Basic Training: Soviet

Update courtesy Charles Doty.

• AK-47 Assault Rifle

• RPD Machine Gun

• Uses T-54, Tank. Also, about 45% of their main battle tanks are T-34.

• Uses RPG-7 (actually, the Chinese copy)

• In addition to BTR-60 (actually, a Chinese copy), uses BTR-50, BTR-40, BTR-152, and Chinese Type 531.

• They do not use the PT-76, but do use (in very small numbers) BRDM-1.

The Albanian army's support weapons are either WWII Soviet weapons or Chinese artillery pieces.

Air Force

Aircraft in use:

• J-7 Fighter (Chinese MiG-21)

• J-6 Fighter (Chinese MiG-19)

• J-4 Fighter/Bomber (Chinese MiG-17?)

• J-2 Fighter/Bomber (Chinese MiG-15?)

• C-5 Transport (Chinese An-2)

• Li-5 Transport (Chinese)

• Z-5 (Chinese Mi-4)

• Il-76

The operablity, is questionable as they have not had a reliable source for spare parts since they had a falling-out with the Chinese in 1976.

Navy

Primarily a coastal defense force. Consists of mainly Chinese-built small craft such as hydrofoil torpedo boats, fast gunboats, patrol craft and post-WWII Soviet mine-sweepers (none of the last were built later than the'50's). The Albanian navy also has 2 Soviet-built Whiskey class submarines, but it is doubtful that these are operational. Additionally, the army has 6 battalions of coastal artillery (130 and 152mm).

As far as military actions, there was some internal strife in the eighties.

Basic Training: American

Notes: Argentina has a fairly large, well equipped military. Their defeat in the Falklands was not a result of lack of bravery or combat ability, although most of the troops on the islands were reservists and conscripts of relatively low standards and morale.

Update courtesy Charles Doty and Scott Steinmetz.

ARMY

Equipment:

• FMK Submachine Guns (as Uzi, w/40 round magazine)

• FNFAL Battle Rifle

• FNMAG Machine Gun

• M1911 Pistol

• AMX30 Main Battle Tank

• EBR90 Armored Car

• AMX-13 Light Tank/Tank Destroyer

• TH301 Light Tank

• Cobra ATGM (Similar to Soviet AT3. Obsolete, but apparently still in use)

• M113 Infantry carrier

Army Special Forces:

IV Airborne Brigade - Airborne

Commandos - Raider table

Navy:

Notes:

No Seabees

Diesel-electric Submarines only - no nuclear power.

Naval Aviation uses only helicopters and landbased aircraft. Use Air Force career tables. (Their old aircraft carrier has been retired...). Pilots rolling "Strike" on aircraft table fly "Super Etendards", a naval strike plane equipped with the Exocet missile.

Naval Special Forces:

Infanteria de Marina - Marines

Marine Amphibious Commandos - (Better known as "Buzos Tacticos") - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table.

Air Force:

Aircraft Used

• Mirage V and Dagger Fighter/Bombers

• Mirage III Interceptors

• IA-58 Pucara and A-4 Skyhawk attack planes

• C-130 Transport

• Boeing 707 Transport

• Fokker F-27 Transport

• Fokker F-28 Transport

• Ch-47 Chinook Heavy Helocopter

• UH-1D/H Utility Helocopter

• Allouette II light Helocopter

• Hughes 369 (equivelent yo the MD500, roughly)

For air defense, the Argentinan Air force relies on flak guns (20mm and

35mm) and a towed variant of the Roland II.

Notes: The tiny Australian military must cover an enormous area. Units, especially special forces, tend to be very self-reliant, capable of much independant action.

Australian units use the same Regimental system common to all Commonwealth nations. Click here for details.

Updates courtesy Jim Lawrie and Charles Doty.

Basic Training: Commonwealth

Army

A large portion of Australia's armoured and mechanized force is composed of

reservists. The army is replacing its UH-1s with UH-60s.

They also use the LAV-25 or its variants.

ISSUE EQUIPMENT:

• F1 Submachine Gun (similar to Sterling, but magazine fits on top, rather than the side)

• Steyr AUG Assault Rifle

• FNFAL Battle Rifle (Reserve units)

• Parker-Hale C1 Sniper Rifle

• FN-Minimi Automatic Rifle (same as M249)

• FN-MAG Machine Gun

• Browning HP35 Pistol

• Leopard I Main Battle Tank

• M113 ACAV Armored Reconaissance Vehicle (Some versions mounting 76mm gun from Scorpion light tank in small turret on roof)

• M113 Armored personnel carrier

• LAV Personnel Carrier

• UH60, UH1 Cargo Helicopter

• Chinook Cargo Helo

• OH58 Recon Helo

Army Special Forces:

• Australian Special Air Service - Special Operations Forces table.

• Tactical Assault Group (TAG) - Hostage Rescue Units Table. This is Australia’s counterterrorism unit, and is actually a specially-trained squadron of the Australian SAS.

• 1st Commando Regiment - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table (This is a small reserve unit based in and around Sydney)

• 3rd Battalion (Para), Royal Australian Regiment - Airborne

Navy:

• No Seabees

• The Australian Navy is replacing its aging British Oberon class diesel-electric submarines with the Collins class - an upsized version of the Swedish Vãstergõtland-class boats.

• Naval Aviation uses Air Force career tables.

• Australia's old carrier, the "Melbourne", was retired years ago.

Air Force:

Aircraft Used

• Fighter: F/A 18

• Recon: F/A 18

• Attack: F/A 18

• EW: Use Attack

• Strike: F111

• Wild Weasel: Use Attack

• Bomber: F111

• Tanker: Use Transport

• Transport: C130

• Special: F111

Prior Conflicts:

• Malaysia (early '60s)

• Vietnam (small force)

• Gulf War (Naval force)

• Peacekeeping actions in Rwanda, Cambodia and Somalia (1990’s)

• East Timor Peacekeeping Force (1999)

Notes:Belgium has a small professional military, relying on relatively few conscripts by European standards.

Basic Training: American

Updates courtesy Alain Servaes and Charles Doty

ARMY

Equipment:

• FN-FNC Assault Rifle

• FN-Minimi Automatic Rifle (same as M249)

• FN-MAG Machine Gun

• HP-35 Pistol

• Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank

• AIFV MICV (25mm and Milan variants)

• Scorpion/Scimitar Light Tanks

• YPR765 PANDUR Infantry Combat Vehicle (Gendarmerie National)

• Agusta A109 Attack Helicopter (Similar to Lynx)

• Puma Cargo Helicopter

Army Special Forces:

• Commandos - Use the Raider Units table

• Equipes Special de Reconaissance (ESRs) - Special Reconnaissance Units Table ("ESR's")

• Gendarmerie Nationale (National Police - perform an internal security role in wartime. Use Military Police table)

Navy:

• No Seabees

• No Submarines

• Naval Aviation uses Air Force career tables - only rotary-wing and land-based aircraft.

Air Force:

• Aircraft Used

• Fighter: F16

• Recon F16

• Attack: F16

• Transport: Transall

Prior Conflicts:

• Congo (now Zaire) 1963

• Rescues of westerners in various African countries1970s, 1990s

• Gulf War (1991) (small naval detachment)

Notes: Brazil is in perpetual turmoil. It's population is exploding, its debt is astronomical, and it's social problems are becoming staggering. All in all, it's a great place for a Merc: 2000 campaign...

Update courtesy Charles Doty.

ARMY

Equipment:

• MB50 Submachine gun (use Thompson SMG stats, except weapon weighs 3.4 Kgit's basically a .45 calibre Madsen SMG)

• Imbel LAR Battle Rifle (locally produced version of FNFAL).

• Uirapuru Machine Gun (use MAG stats)

• HP35 Pistol

Brazil is building its own Main Battle Tanks, Armored Reconaissance Vehicles, and Infantry carriers. See the various Vehicle Guides for details.

Army Special Forces:

• Paratroopers - Airborne

• Jungle Infantry - (Infantry) (Add Foraging to first term skills)

Air Force

• F5, Mirage III - Fighter

• AMX - Attack

• C-130 - Transport

• UH1, AB212, Puma - Helicopters

Navy

Notes:

• No Seabees

• Diesel-electric Submarines only—no nuclear power.

• Naval Aviation uses Air Force career tables. The Brazilian Navy has an old aircraft carrier, the "Minas Gerais".

Naval Special Forces:

• Marines - Marines (Infantry, Support, and Engineer careers open)

• Toneleros - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table (These are similar to SEALS)

Basic Training: Commonwealth

Canada's tiny military is trained, nevertheless, to the highest standards of Commonwealth forces. Note that Canada's armed forces are not officially divided into army, navy and air force - they are officially unified.

Update courtesy Charles Doty, “Northern Dissident”, Brad Moore and Gary Kusec.

LAND FORCES

Canadian troops belong to regiments with long, involved histories, as in the British Army. The regiments of the Canadian forces are listed on the “Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth" website. This excellent site includes lists of British and Commonwealth regiments throughout history, and also provides a superb primer on the role of the Regiment in Commonwealth military life, in the past and today.

Characters intending to play a Commonwealth land forces character should check the site out.

Equipment:

• Service Rifle 5.56mm (C7) -- The C7 is comparable to the M16A2.

• Carbine C8 - comparable to the M177.

• Light Machine Gun 5.56mm (C9) LMG -- The C9 is the squad support weapon comparable to the M249.

• General Purpose Machine Gun (C6) -- The C6 is comparable to the MAG.

• Optical Sight (C79) -- The C79 has been adopted as a standard sight for the C7 and C9. The carrying handle is removed from the C7/C8 to accommodate the sight. Basically the sight in game terms is a telescopic rifle sight with ranges adjustable from ranges 200 to 800 metres in 100 metre increments.

• Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (Light) (SRAAW(L)) -- This weapon is a Norwegian version of the US M72, and in the Canadian Forces is called the NM72-C7.

• Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (Heavy) (SRAAW(H)) -- This is a canadian designation of the Carl Gustav.

• ERYX and TOW Anti-Tank system.

• ADATS on M113 Chassis

• Javelin SAM

• Grenade Fragmentation High Explosive (M67) -- The issue frag grenade.

• ParkerHale C3 Sniper Rifle

• Elsie C-3 -- AP mine.

• M16 or M16A2 -- 'Bouncing Betty' AP mine

• M18A1 Claymore -- directional mine, pretty self explanatory.

• M21 -- AT mine.

• DM-21 -- AT mine

• Leopard I Main Battle Tank

• Cougar - as a LAV25 but armed with a 76mm gun.

• Grizzly - As a LAV 25, but armed with a .50 M2 Machine gun and a C6

• Coyote Armored Reconaissance Vehicle (uparmored LAV without amphibious capability. and a 25km Ground survalance radar, FLIR, day camera with 14x zoom and a laser rangfinder mounted either on a 10m mast or tripod with a 200m cable.

• BV206 - Tracked Transport (Used in the Arctic)

• M113 Armored Personnel Carrier

• Griffin (Bell 412) Cargo Helicopter

Army Special Forces:

Joint Task Force 2 - Special Operations Forces table. - This unit was founded in 1993 to serve as a counterterrorist unit. Its duties have apparently expanded to those of other special forces units worldwide. Entrants must have STR+CON+INT of 18+, and must have served a term in the Army, Navy or Air Force.

Airborne Commandos - Use the Raider Units table. This unit has apparently, as of the mid-nineties, been disbanded. The Jump School still exists as a cadre to reform this unit.

Navy

Notes:

• No Seabees

• Dieselelectric Submarines only--no nuclear power.

• Naval Aviation uses Air Force career tables.

• Rotary and Land-based fixed-wing aircraft only.

Air Force

Notes: Pilots recieve Pilot: 5 instead of Pilot: 4

Aircraft Used

• FighterCF18

• ReconCF18

• AttackCF18

• TransportC130

Prior Conflicts

• Korea

• Gulf War (1991) (Participation was minimal)

• Peacekeeping in Yugaslavia and Somalia (early and mid ‘90s)

Communist China has the world's largest military, although their equipment is mostly obsoleteby 1960's standards.

Update courtesy Charles Doty.

People’s Liberation Army

Notes: Chinese characters may be horse cavalry - use Leg Infantry, add Horsemanship to first and subsequent term skill tables.

Chinese civilians may join the "Home Guard". See "Reserves".

Basic Training: Third World

ISSUE EQUIPMENT:

• Type 79 or 85 Submachine Guns (as PPsH41, except Mag: 30, Weight: 1.9 KG, Bulk 2/3, and Recoil: Single Shot 2, Automatic 4)

• Type 56 or 68 Carbine (same as SKS).

• Type 56 Assault Rifle (same as AKM).

• Type 79 Sniping Rifle (Same as SVD).

• Type 74 Automatic Rifle (similar to RPK)

• Type 67 Machine Gun (similar to PK)

• Type 59 Pistol (copy of Makarov)

• Chinese versions of T62 and T55 Main Battle Tank, some with western 105mm guns

• T-80 MBT, purchased from Russia

• PT76 Armored Reconaissance Vehicle

• BTR60 Infantry carrier

Chinese versions of Soviet Cargo Helicopters

Navy

Notes: The Chinese Navy has an enormous fleet of patrol and patrol missile craft, mostly obsolescent or built with obsolete technology.

No Seabees

Naval Aviation uses only helicopters and landbased aircraft. Use Air Force career tables.

Naval Special Forces:

Naval Infantry - Marines table

Air Force:

Aircraft Used

Huge numbers of obsolete aircraft. Copies of soviet fihgters include

• MiG-15,

• MIG-17,

• MIG-19,

• MIG-21,

• MIG -23 (few),

• Su-15/21,

• Il-26 light bomber,

• Tu-16 Badger heavy bomber (few).

More recently, they have bought from the Russian Su-27 fighters and possibly MiG-29 fighters - both among the best the Russians have.

Generally Chinese versions of obsolete Soviet planes, although the new Q7 attack plane compares favorably with some older Western attack planes.

Air Force Special Forces

• Airborne - Airborne table

Prior Conflicts:

• Korea

• Various skirmishes with the Russians

• India (1960’s)

• Vietnam (1979)

• Tibet (Since 1960's)

Czechoslovakia's military is weakened by the Czech resentment of Soviet overlordship of their nation.

Update courtesy Charles Doty.

Basic Training: Soviet

ARMY

Equipment:

• Vz24 Submachine Gun

• AK74 Assault Rifle

• Vz54 Sniper Rifle

• RPK74 Automatic Rifle

• Vz59 Machine Gun

• Vz52 Pistol

• T72/T54-55 Main Battle Tanks

• BRDM-2 and OT-65 Armored Reconaissance Vehicle

• OT-64, OT-62 and the OT-810 (basically a copy of WWII

• german half-tracks, some mount 82mm recoilless rifles) Infantry carriers

• Mi-2, Mi-4, Mi-8 and Mi-24 Attack and Cargo Helicopters

NAVY

The Czech Navy is a riverine force. Use Coast Guard character Generation tables, no aviation.

AIR FORCE

Aircraft Used

• Fighter: Mig23,21

• ReconMig 21

• Attack: Mig27, Su-25, Su-7

• Strike: SU22

• Transport: An-26

• Special: Mig 29

Prior Conflicts:

• "Prague Spring" (1968)

• Gulf War (1991) (Chemical Defense Unit)

Thanks to Nis Mathiesen for the much-needed update in January, 1999.

Basic Training: As in US

ARMY

New rifle: M/95 (Canadian C7 rifle) with C79 scope + additional scope

(designation unknown). Currently 7500 delivered. Issued to battle troops

and members of the Danish International Brigade

Civilians may join the "Home Guard"see "Reservists", Page 4.

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• M/95 Assault Rifle (Canadian C7 rifle) Issued to combat troops and International Brigade (below).

• MG3 Machine Gun

• HP35 or SIGP210 Pistol (SIG is as HP35, except MAG is 8)

• Leopard I

• Leopard I "Biber" Bridge tank (engineer).

• M113 Armored Reconaissance Vehicle equipped with T25DK turret (build in Italy), armed with a Schwiez KBA b02 B1 30mm AC and a MG3.

• M113 Infantry carrier or Infantry Combat Vehicle

Special Forces:

Note that both the Jaegerkorpset and Froemandskorpset are armed with HK m/85 assault rifles, Remington 870 pump shotguns and HK MP5 submachine guns (with silencers or flashlight mountings as needed).

Jaegerkorpset: Special Reconnaissance Units Table . Con+Str+Agl must be 18+, Officers must have Leadership 3+ to join. The Jaegerkorpset is a very exclusive unit - they once went five years without admitting any new officers to the unit...

Froemandskorpset Frogman Table

NOTE: Add Parachute to first and subsequent term skills.

Danish International Brigade:

(participates in international operations, equipped like the army with the following addition):

• Mowag Eagle 4x4 m/95 - scout vehicle built on a Hummer chassis

Greenland Garrison To maintain the sovereignity of Greenland, Denmark maintains a small force in the NE of Greenland, in an area that could be described as an ice desert. It is a small force containing no more than 60 men a a time, but they are very tough. The unit is composed of soldiers from all branches in the Danish forces.

Con+Str+Agl must be 17+. Use Mountain Infantry table, add Survival, Snow Skiing, Canine, Combat Engineering to first term skills.

HOME GUARD - "Hjaemevaernet" in Danish - uses the Home Guard table.

It's an interesting unit, having its roots in the World War 2 Danish Resitance - a lineage that was kept very alive during the Cold War, although it's dissipated after the fall of the USSR.

ROYAL DANISH NAVY

• Lynx Helicopters. Based on the Patrol Frigates sailing in the North

• Atlantic.

• 3 corvettes "NIELS JUEL" class

• 4 minelayers "FALSTER" class

• 14 patrolboats "FLYVEFISKEN" class (STANDARD FLEX). Multi purpose, multi configuration vessels.

• 4 Inspection ships "THETIS" class. Operates around Greenland (Danish

• territory).

• 10 Missile-Torpedo boats "WILLEMOES" class

• Other small supply, training, minelaying, patrol

ROYAL DANISH AIR FORCE

• Fighter: F16

• Transport: Hercules C-130, T-17 Supporter

• Helicopter: Sea King S-61

Prior Conflicts:

“Danish forces have been involved in several peace-keeping operations. The first one was around the Suez crisis in the 40s. Since it has been Cyprus and latest Yugoslavia (where a Danish tank-platoon from the Danish International Brigade was attacked by Serbian troops and then destroyed them).”

“A Corvette also participated in the Gulf war '91.”

-- Nis Mathiesen

Finland's small army is nevertheless quite competent - they have a long tradition of clobbering larger foes on the battlefield.

Update thanks to Ville Laurila and Atte Tikkanen.

Basic Training: Soviet

ARMY

Add Snow Skiing 1 to basic training skills.

ISSUE WEAPONS

• 762rk62 Assault Rifle (Like AKM - 762 stands for the caliber (7.62 x 39mm), rk is an abbreviation for the

• word rynnäkkökivääri (rynnäkkö=assault, kivääri=rifle), and 62 stands for 1962, the year when the first rifles were taken to active duty.

• 762kvkk62 Automatic Rifle (based on the czech Vz 52,

• uses 100 round cartridge belts)

• PK Machine Gun

• Browning HP35 Pistol

• T72, T55 Main Battle Tank

• BMP1-2 Infantry Combat Vehicle

• XA-180 "PASI (aka A-180) series Infantry carriers (as BTR-80)

Special Forces:

Sissi - Use the Raider Units table

(Add Snow Skiing 2 to First Term skills)

Marine Commandos - Naval Special Reconnaissance Units Table

NAVY

Use Coast Guard Tables. Add Snow Skiing to all subsequent skill tables - the Finnish Navy has many icebreakers.

AIR FORCE

After WWII, the Finnish Air Force was limited to 60 fighter aircraft. This treaty provision lapsed in 1990.

Aircraft Used

• Fighter: F/A 18 (Mig21 and Saab Draken in reserve)

• Attack: Hawk trainer

• Helicopter: 12x Mi6 “Hip”.

Prior Conflicts:

None since WWII

The French military has been ridculed for years, due to its dismal performance in World War II and Vietnam.

Lately, however, the reputation is belied by the facts. The French military is one of the most experienced in the world, especially in brushfire wars. French special units - commandos, parachutistes, and the Foreign Legion - are excellent, well-respected troops.

Basic Training:American

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• Mat49 Submachine Gun (mostly obsolete)

• FAMAS Assault Rifle

• FRF1 Sniper Rifle

• AAT52 Machine Gun

• PA15 Pistol

• AMX30 and AMX40 Main Battle Tanks

• AMX10 Infantry Combat Vehicle

• VAB APC

• ERYX and Milan ATGM

• VBL, ERC90 and AMX-10RC Armored Cars

• Gazelle (scout/anti-tank), Puma (transport), and the

• Ecureuil (light transport) Helicopters

Special Forces:

• Fusiliers-Marins Commandos - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table

• Etranger Parachutistes - Use the Raider Units table (This is a Foreign Legion unit)

Legion Etrangere

Best known as the "Foreign Legion". They take US Marine basic training, and may select careers as shown below. The Legion is, obviously, open to foreigners - any character of any nation may join, even with a prison record.

Units and their peacetime stations are as follows:

• 1 REI (Infantry - France), use Infantry and Support tables.

• 2 REI (Infantry - France), use Infantry and Support tables.

• 3 REI (Infantry - French Guyana; specialize in jungle warfare. Based there

• to protect the French space program), use Light Fighter tables.

• 4th REI (Infantry - France), use Infantry and Support tables.

• 1 REC (Armd Cav - France), Use Armored Cavalry and Support tables.

• 6 Engineer Regt (France), use Combat Engineers tables

• 13 DBLE (Demi-Brigade, infantry - Djibouti) use Infantry and Supporttables.

• 2 REP (Airborne - Corsica). Use Airborne tables. The 2 REP has four companies, each with a specialized role - 1st (night, urban, and anti-tank warfare), 2nd (mountain and arctic warfare), 3rd (amphibious warfare) and the 4th companie which is trained as a stay-behind force (if invaded, they would hide and let the front line pass them by or drop behind the lines, then they would use their training in sniping, demolitions and sabotage to harass the enemy's rear).

• 13th Regiment de Dragons Parachutistes - Special Reconnaissance Units Table (Add Parachute 1 to first Term)

NAVY

No Seabees

Naval Aircraft Used

Naval pilots receive Pilot: 5 rather than 6 as initial skill.

The French Navy has two aircraft carriers, with plans to replace them with two new nuclear ships.

• Fighter: Crusader, Rafale

• Recon: Atlantique

• Attack: Etendard

• Strike: Etendard

FRENCH AIR FORCE

Pilots Receive Pilot: 5 as initial skill.

Aircraft Used

• FighterMirage F1/2000

• ReconJaguar

• AttackJaguar

• EWMirage F1

• StrikeMirage F1

• BomberMirage IV

• TransportTransall

GENDARMERIE

The national police force is a paramilitary unit that provides municipal and national police services, as well as providing rear-area security should French territory be threatened.

GIGN - Special Operations Forces table. This is one of the world’s busiest counterterrorism units. Formed in 1974, they are a unit of the national Gendarmerie, or police. Applicants must have served a term as French State/Local Law Enforcement before joining.

Prior Conflicts:

• Algerian Civil War ('50s'60s)

• Vietnam (until 1956)

• Gulf War (1991): Light Armored Division served alongside the US VII Corps.

• Chad (vs. Libya - mid '80s)

• The 2 REP was dropped into Zaire by the USAF in 1978 to protect Europeans during a rebellion there.

• The 2 REP was sent to Rwanda to help quell the trobles there in the early

• 90's.

• One Foreign Legion regiment (either the 2nd or 3rd) was among the

• peace-keepers in the former Yugoslavia.

• The GIGN has been very, very busy.

The German intelligence service is the Bundesnachrichtendienst.

German Federal Police

The Federal Police are similar to both the US FBI and Border Patrol (with the ATF and INS thrown in for good measure. They also have their own special force:

GSG9 - Special Operations Forces table. This is a civilian police unit. Members must first serve a term in State/Local police before joining. (Delete Heavy Weapons skills from subsequent term list)

Heer (Army)

Basic Training: Army basic is as follows:

• Small Arms 2

• Melee Combat 1

• Swimming 1

• Wheeled Vehicle 1

• Thrown Weapon 1

Fernpaetruppen are Long Range Reconnaissance Troops.

Fallschirmjaeger are Airborne Infantry, with an added antitank rolethey use special light antitank missile armed vehicles, deployed by helicopter.

Civilians may join "Heimatschutztruppen" (as U.S. National Guardsee "Reserves", Page 4).

Civilians may also join the "Home Guard"see "Reservists".

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

Note: Issue of the G11 Submachine Gun is a dead issue.

• G50 Assault Rifle (new first-line weapon)

• G3 Battle Rifle (standard through the 1980s).

• PSG1 Sniper Rifle

• HKCAW Shotgun

• MG3 Machine Gun

• P7M13 Pistol

• Leopard II and Leopard I Main Battle Tank

• Luchs Armored Car

• Marder Infantry Combat Vehicle

• Cobra Attack Helicopter

• Puma Cargo Helicopter

Special Forces:.

• Fernspaehtruppen - Special Reconnaissance Units Table Table

• Fallschirmjaeger - Airborne - (Add Infantry Heavy Weapons to First Term skills, Tracked Vehicle to subsequent term skills. The Fallschirmjaeger are the German’s primary intervention force in places like Kosovo and Bosnia.

Gebirgsjaeger - Mountain Inf.

BUNDESLUFTWAFFE

Aircraft Used

• FighterF4

• ReconF104

• AttackF104, Alphajet

• StrikeTornado

• BomberRoll Again

• TransportC130

BUNDESKRIEGSMARINE

Naval aviation rotary wing and landbased patrol craft only.

Pilots receive Pilot:5 instead of 6. When rolling on Aircraft table, treat Strike and Attack results as Tornado, recon and EW as Atlantique, all others as helicopter pilot.

Diesel-Electric submarines only - no nuclear power.

No Seabees

Prior Conflicts:

The Bundeswehr saw its first action outside of Germany in the mid-nineties, on peacekeeping duty in the Balkans.

Basic Training: American.

ARMY

Add Mountaineering to Subsequent Term list for Infantry

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• FNFAL Battle Rifle

• FNMAG Machine Gun

• M1911A1 Pistol

Special Forces:

• Commandos - Use the Raider Units table (Add Mountaineering to First Term skills)

• Special Raiding Force - Special Operations Forces - use Naval SOF first term skills. SRF troopers do not have to serve a term elsewhere before joining. The SRF, in fact, accepts conscripts - the only special force of this caliber to do so.

NAVY

Naval aviation rotary wing and landbased patrol craft only. Use the same career description as Air Force pilots. DieselElectric submarines onlyno nuclear power.

No Seabees

AIR FORCE

Aircraft Used

• Fighter: F16

• Recon: F16

• Attack: A7

• Strike: A7

• Transport: C130

Prior Conflicts:

Action on Cyprus against the Turks in the 1970s.

Under Construction.

The Indian Army inherited its Regimental system from the UK.

The Irish Defense Forces serve mainly to protect Ireland's jealously guarded neutrality, mainly against terrorists from Northern Ireland. They have contributed battalions to UN Peacekeeping forces for decades.

Most Irish units are very understrength, in part because the British military, which has gladly accepted Irish recruits for centuries, offers better pay.

Basic Training: American

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• L2A3 Submachine gun

• SteyrAUG assault rifle

• L7A2 machine gun

• HP35 Pistol

• Scorpion light tank

• Various French armored cars

Special Forces:

Ranger Company - Use the Raider Units table

NOTE: The special forces "Ranger Company" is an airmobile quick reaction force, designed to reinforce border guard units that may be in trouble.

NAVY

Use Coast Guard career tables, including Aviation.

AIR FORCE

Only small prop - driven transport and observation planes.

Prior Conflicts

• Several contingents with UN Peacekeeping forces.

• Occasional runins with I.R.A. guerillas.

The accomplishments of Israel's armed forces can be attributed to several factors - they are very clever in their use of limited resources, they have a clearcut strategy (their failure in Lebanon in 1980 can be partly blamed on the lack of such strategy) and, above all, they are highly motivated. Their backs are to the sea, after all.

Most of Israel's troops are reservists.

NOTE: All Israeli Male characters not serving as members of the regular military must serve a term in the Military, then serve until age 55 as “National Guard” type reservists.

Special thanks to Josh Peters for his input on recent Israeli military developments.

Training: Commonwealth

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• Uzi Submachine Gun

• M16A1 Assault Rifle (Israeli Tanker, Artillery, anti-aircraft and Recon troops still use the Galil.

• FNFAL Battle Rifle (Support units)

• Galil Sniper Rifle

• Negev Automatic Rifle (use M249 stats. ROF=10, use either 30-rd magazine or 100rd belt)

• FN-MAG Machine Gun

• HP35 Pistol

• Merkhava tank

• M113 Personnel carrier

• AH1 Attack Helicopter

Special Forces:

• Sayaret Golani, Sayaret Nichal, Sayaret Nachal, Sayeret Tzanhanim - Use the the Raider Units or Special Reconnaissance Units Table Table (Not open to reserve troops)

• Sayaret Matkal (aka General Staff Unit 269) - Special Operations Forces table. This is the Israeli counterterrorist unit.

• Other Sayaret recon units - Special Reconnaissance Units Table Table

• Unit 669 - Use the Para-Rescue Units table.

National Intelligence is called Mossad. Sayaret Matkal commandos may join Mossad after serving one term, serving as direct action agents - I.E, the agency's "muscle", getting Israeli agents out of trouble, and putting enemy agents in more trouble than they can handle. Sayaret men joining Mossad add Small Arms 2 (Pistol) to first term skills.

NAVY

No Naval Aviation.

The Israeli Navy consists of a few obsolescent British frigates, three German-built submarines, and a sizeable number of patrol craft, including a large fleet of excellent guided-missile patrol boats.

Diesel-Electric submarines only - no nuclear power.

No Seabees

Naval Special Forces:

Kommando Yomi (Naval Commandos) - Special Operations Forces table - use Naval SOF first term skills.

Flotilla 13 - Special Operations Forces table - use Naval SOF first term skills.

CH'EYL HA AVIR (ISRAELI AIR FORCE)

Pilots receive Pilot: 6 as first term skill.

• Aircraft Used

• FighterF15, F16

• ReconE2

• AttackA4, Kfir

• EWF4

• StrikeF16, F4

• Wild WeaselF4

• BomberRoll Again

• TankerKC131

• TransportC130, Transall

• SpecialLavi (Hypothetical. If this offends your sensibilities, use F15 instead).

Prior Conflicts:

• War of Independance (1948)

• Suez War (1956)

• Six Day War (1967)

• Yom Kippur War (1973)

• Invasion of Lebanon (1981)

• Numerous antiterrorist actions

The Italian Military, once synonymous with incompetence, became during the Cold War a well-regarded military force within NATO.

Carabiniere are sort of like national police troops. In wartime, they serve an internal security role.

Basic Training: American

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• M12 Submachine Gun

• AR70 Assault Rifle

• MAG Machine Gun

• M92S (M9) Pistol

• C1 Ariete Tank

• VCC1 APC

• Fiat Armored Cars

Special Forces:

• Paracudisti - Airborne

• 9th Bn. Paracudisti Incursore - Use the the Raider Units table

• Alpini - Mountain Inf. - (Add Parachute to subsequent term skills)

• 13th Gruppo Acquisizione Obiettivo - Special Reconnaissance Units Table - (recon for guided missiles - Add Forward Observer to first term skills)

NAVY

Naval pilots use same career description as Air force pilots. The Italian Navy has one light aircraft carrier.

Diesel-Electric submarines onlyno nuclear power.

No Seabees

Navy Special Forces:

• San Marco Subacque Incursore - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table

• Lagunari - Marines

Air Force

Aircraft Used

• FighterF104

• ReconF104

• AttackAMX

• EWRoll Again

• StrikeTornado

• TransportC130

Prior Conflicts:

Gulf War (1991) (naval and air units).

Carabiniere

Carabineri are a separate, parallel branch of service, a paramilitary group that is a combination national police and security force.

Use the Gendarmerie character tables.

Japan is a pacifistic country, so it's military is not overly highly regarded by the general population.

That being said, the Japan Self-Defence Forces are generally quite wellequipped.

Basic Training: American

ARMY

Equipment:

• SCK Model 65 or 66 submachine gun (Use Carl Gustav SMG data)

• Model 62 Battle Rifle

• Model 62 Machine Gun

• SIG/Sauer P220 Pistol (As HP35, except MAG=9)

• Type 74 Main Battle Tank

• Various Japanese APCs

Special Forces

1st "Kutai" Airborne Rgt. - Airborne

Notes:

The Type 62 Battle Rifle is an interesting weapon, rare outside Japanese service. It's a selective fire weapon that is optimized to fire a special reduced-charge 7.62mm round issued only by the Japanese army. This reduces the recoil, allowing the weapon to be fired with far greater control on fullautomatic. It can can also fire the standard 7.62mm NATO round.

The following stats reflect the Model 62's performance with both types of ammunition.

Recoil

AmmunitionROF DAM Pen Blk SS Brst Rng

Regular 5 4 2-3-0 5 2 7 65

Reduced 5 4 2-nil 5 2 5 60

NAVY

No Nuclear Power

No Seabees

Naval Aviation uses Air Force career chart

Japan has the world's largest coast guard.

AIR FORCE

Aircraft Used

• FighterF15

• ReconRF4

• AttackMitsubishi F1 (Similar to Jaguar)

• StrikeF4

• TransportC130

This is the most militarized society on earth. Every male citizen serves a term in the armed forces (unless they manage to go touniversity AND into government).

Basic Training: Soviet

ARMY

Equipment:

• AKR Submachine Gun

• AKM Assault Rifle

• RPK Automatic Rifle

• PK Machine Gun

• PM Makarov Pistol

• T62 or T55 Main Battle Tank

• BRDM Armored Reconaissance Vehicle

• BMP or BTRseries Infantry vehicles

• Soviet Helicopters

Special Forces:

Diversionary units - Use of the Raider Units table

NAVY

No Seabees

No Naval Aviation

No Nuclear Power

Naval Special Forces:

Diversionary units - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table

AIR FORCE

Aircraft Used

As Soviet Union

Prior Conflicts:

• Korean War

• Numerous skirmishes since 1953.

• North Korean commandos have been reported operating in Zaire and Zimbabwe.

Basic Training: American

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• M3 Submachine Gun

• Daewoo K2 Assault Rifle (as M16A2)

• M60 Machine Gun

• Atchisson/Daewoo Shotgun

• M1911 Pistol

• M48/M60 Battle Tank

Special Forces:

Special Forces - Use either the regular or Naval versions of the Raider Units table (Some are scuba-oriented)

Marines -Marines

NAVY

• No Nuclear Power

• No Seabees

• No Submarines

Naval Aviation uses Air Force career chart

COAST GUARD

Includes Aviation elements. Use Air Force tables to generate Coast Guard Pilots.

AIR FORCE

Aircraft Used

• FighterF16, F4

• ReconRF4

• AttackF5

• StrikeF4

• TankerKC131, KC10

• TransportC130

Prior Conflicts:

• Korea

• Vietnam (Marine detachment noted for it's ferocity)

• Numerous skirmishes

The Netherlands' unionized military had a bad reputation in the 1970's. Most of it was probably undeserved. Although Dutch society is basically pacifistic, the Netherlands learned, as didNorway, that peace and freedom demand vigilance. The Dutch Armed Forces are exceedingly well-equipped, fairly well trained, and their special forces are highly regarded by their US and British counterparts.

The Dutch military has been all-volunteer since 1995.

Need info on the Dutch Military? See http://www.mindef.nl/english/

Basic Training:US

Note that Civilians may join the "Home Guard"see "Reservists",

ARMY

Equipment:

• Uzi Submachine Gun (drivers and other support personnel only)

• ”Dimaco” (As Canadian C7) Assault Rifle

• Dimaco Light Support Weapon

• FNMAG Machine Gun

• Glock 17 Pistol (replaced HP35)

• Leopard II Main Battle Tank

• M113 C&R (version of Canadion Lynx) Armored Reconaissance Vehicle

• M109 SP 155 howitzer

• MLRS Mobile Rocket Launcher

• YPR765 Infantry Combat Vehicle

• AH-64D Apache

• Bölkow BO 105 CB

• Boeing CH-47D "Chinook"

• Bell AB-412 SP (Search and Rescue)

• Eurocopter AS 532 U2 "Cougar MK II"

Special Forces:

• Reconaissance Troops: Special Reconnaissance Units Table

• Royal Marines - use British Royal Marines table.

• RM W Company - As British Royal Marines, add Mountaineering 2 and Parachute to First Term skills.

• Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid (BBE) - Special Operations Forces table. This is the Dutch counterterror unit. Must first serve term in Dutch Royal Marines).

• Boat Group, RM - Special Operations Forces table - use "Naval SOF" first term skills.

• 7 Special Boat Section - Use Special Boat Unit table.

NAVY

Naval aviation rotary wing (Lynx SH14 D (ASW Chopper)) and landbased patrol craft only. DieselElectric submarines onlyno nuclear power.

No Seabees

Royal Netherlands Air Force

Aircraft Used

• FighterF16

• AttackNF5

• TransportC130, Fokker F50/F60

• ReconNF5

• SpecialP3 Orion

• Tanker KDC-10

Prior Conflicts:

• Gulf War (1991) (air and support units)

• Several colonial insurgencies in Indonesia (before Indonesia became independant)

• Korea (marines)

• Peacekeeping duty, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Dutch contingent was criticized for apparently allowing Serb militias to massacre Bosnian civilians ostensibly under their protection. This action sparked a national controversy, sometimes called (with possible hyperbole) “The Dutch Vietnam”.

Army

Thanks to Raymond Gray (Hauraki Regiment) for much of the information in this section.

Currently the New Zealand Army has two regular force light infantry battalions (1 RNZIR and 2/1 RNZIR with RNZIR standing for Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment). A seperate unit (Queen Alexandras Mounted Rifles) operates andcrews the APCs which are attached as needed. The infantry doctrines are eavy on patrolling in close country and reconnisance. More attention is slowly being paid to open country operations and set piece infantry battles.

The territorial force (which are more like part time soldiers than National Guard weekend warriors) number six Regimental groupings. Each 'Regiment' has to be able to field an infantry company at any point in time. Each grouping also has a specialty for which another company sized unit has to be orovided. THis may be armor, reconnisance, engineers, artillery etc.

The NZ forces are reknowned for their ability to make do with little or no equipment. Their scrounging ability in particular is famous, with many a visiting Australian unit losing much of their kit. All the silverware from a certain Australian base is on proud display at the Waiouru sergeants and warrant officers mess!

An infantry patrol (4-5 men)has 1 Minime MGs and 1 M203 as support weapons"

The New Zealand Army shares the Commonwealth's regimental system.

Equipment

Infantry Weapons:

• Steyr AUG (Australian Manufactured).

• Rifle and carbine weapons.

• C9 Minime 5.56mm MG.

• M203 grenade launchers (fitted to Steyr Rifles)

• GPMG 7.62mm Heavy MG

• M72 Law

• Carl Gustav

Vehicles

• Landrover (purchased up until 1986)

• M113A3 APC (seventy odd of them plus usual variants such as field ambulance, recovery etc). There are still bullet holes from Vietnam visible in some of the older M113s.

• Scorpion light tanks (a dozen are in mothballs and can be reactivated if

• needed, but are in a bad state).

• The entire vehicle fleet is being replaced within the next two years, LAV

• gen 3 has been selected as the replacement vehicle.

• Mercedes Unimog Trucks

Special Forces

New Zealand SAS - Special Operations Forces table. This unit trains with the Australian SAS. Add Tracking 2 to first-term skills.

The SAS (which numbers around 120 active members at any one time) are very highly trained and motivated. Our correspondent in New Zealand, Raymond Gray of the Hauraki Regiment, says:

• “ I was doing an OP once and a guy on sentry in the rear of our position rolled away to have a pee and when he rolled back his rifle was gone. A SAS dude had nicked it. The rifle turned up in a locked truck next to the sleeping driver.”

A third of the members of the NZSAS rotate through the “boat troop”.

The recon platoon from 1 RNZIR is also very good, a step away from the SAS. Use the Special Reconnaissance Units Table

Royal New Zealand Navy

• 1 Leander class frigate (ex Royal Navy) expected useful life through to 2005

• 2 ANZAC class frigates: Te Mana (the “Pride” or “Personal Respect”) and Te Kaha (The “Bravery” or “Strength”)

• various support ships.

Royal New Zealand Air Force

• 20 A4k Skyhawks, updated with a 'useful' life through to 2005

• 14 Iroqouis helos

• 5 C-130H Hercules

• 6 P3B Orions

Prior Conflicts

• Occupation Forces in Japan until 1949.

• Korea: air, naval and ground units involved

• Malaysian Emergency

• Vietnam (SAS, infantry, artillery etc)

• Falklands (no units saw combat but many were deployed in support roles or to cover gaps left by the deployment of British Forces)

• Gulf War (SAS forces, medical units, transport aircraft)

• Many peacekeeping assignments around the world, most significantly Bosnia and East Timor.

Additionally SAS troops routinely see action overseas while 'seconded' to the British SAS. This process allows the government to avoid declaring NZ troops’ involvement.

NZ infantry patrols in East Timor are 15-18 days long with no resupply.

NZ was a step away from intervening in the FIji coup of the late eighties. There were four C-130s filled with SAS and infantry on the runway ready to go before the stand down came from the Prime Minister.

The Norwegians learned the hard way the old adage, "If you want peace, you must prepare for war". In 1940, Norway's official foreign policy was pacifism - that anybody who fought in a war was morally equivalent to anybody else who fought, meaning there was no moral difference between the Allies and the Nazis.

Five years of Nazi occupation changed all of that. Norway's military is a tiny, well-trained regular force backed by a relatively large (compared to the general population) reserve element. Norwegian reservists are well-trained in guerrilla, mountain, and arctic operations, and are respected by the US, British and Dutch marines that regularly exercise with them.

Many troops are part of the 600,000 strong "Heimevernet" (Home Guard). Use the Home Guard tables. However, some Heimevernet troops are detailed as guides to the US, British, and Dutch marines that would be sent to Norway in an emergency. These troops must pass Marine entryrequirements, and get Marine Infantry instead of Home Guard first term skills.

Thanks to Carl Roger Nilsen for the update.

Basic Training: American (add Snow Skiing to basic training skills)

National Special Force:

FSK (Forsvarets Spesialkommando): Special Operations Forces table. This is Norway’s counterterrorism unit. It draws troops from the Jegers and the Marinejegers (see below). Troops must serve a term in one of those units before joining FSK. Must have Str+Con+Int of 18+ to join.

“Stay Behind” - This is a super-secret special force, intended to create a resistance movement in any Norwegian territory conquered by an enemy force. Nobody “joins” the unit - it’s entirely by recruitment, and only recruits that are completely trusted are told the nature of the unit. Members can be generated on the Government Agent or the Unconventional Warfare tables, must have STR+CON+INT of 19+, and should only belong to the unit under referee’s discretion. In addition, it’s open to recruits from in and out of Norway’s military. Again, referee discretion is involved here.

ARMY

Add Snow Skiing to Army basic training, and to Infantry subsequent skills.

Most regular infantry and reservists would be generated with Mechanized or Mountain infantry tables.

ISSUE EQUIPMENT:

• MP5 Submachine Gun

• G3 Battle Rifle (Made in Norway, called the AG3).

• FN Minimi Automatic Rifle (Same as M249).

• NM149S Sniper Rifle (use ParkerHale C1 stats - 5round magazine).A variety of sniper rifles are used today, and the .50BMG caliber sniper rifles are becoming common.

• MG3 Machine Gun

• MAG Machine Gun in vehicles

• M2 Heavy Machine Gun (popularly known as tolv-sju (“12-7”).

• Glock Model 17 Pistol (Some special units are equipped with the Glock 18, the fully automatic 9mm Glock

• Leopard I Main Battle Tank

• NM24 Light Tank (This is a WWII-era American M24 light tank, with a 90mm low-pressure gun as on MPGS90)

• NM113 Infantry carrier (as M113, but with a 20mm gun in small turret)

Special Forces:

Jegers - Special Reconnaissance Units Table (Add Snow Skiing to First Term skills)

Kongelige Norske Marine (Royal Norwegian Navy)

There is no Naval aviationAir force units provide all maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

No Seabees

The Norwegian navy has four old frigates (with new frigates apparently in the design phase), three large surveillance vessels, and a large fleet of patrol/missile boats and diesel patrol submarines, plus a number of minesweepers and minelayers.

Navy Special Forces:

Marinejegers (Naval “Hunters”) - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table

Kystjegere (Coastal “Hunters”) - a newish (1995?) unit that operates small waterjet boats to reconnoiter Norway’s inland waterways. When they contact an enemy, they beach the boats, quickly deploy heavy weapons, and fight. Use the Naval version of the Raider Units and Special Boat Unit tables, add Heavy Weapons 1 to first term and Heavy Weapons to subsequent terms.

Kongelige Norske Flyvåpen (Royal Norwegian Air Force)

Pilots receive Pilot:5 instead of Pilot: 4 as initial skill.

Aircraft Used

• FighterF16

• ReconRF5, P3 Orion

• AttackF5

• StrikeF16

• TransportC130

New helicopters are being considered, including the Apache and the Cobra

Air Force Special Forces

Fallskjermjegere (Airborne “Hunters”) - Special Reconnaissance Units TableTables. Add Snow Skiing 2, Parachute to first term, Snow Skiing to subsequent term skills.

Prior Conflicts:

• There have been several Norwegian contingents on UN Peacekeeping missions.

• Norwegian air (including combat) and special forces units, as well as regular troops on peacekeeping duty, were involved in the various Balkans conflicts.

Basic TrainingSoviet

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• AKR Submachine Gun

• AK74 Assault Rifle

• SVD Sniper Rifle

• RPK74 Automatic Rifle

• PK Machine Gun

• P64 Pistol

• Other weapons as Soviet.

Special Forces:

• Special Operations BN, 6th Air Assault Div. - Use the Raider Units table

• 6th "Pomeranian" Air Assault Division - Airborne

• Brigada Podhalanska - Mountain Inf.

NAVY

• Naval aviation rotary wing and landbased patrol craft only.

• Naval Pilots use same career description as air force pilots.

• DieselElectric submarines onlyno nuclear power.

• No Seabees

Naval Special Forces:

• 7th Luzycka Naval Assault Division - Marine

• Submarine Service - Only take ONE first skill at a level of two - NO backup skill.

• Aircraft Used - As Soviet

Prior Conflicts:

None since WWII

The author is soliciting further information about the Singaporean military. Contact me!

Army

The Singapore Army is small, but by most accounts well trained and equipped for its role.

Singaporean troops can be Infantry (Mech, Air Assault or Leg), Armored Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers, or the two special units listed below.

Equipment

• AMX-13 Reconaissance Tanks

• M113 Armored Personnel Carriers

• IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicles

• FV88 Howitzers

• M16S1 (made in Singapore) assault rifles

• FN MAG Machine Guns

• Carl Gustav Antitank Weapon

Special Forces

• Guards: Use the Raider Units table

• Commandos: Use the Special Operations Forces table.

Navy

About 4,500 officers and men serve in the Singapore Navy.

The fleet consists of a six missile corvettes, six missile gunboats, patrol craft, landing ships, minesweepers and a squadron (with the Air Force) of Fokker 50-series maritime patrol aircraft.

Air Force

Singapore Air Force pilots take training as the US Air Force.

Aircraft Flown

• Fighter: F16, F5

• Attack: A4 Super Skyhawk

• Cargo: C130

• Early Warning: E2 Hawkeye

• Helicopters: AS332M Super Puma, UH1H ("Huey"), AS550 Fennec, CH-47D Chinook.

South African units, as this is written (in the late 1990s - Ed.), are segregated by race, and often, among black units, by tribe.

Basic Training: Commonwealth

ARMY

South African Army troops are organized into regiments with long, involved histories, as in the British army. The regiments of the South African forces are listed on the “Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth" website. This excellent site includes lists of British and Commonwealth regiments throughout history, and also provides a superb primer on the role of the Regiment in Commonwealth military life, in the past and today.

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• BXP Submachine Gun (Like Uzi, but ROF is 10, MAG 22 or 32. Due to careful design, recoil is same as Uzi)

• R4 Assault Rifle (a copy of the Galilsee Israel)

• L42 Sniper Rifle

• Various types of Shotgun

• SS77 Machine Gun (Use M60E3 stats)

• Z88 Pistol (Local Copy of Beretta M9see U.S)

• Oliphant (Centurion) tank

• Ratel Personnel Carrier (Similar to LAV25, except has small turret forward, with 20mm gun)

Special Forces:

• 44 Para Brigade - Airborne

• Recce Commandos - Special Operations Forces table. - (Delete scuba and boat skills, but add "Tracking 2" to first term skills).

NAVY

• No Naval aviation

• Diesel-Electric submarines only - no nuclear power.

• No Seabees

AIR FORCE

• Aircraft Used

• FighterMirage III

• ReconMirage

• AttackAermacchi

• StrikeMirage

• TransportTransall SpecialKfir

Civilians may join the reserves as "Home Guard" - see Reserves, page 4

Prior Conflicts:

• Numerous counterinsurgency operations

• War in Angola (1970's80's)

• Much riot control

Spain became a member of NATO during the Cold War. They have had sporadic experience fighting in their former colonies, especially in Africa. However, they fought an extended, bloody civil war in the 1930’s, and their Division Azul fought in Russia during WWII.

Note for Merc: 2000 players- the Spanish arms industry has a long tradition of building high-quality weapons for reasonable prices.

Many thanks to Eduardo Perez Santos for his valuable feedback.

Basic Training: American

ARMY

Issue Equipment:

• Star Model 30M pistol (use Beretta M9 stats)

• CETME Model L Assault Rifle (as M16 - ROF is 5)

• (This is regarded as “a very bad weapon”. Consider it unreliable, if you’re using the weapon reliability rules)

• CETME Model C (as G3 - they are, in fact, cousins)

• Star Z84 Submachine gun (use Uzi stats - they're similar)

• CETME Ameli Machine Gun

• MG3 Machine Gun

• Leopard II Main Battle Tanks (replacing M48/M60 Main Battle Tanks, which will be found in reserve units)

• Pizarro Armored Personnel Carrier (Similar to M2 Bradley, but no TOW launcher)

Army Special Forces:

• Brigada Paracaidista - Airborne (BRIPAC)

• Various special units - Use the Raider Units table

• Spanish Foreign Legion - Use Raider Units table

The First Armored Division, BRIPAC and the Spanish Foreign Legion, along with several smaller special units, make up the Spanish Fast Action Force (Fuerza de Accion Rapida). This is their rapid deployment force. During the cold war, it was tasked with reinforcing NATO on the central front.

NAVY

The Spanish Navy operates one V/STOL carrier, with Sea King helicopters and Harriers. Pilots use air force tables. They also have several frigates, and a number of French-built diesel subs.

No Seabees

No Nuclear Power

Navy Special Forces:

Infantria de Marina - Marines (may take Infantry or Support - use USMC Basic Training)

Unidad Operaciones Especiales ("Special Operations Unit”) - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table

Switzerland has for 400 years enforced its neutrality by developing what is probably the worlds largest military, per capita. Every ablebodied male serves for two years in the regular forces, then joins a reserve unit until the age of sixty.

Every Swiss male not serving in the regular military must serve as a“National Guard” type reservist until age 60. (This requirement was pared back immediately after the Cold War)

Basic Training: US

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

Note: Swiss-built equipment is renowned for its quality.

• SIG SG 550 Assault Rifle

• SIG SG 510 Battle Rifle in reserve units

• SIG MG710 Machine Gun

• SIG/Sauer SSG2000 Sniper Rifle (Use ParkerHale C1 stats, but with a 10 shot magazine).

• SIGSauer P226 Pistol

• Leopard II Main Battle Tank

The Swiss "navy" is a river/lake patrol force. Use Coast Guard tables.

AIR FORCE

The Swiss Air Force is an integral part of the Army.

Aircraft Used

• FighterF5

• AttackF5

• StrikeF5

• TransportC130

• ReconF5

Air Force Special Forces:

• FernspaehKompanie 17 - Special Reconnaissance Units table - Entry: Strength+Agility+Constitution 16+. Fernspaehers get Mountaineering 2 as first term skill.

Basic Training: US

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• M1 Carbine (Reserve units)

• G3 Battle Rifle

• M16 Assault Rifle

• M21 Sniper Rifle

• M60 Machine Gun

• M1911A1 or Glock Model 17 Pistol

Special Forces:

• Special Forces - Use Unconventional Warfare tables

• Tiger Scouts - Special Reconnaissance Units Table

• Harn Suk - Use the Raider Units table

Harn Suk is (or, let's be honest, was reported in an issue of Soldier of Fortune magazine in the late 1970s) a motorcycle commando unit, equipped with Suzuki 125cc dirt bikes. Each bike carries two men - the passenger carries an RPG2 (basically an outdated anscestor of the RPG16). It's an odd unit, but it was reportedly highly useful for controlling Thailand's thousands of miles of jungle trail.

Add Motorcycle to first and subsequent term skill lists, and delete the Parachute skill.

NAVY

Use Coast Guard tables.

Special Forces:

Royal Thai Marine Corps - Marines

AIR FORCE

The Thai Air Force has F16's, complementing its variety of older USAF equipment.

Prior Conflicts:

• Communist Insurgency (1960s to present)

• Pro-Democracy struggles (1992)

Turkey's soldiers are renowned as fierce fighters, especially in hand-to-hand combat. A legend, possibly apocryphal, has it that during the Korean War, Turkish patrols would go into no-man's land armed only with knives, for silenceand come back carrying loads of North Korean and Chinese ears.

Basic Training:

• Small Arms 2

• Melee Combat 2

• Foraging 1

• Thrown Weapon 1

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• M3A1 Submachine Gun

• G3 Battle Rifle

• M21 Sniper Rifle

• M60 Machine Gun

• M1911A1 Pistol

Special Forces:

• ParaCommandos - Use the Raider Units table

NAVY

Naval aviation rotary wing and land-based patrol craft only. Diesel Electric submarines onlyno nuclear power.

No Seabees

TURKISH AIR FORCE

• FighterF16

• ReconF16

• AttackF5

• StrikeF16

• TransportC130

• SpecialF16

Prior Conflicts:

• Korea

• Kurdish Insurgency (from 1970s to present)

While the armed forces of the United Kingdom continue to shrink, they are very highly regarded for their professionalism and unit cohesion.

Part of the reason for this cohesion, especially among ground forces, the marine commandos and the RAF Regiment, is the Regimental systemcommon to all commonwealth nations. Click here for information on this system.

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• L2A3 Submachine Gun

• L85 (IWS) Assault Rifle

• L1A1 (FNFAL) Battle Rifle (Reserve Units)

• L42 Sniper Rifle

• L86A1 (LSW) Automatic Rifle

• L7A2 (MAG) Machine Gun

• HP35 Pistol

• Challenger Main Battle Tank

• Warrior (MCV80) Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Special Forces

Special Air Service

• 22nd BN (Regular) and 21st Bn (Reserve) - Special Operations Forces table.

• 23rd Bn (Reserve) - Special Reconnaissance Units Table

NOTES: Entrants to 22nd/SAS must serve one term in military prior to entering the SAS. 21st and 23rd/SAS can be entered from any branch of the Army, or directly from civilian life, if chararacter has STR+CON+AGL of 19+. 23/SAS specializes in helping recover friendly personnel, especially pilots, from enemy territory.

21/SAS is a standard SAS unit. Note that entering 21 or 23/SAS requires the first term be served in the SAS, even though they are reserve units - the selection and training are fulltime propositions.

• Honorable Artillery Company (Reserve Unit) - Special Reconnaissance Units Table (Add Forward Observer to first term skills.) This reservist unit scouts targets for the Royal Artillery.

• Guards - Members of the Guards regiments must have STR+CON of 11+ to join,and Guards officers must have STR+CON+INT of 16+. They receive a -1 to coolness under fire, and an extra level of Melee Combat (Armed). They are exceptionally loyal to their regiments, even by British standards. They are also extremely spit-and-polish, and Guards characters should be played as such.

• Gurkhas - Mountain Infantry

Gurkha enlisted men are natives of Nepal. Most officers are British. Gurkha enlisted men receive Melee Combat: 2 in the first term, and receive a "Khukri", a particularly nasty knife, as an issue weapon (Khukri damage is 1D6+(Strength/2)). A Khukri resembles a cross between a knife and a sickle.

ROYAL NAVY

No Seabees

Pilots Receive Pilot: 5 instead of Pilot: 6. The Royal Navy has three Helicopter/VSTOL carriers.

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm -

Pilots receive Pilot: 5 instead of Pilot: 6

Aircraft UsedThe fleet air arm uses Lynx Antisubmarine Warfare helicopters from its frigates, destroyers, and converted merchant ships. The three V/STOL carriers have Harrier fighter/bombers and Sea King ASW and Early Warning helicopters.

Naval Special Forces:

• Royal Marines - Royal Marines (See "Marines" chapter)

• Special Boat Squadron - (Royal Marines) - Special Operations Forces table, use Naval SOF for first term skills. (Must first serve a term in Royal Marines)

• Special Raiding Squadron (Royal Marines) - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table (This unit was disbanded in the mid 1980s)

• Arctic and Mountain Warfare Cadre (Royal Marines) -Special Reconnaissance Units Table (Add Skiing and Mountaineering to first and Subsequent terms)

• Commando Coxswain - Special Boat Table

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Pilots receive Pilot: 5 instead of Pilot: 4 as initial skill.

Aircraft Used

• FighterF4, Tornado F2, F3

• ReconJaguar, Nimrod

• AttackJaguar, Harrier

• EWCanberra

• StrikeTornado

• TankerNimrod

• TransportC130

Prior Conflicts:

• Korea

• Malaysia (1950s and 1960s)

• Oman (1960s, again in 1970s)

• Aden (Now South Yemen) (1950s)

• Northern Ireland (1970s to present)

• (civilreligious strife)

• Falkland Islands War (1982)

• Gulf War (1991)

This section refers to the prebreakup Soviet Union, and, possibly, to any dictatorial successor state that could arise should the current federation break down...

Basic Training: Soviet

Note - Army Spetznaz and Front Spetznaz are employed by Soviet Armies and Fronts in support of tactical operations. TVD Spetznaz are used by the Strategic Directorates and the General Staff for strategic operationswiping out NATO HQ in Brussels, for example.

Naval Spetznaz are employed by the four major soviet Fleets (Northern, Baltic, Pacific and Black Sea) to support their operations. Reports indicate that they have used midget submarines as a method of infiltrating naval bases.

Osnaz is the KGB's special operations group, and is roughly equivalent to Spetznaz, except as noted below.)

Note: This also applies to all Soviet-era client states. Some client states had a few local variations. I'll leave that up to characters and referees to research as they are interested.

ARMY

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• AKR Submachine Gun

• AK74 Assault Rifle

• SVD Sniper Rifle

• RPK74 Automatic Rifle

• PK Machine Gun

• PM Makarov Pistol

• T55/62/72/90 Main Battle Tanks

• BRDM/BMP Recon Vehicles

• BMP Infantry Combat Vehicle

• BTR70 Infantry carriers

• Mi24 Attack Helicopters

Special Forces

• Spetznaz at army and front level - Use Raider Units table (these tend to be tactically employed)

• TVD Spetznaz - Special Operations Forces table. (these tend to be more strategic missions) - (Note: must serve term in Army/Front Spetznaz prior to joining TVD unit)

• KGB Osnaz - Use the Unconventional Warfare Units table - (Officers must serve term as Government Agent prior to joining Osnaz)

• Reydoviki (Air Assault Troops) - Use the Raider Units table

NAVY

Naval Aviators use same career description as Air Force. The Soviet Navy has six helicopterV/STOL carriers, and may soon add a real carrier.

Submarine Service - Only take ONE first skill at a level of two. NO backup school.

Naval Special Forces

• Naval Spetznaz Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table OR Special Boat Unit table

• Naval Infantry - Marines

Soviet Naval Aviation

• Aircraft Used

• Fighter: Su33/35, Mig29

• ReconBear D

• AttackYak36

• EWBear E

• BomberTu26

• TankerVarious

FRONTOVAYA AVIYATSIIA (TACTICAL AIR FOR¥CE)

Aircraft Used

• FighterMig 21,23,29

• ReconMig 23,25

• AttackMig27, Su17/22

• EWAN24

• StrikeSu24

• Wild WeaselMig27

• BomberBlinder

• TankerVarious

• TransportVarious

• SpecialPVO Interceptor pilot, Mig25, 31, Su24

Prior Conflicts:

• Korea (a few pilots)

• Vietnam (" ")

• Afghanistan (19791989)

• Chechnya (1993-present)

• many smaller nationalistic disturbances

Troops may join the Army or Air Force National Guard, as well as theReserves for each service.

Thanks to Benjamin Gilberg for his update to US Navy and Air Force special forces.

ISSUE EQUIPMENT

• M231 Submachine Gun (Twilight scenarios only)

• M177 Carbine

• M16A2 Assault Rifle

• M21 Sniper Rifle (USMC - M40 Sniper Rifle)

• HKCAW Shotgun

• M249 Automatic Rifle

• M60Machine Gun (USMCM60A3 Machine Gun)

• M9 or M1911A1 Pistol

• M1 Main Battle Tank

• M60 Main Battle Tank (Marines)

• M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle

• M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

• LAV25 (Marines)

• AH64 or AH1 Attack Helicopter

• UH60, UH1, or CH47 Cargo Helicopters

ARMY

Special Forces

• Unconventional Warfare Units table. These are the "Green Berets", although they prefer to be called simply "Special Forces"

• Delta - Special Operations Forces table.

• Rangers - Use the Raider Units table

• Divisional Recon Teams - Special Reconnaissance Units Table

NAVY

The US Navy has everything.

Navy Special Forces:

• SEALS - Use the Naval version of the Raider Units table. Must have Swimming 3+, Scuba 3+ to enter unit). The Navy also supports the SEALS with several Special Boat Units

• Naval Special Warfare Development Group (aka Seal Team Six): Special Operations Forces table. Use the "Naval SOF" first term skills list. This is the Navy’s counterterrorism group.

• Underwater Demolition Teams (USN) - Frogman Table

US MARINE CORPS

Nominally a part of the navy, the Corps is in effect a separate service. Characters may use any Army career except Airborne and Medical Corps.

Marine Special Forces

• Sniper - Sniper

• Force Recon - Special Reconnaissance Units Table

US NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AIR SERVICES

Aircraft Used (Update courtesy Scott Steinmetz)

• Fighter - F14 (Phasing out), F/A18 (E/F model phasing in in 2001)

• ReconS3, E2

• AttackFA18, A7 (AV8Marines)

• EWEA6B

• Strike: F/A18 (E/F model phasing in in 2001)

• Tanker: KA6 (Phasing out in favor of F/A18E/F in 2001)

• Transport: C3 COD

COAST GUARD

Includes Aviation elements. Use Naval Aviation tables to generate Coast Guard Pilots.

US AIR FORCE

Updates courtesy Norm Hughes and Scott Steinmetz

• Aircraft Used

• Fighter - F15, F16

• Recon - RF4, U2

• Attack - A10, F16, F4

• EW: EA6

• Strike - F15E (F111 until ‘90’s)

• Wild Weasel - F4G phasing out of service

• Bomber - B1, B52, B2 (FB111 until early ‘90’s)

• Tanker - KC131, KC10

• Transport - C5, C130, C141

• Special - F117A Stealth (both as bomber, and potentially as an anti-AWACS plane)

Air Force Special Forces:

• ParaRescue Teams (USAF) - Use the Para-Rescue Units table.

• Special Operations Squadrons - Use the Raider Units table.

• Combat Control Teams - Use the "Special Operations Combat Support Units" table, using the "Combat Air Controller" first term skills. These troops serve as forward air controllers, calling in air strikes behind enemy lines.

• Warhead Recovery Teams - Use the Raider table. Add "Warhead 1" to first term skills, make it available to subsequent terms.

• Security Police - Air Force Security Police. Fight as infantry, but equipped with Peacemaker armored cars, armored HMMWVs, LAV-25.

(Officers may add Warhead: 1 to first term, Warhead and Combat Engineering to subsequent terms)

Civilian Agencies of Interest

• FBI - the national investigative force. Careers include Federal Agents and .Intelligence Analysts,

• HRT - the FBI’s counterterrorism unit. Hostage Rescue Units table. HRT members must serve a term as State/Local Law Enforcement or Federal Agent or in a military special force, and have CON+STR+INT 18+ to join.

• CIA - foreign intelligence. All intelligence careers.

• National Security Agency: All technical intelligence fields.

Prior Conflicts:

• Korea

• Vietnam

• Mayaguez incident (mostly navy and Marines, 1975)

• Lebanon (mostly Marines, 19821983)

• Grenada (1983)

• Panama (1989)

• Gulf War (1991)

• Numerous UN deployments - Egypt, Somalia, Haiti, Yugoslavia

• Kosovo, 1999

"Gun Culture" in the US - Cold War Era

Civilians in the US - especially the hinterlands - are much more likely to have more, better guns than civilians in other countries. This was true curing the Cold War as well.

See my proposed rule for rolling the weapons associated with encountered parties in the US (and, actually, elsewhere in the world)