurst. Major Rai is just finishing a 2 year stint as the non-voting
observer for the independent companies on the IGR Regimental Council and it is
likely that but for the very challenging nature of 2 Company’s next assignment
he would have been offered a battalion command. Subedar Sally ThapaPlatoon Commander,
B Platoon In the traditionalist
world of the IGR Sally Thapa has three counts against her. Firstly she is a
woman, and the Gurkhas are still adjusting to that new reality, secondly she is
a Pendragon Mountains Gurkha from Wellon rather than a Nepali and third, her
appearance owes much more to her Wellonese Mountaineer mother than her
Pendragon Gurkha father. In fairness to the IGR this wouldn’t normally be a
problem, there is a long tradition of British officers serving in Gurkha units,
but Sally Thapa stands out in a crowd. It isn’t completely unprecedented for
Gurkhas to approach 180 centimetres in height, but Sally Thapa stands 195cm in
her stocking feet, she is also perhaps the first natural red-head in Gurkha
history. A former part-timer
with 2 (HS) Battalion, The Mountain Regiment on Wellon, Sally Thapa claims she
joined the IGR because ‘it seemed like a good idea at the time’, those who know
her as a fanatical free climber believe the proximity to the Himalayas may have
had rather more to do with it. As a graduate of The Mountain Regiment’s
Mountain Instructor course she has been a welcome addition to several
expeditions, culminating in joint leadership of the IGR team’s conquest of K2
in 2302. Beyond all else
though, the thing that has most eased Sally Thapa’s acceptance by her colleagues
is that Subedar Thapa is a superb soldier. She has commanded B Platoon since
its previous commander was killed in an ambush eighteen months ago. Her
performance is such that little effort has been made to recruit a replacement. Naib-Subedar
Ramdhoj Gurung, MD Company SurgeonDoctor Gurung is a
little bit of an oddball. A competent surgeon, he has proven completely unable
to work within a medical hierarchy, constantly becoming engaged in essentially
stupid squabbles with his colleagues over treatment protocols, but
simultaneously he is quite at home within the even more structured existence of
a military unit. 2 Company provides him with the best of both worlds, as he is
the only doctor within the unit. While initially cautious of his acetic nature,
unusual in a Gurkha, the Company warmed considerably to him after the laager
came under sustained attack by Pushtun separatists in 2301, destroying the
medical MOS Shelter with the first volley of mortar fire. Despite the loss of
most of his instruments and one of his assistants, Naib-Subedar Gurung kept
several wounded men alive while under fire, even going so far as to shoot dead
one attacker who was on the point of grenading the casualties. Doctor Gurung has
experienced difficulty passing the quarterly fitness test in the past and
Subedar Thapa has taken him under her wing to ensure that this ceases to be a
problem. He is not believed to be enjoying the experience. Rifleman Ram
Bahadur, Vehicle Driver, Patrols PlatoonRam Bahadur is that
most traditional of things, a rural Gurkha intent on earning enough money
during a career soldiering to buy himself a farm for his retirement. Assigned
as a vehicle driver to Patrols Platoon, Ram found that driving a Tirat is more
fun than he could ever have imagined, particularly driving it fast. His
enthusiasm brought him to the notice of his platoon commander and when that
officer’s previous driver was promoted to command a fireteam in B Platoon, Ram
found himself driving for his commander. This is an arrangement that suits them
both. Less appreciated are the speeding tickets and fines Ram tends to
accumulate during leave periods which have gotten him into trouble with Major
Rai on several occasions. AcknowledgementsThanks to Dan Hebditch for comments on the initial version of this article and for providing the inspiration to switch to the Indian Army half of Gurkha heritage. In addition the AT8, Quad, Hover Rover, Fusilier, VR5, Colonial Service Rifle, IGR, the Mountain Regiment and the Pendragon Mountains Gurkhas are all originally concepts by Dan and/or Bryn Monnery.
30/04/06 Copyright 2006, David Gillon |