La
Mort Qui Marche
The Combat Walker in 2300AD
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Introduction Combat
Walkers, or CWs, are best thought of as one man infantry combat vehicles.
They are perhaps the major combat system evolved in the 23rd Century
and perhaps only now reaching design and doctrine maturity. While they
can be seen as a relatively minor weapon platform when compared with
hovertanks, gunships and other systems, Combat Walkers have a strong
hold on the public imagination and are featured strongly in the popular
media. This article seeks to trace the evolution of the combat walker
as a weapon system and describe the current state of play. Narrative Captain
‘Mas’ Ishii led his four paramilitary Jikishidan walkers down the main
road at a sprint. They weren’t soldiers, but policemen from the Tosashimizu
Police Special Duties Section. With the alien Bakemono assaulting the
city and killing indiscriminately there was no such thing as a non-combatant.
Ishii was a veteran of the Central Asian War and so were some of his
policemen and they had taken to their more violent role with aplomb. The
Jikishidans they were using were equipped with jury-rigged 5.5mm machine
guns slung under the chins. They were light weapons, with limited traverse
and only minutes worth of ammunition. When that ran out they had only
the grenade launchers, but for those they had only riot gas and solid
baton rounds. If that failed it was on to the sonic stunners. It was
not the sort of armoury to make the Bakemono quail. For the hundredth
time that day he thought of his family, hoping they had gotten clear.
Nevertheless
the militia platoon manning the barricades were more than pleased to
see them. Ishii felt a bit like a fraud and put in another urgent call
to the command post to send reinforcements, hopefully the big Type-3
walkers of the 3rd Colonial Independent Regiment which could make mincemeat
out of the aliens. The Bakemono rushed the defences and Ishii drove
the walker into a position on the barricade and opened up. The
firefight lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour and the sonic stunners,
even on maximum charge were no damn good. The Bakemono breached the
barricade and Ishii dashed in, using his armoured body to bowl over
the first few, he cursed the lack of controls to make the walker kick
out. Trying to use the spindly arms in close combat was like getting
a hen to peck the alien to death. Suddenly the walker was down, a leg
blown off by a satchel charge, toppling stately to the ground. Ishii
was finished. Then
the counter attack came in. The militia soldiers charging in screaming
with bayonets fixed and throwing the aliens back for just long enough
for Ishii to escape from the pod, scrambling back with the soldiers
dragging their wounded behind them. Firing his pathetic 9mm pistol and
cursing as he went. Appendix
1 - Alternate Designs If
most modern weapon systems, such as the tank, VTOLs and aircraft, have
been developed by the Western world, the Combat Walker is very much
a product of the East. Japan and Manchuria have led the way in fielding
CWs and developing the technology and doctrine to use them effectively.
Indeed most Western nations have been left trailing and have only now
closed the gap with their Asian counterparts. Japan
began producing effective walker vehicles in the early 2200s, building
on their strong robotics experience for both industry and exploration.
The initial Japanese walkers fulfilled two roles; explorative and policing.
The Japanese Space Agency was looking for a system that would give additional
robustness and durability to exploration teams on non-Earthlike worlds.
The Japanese National Police Agency on the other hand was looking for
a highly mobile platform that could conduct crowd and riot control duties
on the tight streets of Japan’s cities. These initial systems were relatively
slow and cumbersome but set the stage for further development. Manchuria
quickly followed the Japanese lead, seeing walkers as effective means
of increasing the effectiveness of the police patrolling their teeming
cities. Indeed it was the Manchurians who first adapted their law enforcement
walkers for combat duties, dispatching some modified units to Han Shan
for use against hostile local fauna during expeditions beyond the walls
or in case of breaches of the hill top perimeters. These first armed
CWs provided the spur for small units of CWs to be formed in the Manchurian
Army. Manchuria was also the first nation to begin exports of paramilitary
walkers selling early models to Korea and Canton. In
the West however walkers were seen as unreliable and impractical. Most
military opinion held that walkers were ‘too small to fight, too big
to hide, too slow to run’. Their role in policing aroused some interest
but most forces preferred to stay with the old combination of men with
shields and horses. The exploration role was one that was taken on,
with some acquiring Manchurian designs, but this was always a very low-volume
field. General
perception of the value of combat walkers changed as a result of the
Slaver War of 2252-55. Manchurian and Canadian space combat operations
against the Sung were a virtual massacre, but then human ground forces
landed on the Xiang homeworld to destroy Sung bases and liberate the
Xiang. Forward looking Manchurian commanders were well aware of limited
starlift available to them which would constrain the number of conventional
AFVs which could be landed. Instead numbers of the heavy Type-1 and
smaller Type-2 CWs were deployed to take part in the fighting. These
units were drawn from both Earth and Han Shan based formations and had
little time to train together and often fought alongside units who had
no experience of CWs. In addition the Type-1 and Type-2 CWs proved to
be prone to break down, lacked robustness and had limited combat endurance.
However when used in combination with other arms the CWs were battle
winners on several occasions and on most others reduced the number of
casualties sustained by the infantry. The impact of the CWs was multiplied
by the near blanket coverage they received in eagerly devoured news
reports. Indeed one French reporter labelled them ‘La Mort Qui Marche’
or ‘walking death’. These
high profile Manchurian operations spurred some previously sceptical
militaries into developing their own CW programmes. The Canadians were
first, purchasing Type-2s for their Special Service Force in operation
in the Slaver War. The Bavarians, then cooperating with Japan in colonial
exploration were able to do a deal to obtain Japanese walker technology.
The Bavarians were somewhat slow in developing their CWs, but this would
eventually bear fruit in the late 2280s. Some nations remained resolutely
opposed to the concept, the British in particular studying CWs but not
introducing them into service for several decades. The
French turned to their own robotics industry to produce the first of
a series of CWs. The French rapidly embraced the concept developing
their walkers for use in the colonies, and then later for urban operations.
In developing their own domestic designs the French were predominantly
behind the state of the art in Manchurian and Japanese CWs. However
the French ultimately began operating CWs on a scale matched only by
the Manchurians and rapidly developed a strong body of operational experience
and an effective doctrine. The
aftermath of the Slaver War brought about a rapid influx of CWs into
armies across Earth and in the colonies. However the limitations of
these early CWs rapidly became obvious. Sensor packages were poor, armour
was thin, weapon loads only slightly bigger than those of an infantryman
and cross country mobility was limited by poor movement algorithms and
low power. Many armies brought CWs into service en-masse and then later
thinned out their numbers as the realities of CW operations became apparent.
The
next major use of CWs came during the Cantonese-Indonesia War of 2264-68.
With the threat of Indonesian annexation of Indochina imminent Canton
deployed forces into Vietnam. Indonesia responded by deploying into
Thailand. Cantonese forces included several combat walker units integrated
into infantry and military police formations. These operated initially
in the cities where there was some unrest and even attacks on the Cantonese
by pro-Indonesian factions. Later as the conflict escalated, with clashes
in Laos and Cambodia developing into a fully fledged campaign, CWs began
to be used in the interior with its paddy fields, forests and mountainous
terrain. The
Cantonese deployed a mixture of old Manchurian Type-1s and more modern
Type-3s coming into service with elite units. Operations away from the
urban coastal strip had a steep learning curve for the Cantonese CW
units. The environment proved very testing for the CWs and the maintenance
demands increased significantly. In particular the ageing Type-1s were
unable to perform to an acceptable standard and were relegated to second
line duties. The more powerful Type-3s were, once modified for the conditions,
to give increasingly useful service in rural operations. Some units
used the Type-3s to ‘jungle bash’ although it was noticeable that losses
of CWs to ambush in these outfits were high. For
their part the Indonesians had few CWs, mostly a small number of decade
old Type-1s. The Indonesian CW community had relatively little influence
but had some adherents amongst elite Indonesian units. Consequently
Indonesian CWs took part in some notable small unit actions, but were
rarely influential in the wider conventional war. Indonesian attempts
to purchase newer CWs were stymied by their international isolation
over the war. Cantonese
victory brought the war to a close in 2268. For many observers the Canton-Indonesian
War was a relatively obscure conflict conducted largely away from the
media gaze. However most of the regional powers had observers present
and the Manchurians even had some Banner units serving with the Cantonese.
Consequently the war was rather influential for military professionals
and in particular both France and Manchuria modified their CW doctrine
in the light of Cantonese experience. The
third bout of fighting between Brazil and Argentina for regional superiority
in South America occurred between 2275 and 2297. CWs played only a minor
role, although Argentine walkers were prominent in the breakthrough
of the Brazilian border defences and in later actions on the streets
of Brazilian towns and cities. The performance of Brazilian CW units
was generally deemed to be poor. The
Central Asian War at first seemed like a war where the CW would not
be a major factor; the wide open steppe seemed unsuitable for CWs. However
as the war went on increasing numbers of CWs were committed. Elite light
infantry units on both sides began to rely on the supporting firepower
that CWs could bring them. In addition the retaking of Alma Ata was
strongly marked by the use of CWs in both assaulting units and rear-guards.
There after CWs became increasingly common across many non-mechanised
units. Manchuria
initially had the advantage with her Type-4 CW developed from the experience
gained in the conflict in South East Asia while the French were equipped
with the BH-18 but were developing the successor BH-21. Manchuria brought
in several crack colonial units with CW experience, most notably the
621st Infantry Regiment from Quanti, while many of their home grown
units were no slouches. In general the Manchurian’s more heavily armed
and more numerous units held the advantage over their French opponents.
One
participant with no real CW combat experience were the Bavarians who
were equipped with the Kz-IV, an ageing system built around mid-2250s
Japanese technology. The Bavarians had used these CWs primarily for
colonial duties and initially suffered serious casualties when their
units deployed to Central Asia. The Kz-IV, although agile was badly
outmatched and were replaced as a short term measure by French CWs.
However the failure of the Kz-IV would lead to the development of the
interim Kz-VI and ultimately the excellent Kz-VII. The Bavarians would
develop a forward looking and innovative doctrine for their CW units
during the course of the war, a fact recognised by all participants
by the war’s end. Along
the Chinese Arm during the war there were several attempts to use CWs
in the orbital raiding role. In particular several raids were launched
by crack French units against isolated Manchurian outposts. These prompted
Manchurian units to attempt to reply in kind and a Guides Banner unit
was involved in attacking a number of French or French owned installations
in this area of space. CW equipped French units were also involved in
the Elysian revolt. The
Japanese brought their advanced CW designs into action for the first
time during the last year of the war and proved very competent indeed.
However the armament of Japanese designs was seen as somewhat under
powered when compared with heavier Manchurian designs and the French
BH-21. It
is often said that the CW came of age in the Central Asian War. While
the conditions were certainly not ideal for the employment of CWs they
were deployed in increasing numbers and proved themselves in many roles.
In terms of technology CWs made great strides, especially in armament,
sensors and communications packages. Reliability and mobility also came
in for significant improvements. In general the move from the BH-18
and Type-4 to the BH-21 and Type-6 by the major protagonists marked
a step change in capability. The French in particular took measures
to increase the proportion of CWs in their formations. The
Franco-German War of 2292-93 saw CWs again employed in large numbers
and in increasingly influential roles. The initial fighting was concentrated
in the urban sprawl of the Rhineland, terrain ideal for the employment
of CWs. The French deployed large numbers of walkers, mostly in the
hands of conscript infantry units. The Germans used far fewer CWs, with
most concentrated in Bavarian formations. French
CWs suffered heavy casualties in the fighting, primarily falling victim
to opposing infantry units. This was largely as a result of poorly thought
out training of the French conscripts which had concentrated on the
employment of CWs as a single arm and cooperation with infantry had
received a much lower priority. Consequently the French CWs were frequently
vulnerable to ambush when not closely supported by their own infantry.
This elementary lesson was learned the hard way and towards the end
of the fighting cooperation was greatly improved. In some of the better
French units such as the Légion, Marines and Zouaves these problems
were less prevalent. Bavarian
CWs on the other hand worked in well organised combined arms teams and
proved much less vulnerable. The main CW used was the Kz-VI with small
numbers of Kz-VII entering service in the last weeks of the war. The
other German States had much less experience with CWs and many had only
just introduced them and consequently were notably less effective than
the Bavarians and often making similar mistakes as the French. German
CWs were also involved in some of the assaults in the III Korps offensive
through the Ardennes to Picardie and proved useful in reducing French
strongpoints. Pure
walker-on-walker actions were relatively rare, but when they did occur
the results were often in the favour of the French, although in these
engagements the skills of the CW pilots counting for more than the type
of CW they used. Several CW aces emerged during the war and were celebrated
in the press. French CWs would play a limited but vital role in the
Battle of Picardie, aiding the defence of the village strongpoint pivots
that formed the framework of the French defences. There
was relatively little time for the evolution of CW technologies and
operations during the War of German Reunification but it did confirm
several lessons of previous conflicts and cement the position of CWs
in the orders of battle. It also identified future improvements in the
next generation of CWs, although with the French having large numbers
of BH-21s and Germany just having introduced the Kz-VII these improvements
were not immediately implemented. The
next big challenge for CWs was the Kafer War. The French deployed two
battalions, some 250 BH-21s, to the world of Aurore to help defeat the
alien invaders. These highly trained units performed excellently. They
often operated on their own in raids against Kafer rear areas, but more
frequently worked with conventional infantry units. Indeed French battle
schools were soon set up to train militia and other troops in CW operations.
CWs were soon shown to be effective battle winners against the Kafers.
The
2301 Kafer offensive into the French Arm brought more and more CWs into
action, in particular on Kimanjano, Beta Canum and Joi. The Japanese
deployed large numbers of CWs on Joi to counter the Kafer invasion in
the hands of the marines, militia and the paramilitary police. British
regulars took their capable new Bowman CWs into action on Beta Canum
for the first time and coped with a steep learning curve. In turn American
Marines deployed their license built BH-21s in action alongside their
French allies. Every major nation deployed hundreds of CWs against the
Kafers with even more flooding into the French Arm with the Liberation.
CWs have become a mainstay of the lingering and bloody effort to remove
Kafer remnants from all of the previously occupied human colony worlds.
New
walkers are coming into service with many nations. The French are finally
adopting the BH-25, the Germans have their Project Zerstörer ready to
succeed the Kz-VII Aufs B and the Manchurian Type-7 is set to take over
from the Type-D6. Older models are being handed down to colonial forces
in many places. Over the past 50 years the CW has evolved from a marginal but glamorous combat system to an integral part of most light role dismounted close combat operations. Thanks to the experience of recent operations CWs have developed into a mature and well regarded weapon system.
Generations It
is generally accepted that there are four generations of combat walker
designs. The
1st Generation includes Manchurian Type-1s and -2s. These were the earliest
designs with limited mobility and combat power. These designs were also
notable for their relatively poor reliability. The
2nd Generation includes French BH-21s and Manchurian Type-3s and -4s.
These are much more capable designs with weapons capable of engaging
light AFVs and superior mobility and decent armour. These were also
the first designs with enhanced communications and sensor capabilities.
The
3rd Generation are the French BH-25, Manchurian Type-6, German Kz-VII
and British Bowman. These generally carry multiple weapon systems and
have enhanced mobility, including the ability for exos to crawl. The
4th Generation are designs still on the drawing board or at prototype
stage. These include the Type-7, Zerstörer and other designs which look
likely to make a step up in capability over those already in service.
Chassis
The
one common denominator of the Combat Walker is that is has legs as its
main source of mobility. These are however two main types of CW chassis;
known as ‘Exos’ and ‘Pods’. Exos
are exoskeleton type designs in which the pilot stands or sits inside
the walker. The pilot controls the walker by moving his own limbs which
are slaved to the walker’s limbs. In general the pilot’s arms and legs
protrude only into the upper limbs of the walker outside the main body.
Exos are most common in Western militaries, although most Japanese designs
are also Exos. In general the Exos have a smaller profile than Pods
and are capable of more precise control; however they are notably more
tiring to operate over prolonged periods. Pods
are walkers where the pilot is enclosed entirely in the central hull
or Pod. The limbs are controlled by the pilot manipulating conventional
vehicle controls; these inputs are interpreted by the control system
and acted on by servo motors. Typically pods are more comfortable and
easier to operate and can be better armed and armoured. They are usually
larger and are capable of less precision than Exos. Powerplant CWs
require a power supply to operate, powering the drive train as well
as sensors, life support and weapons systems. The vast majority of CW
designs use internal rechargeable battery cells for their powerplant.
These can be recharged in-place although many designs have removable
cells that can be swapped out for a more rapid turn around. Current
military CW powerplants are in the 1-5kW range, or 10% or less of the
power used in the average Hover APC or half that of a Range Truck. Powerplants
are becoming increasingly powerful to cope with the additional armour,
weapons and sensors used as well as more powerful power trains. There
are other sorts of powerplants, although these are less widely used.
The Australians use a flywheel system to power their Cassowary
design. Heavier commercial walkers have been known to have more powerful
fuel cells and some racing walkers on Syuhlahm have even been known
to use MHD turbines. However these sorts of powerplants are not in common
military service, although it is rumoured the next generation of Manchurian
CWs may introduce these powerplants. Although bulkier MHD powerplants
could allow the installation of ACV style jump jets to enhance mobility.
Mobility Mobility
for CWs is obviously reliant on their legs. Powered by the powerplant
they are moved by the drive train, which is a combined drive and suspension
system including servos and shock absorbers. The advent of Beanstalk
materials technology has meant that the drive trains in third generation
walkers are becoming increasingly powerful.
The
speed of exo type walkers is constrained by the physical constraints
of the pilot. The stride is longer and so covers ground faster; however
running will tire the pilot. Most modern walkers are set up so the effort
taken to move the CW is actually less than walking normally, although
when moving across harsh terrain or when the system is damaged it can
become very tiring. The great benefit of exo type walkers is that a
human remains in the control loop and can use his own sense of balance
to aid the movement of the CW. This is especially useful when crossing
uneven ground or operating inside a city when the extra agility reveals
itself. The
speed of pod systems is limited by the power of the CW and the control
algorithms for the legs. Consequently pods are generally faster than
exos and can maintain this speed as long as the power holds out. However
the pod CW is reliant on its own sensors and control programming for
feedback to maintain balance and mobility, and most have low power LIDAR
or radar scanning the ground ahead of it. This means that pods are much
less agile and handle more like conventional vehicles. They can be particularly
sluggish in severe terrain, and boggy ground in particular can be a
bane for pods. A
small number of larger walker models have been designed with four, rather
than two legs. Generally known as spiders they have seen service as
heavy weapons platforms and are classed as pods. Four legged designs
are not seen as offering much more than conventional vehicles and so
are not common. However those that do exist are notably more powerfully
armed and better armoured than two legged CWs. Since
the introduction of CWs people have looked for ways to increase their
mobility. The main way is in adding a second movement system, most normally
wheels, for greater speed on suitable terrain. However this has not
proved particularly successful so far as the second system inevitably
increases complexity, breakdowns and power usage. Also increased speed
has proven to lead to CW instability thanks to high centres of gravity.
Recently Syuhlahm based walker manufacturers have developed a system
for pod based designs which crouch and lock in position for a much lower
CoG. This has yet to reach mainstream military CWs however. Control
CW
control systems are inevitably sophisticated and complicated, relying
on powerful computing systems regardless of whether they are for exo
or pod types. Control systems are being constantly evolved and improved
and a good CWCS can make all the difference between a mediocre and a
world leading CW design. The more advanced the CWCS the faster reacting
the CW is and the more precisely it can manoeuvre. As
well as controlling movement these electronic systems integrate sensor
and communications functions as well as weapon systems. Most walkers
have back up ROM systems to provide redundant movement capability should
the main control system be knocked out. The
fire control systems are naturally very important and combine sensor
data with weapon performance parameters. To get the best out of these
systems they must be boresighted and zeroed on a fairly regular basis.
Failure to do this will result in a decline in accuracy. In combat adjustments
can be made to ‘combat zero’ the weapon’s fall of shot, however this
is obviously far from ideal as the first few shots are the most important.
Sensors
and Communications The
enhanced combat power offered by the CW is due as much to the package
of sensors and communications that it carries as to its weapons loads.
A CW can carry sensors that are just not available to the average infantry
soldier. These include high magnification optics with thermal imaging
and image intensification, millimetre wave radar, LIDAR and many other
systems. The CW can ‘see’ far beyond the ordinary infantry and almost
as far as conventional AFVs. Similarly
communications are much enhanced with long range radio communications
systems and datalinks while some CWs can carry satellite communication
systems. Many walkers are equipped with a range of Electronic Warfare
systems such as ECM, ECCM and ESM. Each CW becomes a node in the wider
battlenet and most are set up to act as relays for nearby communications
systems. Survivability The
survivability of CWs is largely a function of their profile, agility
and armour. Although usually above 3 metres in height CWs can vary dramatically
in their signature thanks to clever design and use of masking. Much
thought is given to emission control and heat venting to reduce thermal
profile, in addition most CWs can be well camouflaged with conventional
materials. Agility
is very handy when in close combat where many of the more dexterous
CWs can dodge into cover with the ease of a, somewhat large, infantry
soldier. CWs can be much less vulnerable than conventional vehicles
when operating in close terrain. In turn pod systems can often crouch
very low to reduce signature, a factor that is useful when fighting
on the defensive in open ground from prepared positions. The pod can
‘pop up’ to a hull down position, fire and then crouch to avoid any
return fire very rapidly. CWs
have become increasingly heavily armoured. Early walkers carried little
more armour than the average infantryman. This increased on 2nd generation
CWs but still left them vulnerable to some infantry carried weapons,
while most modern designs are now vulnerable only to heavy weapons.
Current armour systems include ceramics, ballistic liners and diamond
meshes. Armour coverage concentrates on the vulnerable central hull
while lower limbs are designed with easy replacement in mind. Walkers
rarely carry supplementary appliqué armour kits due to the increase
in loading and stress this places on the chassis and drive train. However
some have been seen carrying lightweight reactive armour packs to increase
main hull protection against HEAT weapons. The
CW also enhances the survivability of the pilot by offering integral
NBC protection in addition to food, water and bodily waste disposal.
Auxiliary
Systems Most
CWs are equipped with arms which can be used either for manipulation
or as weapon mounts. Manipulation tasks require an external robotic
hand which is usually controlled by the pilot via waldo devices or control
macros on conventional controls. Arms can be heavy duty systems used
for moving heavy equipment or capable of close combat while others are
small and intend only limited use such as opening doors. Some
CWs are capable or being dropped by parachute. This can be achieved
either by placing the CW on a specially designed high impact pallet
or by having the CW equipped with hard points and reinforced lower limb
shock absorbers. Similarly
some CWs can be modified to allow scaling of vertical surfaces such
as buildings or cliffs. This usually requires the installation of load
carrying points, winches, harpoons and special foot and hand modifications.
Except for highly specialised vehicles such as the Japanese ‘spider’
this should not be undertaken without the aid of non-CW mounted climbers
or mountain leaders. Transportation
Like
humans CWs can travel significant distances on their feet alone. However
this can result in excessive tiredness for the operator as well as wear
and additional maintenance on the walkers. As a result to be completely
effective most CW units include external transportation platforms. Most
often these are simple un-armoured ‘low loaders’ which the CWs can mount
and dismount from easily. However being un-armoured they are not suitable
to take into combat environments. There
are more specialised vehicles for moving CWs into areas where direct
fire attacks are likely. These are predominantly converted Hover APCs
which have been modified with back mounted racks to allow CWs to walk
onto the APC. The CWs are usually external as getting CWs quickly inside
even large APCs can be very problematical. CWs
can be relatively easily moved by transport aircraft and even landers,
but their size makes them rather difficult to quickly embark and disembark
from conventional medium lift VTOL transports. However some transports,
like the German Vampir deep assault X-wing, have been specially designed
to embark a number of Kz-VIIs and their supporting infantry. In general
the transporting and rigging of CW for movement on aircraft is a fairly
specialist skill. When specialist vehicles have been developed this usually fixes the dimensions of the CWs for a number of generations. For example the Vampir was designed initially for the Kz-VI and the succeeding Kz-VII was developed on the same chassis. One of the problems slowing the development of the Zerstörer has been its increased size which would require modifications to the Vampir and LkPzKzTr-VII CW carriers. Direct
Fire Almost
all walkers have direct fire weapons as their main armament. Early generation
walkers tended to have only a single weapon and as infantry were the
main target these weapons were usually medium to heavy calibre machine
guns or grenade launchers. The latter system was also popular for paramilitary
walkers as it allowed the firing of riot gas and baton rounds for crowd
control. The
Manchurians were first to introduce more advanced weaponry installing
Type-62 20mm Storm Guns on their Type-3 CWs. The success of these weapons
would ultimately lead to the short lived adoption of man portable Storm
Guns. The Type-62 gave the first dual role armament effective against
infantry and light vehicles at extended ranges. Plasma
weapons were the next step forward in CW weaponry coming in during the
Central Asian War. Originally in the 10-20MW power range these systems
were initially relatively unreliable and offered little increase in
performance over more conventional systems. However rapid wartime experimentation
meant that by the end plasma weapons were recognised as the primary
weapon system for combat walkers. The
first of the 3rd Generation walkers the Kz-VII brought in the current
fashion for carrying multiple weapon systems in addition to pioneering
a laser armament. Lasers were originally shunned by designers as they
would impose a heavy drain on the walker’s power supply. However with
more advanced models available and main armament becoming increasingly
powerful there was a niche for an accurate precision weapon as a secondary
weapon. However lasers have yet to achieve universal acceptance, with
some nations preferring to retain machine guns for suppressive effect.
The
current standard of weapons is for a plasma gun in the 20-30MW power
range as the main armament for engaging armoured targets or fortifications.
Secondary weapons are generally either lasers, machine guns or grenade
launchers for suppression of infantry. However there are a number of
countries who have more idiosyncratic weapon mixes. Weapon
mountings vary with the chassis type. Exo walkers usually carry weapons
on their arms or on the shoulder. Arm mounted weapons have a better
arc of fire but shoulder mounts are more stable and are better for heavy
weapons. Pod walkers can mount weapons is a turret on the top of the
hull, providing excellent arcs of fire. Other mounts can be on the ‘chin’
of the walker or arm mounted if the arms are robust enough, which is
not always the case with pod walkers. Guided
Weapons Guided
weapons have been frequently used on CWs to increase their versatility
and the range of targets that can be engaged. For several years these
were usually wartime expedient modifications but increasingly they are
an integral part of the weapon system. Fixed
rocket pods were popular during the 60s and 70s as a method of providing
increased firepower capable of taking on heavy targets over a short
duration. These unguided rockets were usually in the 60-90mm calibre
range fired from packs of 4-8 rockets although larger, single shot rockets
were available. The main limitation was accuracy as the pods were usually
fixed to the main hull and aiming was often problematical. As more versatile
weapons came into service rockets were phased out. Infantry
guided LAWs were also popular early additions. Although relatively short
ranged they could be easily integrated into the CW’s combat system and
were cheap and readily available. These have largely been replaced with
dedicated anti-tank guided weapons with greater reach and punch. It
is usual for these weapons to be mounted on specially modified fire
support walkers or with 3rd Generation CWs in specialist weapon packs.
Lastly
anti-aircraft missiles have also been known to be carried, although
these are very much specialist walkers. Almost uniquely the Japanese
Ground Forces uses the Type-5 Air Defence Walker for its dedicated short-range
air defence units in combination with conventional vehicles.
Indirect
Fire Indirect
fire weapons are not commonly used with CWs. In general only those equipped
with grenade launchers are capable of short range indirect fire. There
have been some CWs modified to carry light and medium automatic mortars,
however the high centre of gravity means the walker must be stationary
and crouched to fire these effectively. The CW also doesn’t carry sufficient
ammunition to be an effective mortar platform, although some nations
do have specialist CW mortar carriers. Auxiliary
Weapons In
addition to the weapons mentioned above some walkers have additional
systems. These include smoke grenade launchers, smoke generators and
anti-personnel mines attached to the hull for close combat. Paramilitary
walkers have been known to be equipped with electrified hulls and sonic
stunners to assist in riot control. Walkers
with hands can also carry additional weapons, including conventional
infantry weapons if the hands are of the correct dimension. Hand carried
weapons pods have been a feature of the Kafer War but have not gained
widespread acceptance. Due to the relatively unsecured mounting they
lack accuracy and are difficult to effectively tie into the combat system.
However area weapons, such as flame thrower packs, have proved useful
on occasion. Close combat weapons such as batons, staffs and even edged weapons can also be used, but these weapons are usually ad-hoc additions grabbed in the course of battle. One exception are the ‘tiger claws’ used by the Armoured Commando on Crater in close combat with Kafer infantrymen, but even these are of dubious effectiveness and used more to enhance the unit’s media image. Infantry
Support For
most operators the raison d’être of the CW is to support the
infantry soldier. In many ways a similar role to the original Tanks
of World War 1, to operate in close proximity to the infantry and provide
them with intimate fire support. CWs are able to bring a high volume
of fire on to any target holding up the infantry advance. Similarly
in a retreat CWs are able to put down accurate fire and move quickly
from position to position. In
essence in the infantry support role CWs are fire support platforms.
They will generally not close completely with the enemy but leave it
to the infantry to clear the actual positions. The CWs also have an
advantage with their height which enables them in many cases to fire
over the heads of the infantry being supported. Generally the CWs will
be at least one ‘tactical bound’, a distance dependent on the ground
and situation, behind the lead platoon. CWs
are not ideal for all infantry support tasks. Mechanised and hovermobile
infantry generally get very close to enemy positions before debussing
and rely on the fire support from their APCs, supporting AFVs and artillery.
In this sort of organisation CWs are of marginal value, not least as
they are quite difficult to move and debuss from AFVs. Light infantry
on the other hand, lacking a large scale of AFV support and relying
on the weapons and ammunition they are able to carry, can gain much
from the presence of CWs. Not only can CWs provide fire support and
excellent sensors, but they can also being forward ammunition for the
infantry and also bring casualties away.
The
actual organisation of CWs in the infantry support role varies significantly
from army to army. Some users of CWs such as the French and Manchurians
use CWs organised into discrete battalion sized units. Other forces
include CWs as a part of their fire support assets integrated into a
battalion organisation. Finally there are a few that have CWs integrated
down to the lowest levels of company, platoon or even squad in a few
circumstances. The
level at which CWs are organised has some effects on the way they are
tactically deployed. CWs integrated at a lower level tend to be handled
in a way that is more efficient for minor combined attacks. Organisation
at a higher level allows the CWs to be more easily massed and applied
at the point of ‘main effort’ for operations. In
any event the basic operational unit of the CW is the pair or binom,
two walkers operating together as ‘wingmen’. Higher formations such
as the squad, platoon or company vary between armies. For example a
British CW platoon is roughly the same size as a French CW company.
Assault
and Raiding As
well as routine infantry support duties CWs can be utilised in assault
and raiding operations. In these the CW’s mobility, armour and firepower
are combined to spearhead attacks on key enemy locations. Missions of
these kinds require superior troops to be successful as well as detailed
reconnaissance, planning and preparation. They are often marked by heavy
casualties; either on the defenders part if the mission goes well or
on the part of the attackers if things go badly. The
French have specialised in using CWs in raids behind enemy lines and
have carried out these missions against Manchurian, German and Kafer
forces. Many commentators have questioned the utility of the somewhat
ponderous BH-21 in this role; however the crack French troops assigned
to this role have managed so far to overcome the limitations of their
machines while waiting anxiously for the new BH-25s. The
Germans on the other hand have used some CWs in the assault role as
part of their ‘Sturmtaktiken’ approach. CWs usually form the second
wave of any assault to follow up the lead assault troops and provide
a counter-attack reserve. Manchurians also have been known to use large
numbers of CWs to spearhead attacks in broken terrain, in the CAW sometimes
up to 200 CWs were massed against Allied defences. CWs
used in the raiding role are often deployed from air or through the
interface, in the later case either by lander or by dead drop capsule.
In the former case CWs are often para dropped as most tilt-rotor transports
are too small to carry significant numbers of CWs which are difficult
to load and unload. Urban
Operations CWs
are ideal for urban operations. They have the agility to operate in
tight urban spaces, carry sensors needed to pick out concealed enemies
and the weaponry needed to destroy them. However CWs are in turn vulnerable
to attacks if not protected by infantry, and urban operations are very
much a combined arms environment. The CW is not only a good fire support
platform but can also perform as an excellent 'door knocker' to aid
the entry of infantry teams into buildings, being able to kick in walls
or even as an impromptu assault ladder. Hostile
Environments CWs
also perform well in hostile environments and on worlds with differing
gravity levels, although some calibration is required for total mobility.
The most notable example of this has been British CW operations on Crater
where CWs have been used almost in the conventional infantry role. The
use of CWs in space should also be noted. In these cases CWs have stepped
beyond the limitations of their normal infantry support remit. Riot
Control Internal
security or riot control duties are not particularly enjoyed by soldiers
but they can be often called upon to perform them. CWs can prove very
useful in giving focus to the baseline as well as providing useable
firepower if equipped with tear gas and baton round dispensers. They
can also be used to break up demonstrations if used with care, if care
is not used people can be killed very easily. However foot soldiers
like the reassuring presence of CWs in the baseline if only because
they draw most of the stones and Molotov cocktails that would otherwise
be thrown at them. Paramilitary walkers are properly equipped for these
missions but military walkers can often be called out to support them.
Special
Operations Special
forces have been relatively slow to bring CWs into their organisations
and many feel cumbersome walkers have little to bring on covert missions.
However some have found that certain missions are suitable for CWs,
such as support to counter-terrorist missions which could involve point
attacks, in support of isolated units such as pathfinders and as Quick
Reaction Forces. CWs in this role are very much cutting edge designs
deployed in a limited fashion in support of operators on the ground.
There
are a myriad of different orders of battle for combat walkers, the following
is just a small sample. While the army is usually the main user of CWs
other services often have numbers of walkers in the security role. Manchuria Manchuria
is by far the largest user of combat walkers, which are commonplace
in the military and police across Manchuria and its colonies. French
intelligence estimates 10000 CWs in frontline units as an absolute minimum,
some analysts put their top limit at five times that number. Many of
these are, however, deployed for internal security duties. In
the army CWs form their own ‘Armoured Infantry’ branch in both the Banner
Army and Green Standard People’s Army. The main organisation is the
niru a formation commanded by a ‘Major’ and halfway between a
company and battalion. The
typical CW niru contains 50 CWs. It has a two CW HQ and four
12 CW platoons as well as support elements. The platoons are divided
into three 4 CW squads, one of which is commanded by the platoon commander.
The Manchurian system includes a vast array of modifications of this
basic system and it is not unusual for infantry or AFV platoons to be
included in nominally CW niru. Similarly CW platoons can be task
organised into other sub-units. The
highest recognised CW formation is the Regiment which can include 10-15
combat niru of various organisations. The regiment can then organise
ad-hoc operational groupings of around battalion strength for different
missions. For example the famed 621st Infantry Regiment had 9 CW, 1
reconnaissance, 3 mechanised infantry and 2 heavy mortar niru.
France
French
army combat walkers are generally organised at the battalion level and
are considered as being part of the infantry. There are French navy,
airforce and space navy CWs but these are organised at lower levels
than the battalion and are generally used for security purposes. Officially
part of the army the Gendarmerie Nationale has a number of CW units
for public order and special operations support tasks. The
typical French CW battalion has no fewer than 125 CWs, of which 25 are
held in reserve as replacements for casualties. The battalion has four
CW companies, each with 24 walkers, broken into two platoons and a HQ.
Each platoon has 10 walkers, organised into 2 squads of four and a HQ
of two. The lowest level is the two walker binom. In addition
to the CW companies the battalion includes a command and support company
to get the best out of the walkers. Army
CW battalions can be found in a range of formations, from crack light
units of the FAR and TIS, to high intensity warfare specialists in the
Armée de Manœuvre’s Divisions Blindée, through to soldiers in the Divisions
d’Infanterie of France’s regional armies. The frontline army CW strength
is in excess of 6000 walkers deployed across the Empire. Germany
The
deployment of CWs within the Bundeswehr is still in a state of flux.
Prior to the Reunification only Bavaria and Westphalia had a significant
CW programme, with the Bavarians using CWs in expeditionary units and
the Westphalians concentrating them in urban combat units. Today the
Bundeswehr has CW units in its crack light infantry units and Sturmtaktiken
formations. The Bavarian and Westphalian State Armies also retain their
CWs, a decision to equip other State Armies with CWs has yet to be taken.
The Wachregiment Berlin, however, has some CWs for ceremonial purposes.
All
Gefectspanzergrenadier and Gebirgsjäger units as well as the Jäger units
of IX Korps share the same CW organisation. Each battalion has a Kampfanzugjäger
platoon which is a combined arms formation in its own right. Each platoon
has fours sections comprising eight teams, and each team comprises two
CWs and four foot infantrymen. There is a two CW HQ making a total of
18 walkers and 36 infantry. The inclusion of foot soldiers can somewhat
reduce the mobility of the walkers action en-masse but means the platoons
are very well coordinated and practised in drills. Luftangriff
and Fallschirmjäger units have a Kampfanzugjäger platoon assigned to
each company group as close support assets. Lastly infantry units assigned
to heavy Panzer brigades have two CW-Infantry platoons assigned to each
battalion’s fire support company. The Wachregiment Berlin has three
pure CW platoons each of 18 walkers, these are older Kz-VIs are maintained
in a superb state of repair and turn out. The
Jäger battalions of the Westphalian and Bavarian State Armies have more
conventionally organised platoons, as these are largely reserve formations.
They have just 18 CW assigned to work with infantry on an ad-hoc basis.
Some of the Westphalian units have only just replaced their BH-21s with
surplus Kz-VIs. In total there are some 1600 CWs in service with the
Bundeswehr. Britain Britain
was a relative newcomer to the use of combat walkers, gaining its first
units only in the mid 2290s. Britain has a conservative approach to
CW employment using them primarily in the infantry support role, however
its capable Bowman walkers have done well against the Kafers and CWs
are expected to become more important in the years to come. Currently
the regular British Army, excluding colonial forces, and Royal Marines
have just under 700 CWs. British
light role infantry battalions have a CW platoon integrated into their
Support Companies, although in practise these are dispersed in support
of the rifle companies. A British CW platoon has 24 walkers, with four
6 CW sections of which one is the HQ Section. The
British have only recently experimented with larger scale organisations,
first with an OPFOR company of three platoons and then with the Provisional
Battlegroup on Crater which had no fewer than eight platoons in three
companies. In response to the success of CWs on the French Arm a brigade
of Territorial reservists is forming in Britain comprising four battalions
each. This will ultimately add almost 900 CWs to the total, but with
the Kafer War on going supplies of CWs are growing only very slowly.
Brazil
Brazil’s
Army CWs are, somewhat unusually, a part of the cavalry arm rather than
the infantry and are designated Dragões Blindados, or Armoured Dragoons. Brazilian experience with CWs has been driven
by the experience in the 3rd Rio Plato War when many CWs were committed
to action in the Amazon and others saw action on the southern front
against the Argentines. Neither experience was an entirely happy one,
while proving of some use in the Amazon reliability was frankly appalling,
especially in comparison with Cantonese experience. Against the Argentines
the then current CWs proved of little use against the Argentine blitzkrieg
and were regularly outclassed by Argentine CWs when they came into contact.
Consequently
the Dragões Blindados have concentrated on achieving three main aims;
achieving reliability, developing tactical methods for the defeat of
hovertanks and achieving a 1-on-1 superiority over their Argentine rivals.
The first has been gained by a relatively conservative procurement policy
and concentration on evolution of existing systems rather than the development
of bleeding edge designs. The second two aims have led to the establishment
of two tactical courses of international renown within the Centro de
Instrução de Dragões Blindados; the Curso de Tática ‘Forcado’ and Curso
de Tática ‘Centauro’. Tactical
deployment of CWs in Brazilian service is relatively conventional and
on a large scale. All light and medium role brigades have a CW regiment
attached, these units have a mixture of license built BH-21 ‘Zumbis’
and Mitsuboshi Jikishidans ‘Dendaras’. The Brazilians use a system similar
to the French with 24 CWs in a squadron, with medium units there are
only three squadrons making up a regiment whereas light units have four
squadrons. All regiments have two squadrons of Zumbis and either one
or two of the heavier Dendaras. There is also a full regiment assigned
to the support of the Cacadores Para-quedista although there have been
rumours that the Dragões Blindados are pushing for a stand alone CW
special forces unit. Training
for Combat Walker pilots varies from armed force to armed force. Some
regard combat walkers as a separate arm of service while others treat
them as specialist branches of existing arms such as the infantry or
cavalry. Typically
however CW pilots will undertake basic training similar in most ways
to every other soldier who joins the military. They will then be taught
CW operations as ‘special to arm’ or ‘military occupation speciality’
training. This training will produce soldiers who are competent to operate,
maintain and fight a CW at a basic level sufficient for most forces.
More advanced training is then conducted inside the unit and on courses.
Some
military forces insist that their CW pilots must already be qualified
and trained infantry soldiers before being trained in CWs. Forces that
take this approach include the French Troupes de Marines, US Marines
and British Army and Royal Marines. This approach generally develops
soldiers with much greater awareness of combined arms problems and experience,
but who are usually less technically adept than the pure CW specialist.
Almost
all nations have a series of centralised courses to develop doctrine,
examine technical problems and spread best practise. However each nation
tends to concentrate on slightly different aspects of combat operations.
The Brazilian ‘Forcado’ course stresses anti-hovertank operations, the
American ‘Gunfighter’ pure tactical awareness in the CW on CW battle
while the German Kampfanzugjäger Schule teaches the combined arms approach
to anti-CW operations. Simulation plays a key part in training for CW operators allowing a great deal of systems related work to be done cheaply and efficiently. However like their infantry counterparts there simply is a lot of training that can only be done out on the ground. For many reservist CW pilots there are plenty of commercial CW games available that rival anything the military can provide. Indeed the US Army is still slightly embarrassed that the highest scoring pair of pilots ever to go through ‘Gunfighter’ were Sergeants Juan Jones and Benjamin Smith, two unemployed, overweight and socially challenged CW pilots from the Illinois National Guard. Modestly Smith and Jones credited their success to long hours playing the popular game ‘Walking Death: BH-21, Tanstaafl Thunder’. 621st
Infantry Regiment The
621st Infantry Regiment is part of the Manchurian 62nd Infantry Division
recruited from the colony of Quanti on Syuhlahm. Syuhlahm is a world
where walkers have taken over many of the roles of conventional vehicles
and are very common. When the Central Asian War broke out the 621st
Regiment was chosen to fight on Earth and was reorganised as a combined
infantry-CW strike unit. Equipped with the then standard Type-4 the
innovative colonials soon modified these walkers to more potent configurations.
The
621st didn’t see action until 2283 but soon made a significant impact.
The battalions of the 621st operated independently along the front and
gained a reputation as always being where the fighting was hottest.
If they lacked the fanaticism of the Han Shan colonials the 621st were
famous for their professionalism. The French paid them the ultimate
compliment of dispatching their own crack RPIMa CW units to counter
the 621st whenever they appeared in the line. Two battalion groups of
the regiment were the Manchurian spearhead at the Battle of Omsk. After
the war the 621st returned to Syuhlahm to great acclaim. The regiment
is still in existence and has become a centre of excellence for Combat
Walker operations on the Chinese Arm. There was some thought given to
sending elements of the regiment to fight against the Kafer War on the
French Arm but this has not yet occurred. I
Bataillon 8e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine The
I/8e RPIMa were one of the first French battalions to convert to the
operation of CWs. Professional soldiers of the Troupes de Marine, they
quickly mastered their new role and fought throughout the Central Asian
War even when their parent Division wasn’t deployed to the CAR. The
RPIMa CW battalions were among the few Allied CW units who could live
with the cream of the Manchurian forces. After
the war I/8e RPIMa were assigned to the new Troupes d’Intervention Spatial
who were assigned the colonial troubleshooting role. They took part
in a number of raids on Bavarian/German colonies on the French Arm during
the war with German in the early ’90s handily enhancing their reputation.
They were dispatched to Aurore in 2298 in response to the Kafer invasion
and were the first French CW unit in action against the Kafers. After
two years on Aurore the battalion was returned to Earth where it took
on the responsibility of being the first French CW unit to convert to
the new BH-25 walker which it then took into action on Kimanjano. I/8e
RPIMa are a hard, highly professional unit with decades of CW experience.
The
Armoured Commando The
arid, dusty world of Crater and with its beating sun and thin air proved
an excellent theatre of operations for CWs. The British used CWs in
large numbers in mopping up Kafer forces on the Dayside following the
liberation. They were grouped into the ‘Provisional Battlegroup’ including
platoons from several units. When the British redeployed their forces
they raised a new CW unit of seconded British personnel, contract mercenaries
and local Craterans known as the Armoured Commando. The
Armoured Commando quickly learned its trade, matured as a unit and began
to get the best out of its second hand Bowman CWs. The commando is a
flamboyant unit which is frequently in action against the Kafers remaining
in concealed strongholds in the Dayside. It has six combat Troops with
a total of around 150 CWs, a substantial grouping of combat power. The
commando has evolved some innovative techniques and tactics for operations
in this harsh environment. Left
Wing Armoured Infantry Company, Banner Guides Corps The
Manchurians have by far the most numerous CW force of any nation with
the DGSE estimating a force numbering into the tens of thousands of
walkers. Many of these are operated by the Banner Army as well as the
regular Green Standard People’s Army, but perhaps the pinnacle of this
force is the two Niru of combat walkers of the elite Guides.
These soldiers of the Guides are handpicked from the wider Banner community
and provide the Banners with an elite light infantry strike force. The
Left Wing Company provided raiding forces for assaults on French political
and commercial interests on the Chinese Arm. It is also rumoured that
the Left Wing provided a team for covert action on Elysia in support
of the rebels but this team was intercepted by French special forces.
In the last year of the Central Asian War the Left Wing undertook several
daring raids deep inside Russia which were successful but at the cost
of their almost total destruction. The
Left Wing and their colleagues in the Right Wing, remain a shadowy but
very highly respected part of the Manchurian CW community. They are
at the forefront of small unit tactical development and are called upon
to test much of the new equipment being developed. It is rumoured that
the 50 walkers used by the Left Wing are the most advanced anywhere,
surpassing even ultra-modern Japanese designs. Kampfanzugjäger
Schule The
Bavarians had a rather shocking introduction to CW warfare in the Central
Asian War. Their walkers and doctrine were far outclassed by their French
allies and Manchurian opponents. In response the Bavarians developed
a tactical doctrine that revolved around an integral combined arms approach
at small unit level to counter Manchurian CWs. Following the war this
approach was formalised with the establishment of the Kampfanzugjäger
Schule near Neustadt on the Danube. Unlike the American Army’s ‘Gunfighter’ programme which concentrates almost entirely on CW vs CW engagements, the Kampfanzugjäger Schule is open to students from all arms not just CW pilots. Students are shown the strengths and weaknesses of CWs in theoretical and practical exercises. Attendance at the school is aimed at junior leaders and is highly prestigious. While Germany now has some excellent CWs, the school is credited as being responsible for Germany’s success against French walkers during the war. The
CW has always had a profile much greater than it perhaps it warrants
by its military significance. The nature of the weapon system has meant
that media and PR are more than willing to profile the equipment and
its pilots in great detail. Even though the CW is a weapon best used
in combination with other arms there is great interest in the relatively
few walker-on-walker actions that occur. CW
Aces are routinely lionised in the popular media and can go on to have
successful media careers outside of the military. Some on-line military
affairs forums are often dominated by juvenile ‘who is a better ace’
conversations. |