Modern Warfare on Rifts Earth (North America)
The trend in tactics across North America, and much of the world, has been the use of small-sized combat units. Except for massive campaigns and sieges by forces such as the Coalition States, field armies of more than a few thousand are uncommon. In a world where a squad of armored infantrymen with laser rifles could obliterate a company of 20th Century infantrymen, small unit wars and guerilla tactics are the warfare of the day. In North America, anyone who can assemble a force of fifty robot vehicles and/or several dozen power armor troops, or a couple hundred cyborgs, Crazies or Juicers, is a force to be reckoned with, and one able to bring most small cities and some kingdoms to their knees! Huge battles like those of World War Two are things of the past since the destructive power of magic and human technology makes such a concentration of force un-desirable. What's more, there are almost no wide scale wars because the world has been divided into thousands of small kingdoms, city-states and nations. The only nations to still amass large forces are the Coalition States, the New German Republic and supernatural and alien invaders, like the Gargoyle Empire
and Xiticix, among others.
Most military forces send out combat units of squad (6-10 troops) to platoon size (40 troops) which are perfect for small engagements (and ideal for role-playing). A medium-sized force is typically the size of one or two Companies (160-320 soldiers), while a large force is typically the equivalent to a Brigade (1920 troops) or a Division (5760 troops).
Spoiler - Large Battle in 104 P.A
Even the Xiticix and other alien and supernatural invaders who attack in swarms, rarely exceed five thousand. Alien creatures and herds or swarms of animal intelligence predators who attack in waves, are usually slaughtered in large numbers by forces 60-80% smaller than the attacking force! Everything is about to change in North America. After years of secretly building an expansive, professional army, the Coalition States is ready to march. Except for a few notable exceptions, like Tolkeen and Free Quebec, the nations surrounding the CS have armies of about 5000-15,000, sometimes less — nothing compared to the nearly one million Coalition soldiers ready for combat (and according to some reports, as many as another half million in the process of training)!
Some CS Strategies & Tactics Blitzkrieg: The Coalition military frequently engages in "Blitzkrieg" assaults, also known as lightning and maneuver warfare. A swift, sudden military offensive that utilizes both ground and air forces. In the case of the Coalition, ground forces usually consist of a robot and hover tank attack group, followed by (sometimes led by) swarming Skelebots and infantry troops (armored Dog Pack, cyborg, Juicer and human troops). The air forces are predominantly the fast and incredibly mobile SAMAS (light and/or super), supported by Skycycles and other attack aircraft (helicopters, transports, jet fighters, etc.). Army commanders use surprise whenever possible and always strike rapidly at the enemy with an array of heavy forces to crush them. They are trained to prey on the indecisiveness of the enemy and to exploit its weaknesses. Once a breach has been made in the enemy front-lines, Coalition soldiers push forward and try to divide the enemy while other combat troops encircle and constrict the enemy to contain and destroy it. In the words of Emperor Karl Prosek , the Coalitions troops "fight a war of annihilation." Thus, the Army completely obliterates nonhuman and magic empowered enemies, and fight human combat forces with near equal ruthlessness. Once a human kingdom is conquered, it is the occupying troops' responsibility to remove all active and passive resistance. The officers and soldiers of the Coalition Army are experienced at this style of war and excel at it.
Fanaticism: The Coalition army has the best troops in North America. This is due in part, to the fanatical patriotism and loyalty to human supremacy, the Coalition States, and their Emperor. The Emperor is often quoted as publicly stating, "Fortune smiles on the brave man who takes on the mantle of the hero." Privately, he confides to his son and Executive Counsel that, "I have made the masses fanatical to make them my instrument. With the vision and passion you and I have given them, our people will achieve things they could never have imagined."
Training: Great emphasis is placed on the individual both in his indoctrination and combat training. Every soldier in the Coalition is provided with rigorous, specialized training and some of the best equipment in the world. The Coalition States has also recruited psychics to detect and combat unnatural forces regularly encountered on the field of battle and hidden among the enemy. Thanks to the combination of training, advanced weapons, firepower, psionics and personal dedication, Coalition soldiers can accomplish missions that other armies could not. Their training and commitment has enabled the Coalition Army to successfully spread Karl Prosek's vision of the future across the mid-section of the American continent.
Most military forces send out combat units of squad (6-10 troops) to platoon size (40 troops) which are perfect for small engagements (and ideal for role-playing). A medium-sized force is typically the size of one or two Companies (160-320 soldiers), while a large force is typically the equivalent to a Brigade (1920 troops) or a Division (5760 troops).
Spoiler - Large Battle in 104 P.A
Even during the Juicer Uprising, one of the largest military forces assembled in the last 20 years, it is believed that less than 30,000 men were involved on the side of the Uprising (Note: The war was such that all numbers are estimated; exact figures are not known. At least half the forces were Juicers — perhaps as many as three-quarters).
Even the Xiticix and other alien and supernatural invaders who attack in swarms, rarely exceed five thousand. Alien creatures and herds or swarms of animal intelligence predators who attack in waves, are usually slaughtered in large numbers by forces 60-80% smaller than the attacking force! Everything is about to change in North America. After years of secretly building an expansive, professional army, the Coalition States is ready to march. Except for a few notable exceptions, like Tolkeen and Free Quebec, the nations surrounding the CS have armies of about 5000-15,000, sometimes less — nothing compared to the nearly one million Coalition soldiers ready for combat (and according to some reports, as many as another half million in the process of training)!
Some CS Strategies & Tactics Blitzkrieg: The Coalition military frequently engages in "Blitzkrieg" assaults, also known as lightning and maneuver warfare. A swift, sudden military offensive that utilizes both ground and air forces. In the case of the Coalition, ground forces usually consist of a robot and hover tank attack group, followed by (sometimes led by) swarming Skelebots and infantry troops (armored Dog Pack, cyborg, Juicer and human troops). The air forces are predominantly the fast and incredibly mobile SAMAS (light and/or super), supported by Skycycles and other attack aircraft (helicopters, transports, jet fighters, etc.). Army commanders use surprise whenever possible and always strike rapidly at the enemy with an array of heavy forces to crush them. They are trained to prey on the indecisiveness of the enemy and to exploit its weaknesses. Once a breach has been made in the enemy front-lines, Coalition soldiers push forward and try to divide the enemy while other combat troops encircle and constrict the enemy to contain and destroy it. In the words of Emperor Karl Prosek , the Coalitions troops "fight a war of annihilation." Thus, the Army completely obliterates nonhuman and magic empowered enemies, and fight human combat forces with near equal ruthlessness. Once a human kingdom is conquered, it is the occupying troops' responsibility to remove all active and passive resistance. The officers and soldiers of the Coalition Army are experienced at this style of war and excel at it.
Fanaticism: The Coalition army has the best troops in North America. This is due in part, to the fanatical patriotism and loyalty to human supremacy, the Coalition States, and their Emperor. The Emperor is often quoted as publicly stating, "Fortune smiles on the brave man who takes on the mantle of the hero." Privately, he confides to his son and Executive Counsel that, "I have made the masses fanatical to make them my instrument. With the vision and passion you and I have given them, our people will achieve things they could never have imagined."
Training: Great emphasis is placed on the individual both in his indoctrination and combat training. Every soldier in the Coalition is provided with rigorous, specialized training and some of the best equipment in the world. The Coalition States has also recruited psychics to detect and combat unnatural forces regularly encountered on the field of battle and hidden among the enemy. Thanks to the combination of training, advanced weapons, firepower, psionics and personal dedication, Coalition soldiers can accomplish missions that other armies could not. Their training and commitment has enabled the Coalition Army to successfully spread Karl Prosek's vision of the future across the mid-section of the American continent.
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