The Iranian Army of 2300

by Jason Weiser and James Boschma

INTRODUCTION

The Iranian Army of 2300 AD is a hard-bitten veteran force, which has proven a significant counterbalance to French and other major powers’ interests in the Middle East. It has remained an independent player despite French influence in the region. During the Saudi, Russo-Ukrainian and the Central Asian Wars, the Iranian Army has taken the field against the French and their allies and held their own, even if they have lost in the end.  The unsuccessful Iranian-Pakistani war, which created Baluchistan was something of a bitter pill for Iran to swallow. Iran has also proven to be a formidable combatant in several short wars with Arabia, the most recent over the Hormuz islands in 2294.  Limited involvement in the Iraqi-Kurd war of 2267 demonstrated the skill and professionalism of Iranian special operations forces.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements
Narrative
Order of Battle
Organization
Current Defense Issues
Notable Units
Recruitment and Training
Rank Structure
Selected Unit Organization
Equipment
Appendix A – Glossary
Appendix B – Organization of Divisions
Appendix C – Origins of Divisional Names and Honorifics

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Dan Hebditch, Byrn Monnery and David Gillon for advice and feedback during the life of this project.  The Blaz light armored hovertank is taken from Ben Levy’s description of Iran in 2300, as is the existence of several Iranian enclaves in the French Arm and the more general nature of Iranian culture and its defense situation, circa 2300.  The Salahsur hovertank is based on references to such in Dan Hebditch and Bryn Monnery’s article concerning the Cavalier hovertank.

NARRATIVE

First Lieutenant Hossein Mokhtarian struggled to keep his eyes on his map display as his Azaraks light tank cleared the irrigated fields around a village in two punishing jumps, screaming towards the Central Asian border at 175 kilometers per hour.  His driver, Private Taleghani, had finished in the top of his class at the Army Advanced Vehicle Drivers Course, but the chief lesson seemed to be about keeping the vehicle at speed, not keeping its crew intact.

The rest of his small ad hoc command spread out around his Azaraks, two more tanks from his platoon from 18th Light Armored Regiment fanning out on a wedge, with a pair of Kangaroo APCs from the regiment’s mechanized infantry company closing up inside the base of the wedge.  Two Blaz fast attack vehicles ranged forward of the rest of the unit, darting around restrictive terrain features.

“Auburn, Auburn, this is North Star.  Target transiting the border now, seven kilometers north of your position, heading 20 degrees.  Intercept.  Fire if necessary.  I am authorizing Crimson to support you on request.”  Graphics matching the radio call appeared on Mossadegh’s tactical display.  The divisional Battle Captain, in a command bunker outside the city of Gorgan, had been monitoring satellite and aerial imagery of what appeared to be a convoy of rebels fleeing from a pursuing force for nearly fifteen minutes.  A patrol east of Mossadegh’s sector, call sign Violet, was moving to intercept the suspected insurgents.  The heavy lifting in the border security interception appeared to fall to Mossadegh’s small command. 

 He was transmitting pre-plots to Auburn 2, his platoon sergeant, and Crimson, a battery of the division’s 130mm electromagnetic howitzers, when the left-most Blaz FAAV called in visual sighting of the force.  “Contact, contact.  Three hovertanks, six hover PCs.  Tanks are NT-79s . . . they’re Legion!”  The only force using the old Russian hovertanks and personnel carriers in Central Asia was the Russian supported Central Asian Legion.  Data from the Blaz’s sighting was direct feeding to Mokhtarian’s tactical display when the Blaz exploded. The dying vehicle’s wingman reported hostile fire as he ripple-fired his own four-pack of Green Hunter ATGW and turned sharply for covering terrain.  Mokhtarian’s sensors tracked a pair of Legion Aero-12 missiles arcing out in pursuit of the Blaz.

Mokhtarian keyed his mike, simultaneously broadcasting on the unit’s frequency and North Star’s command net, “All Auburn elements, engage at will.  Auburn 3, Auburn 4, follow my movement.”  Sergeant Pezeshkzad, Auburn 2, in one of the ‘Roos, was already calling in STAW fire from Crimson as the two APCs slowed, acquiring targets for their long-range Nayez ATGW and letting the tanks pull ahead.

The second Blaz’s missiles arced into the Legion formation, fireballing a tank and APC.  The other two missiles puffed into smaller explosions as the Legion’s point defenses shot them down.  Mokhtarian quick-fired three rounds of 75mm tungsten long-rods at the leading tank before firing one of his Nayez missiles, hoping the gun rounds would distract the point defense.

The two forces were closing at a combined speed of over three hundred kilometers per hour, volleys of Aero-12s and Nayez missiles preceding them.  Mokhtarian saw the warning light indicating his vehicle’s laser point defense system was auto-firing at incoming targets half a heartbeat before the Azaraks took a hard kick to its right side and lurched uncontrolled in that direction before skidding forward.  Private Taleghani was shouting something into the intercom system as the vehicle’s hull bit into the dry northern Iranian soil and rolled.

Mokhtarian’s world faded to black as the light tank flipped again and again before slamming hard into something that stopped its forward movement.  His next memory was starting at the pain of an IV mainline entering his external jugular.  He tried to speak, but only a vague grunting noise escaped his lips.  Both his legs . . . did not hurt, but felt intensely wrong.

“You’re going to be fine, sir,” a female medic in bulky body armor and flight helmet was yelling to him over the noise of the tilt-rotor air ambulance.

Mokhtarian glanced around the inside of the tilt-rotor.  He was the only person on a litter.  Three other bodies, bagged, lay at the back of the troop compartment.  Mokhtarian tried to speak again.  He needed a status report on his unit, needed a radio to contact Auburn 2 and North Star.

“Just fine, sir,” the medic shouted again, stabbing a pre-measured styrette into the IV line.  With a warm fluttering, Mokhtarian’s world again faded to black.

INDEX

ORDER OF BATTLE

Iranian Army Headquarters

Iranian Special Forces Command [Tehran]

2nd Marine Division “al-Faw” [Bushehr]
4th Marine Commando Brigade [Rasht, Gilan Province]
23rd Special Forces Division “Barzan Aryanpur Shah”  [Karaj, Mazanabad Province]
3rd Army Aviation Brigade

7th Strategic Response Corps [Shiraz]

44th Airborne Division “Amir Kabir” [Bandar 'E Mah Shahr]
4th Airmobile Division “Kaveh Ahangar” [Jask]
6th Airmobile Division “Daryus Shahanshah” Khorramshahr

1st (Northern) Army

101st Frontier Regiment [Khorasan Province/Afghan Border]
116th Frontier Regiment [Khorasan Province/CAR Border]

1st Strike Corps (+) [HQ: Shahrud, AOR Central Asian Frontier]

18th Armored Division “Ferdowsi” [Gorgan]
81st Armored Division “Reza Shah” [Sabzevar]
28th Mechanized Division “Abbas Shah” [Mashad]
64th Infantry Division “Hafez” (Bojnurd, Khorasan province)
19th Mountain Regiment, 75th Mountain Division (Bojnurd, Khorasan province)
102nd Airmobile Regiment, 4th Airmobile Division (+) (Shahrud)

11th Reserve Strike Corps

17th Armored Division
46th Mechanized Division
130th Armored Division

14th Reserve Infantry Corps

7th Infantry Division
132nd Infantry Division
503rd Infantry Division

21st Reserve Infantry Corps

16th Infantry Division
47th Infantry Division
208th Infantry Division
209th Infantry Division

Urban Defense Garrison Commands (Reserve)

9th Infantry Division “Shahur” (Reserve) [Tehran]
12th Infantry Division “Khorramshahr” (Reserve) [Gorgan]

2nd (Southern) Army

162nd Frontier Regiment- [Bandar Abbas/Baluchistan Border] 

2nd Strike Corps [HQ: Bandar-e-Lengeh, Hormuzgan Province, AOR Persian Gulf Littoral]

1st Armored Division “Karbala” [Bandar-e-Lengeh, Hormuzgan Province]
19th Mechanized Division “Muhammad Tabatabai” [Bushehr]

4th Infantry Corps (-) [Kerman]

114th Infantry Division “Jamal ed-Din Afghani” [Khomein]
77th Infantry Division “Omar Khayyam” [Tafresh]

12th Reserve Strike Corps

3rd Mechanized Division
8th Motorized Division
303rd Motorized Division

Urban Defense Garrison Commands (Reserve)

38th Infantry Division “Susengard” [Bandar Abbas]

3rd (Eastern) Army

117th Frontier Regiment [Rasht, Gilan Province/Azeri Border]
124th Frontier Regiment [Rasht, Gilan Province/Armenian Border]
150th Frontier Regiment [Hamadan, Hamadan Province/Kurdish Border]
187th Frontier Regiment [Gilan Province/Northwestern Frontier]

3rd Mountain Corps [HQ: Hamadan, Hamadan Province, AOR Northwestern Frontier]

34th Mountain Division “Ali Memmasanni” [Khoramabad, Lorestan Province]
75th Mountain Division “Khosrow Mustafavi” [Zanjan]
102nd Mountain Division “Ali Akbar Saidi Sirjani” [Hamadan, Hamadan Province]

5th Infantry Corps [Ahvaz, Lower Khuzestan Province]

45th Infantry Division “Jamal Al-e Ahmad”  [Khorramshahr, Lower Khuzestan Province]
99th Infantry Division “Imam Reza” [Al Amarah, Upper Khuzestan]
116th Infantry Division Shahnaz A’lami [Ahvaz, Lower Khuzestan Province]

20th Reserve Infantry Corps

5th Infantry Division
14th Infantry Division
20th Infantry Division
203rd Infantry Divisions

Urban Defense Garrison Commands (Reserve)

41st Infantry Division “Karaj” [Ahvaz]

Extra-Solar Forces

Mouru [Nibelungen]

1st Mouru Local Defense Regiment (Reserve)

Bahkdhi [Beta Canum Venaticorum]

1st Bahkdi Local Defense Regiment
2nd Bahkdi Local Defense Regiment (Reserve)
Parachute Battalion (from Earth)
Special Forces Company
Tank Company
Mechanized Infantry Company        

Nisaya [Joi]

1st Nisaya Local Defense Regiment - 1 active battalion, 2 reserve battalions
Parachute Battalion (from Earth)
Special Forces Company
Tank Company
Mechanized Infantry Company     

INDEX   

ORGANIZATION OF THE IRANIAN ARMY

The Iranian Army is broadly organized into three numbered field armies, with the 1st (Northern) Army being responsible for the Central Asian and Afghan border regions, the 2nd (Southern) Army similarly being responsible for the Baluchi and Arabian borders, and the 3rd (Eastern) Army covering the Iraqi border and the nation’s various other eastern neighbors.  Each army controls a mixture of regular and reserve formations, with the two being organized into separate corps for the most part.

All three armies report to the Iranian Army headquarters, which also directly controls the Iranian Special Forces Command and the airborne/airmobile 7th Strategic Response Corps.  The recently formed, and rather small, garrisons of Iran’s three extra-solar settlements, on Nibelungen, Beta Canum Venaticorum, and Joi each report independent to army headquarters as well.

The corps subordinate to each army are either armor/mechanized Strike Corps (primarily relying on hover-mobile platforms), Infantry Corps with a portion of the command equipped with wheeled and tracked AFVs, or a single Mountain Corps equipped with relatively light equipment scales and specialist equipment for operations in the country’s mountainous northwestern border.  The 7th Strategic Response Corps relies on a mix of airmobile infantry, light airmobile armor, and aviation units to provide a high level of strategic and operational mobility within the country or its immediate environs; it is not equipped for long-range, overseas deployments without reinforcement, however.

Each of the three armies also have one or more border security regiments and reserve divisions assigned to regional Urban Defense Garrison Commands, tasked with the defense of Iran’s major cities.  The border security regiments function as paramilitary border guard units.  The Urban Defense Garrison Commands have a conventional defense mission, as well as civil defense and counter special forces missions.

Divisional organizations tend to reflect the sort of units found in other nations, circa 2300, and are not especially remarkable.  They are variously designated as armored, mechanized infantry, airmobile, airborne, mountain, or infantry divisions.  The nation’s special forces units are separately organized into a Special Forces Division and the Marine Division.  The latter is a purely administrative headquarters, while the Marine Division is a functional maneuver unit with a mission in the Persian Gulf littoral region.

INDEX

CURRENT DEFENSE ISSUES

Iran has an official policy for the most part of “hands-off” in the region, and tries not to get too deeply and directly involved in others affairs, preferring instead to rely on indirect approaches to problems with its neighbors.  With a history of mixed results involving resort to armed force, Iran has often found it useful to neutralize potential enemies by forming networks of alliances with neighboring nations.  The nation has not developed the sort of long-standing linkages seen in other parts of the post-Twilight World, for the most part, however, outside of patron-client relationships with some of its neighbors.

Presently, Iran finds itself in a potentially difficult international situation, with its traditional enemy, Arabia, across the Persian Gulf, an equally hostile Baluchistan to the southeast, and a large foreign army of occupation of French, Russian, and Japanese troops to the north in Central Asia.  Adding to this situation is the generally destabilized situation in the Central Asian Republic directly on Iran’s borders.  This is especially pressing a concern, as Iran’s border with the CAR has become the site of numerous camps full of Turkmen and Uzbek refugees from the fighting.  The camps, in turn, have become vital recruiting grounds for the anti-government guerrillas fighting in the southern portions of the CAR.

Iranian attempts to control this insurgency on their side of the border have not been successful to date, and many have speculated that the government turns a blind eye to a relatively limited and covert guerrilla presence in the country.  Iranian policy towards Central Asia remains somewhat unclear to outside observers, but the nation has a long history of competing for influence in CAR with Russia, and the current situation may just be a perpetuation of the 24th Centuries equivalent of the Great Game.

The nation’s eastern and northeastern borders are also sometimes areas of difficulty, with both Iraq and Armenia presently their own, unique, problems.  Relations with Iraq have traditionally run afoul of competing territorial ambitions, and have not been a point of contention even before the annexation of the formerly Iraqi territory that now forms Upper Khuzestan during the Saudi War in the 21st century and the successful defense of that territory in the 2nd Iran-Iraq War in the early 22nd century. 

Armenia is an unstable nation wracked by internal ethnic-based insurgency and violence.  While Iran has not directly involved itself in this situation, the violence in Armenia and criminal activities of both the insurgents and the government has repercussions for all of Armenia’s neighbors.  While the Iranian government has taken a laissez-faire approach to the Central Asian frontier, the same is not true of the Armenian frontier, and the region is extensively patrolled to discourage any incursions from Armenian territory.

Iran is now also dealing with a wholly unexpected threat to its modest extra-solar settlements piggybacked with the German colonization effort in the French Arm.  Though formerly completely reliant on Germany for conventional defense of the colonies, the Iranian military has no established both local defense units and dispatched small units of regular forces to the French Arm to assist in mopping up the Kafer forces in the vicinity of Iranian enclaves.  This has not been without complications, as the nation of Iran is not well supplied with star-lift capability.

INDEX

RECENT MILITARY HISTORY

The Iranian Army of 2300 AD is a hard-bitten veteran force, which has proven a significant counterbalance to French and other major powers’ interests in the Middle East. It has remained an independent player despite French influence in the region. During the Saudi, Russo-Ukrainian and the Central Asian Wars, the Iranian Army has taken the field against the French and their allies and held their own, even if they have lost in the end.  The Iranian-Pakistani war, which created Baluchistan, however, was something of a bitter pill for Iran to swallow.  But, Iran has also proven to be a formidable combatant in several short wars with Arabia, the most recent over the Hormuz islands in 2294.  Limited involvement in the Iraqi-Kurd war of 2267 demonstrated the skill and professionalism of Iranian special operations forces.

Iranian Special Forces

One of the higher points of the Iranian military has traditionally been the nations’ special forces establishment.  The products of their society and its values, Iranian special forces soldiers tend to be remarkably well educated.  The resulting force has demonstrated a flair for planning and executing very sophisticated unconventional warfare operations.  Iranian special forces training and tactics tends to blur the line normally reserved for national intelligence services in most 2nd Tier nations.  On the down side, this trend has perhaps prompted an army special forces community that has been willing to cede responsibility for many direct actions missions one would normally associate with special forces type units to the commando battalions of the Iranian 2nd Marine Division.

This situation was aptly illustrated in the outbreak of the Central Asian War.  Though details are classified, it appears that the Iranian 23rd Special Forces Division was the primary Iranian government agency involved in the Uzbek and Tajik uprisings.  It is believed that these uprisings may have been initiated by the Iranian special forces.  The subsequent ferocity of the armed revolt against the Kazakh regime was definitely the result of the Iranian special forces intervention, however, with SF teams training, arming, and organizing the rebels.  Iranian losses in this campaign are not known, though believed to have been very low.  Though the subsequent events of the Central Asian War have left the Iranian government and society divided on the involvement in the Central Asian Republic, the Iranian special forces community likes to point out that they accomplished with a handful of battalions what the massed Iranian army had been unable to accomplish in the past.

In fact, Iran’s involvement in the Central Asian War through “volunteers” and Special Operations Forces contributed to the escalation in the Central Asian War. Constant border skirmishes with the Russian backed Central Asian Legion and various outlaws and rebel groups only continue to blood the Iranian Army, who often as not, give as good as they get. Most of Iran’s problems militarily can be traced to being resource poor and some lingering internal trouble dating back to the very roots of modern Iran, but all in all, by the 23rd Century, Iran has proven to be nothing short of a formidable regional presence. It has settled most of it’s internal problems and is on the cusp of a new golden era, and it’s military reflects this well.

At the beginning of the 24th century, Iran’s military is still dealing with the after effects of the Central Asian War.  What began as a special operations campaign to vex and militarily pre-occupy Iran’s long-term rival to the north proved to be wildly effective when operations by Iranian supported Uzbek dissidents triggered a general and popular uprising that toppled the national government in the province and rapidly spread to other southern provinces.  The success of the campaign caught the Iranian general staff and political leadership flat footed, exceeding even the best-case scenarios anticipated.  While Iran tried to formulate a new policy, Russia, spurred on by reports of massacres of ethnic Russians in the southern CAR provinces, sent its forces into Central Asia.  With Russian troops moving towards the mineral resources in the Ferghana Valley and Tien Shan mountains, Manchuria in turn sent its forces into the nation and events spiraled entirely out of Iran’s control.

Iran maintained an aggressive form of neutrality during the Central Asian War; especially after Uzbek refugees began streaming across the Iranian frontier to escape Russo-Kazakh militias following on the heels of the Russian intervention forces.  A twenty-kilometer exclusion zone stretching into Central Asia from the Iranian border was unilaterally declared and vigorously defended with Iranian military forces moving into the buffer zone without hesitation on patrols and show of force missions.  This lead to occasional clashes with allied and, occasionally, Manchurian forces.  Clashes were much more common with Central Asian Republic Army forces, and often developed into pitched battles involving battalions and even brigade-sized forces from each side.  Though the 20km exclusion zone has been abandoned since the ending of the war, the Iranian military continues to vigilantly patrol and defend its northern border.  Border incursions from Central Asia, and Iranian pursuit of raiders back into Central Asia, are very common and a bloody grudge match has developed between the Iranian 1st Strike Corps along the border and the Russian-backed mercenary Central Asian Legion.

INDEX

NOTABLE UNITS

1st Armored Division “Karbala”

Recruited from Shiraz and Fars province, in the heart of the ancient Persian Empire, this division considers itself an elite and has an intense rivalry with the 18th Armored Division.  The division is presently much in favor with the government, as the current Iranian Prime Minister, Abbas Bahramzadah, is a former member of the division’s 1st Armored Regiment.  His patronage has provided them with a number of modern imported weapons systems, including LkGfPzTr-VIII personnel carriers.

1st Light Armored Regiment
1st Armored Regiment
2nd Armored Regiment

2nd Marine Division “al-Faw”

A part of the Iranian Army, rather than the Iranian Navy, the 2nd Marine Division provides a quick-reaction force for operations in Persian Gulf littoral area.  (An independent Marine Brigade provides the same function in the Caspian Sea.)  The division consists of a mix of airmobile commando forces and heavier hover-mobile armored forces, supported by an aviation regiment.  The division would be involved in any offensive or defensive operations against Arabia, and has generally performed very well in skirmishes and combat against Arabian forces in the past.  One of the division’s subordinate Marine Regiments, along with most of its Aviation Regiment, are collocated with the division headquarters at Bushehr, while another regiment is based at Bandar Abbas.

17th Marine Commando Regiment [Bandar Abbas]
29th Marine Aviation Regiment [Bushehr]
64th Marine Commando Regiment [Bushehr]

18th Armored Division “Ferdowsi”

The 18th Armored Division carries on a famous unit lineage dating back to the Russo-Ukrainian War, when the unit was nearly annihilated holding mountain passes to block the push of Ukrainian and Azeri forces into Iran.  At the time the unit adopted distinctive black berets and a simple silver cap badges bearing a motto taken from the Iranian poet Ferdowsi, “Let this body not live if there is no Iran,” traditions they carry on to this day.  The division is currently considered an elite of the conventional army, with a recruiting district in the north that includes the capital and the rest of Mazandaran province.  Its ranks (both officer and enlisted) contain members of some of Tehran’s most prominent families. 

18th Light Armored Regiment
35th Armored Regiment
39th Armored Regiment

23rd Special Forces Division “Barzan Aryanpur Shah” 

The controlling headquarters for the Iranian Army’s special operations units, the 23rd Special Forces Division has its headquarters at Karaj, west of Tehran, with three of its four component regiments (1st, 8th, and 16th) remotely based at other points in the country.  The division’s 55th SF Regiment is based with the headquarters inKaraj.  The Iranian approach to special operations focuses heavily on unconventional warfare operations, and the unit has a very solid reputation among international observers.  The unit’s official motto is derived from the poet Ferdowsi, “One who has wisdom has power,” but less officially its motto is simply “Taqiyeh,” a concept originating in Shi’a religion, that holds that deception in the name of the faith is acceptable.  Taqiyeh,” at least in regards to the 23rd Special Forces Division, is often translated into English as “By Means of Deceit.”  

Location and Areas of Responsibility for Iranian SF Units

Regiment

Location

Tactical Area of Responsibility

1st Special Forces Regiment

Gorga, Golestan Province

Central Asia and Afghanistan

8th Special Forces Regiment

Shiraz

Arabia, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf Littoral

16th Special Forces Regiment

Bandar Abbas

Baluchistan, Persian Gulf Littoral

55th Special Forces Regiment

Karaj, Mazanabad Province

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Ukraine, and Turkey

34th Mountain Division “Ali Memmasanni”

Recruited in the Zagros Mountains near the Iraqi frontier, the 34th Mountain Tradition has traditionally been made up primarily of Lur tribesmen, and has a distinguished reputation for being composed of tough, fierce fighters.  The division’s training depot is located outside of Khoramabad, in the heart of the ostan of Lorestan, with combat units deployed along the Armenian and Azeri frontier to suppress smugglers and the incursion of combatants in Armenia’s on-going civil war.

177th Mountain Regiment
178th Mountain Regiment
209th Mountain Regiment

44th Airborne Division “Amir Kabir”

Considered, as is common with such formations, to be the elite of the conventional Iranian military, the 44th Airborne Division is a well-trained, primarily light-infantry formation that serves as Iran’s primary strategic quick reaction force for emergency situations within the country or in the region.  Though the Iranian Air Force only has enough airlift to deliver about one regiment of the division in a mass-tactical airborne operation (assuming the threat environment would allow for such), the division’s light equipment scales allow it a high level of strategic mobility utilizing impressed civilian air transport, surface rail and truck transport, etc.  The unit wears red berets, in keeping with fairly standard international practices, and are commonly referred to as Qizilbashi (“red heads”) within the Iranian military.

4th Airborne Regiment
133rd Airborne Regiment
300th Airborne Regiment

64th Infantry Division “Hafez”

Originating in ostan of Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, with its primary depot outside the city of Shahr-e-Kord, the 64th Infantry Division does a good deal of training in rough, mountainous terrain, though it is not designated as a mountain formation.  For this reason, it was detached from its usual parent formation, 4th Infantry Corps, for attachment to the 1st Strike Corps operating along the Central Asian and Afghan borders, when the 34th Mountain Division was withdrawn for refitting after a 24 month deployment along the border.  The division, primarily composed of Bakhtiari and Larsi ethnics, has generally performed well along the border after some initial “teething” difficulties on the assumption of the mission.

6th Infantry Regiment
30th Armored Regiment
43rd Infantry Regiment

INDEX

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

The Iranian Army is an all-volunteer professional force, and is at a very high standard for the region. The army reflects a very educated and capable population as is found in modern Iran, with enlistment being open to physically qualified men and women between the ages of 18 and 40.  A period of service in the military is very popular in Iran, being regarded both as a civic responsibility as well as a novel educational experience.  The Iranian military is presently a well-respected institution seen to be a defender, both of Iranian sovereignty and cultural values.  Rural families have long regarded the military as a means to advance a family’s fortunes, as the army provides quality education to recruits and also provides post-service educational subsidies to qualified personnel.

About 80% of those who enlist are accepted and are sent as part of a replacement draft to the division or corps (in the case of the Frontier Regiments) they will generally be posted with for their career. Divisions recruit regionally, with each having its own recruiting district encompassing one or more provinces.  In some cases, territories overlap, such as the airborne and airmobile units of the 7th Corps, whose recruiting territories divide the nation into three parts and are superimposed over other units.  For the most part, recruiting districts do not recognize Iran’s ethnic communities specifically, but in some cases units tend to be associated with one specific ethnic group, such as the relationship between the 34th Mountain Division and the Lur tribes.

Recruits undergo 25 weeks of basic training with their division at depot. Iranian basic training lacks some of the technological sophistication seen in initial training for wealthier nations, but substitutes a solid concentration on basic skills and fundamentals carried out under conditions of hardship and privation.  Recruit training depots are located in remote places and are mostly tented accommodation with nothing in the way of comforts for the recruits. Every Iranian soldier treats this as a rite of passage and emerges as physically and mentally hard as any soldier going. In fact, a ceremony is held at graduation where their instructors welcome their men to the army with tales of Iranian victories, and refers to them for the first time as comrades. However, this is not to say that the Iranians wish to turn out unthinking automatons, in fact, recruits are often placed in charge of other recruits throughout the twenty-five weeks, with those who excel being noted and promoted much faster. Also, NCOs and officers are trained not to be needlessly cruel and to explain to their troops why things are rough, and to be generous with the rewards when earned. Above all, the Iranian soldier is expected to think on his feet, and to do without for the sake of the nation.

Once a recruit has completed his twenty-five weeks, he is sent to a line unit in his corps or division, and is treated better than he was at depot. His advanced training is to learn on the job. It’s not a perfect system, and it’s had some sadder moments, but for the most part, it seems to work for the Iranians.

Officers are trained a bit differently: They are either trained at the Dar-ul-Fonun Polytechnic Institute outside Tehran, or at officer training programs at various universities throughout the country. Both programs train officers for all three services; still others are recommended from the ranks for an OCS (Officer Candidate Selection) course at one of the Corps Headquarters. Those who attend the Dar-ul-Fonum or the University Training Cadre (UTC) do so for four years and as such, are well schooled technically and theoretically, but the trouble begins when they are awarded their 3rd Lieutenants pips and complete their 4-6 months of officer’s basic branch school. They are then posted to an active unit. There, they are sent to follow around a 2nd Lieutenant for six months in a platoon in the field, then six months of staff work.  This year is considered a probationary period, and commissions can be revoked for those demonstrating an inability to translate their officer training into effective small unit leadership.

Dar-ul-Fonun Polytechnic Institute

A revival of the late 19th/early 20th century university originally modeled on St Cyr, the present day Dar-ul-Fonun (“House of Science”) Polytechnic Institute serves as a combination national military academy, military staff college, and a center for technical research and development in a number of fields, some not entirely military in scope.  Located on a sprawling, secure campus outside Tehran in the Alborz Mountains, Dar-ul-Fonun is also home to the well respected Iranian special operations training establishment.

The special forces training aspect of the Institute is extremely secretive, and the place is widely respected among foreign special operations units based primarily on rumor and conjecture.

OCS is a hard row, lasting 12 weeks and being described by some as the closest thing to hell the Iranian Army could invent. About 20% of the actual appointees graduate and anybody who is appointed only gets three chances at OCS. The Iranians want the best, and they get it, even if the methods are nothing short of sadistic. Graduates of OCS, having proved their mettle, are then sent either to the National Defense Academy or UTC to give the new prospective officer a formal education. Competition for OCS slots are fierce throughout the Army and for many sons of poorer backgrounds, these slots are seen as one of the few ways to gain both a university education, and a real career. Relations between Dar-ul-Fonum graduates and the rest of the officer corps are not good, with those whom had experience in the ranks outright snubbed.

Once a enlisted man has completed his 4 year hitch, he can either reenlist, or he is sent home and is liable for service one month a year (usually broken into four one-week increments) in his local reserve unit until the age of 55.  Officers after completing their 4-year commitment are under the same obligations.  For either officers or enlisted it is fairly easy to arrange exemption from this service, but the Iranian government provides education subsidies and tax incentives for those remaining in the reserve component, which does much to keep reserve units at or near full strength.

INDEX

RANK STRUCTURE

The Iranian military, circa 2300, has a fairly involved rank structure derived in part from American and European antecedents, though much modified locally in the nearly four centuries in which Iran has fielded a more-or-less western style military force.  The current Iranian Army rank structure includes enlisted, non-commissioned officer, commissioned officer, and warrant officer ranks.  The latter are more or less patterned on the American approach to warrant officer ranks, with the personnel holding such ranks being technical specialists recognized for their unique subject matter knowledge.  The intricacies of the Iranian rank system reflects a culture wherein a high premium is placed on a highly nuanced civilian social hierarchy reflecting educational qualifications.

This tendency is also reflected in the rank insignia worn on Iranian Army garrison and dress uniforms.  The rank insignia for these uniforms follows the general pattern of large sleeve rank for enlisted and NCO personnel, and epaulette rank for warrant and commissioned officers.  On non-field uniforms, the actual rank insignia varies in appearance based on the educational qualifications of the wearer.  Those with the minimum educational requirements for the rank wear simple stripes or shoulder boards, while those exceeding the minimum requirements wear increasingly ornamented rank insignia based on their level of education in excess of minimums. 

As an example, an Iranian Third Sergeant (Gorubhan Sevom) wears a single yellow chevron as rank insignia, bordered in his appropriate branch service color.  On his garrison or dress uniforms, this chevron will be plain yellow if he has completed the minimum educational requirements for that rank (in this case, completion of standard Iranian secondary education or technical/trade school).  If he has any additional civilian education beyond this minimum requirement, his single yellow stripe will bear a narrower stripe of gold threat down the middle.  If he holds the Iranian equivalent of a two-year degree or journeyman-level trade certification, the entire stripe will be gold.  If he holds the equivalent of a four-year degree or master-level trade certification, the gold stripe will be further decorated with small gold rosettes.  If he holds the equivalent of a masters or professional degree, the rosettes will be larger, and so on.  When the Third Sergeant is promoted to Second Sergeant (Gorubhan Dovom) and earns his second stripe, his degree of decoration on his rank insignia may change, as Second Sergeants must hold a two-year degree or journeyman-level trade certification, so this represents the minimal educational requirement for that rank.

Iranian Army Rank Structure

Enlisted Ranks

Tranlation (Typical Role)

Officer Ranks

Equivalent (Typical Role)

Sarbaz

Private

Setvan Sevom

3rd Lieutenant

(officer cadet/trainee, assistant platoon leader)

Sarbaz Yekom

Private First Class

 

Setvan Dovom

2nd Lieutenant

(platoon leader)

Sardjuhke

Corporal

(Fire Team Leader)

Setvan Yekom

1st Lieutenant

(company second in command)

Gorubhan Sevom

Third Sergeant

(Squad Leader or Vehicle Commander)

Saryan

Captain

(company commander)

Gorubhan Dovom

Second Sergeant

(Senior Squad Leader or Staff NCO)

Sargord

Major

(staff officer or specialist company commander)

Gorubhan Yekom

First Sergeant

(Platoon SNCO)

Sarhang Dovom

Lieutenant Colonel (battalion commander)

Ostavar Sevom

Third Master Sergeant

(Company & Higher Staff NCO)

Sarhang

Colonel

(brigade commander)

Ostavar Dovom

Second Master Sergeant

(Company SNCO)

Sartip

Brigadier General

(division-level staff officer)

Ostavar Yekom

First Master Sergeant

(Battalion or higher SNCO)

Sarlashkar

Major General

(division commander)

Warrant Officer Ranks

Sepahbod

Lieutenant General

(corps commander)

Ostavar

Warrant Officer

Arteshbod

General

(major command CO)

Sarostavar Sevom

Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Class

 

 

Sarostavar Dovom

Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class

 

 

Sarostavar Yekom

Chief Warrant Officer 1st Class

 

 

INDEX

SELECTED PLATOON AND COMPANY LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS

Airborne, Airmobile, and Mountain Rifle Company

The airborne, airmobile, and mountain infantry units use a common table of organization for their rifle companies.  Each consists of a Headquarters Platoon and three Rifle Platoons, led by a Captain, with a 1st Lieutenant as second in command and a 2nd Master Sergeant as senior NCO with two 3rd Master Sergeants responsible for logistics and communications, respectively.  Besides command and control, communications, administrative, and logistics assets, the Headquarters Platoon includes a ten-man Anti-Armor Squad and a ten man Mortar Squad.  The Anti-Armor Squad is organized into three Anti-Armor Teams, each of three men (gunner/team leader and two assistants to serve as ammunition bearers and local security for the gunner) plus a 3rd Sergeant as squad leader; each Anti-Armor Team is equipped with a Green Hunter ATGW launch post, a pair of T-3 and one AR-1 gauss rifles.  The Mortar Squad has two 80mm mortars, each with a four-man crew, plus a squad leader (3rd Sergeant) and assistant squad leader (Corporal); besides the mortars, all personnel are equipped with AT-1 gauss rifles.

Each Rifle Platoon consists of a platoon headquarters, three rifle squads, and a weapons squad.  The platoon headquarters consists of the platoon leader (one 1st Lieutenant per company, the other two platoon leaders being 2nd Lieutenants), a platoon sergeant (again, one 2nd Sergeant per company in this role, the others 3rd Sergeants), a platoon guide (a 3rd Sergeant, junior to the platoon sergeant, who generally functions as a dedicated forward observer during combat operations), a communications specialist, and a two-man medical team consisting of a medic (corporal) and his assistant (a rifleman with some specialized medical training).  Rifle squads are of eleven men, consisting of a squad leader (a 3rd Sergeant with an AR-1 gauss rifle) and two five-man fire teams, each led by a corporal and armed with three AR-1s, an F-19 laser rifle, and an MA-1 light gauss machinegun.  The weapons squad, of nine men, includes a squad leader (a 3rd Sergeant, usually the senior such in the platoon, armed with a T-3 gauss rifle), and two MN-2 grenade machineguns, and two Type 1 High Energy Guns, each assigned to a two-man team consisting of a lance corporal gunner and private assistant gunner/ammunition bearer (gunners are also armed with H-7 pistols, assistants with T-3 gauss rifles).  Squads may also be equipped with the Brazilian Martelo S-LAWs and Green Hunter ATGW in the shoulder-fired role, as needed.

Mechanized and Light Mechanized Infantry Companies

Iranian mechanized infantry companies are organized along a common template, with the only difference being the vehicle. Mechanized infantry are either equipped with the Fusilier or Kangaroos per company, and Light Mechanized units being equipped with M-99 Kazdoms. The organization is the same, The CO, a Captain and the XO, a 1st Lieutenant, and their pair of vehicles make up the company headquarters, with three line platoons of 4 vehicles each commanded by 2nd Lieutenants. The Company First Sergeant commands the Company Service Platoon, similar to the Armored and LAAV companies.

In the Company Headquarters Vehicles are the CO, 2 Headquarters NCOs, a RTO/EWO and a pair of ET-1 Gunners.. The XO’s Vehicle is similar. In the line platoons, the Platoon HQ vehicle carries the Platoon Leader (A Second Lieutenant), the Platoon Sergeant (A sergeant, but sometimes, a senior corporal) one Platoon Marksman with a TT-19 and two men with a NM-2 AGL, a Platoon medic and two platoon runners. The platoon then comprises of three squads, each built around an APC. In most platoons, the squad is ten men, a Corporal as squad leader and a Lance Corporal as his assistant. The squad is then divided up further into two fireteams of four, each led by a Lance Corporal, with 1 man in each fire team carrying an M-4 Light Machine Gun and the rest equipped with RA-1 Gauss Rifles (though the M-4 is presently being replaced by the new AM-1 Gauss LMG). In Kangaroo-equipped reserve companies, the Squad Leader doubles as the vehicle commander, and the assistant squad leader leads two fire teams of three. (Iranian Kangaroos have a retrofitted jump seat for this), thus deleting one rifleman from each fire team. They are equipped with the T-1 Rifle. Like their light counterparts, they are often issued Green Hunter and Martelo ATGM as needed.

Armored and Light Armored Companies

The Armored and Light Armored Companies, share similar links in their organization, but differ in their roles, as the Iranians see the Armor Company as the main striking force and Light Armor in more of the harassment and counter-recon role (Iranian Light Armor doesn’t perform the traditional cavalry role that is found in most armies in 2300 ???). The Iranian Armor Company, both light and heavy consists of 13 Vehicles, with type depending on the role of the unit (In Heavy Armor units, one finds Cavaliers, Lukis-VIII or Manchu Type-76 tracked tanks, in Light Armor Companies, Azarâxs or Dasne Light Hover Tanks, in any case, the entire Battalion will be equipped with the same vehicle). These are organized into three platoons of four and one command vehicle. The Company Commander, a Captain, rides in the command vehicle, with his platoons run by 2nd Lieutenants, the Executive Officer, a 1st Lieutenant, doesn’t get his own tank, unlike most armies, but instead remains with the small Company Service Platoon made up of a pair of Warbirds and 4 Hovertrucks that he and the Company First Sergeant run. Small arms are SH-7 Pistols being issued to every vehicle crewmember, as well as one ST-1 per vehicle. Although, with the advent of the AT-1, and it’s popularity with the troops, some units are issuing them 2 per vehicle instead.

LAAV Company

The Blaz Light Armored Attack Vehicle is a unique vehicle to the Iranian Army.  The Iranians, with many planned operating theaters highly favorable to hovercraft operations, find a great deal of utility in light, fast, mobile units using speed and stealth to penetrate the front line and strike high value point targets and disrupt lines of communications.  Iranian LAAV companies train in the fast strike roles, as well as screening missions, independently or in conjunction with other Iranian light hover armor units.  The LAAV Companies also train to supplement the Aerial Recon Battalions in gathering information. The company consists of 26 Blaz LAAV organized the same as in an Armor Company, with the same setup for the Company Service Platoon. Small Arms are also similar.

Special Forces Company

The Special Forces Company is a small organization, consisting of a Headquarters Platoon and five Special Forces Platoons.  The HQ platoon is comprised of the commander (a major), second in command (captain), company sergeant major (usually an First Master Sergeant, sometimes a senior Second Master Sergeant), operations sergeant (a Second Master Sergeant), a three man supply section and six man communications section, both led by 3rd Master Sergeants (who are SF personnel, the other members of each section are usually not trained special forces personnel).  If called upon to operate in as an autonomous headquarters, the company HQ platoon would require various attachments to augment its organic capabilities, but it has a fairly robust structure for such units.

Special Forces Platoons are small organizations consisting of fourteen men, divided into three four man squads, plus the platoon commander (a captain) and senior NCO (a staff sergeant).  Each four-man squad consists of a squad leader, a communications specialist, a medic, and a demolitions/weapons specialist, though all members are extensively cross-trained in other skill sets.  Organization and equipment are very flexible, and squads may trade members to pool capabilities as needed.  Squads are led by 1st Lieutenants or Warrant Officers, with remaining personnel all holding the rank of corporal or one of the grades of sergeant. 

Armament varies by mission requirements, but typically includes the full range of Iranian small arms, plus A9 plasma rifles, British-made L341A2 8mm gauss sniper rifles and various other foreign weapons systems (AS-89s are very common) as needed.  Given the indirect approach favored by the Iranian special forces, teams often equip themselves with civilian small arms and obsolete military weapons, or sometimes no weapons at all, during the execution of infiltration missions.

INDEX

EQUIPMENT

The Iranian Army has an eclectic mix of both home grown and foreign purchased equipment that it uses quite well and even the foreign built equipment has been, to some extent, retrofitted by Iranian factories to keep up with Iran’s neighbors.

T-1 Military Service Rifle (Tofang-ye-Sarbâzi 6.5mm, Nemune 1, or Service Rifle, 6.5mm, Model 1)

The standard Iranian service rifle since 2266, the T-1 is a fairly standard bullpup weapon firing the same 6.5x45mm caseless round then in service with the German and Italian militaries.  The 6.5mm round provides an acceptable degree of range and punch, while still remaining light enough for rapid-fire use in close combat situations.  The rifle is equipped with an N-1/84 battle sight (replacing the original N-1 and second generation N-1/77 sights), which provides variable, x1-4 magnification and an image intensifier channel for limited visibility operations.

The more modern AR-1 and T-3 gauss weapons have partially replaced the T-1 in Iranian service.  It remains in service with reserves and rear area troops, however.  The weapon is also in service with the Afghan military, and many have turned up in the hands of Central Asian insurgents alongside various Manchurian weapons.

Variants:  The T-2 rifle is identical except for the use of a less expensive N-2 battle sight (the only variance in statistics is aimed fire range 400m, area fire range 250m).  As the newer RA-1 and AT-1 enter service, ST-2s have gradually been retired from service and replaced with surplus T-1s.  A squad-support version of the T-1 mounting a single shot 30mm grenade launcher, known as the AS-1 (or AS-2 when based on the T-2 rifle), is in service with units still using the T-1 or T-2.  The AS-1/2 weighs one kilogram more than the basic rifle.  Ballistic performance of the grenade launcher matches that of other common examples of the weapon.  The basic sights on the T-1/2 are not altered on the AS-1/2, meaning the weapon cannot employ proximity-fused ordnance, except in point-detonation mode.

Type: 6.5mm assault rifle, Country: Iran, Afghanistan Weight (Empty): 3 kg (2.7kg without optics), Length: 75 cm (Bulk = 2), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6.5x45mm caseless, Muzzle Velocity: 795 mps, Magazine: 30 round box magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  600 meters, Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV = 0.75), Area Fire Range: 350 meters, DP Value: 0.8, Price: Lv275 (Lv2 for 100 rounds)

AR-1 Gauss Assault Weapon (Aslahe-ye-Razme 6.5/30mm, Nemune 1, or Weapons System 6.5/30mm, Model 1)

The current service weapon in Iranian service for infantry and other personnel with a requirement for an individual, offensive weapon system, the AR-1 (weapons system, model 1) is a fairly standard gauss weapon pairing a 6.5mm projectile with a semi-automatic 30mm grenade launcher firing smart projectiles and a current generation combat sight including variable magnification (x1-6), laser rangefinder, and a thermal imaging channel for low-light conditions.

The weapon is somewhat unusual in that the 6.5mm flechette is somewhat heavier than most gauss infantry rifles, and fired at a lower velocity.  The design deliberately replicates the performance of the earlier T-1 conventional assault rifle, as the Iranian military was quite satisfied with the lethality and effectiveness of that weapon, and found its performance acceptable as an adjunct to the 30mm grenade launcher, which is the primary weapon system of the AR-1.  The 30mm semi-automatic grenade launcher portion of the weapon is fairly standard, in terms of performance, and can fire most 30mm ordnance produced internationally.  Smart rounds of non-Iranian manufacture, however, can only be fired in point-detonation mode.

To date, the AR-1 has not been adopted as a standard service rifle by any other nation to date, but small lots have been purchased by the governments of Rajasthan, Bihar, and Eritrea either for evaluation or to equip select military units or government agencies.

Since its introduction in 2295, the AR-1 has been very well received by troops, who have given it the affectionate nickname of “the raven” (Farsi, Zâq).  The origins of the nickname are uncertain.  The account favored officially by the military is that is refers to the weapon’s factory standard black graphite-composite outer shell (which is often over-sprayed by units with various camouflage schemes) and sophisticated battle sight.  The alternate is that the appellation refers to Deputy Constable Raven-Lynn Lahud, a Lebanese-Texan character on the highly popular Tri-Vid serial Tanstaafl Frontier Marshals, which has been imported quite successfully from Texas to Iran in the last few years. 

Variants:  The AR-2 is a version of the weapon for special operations units, featuring a selectable muzzle velocity to allow the weapon to fire 6.5mm rounds in a subsonic and suppressed mode.  The weapon uses standard magazines (if fired entirely in suppressed mode a substantial power charge remains in the magazine).  Lethality of the 6.5mm projectile fired at 330mps leaves a good deal to be desired, though the projectile itself is designed to fragment even at these low velocities.  In the hands of highly trained marksmen, however, it can be quite lethal.  The weapon differs from the basic AR-1 as follows:  Muzzle Velocity:  Selectable for 800mps or 330mps, Aimed Fire Range (Suppressed): 150 meters, Area Fire Range (Suppressed): 100 meters, Damage Point Value (Suppressed):  0.3, Price:  Lv575

 The AR-3 is an export variant of the AR-1 with the gauss rifle portion chambered to fire the same 4.54x21mm flechette as the Russian AS-89 Segetov, and the grenade launcher portion configured to fire Russian ammunition without performance limitations.  The AR-3 uses the same sixty-round magazines as the AS-89.  Performance is somewhat inferior to the AS-89, due to lower quality optics.  The AR-3 is being considered by a number of nations on the periphery of the Russian sphere of influence.  A number have also turned up in the Central Asia Republic, though it is unclear exactly how they got there (the Iranian government having claimed they are part of a batch purchased by the Korean government for evaluation).  The AR-3 differs from the basic AR-1 as follows:  Type: 4.54mm gauss rifle, Ammunition: 4.54x21mm flechette, Muzzle Velocity: 1500 mps, Magazine:  60 round box magazine with integral power cell, Aimed Fire Range:  700m, Area Fire Range:  400m, DP Value: 0.5, Price: Lv375 (Lv2 for disposable magazine) 

Type: 6.5mm gauss assault rifle with integral 30mm grenade launcher, Country: Iran, Weight (Empty): 4.5 kg, Length: 77 cm (Bulk = 2), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6.5x18mm multi-purpose flechette, Muzzle Velocity: 800 mps, Magazine: 40 round box magazine with integral battery pack, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  600 meters, Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV = 1), Area Fire Range: 350 meters, DP Value: 0.8, Price: Lv475 (Lv2 for disposable magazine)

Note:  Grenade launcher magazines hold five rounds, and weigh 1000 grams.  Price as per each round in the magazine, plus Lv1.

T-3 Gauss Rifle (Tofang-ye-Âhanrobâ 6.5mm, Nemune 3, or Gauss Rifle 6.5mm, Model 3)

Currently in low-level procurement, the T-3 is a gauss rifle firing the same 6.5mm ammunition at the RT-1 weapon system.  It is intended to replace the T-1 and T-2 in the personal defense weapon role, though it has only been issued to a small number of units to date.  Current procurement plans call for full fielding throughout the army by 2310.

Type: 6.5mm gauss assault rifle, Country: Iran, Weight (Empty): 3 kg, Length: 73 cm (Bulk = 2), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6.5x18mm multi-purpose flechette, Muzzle Velocity: 800 mps, Magazine: 40 round box magazine with integral battery pack, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, ROF: 4, Aimed Fire Range:  600 meters, Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV = 1), Area Fire Range: 350 meters, DP Value: 0.8, Price: Lv275 (Lv2 for disposable magazine)

TT-19 Laser Rifle (Tirandâz-ye Tofang 70-01, Nemune 19)

This is the Iranian service designation of the Argentinean F-19 laser rifle.  It is in service both as a specialized sniper weapon and as a general designated marksman’s rifle.

H-7 Pistol (Haftir-ye-Sarbâzi 9mm, Nemune 7, or Service Pistol, Model 7)

A very conventional 9mm semi-automatic pistol, the SH-7 is the latest incarnation of a basic design that has been in service since 2230.  It is compact, rugged, reliable, and fairly mediocre but quite adequate as a last-ditch personal defense weapon.  The weapon has been in service with (and locally manufactured within) various Middle Eastern and Indian nations in the last seventy years.  Though Iran is the only nation still employing it as a military issue weapon, it remains in service with some other nation’s law enforcement agencies, and is quite common on legal and illegal arms markets throughout the region.  The odd example, brought back by veterans from peacekeeping missions and training exchanges, can be found anywhere on Earth on in human space.

Type: 9mm automatic pistol, Country: Iran, Weight (Empty): 0.5 kg, Length: 21 cm (Bulk = 0), Action:  Single Shot, Ammunition: 9x23mm fixed cartridge ball, Muzzle Velocity: 390 mps, Magazine: 14 round box magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  50 meters, Area Fire Burst: 3 rounds (AFV = 0.25), Area Fire Range: 30 meters, DP Value: 0.3, Price: Lv75 (Lv2 for 100 rounds)

TE-1 Plasma Gun (Tofang-ye-Enerzi 10MW, Nemune 1)

TE-1 is the Iranian designation of the Manchurian Type 1 High Energy Gun, which is in limited service.  The Iranian Army has selected the upgraded 18MW, Manchurian Type 1-18 to replace the Type 1 in service, with the 3rd Special Forces Brigade on the Central Asian border currently putting the weapon through field trials.  It is expected that the Type 1-18 will begin entering general service in 2305.

TE-4 Plasma Gun (Tup--ye-Enerzi Nemune 4)

TE-2 is the Iranian designation of the German A-4T Plasma Gun, which was initially imported, though since 2299 licensed copies have been made within Iran.  Performance is identical to the basic German weapon. 

TE-3 Plasma Gun (Tofang-ye-Enerzi, 5MW, Nemune 3)

TE-3 is the Iranian designation of the German A9 Plasma Gun, which is being purchased to supplement the ET-1 at the Squad level by 2310. So far, issue has been limited to the Iranian Special Forces Command.

MN-2 Grenade Machine Gun (Maximi-ye-Nâreni 30mm, Nemune-2)

The MN-2 is a light automatic grenade launcher used as a platoon level fire support system.  The MN-2 fires standard 30mm grenades from 20 and 30 round disposable cassettes.  Cyclic rate of fire is low (250 rpm) to keep recoil manageable, but the MN-2 can still put a substantial amount of firepower downrange, particularly when firing proximity-fused rounds.  Standard features include an electro-optical battle sight with variable magnification (x1-8), thermal channel for low-light observation, and a laser rangefinder/designator for setting proximity fuses on grenades, as well as a bipod (set near the center of gravity to allow high-angle fire).  The MN-2 can also be readily mounted on various tripod or vehicular mounts.

Type: 30mm light automatic grenade launcher, Country: Iran, Weight (Empty): 12 kg (with optics), Length: 110 cm (Bulk = 3), Action:  Single Shot, Ammunition: 30mm grenades, Muzzle Velocity: Variable by grenade type, Magazine: 20 and 30 round cassettes (can load single grenades also) in ground-mount format, vehicular mountings may include larger magazines, Magazine Weight: 5kg (20 round), 7.5kg (30 round), ROF: 5, Aimed Fire Range:  500 meters, DP Value: Varies by grenades used, Price: Lv500 (Grenade prices vary)

M-4 6.5mm Light Machinegun (Maximi, 6.5mm, Nemune-4)

A support weapon firing the same 6.5x45mm caseless round as the ST-1 service rifle, the M-4 is a fairly straightforward light machinegun, firing from 100 and 200 round pre-packaged cassettes in the ground mount version.  The weapon retains a conventional trigger-action-barrel arrangement, rather than a bullpup format, to allow rapid reloading by an assistant gunner when used in a sustained fire role.  A side-mounted port also allows the M-4 to feed standard ST-1 30-round magazines if needed.  Standard optics are an N-4 electro-optical battle sight with variable x1-6 magnification and day/night (thermal) channels.  The basic ground-mount M-4 is equipped with a bipod, but the weapon may be mounted on a lightweight tripod for sustained fire, or various vehicular mounts.

Type: 6.5mm light machinegun, Country: Iran, Afghanistan Weight (Empty): 7 kg (with optics), Length: 100 cm (Bulk = 3), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6.5x45mm caseless, Muzzle Velocity: 795 mps, Magazine: 100 and 200 round cassettes (can also use ST-1 30 round box magazine) in ground-mount format, vehicular mountings may include larger magazines, Magazine Weight: 1.5 kg (100 rounds), 3.0 kg (200 round), ROF: 4, Aimed Fire Range:  800 meters, Area Fire Burst: 20 rounds (AFV = 2), Area Fire Range: 600 meters (on bipod, on tripod or vehicular mount area fire range identical to aimed fire range), DP Value: 0.8, Price: Lv350 (Lv2 for 100 rounds)

MA-1 6.5mm Gauss Machine Gun (Maximi-ye-Âhanrobâ 6.5mm, Nemune-1)

The MA-1 is a gauss light support weapon chambered for the same 6.5x18mm round as the AR-1 assault weapon system.  Standard feed is from 100 and 200 round magazines, though the MA-1 can also fire 40-round AR-1 magazines from the same firing port (a projecting flange on the oversized LMG magazines prevents their being loaded into the AR-1).  The optics are derived from the M-4 machine gun electro-optical sight, and include variable magnification x1-8 power, with a thermal night channel and a laser range finder.  Standard equipment includes a bipod, and the weapon, like the M-4, can be readily mounted on a tripod of vehicular mounts.

The MA-1 is currently being fielded at a relatively low rate, and most Iranian units, circa 2303, are using the M-4 light machinegun alongside their AR-1 gauss assault weapons.  It’s use is currently restricted to light formations in the Army and the Iranian Marine Corps, with motorized and mechanized units continuing to use the older M-4 conventional machinegun.

Type: 6.5mm gauss light machinegun, Country: Iran, Weight (Empty): 8 kg (with optics), Length: 104 cm (Bulk = 3), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6.5x18mm flechettes, Muzzle Velocity: 900 mps (800mps firing RA-1 magazines), Magazine: 100 and 200 round cassettes (can also use RA-1 40 round magazines) in ground-mount format, vehicular mountings may include larger magazines, Magazine Weight: 1.25 kg (100 rounds), 2.5 kg (200 round), ROF: 5, Aimed Fire Range:  800 meters, Area Fire Burst: 20 rounds (AFV = 2), Area Fire Range: 600 meters (on bipod, on tripod or vehicular mount area fire range identical to aimed fire range), DP Value: 0.9 (0.8 firing RA-1 magazines), Price: Lv550 (Lv5 for 100 round magazine, Lv10 for 200 round magazine)

SAKM-9 Light Anti-Tank Missile (Sabk-ye Anbar-ye Kosande-ye Musak, Nemune-9)

A licensed copy of the Brazilian Martelo smart light anti-tank weapon, the SAKM-9 is issued as a squad and fire team level support weapon as needed, primarily for bunker-busting missions.  The SAKM-9 is also effective against relative slow moving AFVs, though the warhead is inadequate for frontal engagement of tanks and many modern infantry fighting vehicles.

Type: Disposable light anti-tank weapon, Nation: Brazil, Portugal and others, Weight (loaded): 5 kg, Range: 800 meters, Guidance:  Automatic following gunner lock on, Homing Value: 8, Attack Angle: Direct, DP Value: As tamped explosive (EP = 15), Price: Lv700

SAKM-10 Nafez Light Anti-Tank Missile (Sabk-ye Anbar-ye Kosande-ye Musak, Nemune-  10)

The SAKM-10 is a system that had never been more than adequate in it’s time when it came out in 2267. As time marched on, the weapon became more and more obsolescent and was nothing short of useless.  REWORD. Thus, the weapon has been forced out rapidly as the SAKM-11 has been introduced into service. The SAKM-10 can only be found among the infantry divisions of the reserves today.

Nation: Iran, Launcher Weight: 20kg, Missile Weight: 10 kg, Range: 6000m, Guidance: Automatic, following gunner lock-on, Homing Value: 12, Attack Angle: Direct, DP: As Tamped Explosion (EP=20), Launcher Price: Lv4000, Missile Price: Lv5500 (? Seems high)

SAKM-11 Sabz-e-Sekar Light Anti-Tank Missile (Sabk Anbar Kosande Musak, Nemune-11)

The SAKM-11 Sabz-e-Sekar is the local name for the British Green Hunter light ATGM which has been procured in prodigious numbers for the Iranian military to replace the obsolete. Introduction has been rapid, and the system can be found throughout the Army, except in the reserves, where some Nafez systems can still be found.

SAKM-12 Nayez Vehicle Mounted Anti Tank Missle (Sangin Anbar Kosade Musak, Nemune-12)

The SAKM-12 Nayez or Spear is an improved version of the venerable Aero-12 anti-vehicle missile. The Iranians have improved both the seeker and the motor, but kept the original warhead design, finding it ample for their purposes. The SAKM-12 is found on all Iranian vehicles.

Nation: Iran, Launcher Weight: 85kg, Missile Weight: 35kg, Range: 16,500km,

Guidance: Automatic, Homing Value: 17, Attack Angle: Selectable, DP: As Tamped Explosion (EP=35), Launcher Price: Lv6000, Missile Price: Lv8000

Other weapons

Mortars and artillery tend to be mostly of locally produced copies of British, Russian or Manchu designs, usually lighter or able to be broken down into man or animal portable loads.

Vehicles

The standard Iranian wheeled APC is the locally produced Kazdom (Scorpion) M-99, which is an 8-wheeled vehicle that has a crew of 3 and seats 12. Armament is an A4-T Plasma Gun in the turret with a co-axial 6.5mm MG and a Green Hunter tube on either side of the turret, with 8 reloads aboard, though the tubes must be reloaded from the outside. There is also provision for another A-4T to be mounted on a rear under-armor mount that can be accessed from the infantry compartment Work is underway on an improved model with a 45mm Mass Driver and more armor.

Variants include the Kazdom Anti-Tank (Kazdom-AT) vehicle in service, carrying the Nayez long-range missile, with an A-4T Plasma gun for direct fire support as well

As for tracked vehicles, the Iranians produce mostly local designs, mostly being improved copies of Manchu Central Asian War designs retrofitted with updated German and British electronics and weapons systems.

Hover tanks are listed below, but the Iranian tank fleet is in transition, just what form that transition will take is up in the air. The government wants to purchase the Luki-8B refit kit from Heidelsheimat to prolong the lifespan of the Luki-8s (or Tufân as they are known in Iranian service) that make up a third of the tank fleet. The opposition politicians want to buy surplus American M9s, and the Army wants Montgomerys and to upgrade the Cavalier fleet by 2310. All in all, the debate is quite lively.

Salahsur Hover Battle Tank
The Salahsur is the Iranian designation of the British Cavalier hover tank (Salahsur being a translation of the British name, incidentally) that makes up most of their hover tank fleet.  Iranian vehicles are generally identical to the British Mk.3 version, except that an indigenous laser point defense system is used and an external mounting pod for 4 SAKM-12 ATGW is located on the rear deck of the tank in a manner similar to the British retro-fitting of the SkyStreak missile.  The SAKM-12 is not entirely satisfactory, due to its age (even with an improved seeker head) and relative susceptibility to counter-measures, but a replacement is currently being sought, possibly a retro-fit kit for the Manta-1 (the procurement of the Manta-1 armed Cavalier 2 will probably decide this issue).

Vickers in the UK is currently involved in negotiating sales of their Cavalier 2 upgrade of the vehicle to the Iranian military, and it is expected that this program will appear in the 2304 military budget, probably at a low-initial procurement rate, though the always uncertain situation in the CAR could influence this.

Tufân Hover Battle Tank

Though primarily equipped with the British Cavalier, the Iran, like many nations, took advantage of the block obsolescence of the Luftkissenpanzer-VIII and purchased nearly eight hundred from the newly unified German government in 2294.  The Lukis-VIII are known in Iranian service as the Tufân (Farsi, “Tornado”) and it is viewed as something of an interim design between the Salahsur/Cavalier and the indigenous Âzaraxs light tank.  The tanks began entering service in 2297, after some fairly extensive modification by the Iranian military.  The most notable modifications were the substitution of the local LMPA-3 50-01 laser point defense system for the German 5.5mm light machinegun in that role, and the mounting of 6.5mm light machinegun coaxially for anti-personnel work.  In addition, a shrouded external rack mounting two SAKM-12 ATGW was mounted on the turret, along with improved fire control and sensors to allow effective use of the missiles.

The design has a number of drawbacks for Iranian service, despite the local upgrade, and the Iranian military has begun soliciting proposals for further upgrade of the vehicles (to include a switch to the 75mm MDC used on other current Iranian hover tanks).  Currently, the solicitation appeals to be generating a contest directly between the German firm Berliner Schwerindustrie GmbH, with a good deal of experience upgrading French AC-8s for the Austrovenian and Hungarian militaries, and Freihafen Waffenfabrik, whose Luftkissenpanzer-8B design is considered one of the best service-life extension kits for the aging Lukis-VIII.  There are rumors that Freihafen Waffenfabrik is extensively sweetening their proposed deal, regarding the Iranian contract as a initial penetration into what could prove to be extremely lucrative Terran markets as other nations look to upgrading their Lukis-VIIIs.

Type: Modernized Iranian Hover Tank

Crew: 3
Displacement Weight: 6.5 tons of hydrogen
Combat Weight: 44 tons
Armor:

Plenum: 2
All Other Faces: 60

Armament:

60mm Mass Driver Cannon
Coaxial 6.5mm Light Machine Gun (2000 rounds carried)
LMPA-3 50-01 point defense system (100 round rechargeable FDLMS battery)
Dual Rack for SAKM-12 anti-vehicle missiles (reloads carried as cargo)

Fire Control: +3
Signature:
4
Evasion: 7
Sensor Range: 10km
Cargo: 500kg
Max Speed: 220kph
Cruise Speed: 200kph
Combat Movement: 460m
Off Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 1.2MW MHD Turbine
Fuel Capacity: 648kg of hydrogen
Fuel Consumption: 36kg per hour
Endurance: 18 hours
Price: Not commercially available

Âzaraxs Light Hover Tank
An indigenous light hover tank, the Âzaraxs (“Lightning”) is based on a much-modified and reinforced chassis of the Bavarian LkPzTr-5.  The vehicle power plant is located to the rear, with the turret in the center of the hull and the crew compartment forward.  The two-man crew are seated side by side, and provided with a single hatch on the front deck for entry and egress, plus a second emergency hatch in the belly for evacuation should the vehicle roll.

Armament consists of a 75mm mass driver cannon, the same weapon used on the Iranian version of the British Cavalier hovertank, the Salahsur, and a single launcher for Aero-12 ATGW with a total of five missiles carried.  If licensing or purchase can be worked out, there are plans to replace the SAKM-12 with a Manta-1 launcher in the near future.  Secondary armament consists of a coaxial 6.5mm machinegun for suppressive fire (again, the same design used on the Cavalier) and the excellent indigenous LMPA-3 50-01 laser point defense system.

The current service version of the Âzaraxs is the Model 2 (Nemune 2), incorporating improved fire control systems and a redesigned crew compartment alleviating to some extent the cramped conditions that crews had cited as a major issue during protracted operations.  (Model 1 versions, still in service with some reserve formations, have only a +1 sensor and rangefinder bonus.)

Type: Light Hover Tank
Crew: 2
Displacement Weight: 7 tons
Combat Weight: 25 tons
Armour:

Front: 60
Top: 50
Sides and Rear: 25
Plenum: 10

Armament:

75mm Mass Driver Cannon (80 rounds carried)
Coaxial VR-5 Long-Barrel Sustained Fire 7.5mm machinegun (2000 rounds)
LMPA-3 50-01 Laser PDS (rechargeable 100 round FDLMS batter)
SAKM-12 ATGW launcher (four reloads carried internally)

Fire Control:  +2
Signature: 3
Evasion: 7
Sensor Range: 12km (+2)
Cargo: 250kg
Max Speed: 230 kph
Cruise Speed: 200kph
Combat Movement: 460m
Off Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 1.7MW MHD Turbine
Fuel Capacity: 940kg of hydrogen
Fuel Consumption: 39kg per hour
Endurance: 24 hours
Price: Commercially unavailable.

Blaz Light Armored Attack Vehicle

The Blaz, or Hawk, LAAV is a small, fast armored hovercraft used by Iranian forces for reconnaissance and fast raiding operations.  The vehicle is roughly the size of a Bridgeport-Swift Warbird or other comparable Hover-Rover type vehicles, but its steeply angled armor and consequent sleek appearance give it a unique appearance.

The two-man crew is seated in tandem in, with the vehicle commander (who is primarily responsible for piloting the vehicle) seated forward and the gunner to his rear, with each crewman provided with his own hatch on the forward deck.  Immediately behind the crew compartment is the turret, mounting an A-4T plasma gun and a coaxial 6.5mm machinegun.  The vehicle’s primary punch, however, comes from four shrouded, forward firing launch tubes for Green Hunter anti-vehicle missiles.  Fire control is sufficiently sophisticated that the Blaz can acquire four separate targets and ripple fire the missiles within four seconds, though this is not the typical engagement scenario.  The vehicle does not mount the Iranian designed LMPA-3 point defense laser, but instead relies on less sophisticated (and less expensive) counter-missile active defense grenade tubes, with a total of 24 tubes providing 360 degree protection.  The vehicle’s 0.4MW hydrogen fuel cell is located to the rear of the vehicle.

In Iranian service, the Blaz equips the Fast Attack Companies of Light Regiments in Armored and Mechanized divisions.  As noted, it is intended both as a reconnaissance platform, as well as a highly maneuverable, fast attack vehicle to exploit gaps in enemy positions, attack into the rear area, etc.  Commanders of such units have to take care not to over-extend their vehicles, which pack a potent punch in the form of their anti-vehicle missiles, but which lack the armor and other weapons to stand up to heavier forces in a protracted fight.

Type: Light Armored Attack Vehicle
Crew: 2
Displacement Weight: 1 tons
Combat Weight: 5 tons
Armour:

Front: 16
Top: 8
Sides and Rear: 4
Plenum: 2

Armament
:

A-4T 30MW Plasma Cannon (120 rounds carried)
6.5mm Coaxial Machinegun (700 rounds carried)
Four Green Hunter ATGM

Fire Control:  +2

Signature: 1
Evasion: 9
Sensor Range: 10km (+2)
Cargo: 100kg
Max Speed: 250 kph
Cruise Speed: 200kph
Combat Movement: 5200m
Off Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 0.4MW Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Fuel Capacity: 160kg of hydrogen
Fuel Consumption: 16kg per hour
Endurance: 12 hours
Price: Commercially unavailable.

Hover APCs are the British Fusilier IFV (some being upgraded to the Safir-84 standard), with some Bavarian LkGfPzTr-VIII (they proved too costly, and thus there is only a battalion of them in the Karbala division), but the majority are Kangaroos (Gerdbâd, or Whirlwind, in Iranian service) purchased from Australia at fire sale prices. Many are being converted into Dasne (Dagger) light hover tanks (A main gun converted from captured French AC-8s along with a retrofitted launcher for Green Hunters), as the Iranians tend to prefer more Fusiliers. However, the remaining unconverted Kangaroos are having their 12mm HMGs replaced with A-4T Plasma guns.

Jâvidân Combat Walker

Based on the anthropoid Manchurian Type C-60 combat walker and produced by Sumatro Fabrique of Indonesia to Iranian specifications, the Jâvidân (“Immortal”) is a combat walker design specially designed for operations in extremely rough terrain.  The design sacrifices a degree of armor protection and firepower to maximize agility and performs very well in restricted terrain provided operators are fully cognizant of its abilities and limitations.

Country: Iran/Manchuria/Indonesia
Weight: 250kg
Crawl: 5m Walk: 10m Trot: 20m Run: 30m
Power: Internal Rechargeable Batteries
Endurance: 20 hours (at walk, trot drains 3x faster, run drains 5x faster)
RF Bonus: +1

Initiative Penalty
: -2
Armament: One modular weapons pod, usually mounting a Type 1 High Energy

Gun with 40 cells.  Alternately may mount an MN-2 grenade machinegun feeding from two thirty-round drums or a pair of MA-1 gauss machineguns with 500 rounds per gun. 

Signature: 2 (older models 3)
Protection: Frontal aspect, All AV = 4, Rear/Flanks AV = 2
Sensors: 5km
Est. Cost: Lv15,000

INDEX

APPENDIX A – GLOSSARY

Âzaraxs

“Lightning.”  An Iranian light hovertank design based on the Kangaroo APC hull.

Blaz

“Hawk.”  An Iranian built light hover AFV

Dasne

“Dagger.”  An Iranian light tank built on a Fusilier hover APC hull.

Gerdbâd

“Whirlwind.”  Iranian designation for the Kangaroo hover APC.

Haftir

Pistol

Maximi

Machinegun

Taqiyeh

Concept that deceit and deception are acceptable if done in the name of the Shi’a faith.  Unofficial motto of the Iranian Special Forces community, and in some ways indicative of Iranian doctrine for unconventional warfare.

Tofang

Rifle

Tofang-ye-Tirandâz

Sniper Rifle

Qizilbashi

“Redheads.”  Slang term currently used to describe the soldiers of the 7th Strategic Response Corps, who wear red berets.  Historically referred to Turkic supporters of the Safavid dynasty who wore red turbans.

INDEX

APPENDIX B – DIVISIONAL ORGANIZATION

Armored Division

            Headquarters and Headquarters Regiment

                        HQ Coy (including Security Platoon with 4 Fusilier or Kangaroo)

                        Communications, Signals Security, and Information Warfare Battalion

                        (CS2IW)

                        1 MI Battalion

            2 Armored Regiments, each

                        2 Armor Battalion

                                    HQ Company

                                    3 Tank Companies (13 Cavaliers)

                                    1 Mech Company (14 Kangaroos or Fusiliers)

                                    Mortar Battery (6 SP 120mm Mortars + 6 ammo carriers and FDC)

                        1 Mech Battalion

3 Mech companies (as above)

1 Tank Company (as above)

1 Mortar Batter (as above)

                        1 Artillery Battalion

                                    Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    3 Artillery Batteries (6 130mm SP EM Howitzers)

                        Armored Recon Company (9 Azarâxs or Dasne light tanks, 4 Kangaroos)

            1 Light Armored Regiment

                        1 Armor Battalion

                                    Same as Armor Battalion above, only LkPz-VIII in tank coys

                        1 Attack Bn

                                    3 Light Tank Companies (13 Azarâxs or Dasne)

                                    2 Fast Attack Companies (26 Blaz LAAVs)

                        1 Artillery Bn

                                    Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    2 Artillery Batteries (6 130mm SP EM Howitzers)

            Combat Support Regiment

                        1 Long Range Artillery Bn

                                    Headquarters Batter and Fire Direction Center

                                    2 SP Binary How Batteries (6  175mm Binary)

                                    2 SP MRL Batteries (6 MRLs)

                        1 Gunship Bn (16 gunships, 16 scout/light attack)

                        1 Aerial Recon Bn

Long Range Company (8 LR UAVs)

2 Medium Range Companies (8 Med Range UAVs)

                        1 Engineer Battalion

                        1 ADA Battalion

            Combat Service Support Regiment

                        2 Quartermaster Battalions

                        1 Maintenance Battalion

                        1 MP Battalion

Mechanized Division         

            Headquarters and Headquarters Regiment

                        HQ Coy (including Security Platoon with 4 Fusilier or Kangaroo)

                        Communications, Signals Security, and Information Warfare Battalion

                        (CS2IW)

                        1 MI Battalion

            1 Armored Regiments

                        2 Armor Battalion

                                    HQ Company

                                    3 Tank Companies (13 Cavaliers)

                                    1 Mech Company (14 Kangaroos or Fusiliers)

                                    Mortar Battery (6 SP 120mm Mortars + 6 ammo carriers and FDC)

                        1 Mech Battalion

3 Mech companies (as above)

1 Tank Company (as above)

1 Mortar Batter (as above)

                        1 Artillery Battalion

                                    Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    3 Artillery Batteries (6 130mm SP EM Howitzers)

                        Armored Recon Company (9 Azarâxs or Dasne light tanks, 4 Kangaroos)

            2 Mechanized Regiments, each:

                        2 Mechanized Battalions, each:

                                    HQ Company

                                    3 Mechanized Companies

                                    1 Tank Company

                                    1 Mortar Battery

                        1 Artillery Bn

                                    Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    2 Artillery Batteries (6 130mm SP EM Howitzers)

            1 Light Armored Regiment

                        1 Armor Battalion

                                    Same as Armor Battalion above, only LkPz-VIII in tank coys

                        1 Attack Bn

                                    3 Light Tank Companies (13 Azarâxs or Dasne)

                                    2 Fast Attack Companies (26 Blaz LAAVs)

                        1 Artillery Bn

                                    Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    2 Artillery Batteries (6 130mm SP EM Howitzers)

            Combat Support Regiment

                        2 Long Range Artillery Battalions

                                    Headquarters Batter and Fire Direction Center

                                    2 SP Binary How Batteries (6  175mm Binary)

                                    2 SP MRL Batteries (6 MRLs)        

                        1 Aerial Recon Bn

Long Range Company (8 LR UAVs)

2 Medium Range Companies (8 Med Range UAVs)

                        1 Engineer Battalion

                        1 ADA Battalion

            Combat Service Support Regiment

                        2 QM Battalions

                        1 Maintenance Battalion

                        1 MP Battalion

Infantry Division

            Headquarters and Headquarters Regiment

                        HQ Company

                        CS2IW Company

                        MI Company

            2 Infantry Regiments, each:

                        2 Light Mech Bns (Kazdom M-99)

                                    HQ Company

                                    3 Rifle Companies

                                                3 Rifle Platoons (3 Green Hunter)

                                                Weapons Platoon

                                                            Mortar Section (2 80mm SP Mortars)

                                                            Anti-tank Section (2 Kazdom-AT SPATGM)

                                    Weapons Company

                                                Combat Walker Platoon (12 Type A-6)

                                                Anti-tank Platoon (4 Kazdom-AT SPATGM)

                                                Mortar Platoon (4 120mm)

                        1 Motorized Infantry Battalion

                                    Organized as above, but using trucks (6 x 6 local design)

                        1 Artillery Battalion

                                    Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    3 Batteries (6 110mm Light EM Howitzers)

                        Recon Company

                                    Attack Platoon (12 Blaz)

                                    2 Reconnaissance Platoons (12 Light Hovercraft)

            1 Armored Regiment

                        1 Tracked Armor Battalion

Headquarters Company

4 Tank Companies (9 Type 27 tracked tanks)

                        1 Attack Bn (same as armored division)

            Combat Support Regiment

                        2 Long Range Artillery Battalions

                                    Headquarters Batter and Fire Direction Center

                                    2 SP Binary How Batteries (6  175mm Binary)

                                    2 SP MRL Batteries (6 MRLs)

                        1 Aerial Recon Bn

Long Range Company (4 LR UAVs)

2 Medium Range Companies (6 Med Range UAVs)

                        1 Engineer Battalion

            Combat Service Support Regiment

                        1 QM Battalion

                        1 Maintenance Battalion

                        1 MP Battalion

       Mountain Division

              Headquarters and Headquarters Regiment

                         HQ Company

                         CS2IW Company

                         MI Company

               3 Mountain Infantry Regiments, each:

                          2 Mountain Infantry Battalions

                                             HQ Company

3 Rifle Companies

                                                3 Rifle Platoons (1 Green Hunter, 1 A9 Plasma Gun)

                                                Weapons Platoon

                                                            Mortar Section (4 80mm SP Mortars)

                                                            MG Section (4 MN-2 Grenade Machineguns)

                                    Weapons Company

                                                Combat Walker Platoon (12 Jâvidân)

                                                Anti-tank Platoon

                                                            Heavy Section (2 Nayez with range trucks)

                                                            Light Section (4 Green Hunters)

                                                Mortar Platoon (4 120mm)

                          1 Artillery Battalion

                                    Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    3 Batteries (4 light 110mm EM howitzers)

                          1 Recon Company

                                    Combat Walker Platoon (9 Jâvidân)

                                    2 Infantry Reconnaissance Platoons

            Recon Battalion

                        2 Reconnaissance Companies (as Mountain Infantry Regiment)

                        1 Alpine Reconnaissance and Surveillance Company                         

                        1 Aerial Recon Company: 4 Medium Range UAVs

Combat Support Regiment

                        1 Anti-Tank Battalion

                                    Headquarters Company

                                    2 Anti-tank Companies (18 range trucks with Nayez ATGM)           

                                    1 Mortar Company (9 120mm mortars with range trucks)

                           1 Engineer Battalion

                           1 ADA Battalion

                           2 Artillery Battalions

Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    3 Batteries (4 light 110mm EM howitzers)

       Combat Service Support Regiment

                           1 QM Battalion

                           1 Maintenance Battalion

                           1 MP Battalion 

Airborne Division

           Headquarters and Headquarters Regiment

                     HQ Company

                     CS2IW Company

                     MI Company

                 3 Airborne Infantry Regiments, each:

                     2 Airborne Infantry Battalions:

                              HQ Coy

                              3 Rifle Companies

3 Rifle Platoons (1 Green Hunter, 1 A9 Plasma Gun)

                                                Weapons Platoon

                                                            Mortar Section (3 80mm Mortars)

                                                            MG Section (4 MN-2 Grenade Machineguns)

                              Weapons Company

                              Anti-tank Platoon (6 Nayez with range trucks)

                              High Energy Platoon (4 A-4T plasma guns)

                              Machinegun Platoon (6 MN-4 30mm GMG)       

                              Mortar Platoon (6 120mm)

                           1 Artillery Battalion

Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    3 Batteries (4 light 110mm EM howitzers)

                           1 Recon Company (As per Mountain Regiment)

                   1 Recon Battalion (As per mountain regiment)

                    Combat Support Regiment

                            1 Anti-Tank Battalion: As per mountain regiment

                            1 Engineer Battalion

                            1 ADA Battalion

                            1 Artillery Battalion: 12 130mm Light Guns

                            1 Aerial Recon Company: 4 Medium Range UAVs

                   Combat Service Support Regiment

                            1 QM Battalion

                            1 Maintenance Battalion

                            1 MP Battalion

Airmobile Division

      Headquarters and Headquarters Regiment

            HQ Company

                  CS2IW Company

                  MI Company

            3 Airmobile Infantry Regiments, each:

            2 Airborne Infantry Battalions:

                        HQ Coy

                              2 Rifle Companies

3 Rifle Platoons (1 Green Hunter, 1 A9 Plasma Gun)

                                                Weapons Platoon

                                                            Mortar Section (3 80mm Mortars)

                                                            MG Section (4 MN-2 Grenade Machineguns)

                                    1 Motorized Company

                                                Attack Platoon (7 Blaz LAAV)

                                                2 Rifle Platoons (3 Green Hunter, range trucks)

                                                Weapons Platoon (4 80mm mortars)

                              Weapons Company

                              Anti-tank Platoon (6 Nayez with range trucks)

                              Combat Walker Platoon (12 Type A-6)

                              Machinegun Platoon (6 MN-4 30mm GMG)       

                              Mortar Platoon (6 120mm)

                           1 Artillery Battalion

Headquarters Battery and Fire Direction Center

                                    3 Batteries (4 light 110mm EM howitzers)

            1 Recon Battalion

                        Headquarters Company

                        2 Light Reconnaissance Company

                                    3 Reconnaissance Platoons (8 Light Hovercraft, 4 Nayez ATGM)

                        1 Fast Attack Company (26 Blaz LAAV)    

Combat Support Regiment

                        1 Anti-Tank Battalion (As per mountain regiment)

                        2 Gunship Battalions (As per Armored Divisions)

                        1 Engineer Battalion

                        1 ADA Battalion

                        1 Artillery Battalion (12 130mm Light Guns)

                        1 Aerial Recon Company: 4 Medium Range UAVs

                 Combat Service Support Regiment

                        3 QM Battalion

                        2 Aviation Transport Battalions

                        1 Maintenance Battalion

                        1 MP Battalion

Special Forces Regiment

            Headquarters Company

                        Very robust commo platoon

                        MI Platoon

                        Etc. (?)

            Three SF Battalions

                        Headquarters Company

                        3 Special Forces Companies

                                    Headquarters Platoon

                                    5 Special Forces Platoons

INDEX

APPENDIX C - DIVISIONAL NAMES

1st Armored Division “Karbala”

Site of Martyrdom of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.

2nd Marine Division “al-Faw”

Named for coastal region on the border of Iran and Iraq, where Iranian marine units fought during the Iran-Iraq War, the Saudi War, and the 2nd Iraqi War.

4th Airmobile Division “Kaveh Ahangar”

Named for Kaveh the Ironsmith, a character in the Shahnameh who raised revolt against an unjust ruler.

18th Armored Division “Ferdowsi”

Named for Iranian poet Abdul Qasim Mansur, who wrote under the name Ferdowsi.  Authored the Iranian national epic Shahnameh (Book of Kings).

19th Mechanized Division “Muhammad Tabatabai”

Named for a nationalist, pro-Constitution cleric at the time of the Constitutional Revolution (ca. 1905-1911)

23rd Special Forces Division “Barzan Aryanpur Shah”

Named for General Barzan Aryanpur (later first shah of the Barzid dynasty), who commanded the unit during the Twilight War.

28th Mechanized Division “Abbas Shah”

Named for 17th Century ruler of Iran.

34th Mountain Division “Ali Memmasanni”

Named for 21st Century atabeg of the Lur tribe who sided with government forces during the Iranian Civil War (2047-55).

44th Airborne Division “Amir Kabir”

Named for nationalist prime minister executed after dispute with the Shah and Shah’s mother, circa 1851

45th Infantry Division “Jamal Al-e Ahmad”

Named for 20th Century author and politicocultural theorist.

64th Infantry Division “Hafez”

Named for Iranian poet.

75th Mountain Division “Khosrow Mustafavi”

Named for early 22nd Century Iranian physicist and quantum mechanics theorist.

77th Infantry Division “Omar Khayyam”

Named for Iranian poet.

81st Armored Division “Reza Shah”

Named for first ruler or the Pahlavi dynasty in the 20th Century.

102nd Mountain Division “Ali Akbar Saidi Sirjani”

20th Century Iranian author and cultural commentator, arrested by the Islamic Republic for questioning the authority of the Islamic Republic.  Died in prison of a sudden, unexpected, and highly suspect heart attack.

114th Infantry Division “Jamal ed-Din Afghani”

Cleric who agitated for the incorporation of western thought and technology into traditional Iranian society at the beginning of the 20th century.

116th Infantry Division “Shahnaz A’lami”

Named for Iranian poet who spent much of her life in exile during the 20th century.

INDEX