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Catalyst Demo Team
Posts: 14719
LARP'ing is fun!
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So today we come to the last of the Periphery states, the Outworlds Alliance. It’s hard to do an article on them because despite being one of the oldest, and traditionally one of the most important, Periphery states, they just don’t have much of a military to speak of, which means this article is probably going to be a little underwhelming. In fact, as we dive into the Outworlds Alliance, we’re going to notice that their tank force amounts to a mere four battalions, or, in other words, 144 tanks. As of September 1st, 3067, they could count 22 upgraded tanks in their midst, and that’s it. It’s a rather paltry force. In fact, it’s down right pathetic for an interstellar power. Then again, the Outworlds Alliance’s strength always was in its’ air arm, and not its’ ground arm. Still, let’s look at what they do have for vehicular defenses. They have a single factory, seen here below, that produces vehicles. Everything else they have goes to mechs and fighters. So this one factory, although small, does produce a nice little mix of vehicles. The Hunter provides a long-range punch, the SRM Carrier the short-range punch, and the Vedette covers the middle ground and also can act as the backbone. The small amount of Level 2 technology can be explained easily enough by the presence of some upgraded Hunters. On the other hand, you can expect that the planetary militias will have some sort of vehicle force. If you are fighting in the Outworlds Alliance, and need a vehicle, you’re probably more likely to build a force similar to that, than to a line unit of the Outworlds Alliance. This is espeically going to be true as the Snow Ravens move in and establish the Raven Alliance. What exactly the impact that that will have on vehicles is, is unknown, but it can pretty well be inferred that it means an influx of clan tech and clan designs, maybe even a factory or at least an upgrade. In short, as of 3067 the Outworlds Alliance vehicle force, small though it may be, stands at the brink of a tidal wave of change. |
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Major
Posts: 5159
Maskirovka: The Long Reach Of The Chancellor.
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Nice write-up, GWA.
I'm kinda shocked,really. With the upgrade program the ground forces supposedly had been undergoing (in terms of training and gear), the make up and production of combat vehicles have changed little since Objective Raids. The only new vehicle to the line-up here is the Light SRM Carrier (undoubtedly the result of the Alliance's short period of military cooperation with the Taurians).
But I agree. With the eventual Raven subjugation of the Alliance from within, Clan vehicles will undoubtedly replace these. Which, in the case of the Hunter, is a shame.
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Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 6466
Gentleman Ranker: God ha' mercy on such as we
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I could also see some older Davion tanks, including a few taken from either the CapCon or the Combine being pushed off on the alliance, or bought by wealthy/socially prominent types present in the Alliance, considering the current President's mother was a FS diplomat.
Still, it's a decent force, but lacking in a scout unit. The Hunter is great as a light massed battery weapon, I had an excellent time running a Hunter and Archer in an Operation Kabutomushi event, and if teamed up with a NARC carrier of some sort, it would be very effective.
That is one unit that is by and large missing, a light LRM spotter equiped with a Narc system, BAP, GECM, and a light weapon fit.
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Major
Posts: 6125
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With the eventual Raven subjugation of the Alliance from within, Clan vehicles will undoubtedly replace these. Which, in the case of the Hunter, is a shame.
Well, the ravens have always been kinda pragmatic. They would recognize a good vee when they saw it; upgrading the Hunter with clantech LRM's would make for a nice "home guard" militia tank... |
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Captain
Posts: 2102
The Knights will live for ever!
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There is a mention of the OWA using some old Partisan (IIRC) in TRO:3039, and the general statement that all the major peripheric powers use the Heavy LRM Carrier.
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Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 8421
Da me mas Gasolina
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Oddly, the Partisan seems like the last tank they would ever need. Gaining air superiority is not really a concern for them...
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Major
Posts: 6125
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Oddly, the Partisan seems like the last tank they would ever need. Gaining air superiority is not really a concern for them...
Well, in all fairness, 4 x AC/5 is pretty darn good for general duty against pirates and conventional ground forces...  |
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Lieutenant
Posts: 1469
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There is a mention of the OWA using some old Partisan (IIRC) in TRO:3039 Actually, it says everyone except the OWA uses them: While concentrated more in the Federated Suns and Free Worlds League where it is manufactured, the Partisan is by no means rare in any major military. The only exception to this is the Outworlds Alliance, where they generally hold air superiority and have little use for the Partisan. |
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Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 8421
Da me mas Gasolina
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See, that makes more sense.
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Captain
Posts: 2932
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On the other hand, you can expect that the planetary militias will have some sort of vehicle force. If you are fighting in the Outworlds Alliance, and need a vehicle, you’re probably more likely to build a force similar to that, than to a line unit of the Outworlds Alliance. This is espeically going to be true as the Snow Ravens move in and establish the Raven Alliance. What exactly the impact that that will have on vehicles is, is unknown, but it can pretty well be inferred that it means an influx of clan tech and clan designs, maybe even a factory or at least an upgrade. In short, as of 3067 the Outworlds Alliance vehicle force, small though it may be, stands at the brink of a tidal wave of change. i think it's safe to assume the OWA PDF's (Planetary Defense Force) would use a handful of the listed tanks (say, a lance or two per world), with the rest of the unit kitted out with Technicals (as found in TRO:3060) or lightweight Support Vee APC's. though the image of a squad of troops deploying into battle from a horse drawn cart is hard to shake  i'd go with Technicals, since those don't really have factory listings and should be common enough military vehicles in all factions. in fact, you could always fluff the Foot Platoon/Technical combo as "the Lt. figured we needed wheels, so we hotwired this here Supply depot truck...." after all, the technicals from TRO3060 can carry over 5 tons, which is closer to a Peterbuilt or Mack truck in size than the Ford or Toyota trucks commonly seen as technicals in reality.... |
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Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 6466
Gentleman Ranker: God ha' mercy on such as we
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though the image of a squad of troops deploying into battle from a horse drawn cart is hard to shake Played PanzerBlitz, there? You can have Tigers with infantry support on horse carts, facing T-34's and Cossacks! The joy of the Eastern Front! Mind you the US 26th (Philippine Scouts) Cavalry had fought the Philippine campaign partially on horseback. . . |
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