The Corps of Royal Alician Marines: 2300AD

Introduction
History
Formation
Consolidation
Kafer War
Training
Recruiting
Order of Battle
Equipment and Uniform

Introduction

The Corps of Royal Alician Marines, formerly the Alician Maritime Regiment, is one of the leading forces of the Alician Defence Force. Unlike its British and Wellon counterparts it remains under the control of the Ground Wing (Army), and covers a range of roles. The Corps has rapid reaction, armoured infantry, advanced training and space marine units. It also has detachments trained in boat handling, special operations and interface operations. The Royal Alician Marines hold a unique position, combining the glamour of the Royal Marines and Paratroopers as well as the respectability of the senior service.

Recruitment into the Corps is highly competitive, with places being many times oversubscribed. Officers from the unit are highly placed in the ranks of the defence force, having recently overtaken the blue-bloods of the Beowulf Fusiliers in terms of influence within the military. The Alician Marines have also seen the most action of any Alician unit, with battalions being used as rapid reaction forces in the Ramadenthian Archipelago and frequently coming into contact with pirates and French colonial insurgents in the region.

The Kafer War has seen an expansion in the size and make-up of the unit, changing from a Regiment to a Corps. The threat has also created new roles for the Alician military and for the Marines in particular. The Royal Alician Marines have now many units deploying away from Alicia, with forces deployed on New Africa and with the RSN Combined Fleet. The Royal Alician Marines remain in the forefront of Alician military planning and operations and look set to remain so for many years to come.

History

Formation

The Corps has its roots in the long running confrontation between the British and French colonies on Beowulf over the rich Ramadenthian Archipelago. Although initially a peaceful, co-operative relationship existed in the archipelago disputes driven by corporate greed over ill-defined boundaries eventually became increasingly violent. British regulars deployed to the Archipelago backed up by the Paramilitary Division of the British Beowulf Police (later the British Beowulf Fusiliers) and largely ended the occasional skirmishes.

The Treaty of Herot was thought to have ended the problem as both governments, close allies on Earth, came to an amicable agreement. French and British regulars were withdrawn from the area, however the Alician Defence Force wanted a rapid response unit available to reinforce the islands in the future should hostilities begin again. The Alician Maritime Regiment was recruited in early 2249, with most of its recruits coming from the cities of Herot, Spenceton and Aliceport, many of whom were former British soldiers who had settled in the colony.

A leadership cadre was provided by officers and NCO's on secondment from the British military, predominantly from the Royal Marines and Army Commando units. Training took place at a bleak area of Crown Land on the Strathy Peninsular, which rapidly became known as Achnacarry from the legendary WW 2 Commando training area. Achnacarry was a tented camp with few amenities, where the training program raised fitness to exceptional levels. Basic skills were honed and refined, whilst specialist training took place across many different forms of Alicia's terrain.

The training at Achnacarry concentrated on small unit action, with forces rarely operating in units larger than company groups. It was assumed that this would be the most common size of deployment undertaken by the unit. Equal emphasis was also placed upon unit mobility, VTOL, ACV and shipping drills were frequently practised whilst the unit also undertook parachute training (obsolete on Earth but still viable in the colonies). By December of 2250 after a successful series of exercises against the Royal Regiment of Alicia, the 1st Marine Battalion of the Alician Maritime Regiment was ready for duty.

Consolidation

The battalion commenced its duties being stationed on New Iona in the south of the Archipelago. However most of their duties were concerned with responding to minor border infractions, although much good training was undertaken. Inevitably many members of the Regiment left the unit once their tours had finished, however fresh recruits kept the battalion up to strength. The 1st Battalion's first major action took place in March 2256 when a pirate band attacked a mining settlement at Tsunami Reef. B Company deployed by air to the area and parachuted in to the outskirts of the settlement and forced the pirates to withdraw loosing the first two Alician Marines killed in the firefight.

Piracy suppression missions provided the bulk of the units operational tasking over the next ten years, culminating in the major operation on the harbour at Dolphin Ridge where the AMR won its first, and so far only, Victoria Cross. Lieutenant van Baal, commander of the battalion's Recce Troop, destroyed several heavy machine gun positions defending the harbour, being seriously injured in the process. However the success of the AMR was hampered by defects in the support and intelligence gathering back-up they were receiving. As a result AMR personnel began to crew several fast gun boats that supported marine operations in the area.

The Marine's increasing reputation and frequent skirmishing brought it many recruits. The number of British seconded officers in its ranks fell, but ambitious officers looking for action continued to provide much useful service and cement links between British and Alician Marines. AMR personnel also began to serve exchange tours on Earth and Wellon at this time. One trend that continues to today was the increasing numbers of citizens from the Archipelago joining the Regiment. These men brought with them an increasingly hard-line attitude to the unit, and pressed for a more forward policy of attacking the pirates at their bases inside French territory.

The 70's were a fairly quiet time for the AMR, and the battalion was frequently deployed back to the mainland and their reaction role taken by other units. However the unit began to consolidate, an attempt to consolidate marine recruit training with that of other Alician infantry regiments was fought off. Achnacarry finally lost the last of its tented accommodation if not its fearsome reputation, and the centre became the home of the Junior Battle Course attended by all of the Ground Wing's Junior NCO personnel.

The late '70's saw an upsurge of violence in the Archipelago. The island of L'Horizon, containing both British and French settlements, was the site of a wave of inter-communal violence orchestrated by extremists from both sides manipulating local grievances. The AMR swiftly deployed to the island and working alongside French Colonial Infantry brought the situation under control, but not without complaints about the levels of violence used in suppressing rioting. As violence in other parts of the Archipelago the AMR was replaced by another infantry battalion on L'Horizon and was used in a fire-fighting role.

By the early 2280's the 1st Battalion was seriously overstretched and withdrawn for R&R. However their replacement in the mobile reserve role, the Alician Light Infantry took many casualties in a series of botched operations (rumours persisted of a spy in Eastern Command HQ) against French insurgents in the mineral rich Blue Island Group . The AMR were rushed back in-theatre, but the decision was taken to form a second marine battalion to rectify the overstretch being suffered by the 1st Battalion. Military action had brought the worst of the violence under control, but piracy began to become a serious problem again. Relations between the colonial governments began decay and suspicion of collusion with the pirates occurred on both sides.

The mid-2290's the Archipelago problem almost led to a shooting war between the two colonies. The 2nd Marine Battalion undertook and operation against a pirate band who had terrorised shipping in the Rigton Islands for several months. A battalion sized airborne-assault, backed by the armour of the Duke of Alicia's Own Regiment led to a fierce fight that killed or captured the entire band. Interrogation of captive pirates revealed that several of them were serving French Militia soldiers, and the location of their main base in a nearby French island. A follow up attack destroyed the base and recovered reams of semi-official documentation, but provoked a furious public reaction in Nouvelle Europe's capital. French Colonial Infantry raided a small Alician island in retaliation killing most of a small volunteer detachment, who the French claimed were running a piracy operation.

Both militaries began to mobilise, but British and French governments stepped in to arbitrate in the dispute. The Aliceport Convention tried to settle many of the conflicting claims in the Archipelago, whilst balancing demilitarisation of the area with effective cross-border anti-piracy measures. However although the Convention averted war suspicion remained high between the colonies and small anti-piracy operations continued amidst rumours of special forces deployments in the area. With British help the Alicians formed their own Special Air Service unit, a large number of whose personnel came from the AMR.

Kafer War

The outbreak of the Kafer War initially impacted little on the work of the AMR, whose battalions continued to deploy in rotation to the Archipelago. However the news of the destruction of Hochbaden and occupation of Dunkleheim came as a shock, the RSN increased it presence in the area and the system became a major staging area and base for the combined effort further up-arm. It was at this time of crisis that Alicia's government began to think of raising an expeditionary force for service with British units off-world. The AMR was the obvious unit from which to raise this force. Under the leadership of Sir Irvine Jameson RSN (later Governor General of Crater) the Alician Defence Committee decided to raise a force from the AMR and send it for 'Red' training with the Royal Marines 6 Commando Brigade and subsequently make it available for deployment with the Fleet.

Whilst plans were put underway to raise this new unit the long mooted decision to rename the AMR, which had always referred to itself as the Alician Marines, was taken. From January 2301 the Alician Maritime Regiment would become the Corps of Royal Alician Marines, the unit's new colours were presented by King Christian, who was at that time be touring Alicia, in a ceremony at Achnacarry. The new unit would retain its traditional green beret, but would receive a new cap-badge based on that of the Royal Marines but bearing the name 'Ramadenthian' in recognition of its long service in that area.

The continuing Kafer offensive and the failure of human forces to stop or even to much slow down the alien juggernaught had a profound effect on the Alician government. Steps were taken to reform the army in order to fight a much more serious battle than the skirmishing in the Archipelago that it had undertaken up till then. The RAM were also a part of this updating as new recruits crowded into the ADF Careers Offices. The 7th Brigade was formed to provide a proper structure for the marine forces, a third battalion was formed and a forth battalion of reservists was brought into being. In addition a regiment of artillery was brought into being, all of whose personnel had passed through Achnacarry. The 2nd Battalion was re-roled to become a conventional armoured infantry battle-group as part of the heavy 8th Brigade, a move that caused much disagreement within the Corps at the time.

With the fall of Beta Canum Venaticorum, Kimanjano and other major colony worlds Beowulf began to see a build up of ground force units from many of Earth's militaries. Whilst the ADF concentrated on preparing her defences against a likely invasion should the Human fleet fail to stop the Kafers, they also provided OPFOR training resources. And whilst what was known about Kafer armoured tactics from fighting on Aurore, Kimanjano and BCV could be replicated by human armoured units, Kafer infantry tactics were more difficult to simulate. The RAM were called on to see how they could perform this task.

The Advanced Training Detachment was formed to simulate Kafer small unit tactics. The normal human unit organisations were thrown out and Kafer models used instead. Vehicles were modified to appear to be of Kafer origins, captured weapons were used and even special suits worn to give the troops a Kafer-like profile. Tactics were specially worked out and simulated, whilst veterans of the fighting from several armies were drafted in as advisors. The work of the ATD was of high value in the later fighting during the Liberation of several occupied colonies, especially in woods and urban areas.

In August of 2302 the 2nd Battalion, RAM deployed with 8th Brigade to aid the mopping up fight then underway on BCV. The unit has been engaged in several skirmishes on the German and French continents. Detachments of the 1st Commando have seen service with RSN ships and RAM personnel have seen service with the Alician SAS, however most of these operations have yet to be declassified.

Training

Initial training for all RAM personnel takes place at Achnacarry in the Strathy Peninsular. Achnacarry is a bleak, uninviting place surrounded by desolate moor-land and high cliffs, however it now has a more permanent feel about it having the usual range of military and civilian facilities. It remains the spiritual home of the Alician Marines.

The normal training program takes some six months, however the War has cut this down to four months by compressing all of the free time from the training program. It is normally undertaken in four phases: Basic, Advanced, Mobility and Test. Basic concentrates on basic military skills and the recruit will be expected to master foot drill, simple tactics and basic weaponry whilst having his fitness improved by frequent PT. The Advanced phased taught more pertinent military tactics and heavier weapons and self-motivation became more important that being bawled at by instructors.

The innocuous sounding Mobility Phase is surprisingly where most of the Corps failing recruits drop out. Pressure is continuous as all forms of deployment skills are taught to the unit. Forced marches, cliff assaults, beach landings, parachuting and airmobile operations are instructed alongside sub-phases on Jungle, Arctic and Desert operations. At the end of Mobility the recruit goes straight into the fearsome test phase, based on the Royal Marines Commando Tests but rated as harder by some, the recruits are pushed through a solid month of tactical exercises and operations. On finishing the test phase the successful recruit is issued the 'Winged Fist' shoulder flash (based on an old RN emblem and introduced by a RN officer seconded to the unit at its formation) worn by all Alician Marines.

Most marines go to join a unit in the 7th Brigade, at least for their first tour. Those who have entered other units receive further specialised training, the personnel of 2 RAM went through the newly organised Combined Arms School near Aliceport before being deemed operational. The men of 1 Cdo (some of the best in the Corps) went through most of the RM 'Red' Course, and replacements continue to do so. The RAM also run a number of training establishments for the whole ADF. The Junior Battle Course is the most well known of these, but also include the Jungle and Mountain Training Schemes. The role of the ATD or 'Bug School' has been mentioned above. RAM personnel have undertaken many courses at off-world facilities over the years, mostly British and Commonwealth but occasionally with other nations.

As well as their infantry role the RAM also have personnel in other roles. RAM are responsible for the running of the Naval Wing's small craft, which range from gun boats to landing craft and are both ACV and conventional. The bravery of the marines manning these craft in battles with pirates in the archipelago has brought them many medals. RAM personnel also can volunteer for air crew training, initially with transport units, but with the commissioning of the carrier HMAS Avenger in 2296 Marines are now also trained as fighter pilots.

Above: RAM 'Winged Fist' shoulder badge.

Recruiting

The RAM recruits predominantly from the citizens of Alicia, although it allows recruits from any Commonwealth nation. Serving British officers and men, mostly but not exclusively, from the Royal Marines continue to serve on secondment in its ranks. Other exchange personnel have come from America, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Wellon and other Commonwealth nations.

Before the Kafer War nearly half of the recruits to the Corps (or Regiment as was) were natives of the Ramadenthian Archipelago. Their hard-line attitudes towards their French neighbours has gradually influenced the culture of the Corps which became increasingly aggressive in it actions against pirates and insurgents in the Archipelago. A recent trend in the Corps which some find worrying is the increasing resentment of British diplomatic interference and many in the Corps would like to see serious military action taken in the Archipelago.

Service in the RAM is for an initial three year period, which can then be extended up to a maximum of 22 years of service for non-commissioned ranks. A further three years of reserve obligation is a part of every contract. Officer recruitment is from the ranks of the Corps and every potential applicant must have served at least a year in the unit. Corps officer selection is undertaken over two testing weeks at Achnacarry. Successful officers attend the ADF's unified officer training facility, Royal Military Academy, Herot for three months before another two months of training at Achnacarry.

Order of Battle

7th Brigade

7th Brigade is the Ground Wing's rapid reaction formation normally deployed in the Archipelago and predominantly manned by RAM personnel. It has two regular and one reserve infantry battalions, an artillery regiment and engineer squadron. 7th Brigade also has integral Air and Naval Wing assets. It is rumoured that the Brigade is to form a Combat Walker unit, but this is yet to be verified. 7th Brigade comes under the control of IV (Alicia) Corps and was intended to be the centrepiece of the defence of the Archipelago in the event of a Kafer invasion of Beowulf. Currently the brigade is commanded by Brigadier Alan Youill, RAM, MC a veteran officer with an aggressive reputation.

1st Battalion, Royal Alician Marines
The 1st Battalion is the oldest marine formation and has the largest number of decorations and battle honours. The battalion is equipped and trained for light role operations and is currently deployed on New Iona near the border with the French islands. The battalion has three rifle companies (A,B and C), a support and a HQ company. However the battalion normally operates in company groups with the support company resources split up between them. The battalion is commanded by Lt-Col Charles Johnson, a RM officer on secondment.
 
3rd Battalion, Royal Alician Marines
The 3rd Battalion is the newest regular battalion to be formed. As such many of its personnel are fresh from Achnacarry and are relatively inexperienced. However a leavening of experienced officers and NCOs are rapidly bringing the battalion up to scratch. Based in the Northern Islands the battalion is organised identically to the 1st Battalion. It is currently led by Lt-Col Owen Oke.
 
4th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Alician Marines
4th Battalion was formed at the same time as the 3rd, except it was designed to contain the Corps reserve soldiers. The mobilisation went well and the 4th Battalion was deemed operational much before the 3rd. However the Battle of Beowulf has meant that most of the threat to the colony has gone so much of the battalion has demobilised, leaving only a permanent HQ. However new legislation means that the reserves can be called out much quicker in the future. The battalion is commanded by Lt-Col Barry Jones.
 
5th Marine Battalion, Royal Horse Artillery of Alicia
Equipped with the 165mm Light Gun this newly organised unit provides artillery support and forward observer parties to the brigade. Although not composed of Marines all the gunners of this unit have passed the Test Phase at Achnacarry or are in the process of doing so when the current backlog at Achnacarry has eased.
 
4th Maritime Company, Royal Alician Engineers
This unit provides the brigade with specialist engineer support, although it has often been called upon to act in an infantry role over the years and has a fine fighting record.
 
Brigade Patrol Group
The BPG provides 7th Brigade with its integral recce capacity. The BPG is trained in underwater, waterborne and airborne insertion methods, and will normally be found far in advance of the other units of the brigade. It is assumed by many observers that the BPG has operated on occasion in the French parts of the Archipelago, and many claims of this nature are made by French news organisations. The personnel of the BPG are predominantly from the RAM, but any members of the brigade are allowed to attempt the selection process. The Commandant General intends that the BPG provides a stepping stone for service in the SAS for many of its soldiers.

8th Brigade

The 8th Brigade is an armoured expeditionary force now deployed on Beta Canum Venaticorum but includes an RAM unit. 8th Brigade is currently under command of 11th (Commonwealth) Armoured Division and II Corps on BCV.

2nd Battalion, Royal Alician Marines
2 RAM is the second oldest marine unit, formed in 2283, and has taken part in several of the largest battles in the Archipelago and has now seen action on BCV. The unit was converted from its light role to an armoured infantry battle group by strenuous training at the Combined Arms School. A Company is now equipped with Montgomery hovertanks, whilst B and C Companies have the Templer IFV. The unit is commanded by Lt-Col Jeremy Lewis, a commando-qualified 3rd Royal Tank Regiment officer on secondment to the unit on account of his skills in manoeuvre warfare.

Other units

1st Commando, Royal Alician Marines

1 Cdo was formed in late 2300 from hand picked volunteers from the Corps. These men were the sent to Earth to complete the Royal Marines' full 'Red' advanced course to train its soldiers for ship-board and interface operations. It is a testament to the quality of the volunteers that only 15% of the original members failed the course, and most of them were lost due to injury. The Commando finished its training and went through a series of proving exercises on Mars and the unit was handed by the Alician Defence Forces to the operational command of the Royal Space Navy. Although it reached the front after Beowulf it has provided an integral and valued part of the RSN's commando capability.

1 Cdo is organised identically to its Royal Marines counterparts. It has three rifle companies, a small support company and a HQ element although it is understood that the Cdo has been operating divided up between several RSN warships. 1 Cdo is equipped by the British, and currently has a range of weaponry the use of which is dependent on the environment they are deployed in. The unit is commanded by Lt-Col Iain MacKinnon a former 'Red' RM who emigrated to Alicia, and joined the RAM.

Advanced Training Detachment

The ATD is force composed of two armoured infantry companies, mounted on Hussar APC's altered externally to simulate Kafer 'Bug Busses'. The infantry however are equally adept at operating away from their vehicles which is frequently their normal mode of operation. An additional platoon exists to simulate Kafer infiltration tactics especially when human units undergoing training 'relax'. The HQ also has attached some twenty veterans of the fighting on the French Arm who lecture on Kafer tactics, and advise the ATD on the effectiveness of their simulations.

101 (RAM) Naval Air Squadron

101 NAS is one of the two fixed wing squadrons deployed on the carrier HMAS Avenger. 101 is equipped with the modern Sea Tempest aircraft, and is tasked with providing air support to ground operations in the Archipelago. However the RAM pilots (mostly Sergeants, but some officers) have also proved adept at air to air combat.

8 (RAM) Air Squadron

8 AS is equipped with tilt-rotor aircraft and is tasked with providing ground forces in the Archipelago with airmobility and enhancing logistical support.

1st (RAM) Assault Flotilla

1st Assault is a squadron of RAM manned hydrofoil gunboats whose primary role is to provide in-shore fire-support to ground operations in the Archipelago. The Assault Flotilla also has a role in interdiction of pirate boats operating in the area, but are also capable of delivering troops on to the beach. The success of the 1st Assault Flotilla has led to the creation of a further two Flotillas manned by Naval Wing personnel. The Flotilla has ten heavily armed and armoured Tsunami class hydrofoils.

1st (RAM) Landing Flotilla

The Landing Flotilla is a specialist RAM formation equipped with large ACV landing craft. These vessels are used to bring-up follow on forces, heavy logistical loads as well as conducting routine transfers. They frequently operate with both the Assault Flotillas and Naval Wing Auxiliary vessels. Whilst most of the Flotilla's ten vessels are unarmed it possesses two ACV's fitted with cannon, plasma weapons and automatic mortars. It has recently been a topic of discussion within the higher echelons of the ADF whether the operation of the Landing Flotilla should be transferred to the Naval Wing.

Equipment and Uniform

The RAM is conventionally armed with the standard British L142A1 gauss rifle and grenade launcher combination produced locally in Herot as the A2 Rifle. Each fireteam also has one A5 7.5mm machine gun, which although old remains very popular. Most Platoon HQ are equipped with the 20 MW plasma weapon system for heavier fire support. Squads also carry a number of unguided Light Anti-tank Weapons, whilst the disposable variant of the Green Hunter missile is available in some circumstances and has become more prevalent due the Kafer threat.

Heavy weapons deployed in the Support Companies include the 120mm Mortar, 12mm machine guns and a number of 20MW plasma weapons for point fire capability. The Green Hunter missile system has recently been brought into service in the RAM battalions serving with 7th Brigade. Specialist marine units such as the BPG and 1 Cdo have a wider range of weapons available to them.

The RAM is equipped with the standard issue British Army, Tactical Integrated Soldier System-3B integrating weapons, navigation and communications through the '90 Pattern helmet. The release from standard financial constraints brought about by the Kafer War means it has become likely that some RAM units will re-equip with Black Arrow's enhanced TISS-4F now in service with front-line British units of II Corps.

Some special equipment of note are the suits used by ATD infantrymen in simulating Kafers. The original suit called 'Michelangelo' was a simple uniform that altered the soldiers profile to resemble that of a Kafer. It also contained training devices that told the soldier when he was hit, and optical devices that gave the soldier a 'Kafers-eye' view. The more advanced 'Raphael' used to simulate Kafer infiltrators was much more realistic at close range and was responsible for many an unpleasant surprise for troops in training. Rumours persist of another suit in development, in conjunction it is alleged with Pentapod bioengineers, that is even more realistic even mimicking the smells and pheromones given off by Kafers.

The RAM wears its own version of the standard ADF pattern ballistic fatigues, whose cam pattern is altered for more effective concealment in the Archipelago. However the 2nd Battalion wears the British '82 Pattern uniform in temperate camouflage common to the units of the 8th Brigade. 1 Cdo wears the same uniform as its British counterparts. Full Dress and Service Dress uniforms are very similar to those worn by the Royal Marines.

All Alician Defence Force personnel wear the 'Alicia' flash on the upper right arm and the RAM are no exception. ADF units serving off-planet also wear a small Alician flag on that Arm. All RAM personnel and other ADF members who have passed through the Test Phase are also entitled to wear the 'Winged Fist' patch on the right arm. The RAM wear a green beret with the Alicia and Laurel badge, superimposed with the trident emblem of the AMR.


Copyright 2009, D Hebditch