Exército Português: 2300

By James Boschma


Introduction
Narrative
Order of Battle
Organization and Key Units
Selected Battalion TO&Es
Personnel and Rank Structure
Equipment
    Uniforms
    Small Arms
    Support Weapons
    Armored Fighting Vehicles
 

INTRODUCTION

Brazil's gateway to Europe, Portugal enjoys an extremely close military alliance with the South American power.  Though small, Portugal's army is well equipped, well trained, and battle proven during Portugal's support of Brazil during the various Rio Plata Wars of the 23rd century.

NARRATIVE

2 Kilometers West of Brazilian-Inca Republic Border,
Provincia Amazonas del Sul, Inca Republic
1120 Hours, 19 November 2297

The Incan convoy was a hodge-podge of military and civilian vehicles, almost all widly ragged, bright civilian paint schemes and Argentine military gray both crudely over-sprayed with the mustard and olive paint scheme favored by the Inca military.  The convoy dragged itself slowly down the jungle track, soldiers in mirrored sunglasses manning machineguns and grenade launchers atop their vehicles, engine noises punctuated by splashes and the whine of spinning tires as the trucks and jeeps wove from mudhole to mudhole in what passed for a military road in Amazonas.

Four hundred meters away, out in the dense jungle, Cabo Primeiro Manuel Leitão lay out of sight in a hide built into the exposed root network of a massive rainforest tree, watching the convoy on a flat screen monitor linked to a pair of concealed remote cameras.  While his four-man squad of caçadores from Reconnaissance Platoon, 1st Para-Caçadore Battalion, maintained all-around security, Leitão spoke into the sound-activated boom mike of his communications rig, transmitting over the fiber optic land line running through the jungle parallel to the road.

"Movement vicinity Alpha Zero Three.  Six heavy , four light trucks.  Time one-one-two-one."

Two clicks answered his transmission from the sniper team at the other end of the land line.  Message received.

Leitão's fingers moved over the flat screen, zooming the view on the middle of the convoy.  The central range truck, an Argentine Gen. Pacheco National Automobile Works 2294 "Gaucho" model, was not nearly as battered as the rest of the convoy's vehicles, nor was its racing green paint job marred by Inca camouflage.  Leitão could make out the placard next to the left headlight bearing the six gold bars of an Incan colonel.  Zooming a bit more, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the vehicle's passenger, enough to postively identify him.  The intelligence sent down from Comando de Operaciones Especiais in Manaus seemed to be right for once.

He spoke into the boom mike again.  "Identified.  'Carniceiro' in fifth vehicle in column.  Dark green Gaucho."

Two more clicks came back.

It was believed that the local border guards brigade commander, Coronel Auqui-Huaman (whom Brazilian intelligence knew before the revolution as Sargento Segundo Hector Lopez, Peruvian Army deserter and sometimes gun runner), had given direct orders for the sniping and periodic mortar attacks that had greeted the 1st Para-Caçadores as soon as they rotated onto the border, killing one and wounding three others over the course of the past three weeks.  If not, well, the inhabitants of the refugee favela ringing  the battalion's base camp maintained "Auqui-Huaman" was a collector of ears, a practice dating back to his part in the "National Rebirth" purges in Cuzco right after the revolution.

The convoy was moving past his first remote observation post.  Leitão powered up his third and fourth cameras, further down the road.  As the convoy crossed his next reference point, Leitão transmitted again, "Alpha Zero Two.  Slant ten. Time one-one-three-four."

Two more clicks.  The target now belonged to the sniper team waiting two kilometers away.  Leitão's signaled for his men to begin to leave their position.  As two personnel continued to maintain security, another two began preparing Indochinese Type 60 off-route anti-vehicle mines of the sort favored by the Popular Front for Andean Liberation.  The Inca Army was critically short on nuclear quadropole resonance sniffers and qualified operators, so, perhaps they might manage to catch the quick reaction force from the nearby garrison.

"Engaging."  It was the first voice communication from the sniper team since they'd established and tested the land line nineteen hours earlier.  Leitão did not hear the shot, but there was no reason to think he would; the Modelo 93 gauss sniper rifle was a very quiet weapon, especially down in the forest.  He quickly signaled his men to emplace the mines.  The clock was running now, and the safety of the border was still two kilometers of jungle away.

INDEX
 

ORDER OF BATTLE

Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção (BPI) [HQ: Lisbon]
    1o Batalhão de Caçadores Especiais
    1o Batalhão de Caçadores Pára-quedista1
    2o Batalhão de Caçadores Pára-quedista2
    3o Batalhão de Caçadores Pára-quedista
    3o Regimento de Cavalaria Pára-quedista (-)3
    3o Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha

Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais (DFN) [HQ: Lisbon]
    1o Batalhão de Fuzileiros Navais
    2o Batalhão de Fuzileiros Navais5
    Companhia de Reconhecimento e Accoes Especias (CRAE)

1a Divisão Português (DPOR) [HQ: Barreiro]
    1a Brigada Mecanizada [HQ: Beja]
        1o Regimento de Carros de Combate
        3o Batalhão de Infantaria Mecanizada
        4o Batalhão de Infantaria Mecanizada
        2o Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha
    2a Brigada Blindada [HQ: Viana do Castelo]
        2o Regimento Blindado
        3o Regimento de Carros de Combate
        10o Batalhão de Infantaria Mecanizada
        1o Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha
    3a Brigada Ligeira [HQ: Castelo Branca]
        5o Batalhão de Infantaria Ligeira
        6o Batalhão de Infantaria Ligeira
        7o Batalhão de Infantaria Ligeira [Azores]
        5o Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha
    1o Regimento de Cavalaria Reconhecimento
    4o Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha (Misil)

2a Divisão de Guarda Voluntária (2 DGV) [HQ: Coimbra]
    4a Brigada Mecanizada
    6a Brigada Ligeira
    4o Regimento de Cavalaria Reconhecimento

3a Divisão de Guarda Voluntária (3 DGV) [HQ: Beja]
    5a Brigada Ligeira
    7a Brigada Mecanizada
    9a Brigada Ligeira [Azores]
    2o Regimento de Cavalaria Reconhecimento

ORBAT NOTES:

  • 1.) 1o Batalhão de Cacadores Pára-quedista detached from the BPI for peacekeeping service in the Central Asian Republic.
  • 2.) 2o Batalhão de Cacadores Pára-quedista detached from BPI for service with the Brazilian military's Brigada Expedição (Divisão Expedição after 1 September 2303)in the French Arm.
  • 3.) 3o Regimento de Cavalaria Paraquedista has two of its light squadrons detached, one supporting 1 BCP in Central Asia and another supporting 2 BCP in the French Arm.
  • 4.) Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais is under the control of the Marinha Portuguesa.
  • 5.) 2o Batalhão de Fuzileiros Navais, circa 2303, on forces exchange with the Brazilian Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais do Brasil) serving in the 'Zona de Quillombo' along the Inca Republic border.  The unit's place taken in Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais by 21o Batalhão de Fuzileiros Navais, Brazilian Marine Corps.

ORGANIZATION AND KEY UNITS

The Exército Português is a small, professional organization, consisting of a single division and a seperate rapid-deployment brigade, augmented on mobilization by the two reserve divisions of the Guarda Voluntária.  In addition to these units, the Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) maintains a division of marines (actually a smallish brigade) whose missions often overlap with the army's rapid-deployment brigade.  In practice, the army has little experience with division-level or larger operations, and most emphasis is placed on brigade and battalion operations, at which the Exército is quite competent.

Under the current Portuguese constitution, the Exército is divided into two sub-establishments, the Territorial Defense Command, or CDT (Comando de Defesa Territória) , and the Foreign Intervention Command, or CIE (Comando de Intervenção Estrangeiro, though sometimes known informally as Comando Verde referencing the distinctive headgear worn by the CIE's component units).  The former includes all active and reserve army units except for the Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção; units of the CDT are barred from deployment outside Portugal's borders except under extraordinary circumstances, requiring parliamentary ratification of a presidential declaration of emergency.  This provision was side-stepped during the 3rd Rio Plata War by the transfer of volunteer battalions from the CDT to the CIE, a loop-hole which has been deliberately left within the current Portuguese constitution.  There are no restrictions whatsoever on deployment of CIE units, many of which spend more time in Brazil than they do in Portugal (the navy's Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais is not a part of the CIE, but parallel legislation exists placing it in the same category for deployment purposes).  Besides the difference in deployment policies, CIE personnel are also subject to a seperate, higher pay scale, and units receive the lion's share of funds for training, new equipment, etc (as might be expected, this engenders no small amount of friction with the CDT).

In addition to the chain of command depicted on the order of battle above, the army is also divided into various administrative corps which are responsible for recruiting, career management, and the like for different segments of the army.  For instance, the Corpo de Caçadores Pára-quedista (CCP) fills this role for personnel in the parachute infantry and special forces battalions of the CIE, while Corpo de Tropas Combate does the same for armored, cavalry, mechanized infantry and tank units in both the CDT and CIE (light infantry are a seperate Corpo de Infantaria Ligeira).  Besides combat arms corps, there are various support and service corps as well.

Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção (BPI)

Immediately recognizable by their green berets (boinas verdes) and their brown dress uniform tunics, the troops of the Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção are the expeditionary component of the Exército Português.  With a busy deployment and training schedule, many units of the brigade spend more time outside Portugal's borders than within, and the brigade maintains a permanent forward headquarters element at Porto Velho in western Brazil.  The BPI consists of three light infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, and a light cavalry regiment, all qualified for airborne and airmobile operations.  Typically, at least one battalion of the brigade is on forces exchange to the Exército Brasileiro at any given time, and it is not uncommon for the unit to dispatch troops to regions where a Brazilian presence would be deemed provocative in international affairs.

Prior to 2301, the brigade had only two infantry battalions, but as part of the general war scare which gripped Earth during the Kafer invasion, the Portuguese parliament authorized the transfer of a battalion's worth of personnel alotments and funding from the Divisão Português to the BPI to meet possible deployment requirements with Brazilian or international forces.  Currently (ca. 2303) this additional battalion, the 3rd, has just completed "standing up" and is prepared for service, though it is currently stationed at the brigade's barracks outside Lisbon in a reserve role.  In the meantime, the brigade's two other battalions are actively deployed, one as part of the international Treaty of Fremantle Force in Central Asia and the other with American and Brazilian forces in the French Arm.

In addition to the brigade's component battalions, it also includes an anti-tank company (Companhia Anticarro), a combat engineer company (Companhia de Engenharia), an air defense battery (Bateria de Artilharia Antiaérea) and a support and logistics battalion (Batalhão de Apoio e Serviços).  Standard Portuguese brigades would also include a reconnaissance squadron (Esquadrão de Reconhecimento), though in the BPI this task is carried out by the three light squadrons of the 3o Regimento de Cavalaria Pára-quedista.

Finally, the BPI is also the adminstrative headquarters for 1o Batalhão de Caçadores Especiais (1 BCE), the army's special operations unit.  The battalion is organized into four small companies (eighty personnel authorized, including twenty non-operational support personnel) further broken down into three twenty-man platoons (Pelotão).  Tasking and deployments are conducted by platoons, and involve (among other possibilities) foreign exchange or training  with the Exército Brasileiro or other friendly foreign nations, serving as the military's Força de Ação Rápida ("rapid action force;" a  counter-terrorism and law enforcement support missions, though crisis deployment outside Portugal's borders is also a potential tasking), as well as in-country training, etc.  Platoons serving with the Brazilian military often deploy off-Earth to Tirane or other Brazilian colonies and outposts.  Circa 2303, 1 BCE's entire second company is on foreign exchange with Brazilian and allied forces in the French Arm.


Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais (DFN)

The Portuguese Navy's equivalent of the BPI, the Divisão de Fuzileiros Navais, like its army counterpart, has a very busy training and operational tempo, with the two organizations often switching off on foreign deployment commitments and other special missions.  Though trained primarily for maritime and coastal raiding missions at the platoon and company level, the DFN's two battalions also endure periodic postings to the Brazilian-Incan border, and the low-intensity combat experience that entails.  Besides a close working relationship with the Brazilian Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais (CFNB), the DFN also trains frequently with the United States Marine Corps and in the South Atlantic with the British Royal Marines, and has an excellent reputation for professionalism.

Besides two infantry battalions, the division includes a Reconnaissance and Special Action Company (CRAE), composed of three platoons.  Two, each of twenty-four men, are trained and equipped for the usual range of maritime special operations (i.e. beach reconnaissance, offshore platform seizures, conventional diving operations, etc.).  The third, of fifteen men, is equipped with Brazilian designed CN-94 combat swimmer vehicles and trained for deep water special missions.

1o Divisão Português

The main component of Portugal's defense establishment, 1st Portuguese Division is a combined arms organization made up of armored, mechanized infantry, and light infantry manuever brigades supported by a cavalry reconnaissance regiment and a battalion of heavy surface-to-surface missile artillery.  Barred from foreign deployment and paid at a lower scale than the Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção, the division has an unfortunate tendency to lose its best personnel to the BPI, a situation most notable in infantry formations.  The one time in the last two centuries when 1st Division troops did serve in combat, during the late stages of the 3rd Rio Plata War, it was in "volunteer battalions" transferred to the BPI as a polite fiction for domestic politics, a fact that rankles many professional soldiers in the unit's ranks.  The division is manned at or near full strength.

Besides the bulk of its forces located in Portugal proper, the division is also responsible for garrisoning the Azores, maintaining a light infantry battalion, an artillery battery, and an anti-aircraft battery, split between bases on São Miguel and Teceira islands.

Guarda Voluntária

The Guarda Voluntária is the army's reserve component, made up of former members of the active military or volunteers who enter directly into the Guarda.  The organization consists of two divisions; 2nd Division, headquartered at Coimbra, has sub-units scattered across northern Portugal, while 3rd Division has units in the south (including an small brigade based in the Azores).  The Tagus river is the general dividing line between the two divisions.

Most Guarda units are generally manned at 110-120% their authorized strength, but only about a a third of this manpower actively drills with the unit at monthly and annual training assemblies, with the remainder only responsible for semi-annual two-day refresher training.  As such, the Guarda would require some time to fully mobilize (officially units are allotted 90 days to do so, though 180 days is probably a more realistic figure), though each division could assemble a functional brigade battle group in a true emergency (this possibility was explored during the invasion scare in 2302, though Portugal was not one of the nations to mobilize their reserves).

While there is no reserve portion of the CIE, a program exists allowing Guarda members to volunteer for service as individual replacements or augmentees for CIE units (provided their parent unit does not require them for general mobilization).  Approximately 10% of the active portion of the Guarda are members of this program, and it is typical for a small number of reservists to deploy with any CIE unit going overseas.

INDEX
 

Selected Battalion TO&Es

Armored Regiment (Regimento de Carros de Combate and Regimento Blindado)

The three active and two reserve tank (carros de combate) or armored (blindado) regiments of the army are all CDT units, organized into a headquarters company (including air defense, mortar, and reconnaissance platoons plus an infantry platoon to secure the headquaters and battalion trains), three tank companies (each of thirteen ACC-20 hovertanks), and a mechanized infantry company of thirteen HCI-9 hover APCs (which is organized identically to those found in mechanized battalions).  The specialist platoons (air defense, etc) are all of four vehicles, using various derivatives of the HCI-9.

It is typical for armored regiments to exchange companies with mechanized infantry units and/or have brigade assets attached to them to form mission-specific task forces (agrupamentos in Portuguese military usage).

Artillery Group (Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha)

There are a number of different tables of organization and equipment for artillery units in the Portuguese Army.

First and 2nd Artillery Groups, in the DPOR's two heavy brigades, are each equipped with three batteries of 120mm multiple rocket launchers, mounted on HCI-9 hover APC chassi.  For the 3rd and 5th Groups (in the BPI and the DPOR's 3rd Light Brigade, respectively), are mixed units equipped with two eight-tube batteries of 120mm multiple rocket launchers mounted on VECO-10 carriers, and a single six tube battery equipped with 130mm binary howitzers (again mounted on VECO-10s).  Reserve heavy brigade's artillery units have a single battery of hover-mobile MRLs (to support their single hovertank regiment) plus a battery of 120mm MRLs on wheeled carriers and two batteries of 130mm binary howitzers, also on wheeled carriers.  Reserve light brigade's artillery units are organized like the 3rd and 5th battalions, except that they have two MRL and two howitzer batteries.  Finally, the army's single divisional artillery unit, 4th Artillery Group, is equipped with four firing batteries, each of four short range surface to surface cruise missile launchers.

All artillery group headquarters except for the 4th, include a reconnaissance platoon made up of a 40 man forward observer section (which generates FO teams for manuever units) and a reconnaissance section with three medium range UAVs for target location and battle damage assessment missions.

Cavalry Regiment

Each of the three divisions in the CDT, as well as the Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção are provided with a cavalry regiment for reconnaissance, screening, and other economy of force missions (in the BPI the 3rd Parachute Cavalry Regiment also provides direct fire support to infantry elements of the brigade).

Divisional cavalry regiment consist of a headquarters squadron, a service squadron, and three light squadrons, each composed four troops with two VCC-10 wheeled light tanks and four VCI-10 wheeled APCs (the latter each carrying a five man reconnaissance squad), plus two VCC-10s are the squadron headquarters.  The headquarters section includes a UAV platoon (four Abantesma reconnaissance UAVs), signals security/electronic warfare platoon, as well as air defense, mortar, and multiple-rocket launcher platoons for fire support.

The BPI's 3rd Parachute Cavalry Regiment is similarly composed, except that it adds two additional squadrons.  Esquadrão 4 of the regiment is a mechanized infantry unit configured identically to a CDT reserve mechanized infantry company (see below).  Esquadrão 5 is a heavy unit made up of nine ACC-20 hovertanks (two platoons of four, plus the company commander's vehicle) and a mechanized infantry platoon with four HCI-9 APCs; though personnel in this unit are all parachutists, the unit itself is not air-portable and would airland or otherwise be shipped into an area of operations to support the Parachute Brigade as needed.
 

Infantry Battalion (Batalhão de Caçadores Pára-quedista and Batalhão de Infantaria Ligeira)

Caçadores Pára-quedista in the BPI and Infantaria battalions in the active and reserve divisions are organized almost identically, differing primarily in training rather than equipment.  Both organizations are composed of a headquarters company (compahnia de comando), a service company (compahnia de servicos), and three light infantry companies.  Besides command and control assets, the HQ company includes a mortar platoon (four towed 120mm binary breech-loading mortars), an anti-tank platoon (four rangetrucks with MC-93 Corvo missile launchers), an aerial and electronic reconnaissance and surveillance platoon (two Acor short range UAVs and a signals security/intelligence team), a seventeen man reconnaissance platoon (Pelotão de Reconhecimento), and an eight man sniper platoon.  Battalions are generally foot-mobile, except for the service company and some assets of the HQ company, and are dependent on higher headquarters for motor or aerial transportation assets; the exception to this being 7o Batalhão de Infantaria Ligeira, based in the Azores, which is equipped with various soft-skinned hovercraft and more properly considered a motorized (amphibious) infantry battalion.

Rifle companies are made up of a headquarters platoon (which includes a section of four MD-79 27mm heavy grenade launchers as well as command and control and limited logistics elements) and three 34 man rifle platoons, led by a junior or senior lieutenant assisted by a sergeant first class, and broken down into three combat groups and a missile group with anti-tank and anti-aircraft capability (organization shown below).  Generally, one rifle squad leader and the missile squad leader are Sergeants 2nd Class (2o Sargento), while the remaining two rifle squad leaders will be Corporals First Class (1o Cabo); subordinate team leaders are Corporals 2nd Class (2o Cabo).  All platoon personnel are armed with the Brazilian MD-3 binary assault rifle, except for team and squad leaders (armed with Luce-7B laser rifles); the plasma gunners, who carry MD-16 plasma guns (Brazilian designation of the Franco-American Mk.2A2 PGMP); and the soldiers in the Grupo Misil, who are issued older 6mm MD-64 assault carbines for self-defense, as well as two launchers for the Escorpião multi-target guided missile system.  It is common for the platoon to be reinforced with additional assets, such as forward observers, additional medics, etc., as needed for a given mission.

Note that the above organization applies to the units of the Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção (as well as the marine companies of BFN); the Divisão Português and reserve units are still equipped with the older MD-64 series of weapons throughout, and are organized a bit differently at the rifle squad level, nine man squads composed of a squad leader, three riflemen (including an aidman), one designated marksman with a Luce-7, two grenadiers with MD-70s, and and two light support weapon gunners.  Otherwise, the platoon and company are identical.

Marine Battalion

Marine battalions are organized identically to the light infantry battalions in the BPI except that the unit adds a heavy company with two platoons of ACC-19M hovertanks (Brazilian made version of the American M9) and two platoons of mechanized infantry mounted on HCI-9 hover IFVs.  On occasion, the BFN has generated a provisional third battalion headquarters to allow the brigade's two heavy companies to operate as an independent battle groups.

Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Batalhão de Infantaria Mecanizada)

Like the armored regiment, mechanized infantry battalions are all under the command of the CDT.  Basic organization for the three mechanized battalions of the Divisão Português is a headquarters company which includes an air defense, reconnaissance, and engineer platoon, plus four manuever companies, each made up of a small headquarters, three mechanized rifle platoons, and a weapons platoon with two ACC-20 hovertanks and two 120mm mortar carriers for direct and indirect fire support.  Mechanized rifle platoons are mounted on four HCI-9 hover IFVs and are organized similar to the light infantry rifle platoon, plus two man vehicle crews (which are considered to be a third fire team in each squad and led by a 2o Cabo; typically the mounted section is commanded by the platoon's senior NCO while the platoon leader locates himself with the dismounted element).

Reserve mechanized units in the Guarda Voluntária are similarly organized, but are equipped with VECO-10 light armored vehicles, with VCI-10 APCs replacing the AVC-9s, VCC-10s replacing the ACC-20 hovertanks, etc.

INDEX
 

PERSONNEL AND RANK STRUCTURE


The Exército Português is an all-volunteer force (though the government retains the right to conscript citizens, which has been used as recently as the 3rd Rio Plata War to maintain force strength) open to Portuguese citizens, as well as resident aliens, between the ages of 17 and 34.  While fully gender integrated, the army maintains job-specific physical fitness requirements for combat arms specialties which result in lower numbers of female soldiers in various units (the BPI, for instance, contains approximately 15% female personnel, versus 30% for the army overall)  While military pay, particularly for low-ranking personnel, is not especially competitive, the government does provide various incentives such as educational subsidies and preference for hiring in civil service jobs which make short term service attractive as well as providing trained potential recruits for the Guarda Voluntária, the army's reserve component.

Basic training for active-duty and reserve soldiers is conducted at the Divisão Português' headquarters and depot in Barreiro, near Lisbon, and runs thirteen weeks (eight for reservists).  Soldiers entering service make no initial job selection on enlistment, as this is resolved towards the end of basic training, with basic trainees receiving recruiting briefings from representatives of the army's various Corps and then selecting a first and second choice (at least one of which must be a CDT unit).  Actual assignments are based on the needs of the service, but most recruits are placed in one of their two choices.  On completion of basic training, recruits are either sent directly to advanced training (which can last anywhere from three months to a year, depending on specialty), or administratively assigned to what will become their unit of assignment pending the commencement of a new training cycle for their job.  Certain highly technical and/or small career field specialties (i.e. some jobs within the 4th Missile Artillery Group) attend advanced training in Brazil, rather than domestic programs.
 
 

Recruiting for the BPI is subject to a more rigorous selection and assessment program.  Applications to BPI selection may be made by soldiers in CDT units as well as raw recruits and the selection process tends to be slanted towards more experienced soldiers, as it entails various military skills tests as well as physical fitness testing.  It should be noted that by longstanding tradition, membership in the BPI is also open to members of the Portuguese Air Force who are tested and assessed against the same criteria as army personnel.  Personnel accepted are posted to a two month supplemental training course (for officers and NCOs this course runs three months), and are then assigned to a line unit of the BPI.

The Portuguese Marines, like the Parachute Brigade, accept both new recruits as well as sailors who wish to transfer into the DFN; personnel wishing to do so are subject to a less stringent selection process, but then must attend the DFN's notably rigorous basic training program.  This course, conducted by the training company or the DFN's third (training) battalion, is carried out in the Azores and runs 16 weeks (in addition to ten weeks of naval basic training).  Following completion, Marine personnel are adminstratively posted to the DFN's depot outside Lisbon, but still have to pass basic military skills qualifications tests before assignment to a line unit.

Following the Brazilian practice, personnel are not assigned permanent unit affiliations, and tend to move from unit to unit as needed.  The very small size of the force tends to minimize any negative impact on unit cohesion that this might have.  Also, due to the small size of the force, promotions for both officers and NCOs tend to be less frequent than in many larger militaries, and it is common for Portuguese personnel to be somewhat older than their foreign counterparts.
 
 

Exército Português Rank Structure
(Fuzileiros Navais Ranks Show in Parentheses)
ENLISTED RANKS EQUIVALENT/
TRANSLATION
COMMISIONED RANKS EQUIVALENT/
TRANSLATION
Soldado
(FN. Marinheiro Segundo)
Private / Seaman 2nd Class Alferes Platoon Leader
Cabo Segundo
(FN. Marinheiro Primeiro)
Corporal 2nd Class / Seaman 1st Class
(Assistant Squad Leader)
Tenente Senior Platoon Leader or Company Adjutant
Cabo Primeiro
(FN. Cabo)
Corporal 1st Class
(Squad Leader)
Capitão Company Commander
Sargento Segundo Sergeant 2nd Class
(Senior and/or Weapons Squad Leader)
Major
(FN. Capitão-Tenente)
Company Commander or Staff Officer
Sargento Primeiro Sergeant 1st Class
(Platoon Sergeant)
Tenente-Coronel
(FN. Capitão-Batalhão)
Battalion Commander
Sargento-Ajudante Company Senior NCO Coronel
(FN. Capitão)
Brigade Adjutant
Sargento-Chefe Battalion Senior NCO Brigadeiro Brigade Commander
Sargento-Mor Brigade/Division Senior NCO General de Divisão Division Commander
General de Exército Chief of Staff, Major Command Commander

 
INDEX 

EQUIPMENT

As a Brazilian client, Portugal is primarily dependent on the larger nation for military equipment.  Though generally a beneficial arrangement for the Exército Português, allowing access to first rate equipment which Portugal could not otherwise afford, there is also a downside to single-source dependence.  For much of the 2280s, in the aftermath of the disastrous 3rd Rio Plata War, Brazil severely limited subsidized arms exports to Portugal while attempting to reconstruct its own military.  In 2292 large-scale exports resumed, allowing the active component of the Exército Português to field modern equipment like the AC-12 hovertank, though the reserves are only recently beginning to replace 2270s-era equipment.

The standard issue weapon for the active duty portion of the Exército Português remains the Brazilian 6mm Modelo 2264M (MD-64M) service rifle and family of small arms based on it, though the Caçadores of the BPI and Marines of the DFN have recently adopted the new Brazillian MD-3, the replacement for the unsatisfactory BF-1.  Small unit support weapons include the MD-79 30mm grenade machinegun and the Escorpião man-portable missile system, an innovative system built around a common launcher/sensor unit capable of firing either anti-tank or air-aircraft missiles, as needed.

The pride of the armored vehicle fleet is the Ar-Carro de Combate Modelo 20 (ACC-20), the Brazilian version of the AC-12 produced by the Arsenal Nacional tank plant in Fortaleza, paired with the Brazilian HCI-9 hover APC produced at the same facility.  The remainder of the fleet consists of various versions of the tracked Veículo do Combate Modelo 10 (more commonly known as the "VECO"), including infantry fighting vehicles (VCI-10), air defense vehicles (VCAA-10), light tanks (VCC-10) and mortar carriers with turreted 120mm binary mortars (VCM-10).  At present, the only combat walker type vehicles used by the Portuguese military are a small number of deep submersible CN-94 combat swimmers in service with the CRAE.

Uniforms

Portuguese Army field uniforms are identical to Brazilian uniforms, employing the same "All Environments" (all Brazilian environments, in this case) woodland/urban camouflage pattern scheme unless the operating environment dictates other specialized uniforms; for infantrymen and other combatants, the basic uniform is generally augmented with a carbon fiber undersuit providing both thermal masking/regulation capability as well as chemical and biological defense capability (when worn with gauntlets and hood).  On field uniforms, insignia is restricted to a single name plate carrying name, rank, unit of assignment, and a small national flash; for CDT units this name plate is olive green, while BPI units use a caçadore-brown background and the BFN uses navy blue.  (Uniforms worn in garrison are allowed to carry qualification badges, more prominent unit insignia, etc.)  When a helmet is not worn, personnel wear a brimmed patrol cap, except for the BPI and BFN who wear their green and navy blue berets, respectively.  Both patrol caps and berets are authorized subdued corps and unit specific cap badges for wear with the field uniform, and stencilled versions of these cap badges are typically applied to the front of helmets as well.

In keeping with Brazilian practices, standard body armor consists of a non-rigid vest with reinforcing rigid trauma plates (AV 0.9, counts as rigid body armor for hit location 2) coupled with a high threat helmet and armored shin/knee guards copied from French patterns.  Heavier armor ensembles (inertial body armor suits and full-rigid combat armor) are available to Portuguese forces on deployment to combat or quasi-combat (i.e. the Brazilian-Incan border) environments, but are rarely used, as most units are light infantry and most deployments are to tropical regions, both of which argue against such practices.  The standard issue helmet is designed to accept short range communication rigs and a heads up display; the helmet is designed to be augmented with various accessories (digital data feeds, portable computers, longer range communications, etc.) worn on the individual's assault vest and pistol belt.

Individual load carrying equipment consists of the abovementioned assault vest and pistol belt combination and is modular to allow tailoring to mission and personal preference.  A typical load carrying rig for a caçadore in the BPI would include six 27mm grenade magazines, six 7.5mm rifle magazines, a spare binary propellant bottle, four hand grenades, first aid kit, bayonet, entrenching tool, and two canteens, augmented with a small assault pack with an integral two liter hydration system, one day's rations, and, possibly, additional ammunition or other essentials.

Dress uniforms, in contrast with the field uniform tend to be rather ornate and impressive, consisting of green trousers worn with a scarlet tunic (except for the personnel of the BPI who wear brown tunics, and the BFN, who wear naval uniforms), augmented with various and sundry cords, epaulettes, sashes, etc., depending on unit and personal service qualifications, etc.

Small Arms

Ramirez-Abruggo Modelo 3 7.5/30mm Binary Assault Weapon System (MD-3)

The MD-3 binary assault weapon system is the Brazilian successor to the somewhat lackluster MD-1 (marketed internationally under the grammatically cryptic "BF-1" acronym) and improved derivatives fielded since (the MD-1M and MD-2).  The MD-3 began entering Brazilian service in 2291 after a protracted, and sometimes troubled, developmental process, with purchase by Portugal following in 2296.  The long development time, and extensive experience with the MD-1/BF-1 seems to have paid off, however, and the MD-3 has proven to be an exemplary weapon system in all respects.  Portuguese weapons are locally manufactured at Porto by Ramirez-Abruggo's European Division.

Typical of modern combat weapons, the MD-3 marries a "smart" area fire weapon, in this case a semi-automatic grenade launcher chambered for standard Brazilian 30x50mm grenades (a version firing conventional 30mm rounds, the MD-3E,  is available for the export market) , to a lighter caliber weapon for close-range defense and the like.  For the latter role, Ramirez-Abruggo has retained the 7.5x11mm multi-purpose round used on earlier Brazilian binary weapons.  While wound ballistics are less impressive than the 9mm APHE ammunition used on designs like the German Sk-19 and American M5, overall ballistic performance is superior, allowing longer range, and the ammunition is considerably lighter.  Thus far Brazilian forces have reported no serious complaints in regards to lethality of the 7.5mm round in various border clashes with Incan forces in Amazonia.

The MD-3 is equipped with a current generation combat sight with a single channel/multi-spectral display combining visible light, image intensification and thermal imaging into a single unified display.  A laser rangefinder and ballistic computer are also part of the sight unit, allowing the use of proximity fused smart grenades.  The optics are powered by a seperate 100 gram battery pack with a 24 hour life span.

The MD-3D, a carbine version lacking the 30mm grenade launcher and intended for rear-area troops and others requiring a personal defense weapon is also in service.  The MD-3D is identical to the 7.5mm portion of the MD-3, with overall weight and cost significantly reduced.

In the Exército Português, the MD-3 and MD-3D are issued to the infantry units of the BPI and DFN (vehicle crews, artillery units, and the like continue to be issued the MD-64CM 6mm carbine described below).

Type: 7.5mm Binary Assualt Rifle with intergral 30mm Binary Grenade Launcher
Country: Brazil,
Weight (Empty): 3.4 kg (MD-3D w/o 27mm weighs 2 kg, MD-3E with conventional 30mm grenade launcher is 4.4 kg)
Weight (Loaded, including sight battery unit): 4.7 kg
Propellant Bottle Length: 0.3 kg
Propellant Bottle Capacity: 360 aimed shots or 100 area fire bursts (each 30mm grenade counts as 2 aimed shots)
Length: 77 cm (Bulk = 2)
Price: Lv 675 (MD-3D is Lv 200, MD-3E is Lv650) (Lv2 for 7.5mm magazine, Lv2 for recharge bottle, grenade magazine prices vary)

7.5mm Binary Rifle
Type: 7.5mm binary assault rifle, Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 7.5x11mm binary, Muzzle Velocity: 900 mps (550 mps area fire), Magazine: 40 round box magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, ROF: 3 (area fire 5), Aimed Fire Range:  750 meters, Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV = 1.5), Area Fire Range: 400 meters, DP Value: 0.7 (area fire 0.4)

30mm Grenade Launcher
Type: 30mm semi-automatic grenade launcher, Action:  Single Shot, Ammunition: 30x50mm grenades, Muzzle Velocity: 245 mps, Magazine: 4 round box magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.6 kg, ROF: 2, Aimed Fire Range:  400 meters, DP Value: Varies, Price: Lv450 (ammunition price varies)
 

Gonzalves-Brazilia Modelo 7 and Modelo 7M 40-01 Laser Rifles

The MD-7 and MD-7M are the official service designations of the "Luce-7" and "Luce-7B" laser rifles (though the "B" version technically refers the export version mounting a 30mm fixed cartridge grenade launcher in lieu of the standard Brazilian binary model).  The former is found in Portuguese CDT units as a squad level designated marksmans rifle, while the latter fills the same role in the BPI and BFN.  The basic MD-7 is identical to the Luce-7B described in the Adventurers Guide, except that the weapon's mass is reduced from 3 kg to 1.5 kg.  The MD-7M is fitted with the same 30mm semi-automatic grenade launcher as the MD-3 described above.  It is identical to the Luce-7B except mass is 2.9 kg unloaded.  The grenade launcher requires a small propellant bottle weighing 100 grams which is sufficient to fire 60 grenades.
 

FACP Modelo 92 Combat Shotgun

FACP (Fábrica de Arma de Combate Próximo) is a partnership between the Brazilian military giant Indústria de Ramirez e Abruggo and the FARCIBA firearms corporation created expressly to produce the Modelo 92 combat shotgun for the Brazilian military and national police forces.  Unusual for such designs, the Modelo 91 is a 15mm shotgun, rather than the customary 18mm; though somewhat less powerful, Brazilian military studies indicated that the average Brazillian soldier would be better able to handle the lower recoil of a 15mm design, particularly during automatic fire.

The standard ammunition load for the Modelo 92 is 6mm tungsten buckshot loads, though slugs and various specialized rounds are also available.  The Modelo 92 employs a bull-pup action, feeding from a top-mounted eighteen round helical magazine placed forward of the receiver (consequently, the Modelo 92's ammunition is loaded "backwards" into the magazine).  Magazines are designed to be semi-disposable (suitable for a limited number of reloadings), and are stored and issued fully loaded; preparing the magazine for use requires the firer to twist a small knob on the front of the magazine seven times to tension the magazine spring -- failure to do so will result in misfeeds.  Fire is selectable for single shot or three round bursts, and the standard military version of the MD 92 incorporates a close-combat optical sight with thermal imaging for low-light combat conditions.

In Portuguese service, the MD-92 is in service with the Army's Caçadores Especiais and the Navy's combat divers in the CRAE, becoming closely associated with the latter when it featured prominently combat footage from the French Arm of the first two known Portuguese nationals in action against the Kafers, Cabo João Carvalhas and Marinheira Ana Barata (both CRAE members on exchange with the USMC, serving in the 1st Raider Company circa 2301).  The MD-92 is also available to the Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção in more limited numbers as a special weapon issued only for anticipated close-combat situations.

Type: 15mm Combat Shotgun, Country: Brazil, Weight (Empty): 2.6 kg, Length: 77 cm (Bulk = 2), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 15x50mm fixed cartridge (various rounds available), Muzzle Velocity: 450 mps, Magazine: 18 round helical magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.6 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  120 meters, Area Fire Burst: 9 rounds (AFV = 2), Area Fire Range: 80 meters, DP Value: 0.3 (x6) (6mm buckshot load, otherwise varies by ammunition type), Price: Lv325 (Lv350 for military version) (Lv1 for two disposable magazines)

Additional Military Issue 15mm Ammunition Types:

  • 8mm Tungsten Buckshot:  Aimed Fire Range:  Standard, Area Fire Burst: Standard, DPV: 0.5 (x3)
  • 9/15mm Sabot: Aimed Fire Range: 180 meters (Area Fire Range standard), Area Fire Burst: 9 rounds (AFV = 0.9), DPV: 0.7
  • Baton Round: Aimed Fire Range: 60 meters, Area Fire Range: 40 meters, Area Fire Burst: 9 rounds (AFV = 0.9), DPV: 0.3 (blunt trauma only)

Fábrica de Yamamoto e Filhos Modelo 93 7mm Gauss Sniper Rifle

A fairly conventional, modern semi-automatic gauss sniper rifle jointly developed by Yamamoto and Sons of Provinicia do Brasil and the Tirania Firearms Corporation, the MD-93 has recently been adopted by the Brazilian (and by extension Portuguese) militaries as a dedicated sniping weapon, replacing laser type weapons which have become increasingly subsceptible to modern counter-sniper sensing systems.  Standard equipment on the MD-93 includes a telescopic/thermal imaging electro-optical sight, bipod, and provisions for direct link to a helmet heads up display and/or data and image transmission to remote stations as needed.  The MD-93 fires 7mm low-signature multi-purpose rounds with good lethality against personnel though the round is too light for serious anti-materiel applications.  Standard magazines contain forty rounds, feeding from a horizontally top-mounted magazine, which allows the weapon to generate a reasonable volume of fire in emergency close-combat situations.

In Portuguese service, the rifle is currently only found in the BPI and DFN, issued at a rate of eight weapons per battalion (somewhat unusual, both members of Portuguese sniping teams typically carry MD-93s).  The weapon is also used by the BCE and CRAE.

Type: 7mm gauss rifle, Country:  USA (commercial production), Texas, Weight (Empty): 4.6 kg, Length: 81 cm (Bulk = 3), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 7x21mm low-signature multi-purpose, Muzzle Velocity: 1200 mps, Magazine: 40 round box magazine, with integral power cell, Magazine Weight: 0.7 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  1400 meters, Area Fire Burst: 5 rounds (AFV = 0.5), Area Fire Range: 400 meters, DP Value: 1, Price: Lv600 (Lv2 per magazine)

Modelo 64 Family of Small Arms

The MD-64 assault rifle and derivatives were the standard small arms for the Brazilian military prior to the adoption of the 7.5mm binary BF-1 in the 2270s.  The MD-64 is completely modular, with transition between different versions of the weapon being easily accomplished by unit armorers (the loss of this feature was a major source of dissatisfaction with the more complicated BF-1); versions of the MD64 include the standard assault rifle with a 450mm barrel (MD-64F), a carbine with a 360mm barrel (MD-64C), and a light support weapon with bipod and a heavier 550mm barrel (MD-64A).  (A designated marksman's rifle with bipod and 500mm barrel is also available for the export market, though in Portuguese and Brazilian service this role is filled by the Luce-7 and -7B laser rifles.)

All versions employ a bull-pup format and feed 6x36mm caseless ammunition from a vertical feeding 40 round magazine; a 90 round drum magazine is also in service, intended for the LSW version of the weapon, but usable with all versions.  All versions except for the LSW are selectable for semi-automatic fire or very high rate of fire (1100 rpm) three round bursts; the LSW adds a slower fully automatic rate of fire (750 rounds per minute), while retaining the burst setting.   Standard optics for Portuguese service rifles is a variable power telescopic sight (x1-4 power) with a thermal channel for night observation; it is not unheard of for personnel serving in units still equipped with the MD-64 to purchase more modern optics with integrated single channel displays and laser range-finders.

As a squad level support weapon, the Brazilian military also developed the MD-70 30mm grenade launcher, which was built up from the basic MD-64 frame, with some degree of parts commonality retained (less than 20%, though the weapons have very similar profiles).  Fielded at a time when Brazil felt it preferable to limit deployment of specialized optics to support weapons, the MD-70 featured state of the art sights and ballistic computers when it was introduced, including one of the first use of directional air burst munitions.

The MD-64 was mostly replaced by the BF-1 in Brazilian service by the time of the 3rd Rio Plata War, and has since been phased out entirely.  In an updated form (MD-64M), the MD-64 is still in service with the Portuguese military, which never adopted the BF-1.  Though old, the weapon and its ammunition is common on the military surplus market (both original versions and the improved "M" models), and, while not up to the standards of the SG-77 and other more recent weapons, the MD-64 remains quite serviceable.

MD-64FM Assault Rifle
Type: 6mm assault rifle, Country: Brazil, Weight (Empty): 2.6 kg (with optics, 2.2 kg without), Length: 70 cm (Bulk = 2), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6x36mm caseless, Muzzle Velocity: 950 mps, Magazine: 40 round box magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  550 meters, Area Fire Burst: 9 rounds (AFV = 0.9), Area Fire Range: 350 meters (original MD-64F is 250 meters), DP Value: 0.6, Price: Lv275 (Lv2 for 100 rounds)

MD-64CM Assault Carbine
Type: 6mm assault carbine, Country: Brazil, Weight (Empty): 2.3 kg (with optics, 1.9 kg without), Length: 63 cm (Bulk = 2), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6x36mm caseless, Muzzle Velocity: 950 mps, Magazine: 40 round box magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  360 meters, Area Fire Burst: 9 rounds (AFV = 0.9), Area Fire Range: 250 meters (original MD-64C is 150 meters), DP Value: 0.6, Price: Lv250 (Lv2 for 100 rounds)

MD-64A Light Support Weapon
Type: 6mm light machinegun, Country: Brazil, Weight (Empty): 3 kg (with optics, 2.6 kg without), Length: 85 cm (Bulk = 3), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 6x36mm caseless, Muzzle Velocity: 950 mps, Magazine: 90 round drum magazine, Magazine Weight: 0.6 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range:  600 meters, Area Fire Burst: 9 rounds (burst setting, AFV = 0.9) or 15 rounds (fully automatic, AFV = 1.5), Area Fire Range: 350 meters (450 meters from bipod), DP Value: 0.6, Price: Lv300 (Lv2 for 100 rounds)

MD-70 30mm Grenade Launcher
Type: 30mm semi-automatic grenade launcher, Country: Brazil, Weight (Empty): 3.2 kg (with optics, 2.6 kg without), Length: 80 cm (Bulk = 3), Action:  Single Shot, Ammunition: 30x50mm grenades, Muzzle Velocity: 245 mps, Magazine: 5 round box magazine, including binary propellant mix, Magazine Weight: 0.75 kg, ROF: 2, Aimed Fire Range:  400 meters, DP Value: Varies, Price: Lv450 (ammunition price varies)
 

Arno Pistola 525 Bélico (P-525B)

The standard sidearm of the Brazilian and Portuguese military, the P-525B is a light machine pistol firing a 5x25mm caseless round developed from Arno's popular 5mm target pistol's 5x15mm round.  The P-525B includes an integral wire stock which folds forward over the pistol (providing a forward hand-grip when folded).  Damage is sup-par compared to full-size pistol cartridges, but is adequate to penetrate body armor at close range.  In addition the P-525B is capable of laying down a heavy volume of fire, a traint considered ideal for a last-ditch personal defense weapon.  Besides the integral folding stock, the 525B includes a built in colliminator/image intensifier sight unit, and can be fitted with both a laser aiming module (visible light or infrared, the latter visible through standard military optics), as well as a sound suppressor.

Type: 5.5mm machinepistol, Country: Brazil and Portugal, Weight (Empty): 1 kg, Length: 20cm (Bulk=0); 38cm (Bulk = 1) (stock extended), Action: Single shot or bursts, Ammunition: 5.5x25mmfixed cartridge armor piercing, Muzzle Velocity: 860 mps, Magazine: 20 round box, Magazine Weight: 0.2 kg, ROF: 3, Aimed Fire Range: 50m (75m with stock extended), Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV = 1), Area Fire Range: 20m (40m with stock extended), DP Value: 0.4*, Price: Lv200 (Lv2 for box of 100 rounds)

* Armor Piercing Ammunition.  Double DPV when determining armor penetration, but halve subsequent damage.  If the target has no armor, damage is still halved.  For example, at 20 meters (close range) a 525B penetrates up to AV 1.6 (damage doubled for close range, and doubled again for armor penetration purposes), if this round strikes a standard helmet (AV 1.0), the resulting DPV (0.6) would be halved to 0.3 for damage.  A round striking an unarmored individual at medium range (DPV 0.4) would only do DPV 0.2.  Note that standard ball ammunition is also available for the P-525B, which behaves normally (cost remains Lv2 per 100 rounds).
 

30mm Binary Grenades

Brazilian military issue 30mm grenade launchers are based on binary propellant designs and are not compatible with fixed-cartridge 30mm grenade launchers such as the GW-12, FAM-90, etc.  Performance, however, is essentially identical to standard 30mm designs.  Note also that Brazilian grenade launchers employ pre-packed disposable magazines, and may not chamber loose rounds; for price per magazine, multiply round capacity by listed prices from the AG or other sources.  Magazines are pre-packaged at the factory and may not be reloaded or altered except by qualified armorers

Standard types in Portuguese (and Brazilian) service are listed below.  Differences from standard designs are shown below.  HEAP rounds are not listed, though would be available for those whose campaign setting includes them, and would replace HEDP rounds (whose performance more closely models real world counterparts than HEAP).

  • 30mm High Explosive Proximity Fused:  DPV: As explosion (EP = 2), Price: Lv8 per grenade.  Notes:  Airburst munition, allowing engagement of targets in defilade, etc.  Enhanced armor penetration round, fragments do double DPV (1.2) in primary fragmentation zone.
  • 30mm High Explosive: As per standard
  • 30mm High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP):  DPV: As tamped explosive (EP = 2), Price: Lv5 per grenade
  • 30mm Anti-Personnel Round (APERS): This round is intended for close-combat applications, especially for use by with laser rifles.  It contains 35 6mm tungsten projectiles, and, on firing produces a shotgun like effect at close range.  The round is considered both an aimed fire attach (directed at a specific target) and an area fire attack (AFV = 1) at any other potential targets within the standard area fire zone.  Range: 40 meters, DPV: 0.3 (x10), Price: Lv6 per grenade.
  • 30mm Smoke:  As per standard.
  • 30mm Star Cluster:  Infrequently used, but available for signalling purposes as needed.  The star cluster round is available in several visible light colors (white light, red, and green) as well as an I/R version visible only to personnel equipped with low-light observation gear.

Support Weapons

MD-1 160MW Plasma Cannon

A plasma gun used on the HCI-9 and some versions of the VECO-10, the MD-1 is slightly lighter than the French CLP-1A, but suitable for use against most light armored vehicles and other hard targets.  The weapon is only available on vehicle mountings.

Type: 160MW plasma cannon, Country:  Brazil, Portugal, Action:  Single Shot, Ammunition: 37x65mm 160MW photonic core plasma cells, Magazine: Varies (see vehicle descriptions), Magazine Weight: Varies (325 grams per round), ROF: 5, Aimed Fire Range:  1500 meters, DP Value: As tamped explosive (EP=14), Price: Not seperately available (Lv 40 per round)
 

MC-2 Martelo Light Anti-Tank Weapon

A disposable, single shot guided rocket issued to infantry units for use against light armored vehicles and for bunker busting.  The MC-2 is equipped with an inexpensive and simple seeker head for guidance.  Typically, a fire team will carry one or more MC-2s.

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
 

MM-11 Escorpião (M91A1) Multi-Purpose Missile System

The MM-11 Escorpião, in service with Brazilian, American, Texan and Portuguese forces (in the latter as the M91A1) is a joint venture developed by the Brazilian and American militaries as a replacement for both light anti-tank guided weapons and light air defense missiles.  The system consists of a launcher unit with a variable magnification thermal imager (up to x20) and sophisticated target matching software to assist gunners in target idenfication and IFF tasks; the launcher unit is designed to accomodate both anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles (Misil Escorpião-C and Misil Escorpião-A, respectively, in Brazilian/Portuguese service, BGM-100 "Viper" and FIM-100 "Cottonmouth" in US service).

Launcher Unit:
Type: Multi-Purpose Missile Launcher Unit, Nation: America, Brazil, Texas, Portugal and others, Launcher Weight (including batteries): 7 kg, Sensor Range: 6 km (+1) (surface), 10 km (+1) (aerial) (thermal imagine, line of sight), Battery Life: 12 hours continuous use, Battery Weight: 0.25 kg, Launcher Price: Lv3000 (Lv 1 for replacement battery unit) (note: not commercially available).

Misil Escorpião-A Surface to Air Missile:
Type:  Short Range Air Defense Missile, Nations:  America, Texas, Brazil, Portugal and others, Missile Weight: 10 kg, Range: 10,000 meters, Guidance:  Automatic, Homing Value: 23, Attack Angle: Direct, Damage: As tamped explosive (EP = 3), Missile Price: Lv 6000 (not normally commercially available)

Misil Escorpião-C Anti-Tank Guided Weapon
Type:  Anti-vehicle missile, Nations:  America, Texas, Brazil, Portugal and others, Missile Weight: 10 kg, Range: 4,000 meters, Guidance:  Automatic, Homing Value: 14, Attack Angle: Selectable, Damage: As tamped explosive (EP = 30), Missile Price: Lv 3500 (not normally commercially available)
 

MC-93 Corvo Anti-Tank Guided Missile

The Corvo is the Brazilian designation for the American Striker missile.  In Portuguese service it is found equipping all heavy and light units except for those using the ACC-20 hovertank, which use the French designed Manta-1 (known in Brazilian service as the MC-94 Manta).

MD-79 30mm Heavy Grenade Machinegun

Using the standard Brazilian, the MD-79 is a heavy, tripod or vehicle mounted fully automatic, binary grenade launcher.  Though the design entered service slightly too late for the 3rd Rio Plata War, but it has proven itself quite effective in the numerous border "incidents" with the Inca Republic since then.

Two different versions of the MD-79 are in service with Portuguese forces.  The standard MD-79, intended for use by infantry forces and in light vehicle mounts, is designed to fire fifty-round belts which come pre-packed in boxes containing ordnance and both portions of the standard binary propellant mix; the one shortcoming of this system is that belts cannot be effectively linked.  The MD-79B is identical in performance to the MD-79, but is designed for use in turreted mounts and the like on armored vehicles and feeds from seperate propellant and ammunition sources, allowing larger magazines.

Note that MD-79 grenades are identical to those fired by the MD-3 service rifle and the MD-70 grenade launcher, with the latter two weapons simply firing at lower velocities.  Ammunition is based on binary propellant and is not interchangeable with conventional, fixed-cartridge 30mm grenade designs such as those found on the FAM-90, AS-89, etc.

Type: 30mm heavy grenade launcher, Country:  Brazil, Portugal, Weight (Empty): 10 kg (+7 kg for tripod), Length: 70 cm (Bulk = 2), Action:  Single Shot or Bursts, Ammunition: 30x50mm Grenades, Muzzle Velocity: 450 mps, Magazine: 50 round cassette containing belted ammunition, binary propellant, and catalyst, Magazine Weight: 9 kg, ROF: 5, Aimed Fire Range:  1200 meters, Area Fire Burst: 5 rounds (AFV = 0.5), Area Fire Range: 1200 meters, DP Value: Varies by ordnance, Price: Lv 1100 (Lv  for 50 round cassette)
 

Armored Fighting Vehicles

Ar-Carro de Combate Modelo 19M (ACC-19M) Hover Tank

The Brazilian version of the American M9B4 hovertank, used by the two heavy companies of the DFN in Portuguese service.

Ar-Carro de Combate Modelo 20 (ACC-20) Hover Tank

The Brazilian version of the French AC-12 hovertank, the ACC-20 is generally identical to that vehicle except for minor differences in armaments package.  The conventional French 25mm autocannon and 7.5mm coaxial machinegun have been replaced with more advanced and compact Brazilian 25mm and 7.5mm binary chainguns, increasing reliability and allowing a somewhat increased ammunition load (600 rounds of 25mm in one 400 and one 200 round box, 2000 rounds of 7.5mm), though ballistic performance of both weapons are not substantially different from their conventional counterparts.  While the Manta-1 missile launcher has been retained, the single Martel launch tubes on either side of the turret have been replaced by a dual launch tube for Escorpião-A light surface to air missiles on the left side of the turret (the vehicle's software package is blocked from firing the Escorpião-C anti-vehicle missile, though this feature may be disabled).

Hovercraft de Combate de Infantaria Modelo 9 (HCI-9) Hover APC

A fairly conventional hover-mobile infantry carrier, since replaced in active Brazilian service by more modern designs, but still in service with the Exército Português, Brazilian reserve units, and various minor nations (including a number of vehicles still in service with the Inca Republic's armed forces).  Layout is fairly conventional for armored hovercraft, with the two man crew compartment forward, the unmanned turret aft, and the troop compartment sandwiched in between the turret and the vehicle's MHD powerplant.  Each crewmember is provided with a hatch on the front deck, while passengers enter and exit via doors on the sides and rear of the vehicle or from a troop hatch on the rear deck.

Armament consists of an MD-1 160MW plasma cannon with a coaxial 30mm MD-79 grenade launcher, augmented by a pair of 7.5mm binary machineguns operated by the vehicle's passengers while mounted.  There are also various specialty versions of the vehicle, such as anti-tank vehicles (equipped with a quad launcher for Corvo missiles), air defense vehicles, etc.

Type: Hover APC
Nation: Brazil, Portugal, various others
Crew: 2 + 9 passengers
Weight: 5,000 kg
Armor:
    Plenum: 2
    Front and Overhead: 16
    All Others: 10
Armament:
    MD-1 160 megawatt plasma cannon
    MD-79 30mm grenade launcher (coaxial)
    2 7.5mm Binary Machineguns
Ammunition:
    100 plasma cells
    200 30mm grenades (dual feed, each box 100 rounds) + 500 additional rounds stowed
    1600 7.5mm rounds (800 per gun)
Range Finder: +1
Signature: 6
Evasion: 6
Sensor Range: 10 km (+1)
Cargo: 5000 kg
Max Speed: 200 kph
Cruising Speed: 180 kph
Combat Movement: 420 meters
Off-Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 2 0.5MW MHD turbines
Fuel Capacity: 250 kg H2
Fuel Consumption: 25 kg/hr
Endurance: 10 hours
Price: Not commercially available, estimated cost of current Brazilian surplus vehicles for foreign military sales is Lv110,000

Veículo do Combate Modelo 10 (VECO-10) Family of Wheeled AFVs

A Brazilian eight wheeled armored vehicle which serves as the basis for a number of configurations ranging from light tanks to armored ambulances.  In the Portuguese military, the VECO-10 is widely used in CDT units, and by the 3rd Cavalry Regiment in the Brigada Pára-quedista de Intervenção.  To ease aerial deployment, the VECO-10 family was designed with a two stage modular armor system, allowing an extra two tons of armor to be added to the vehicle if the threat condition warrants.  Besides the APC, light tank, air defense vehicle and mortar carrier described here there are a number of variants based on the VCI-10 APC such as communications vehicles, command posts, armored ambulances, cargo carriers, etc.

Layout of the vehicle consists of the power plant forward, with the crew compartment immediately behind it, followed by the unmanned turret and the troop compartment at the rear (or supplemental workstations for vehicles with more than two crewmen).  The two crew members are seated side by side and have variable configuration stations, allowing either crew member to drive or operate the weapons systems; by tradition the vehicle commander is seated to the right and retains primary responsibility for target acquisition and engagement.  On the infantry version, nine personnel ride in the vehicle rear on bench seats (five on the left side of the vehicle, four on the right).  Each crew member is equipped with his own hatch on the vehicle's front deck, while passengers enter and exit via a large troop door at the rear of the vehicle or via a large roof hatch; both these hatches are retained on other versions of the vehicle.

The VCI-10 armored personnel carrier is equipped with a 25mm binary cannon (performance basically identical to the Type 12 cannon described in the AG), a coaxial MD-79 27mm grenade launcher, and an external launch rack for two short-range Escorpião missiles (vehicles can launch either the anti-aircraft or anti-tank missile, though missiles may not be mixed in the launcher; typically one vehicle per platoon will load SAMs and the rest ATGWs, unless the situation dictates otherwise).  The vehicle carries an additional six Escorpião missiles (either variant) which can be fired by the vehicle's launcher, or employed by the infantry platoon's dismounted missile teams.  The VCC-10 light tank is up-gunned to include a 160MW plasma cannon in lieu of the 25mm main gun and two external hardpoints for variable missile armament; typically the vehicle carries a total of four MC-93 Corvo missiles, though the VCC-10 can carry the full range of external missile pods used by the ACC-19M.  Both the VCI and VCC are intended for front-line service and are equipped with the Escudo-1 active defense system built around 60mm grenade dispensers.

Type: 8 wheeled armored personnel carrier
Nation: Brazil, Portugal, various others
Crew: See below
Weight: 8,000 kg (10,000 kg with supplemental armor kit)
Armor:
    Suspension: 2
    Front: 30 (60)
    Sides: 16 (24)
    Rear: 16
    Top: 10
Armament: See below
Ammunition: See below
Range Finder: See below
Signature: 5
Evasion: 0
Sensor Range: See below 10 km (+1)
Cargo: 1000 kg
Max Speed: 100 kph
Cruising Speed: 80 kph
Combat Movement: 180 meters
Off-Road Mobility: Full
Power Plant: 0.25MW Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Fuel Capacity: 90 kg H2
Fuel Consumption: 7.5 kg/hr
Endurance: 12 hours
Price: See below
 
 

Variant-Specific Data for VECO-10 Wheeled AFVs
 
VCI-10 APC
VCC-10 Light Tank
VCAA-10 ADA Vehicle
VCM-10 Mortar Carrier
Crew 2 (driver, commander) + 9 passengers 2 (driver, gunner/commander) 4 (driver, gunner, sensor operator, commander) 3 (driver, gunner, commander)
Armament 25mm Binary Cannon,
27mm Binary AGL,
1 External Missile Pod
Escudo-1 ADS
160MW Plasma Cannon,
27mm Binary AGL,
2 External Missile Pods 
Escudo-1 ADS
Quad 120-01 Laser Mount
2 External Missile Pods
Binary 120mm Mortar
7.5mm Coax MG
Ammunition 450 25mm (250/200)
500 27mm
6 Escorpião Missiles
70 160MW
750 27mm
4 300 mj disposable power cells 60 120mm
1000 7.5mm
Range Finder +1 +3 +2 (aerial targets only) +1 (mortar only)
Sensor Range 10 km (+1) 12 km (+1) 50 km (+2) (air search)/
10 km (surface)
10 km
Price Lv 20,000 Lv 40,000 Lv 55,000 Lv 25,000

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