There was quite a bit of discussion a few months ago about mercenaries in
the Imperium, and how much it would cost to maintain them. In support of
a test campaign I am setting up, I worked out the following group. Vehicles
mentioned are all from my vehicle uploads. Annual costs for maintenance and
personnel are taken from Striker.
As an armored group, it will be quickly noticed that upkeep of vehicles is a
larger expense than payment of troops. A middle passage repatriation bond
for this unit (abandoning vehicles, is that right?) would run just over MCr1.6,
which is less than the monthly break-even contract rate. I haven't yet gone on
and figured what kind of ammunition expenditures, etc, would be required to
keep this unit going. I also am not yet sure what combat value a unit this size
will have. It seems likely to be rather fragile, but that is what the campaign
is going to find out. I'd be particularly interested in hearing from anyone
who has ever tried running large mercenary units in extended campaigns.
Good Gaming,
Rob Dean
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BOSWELL'S COMPANY
Organization: 1st Platoon, Armored, 5 Archer Grav Tanks, 1 Pioneer Grav
Carrier, 22 men
2nd Platoon, Armored Infantry, 4 Tiger Infantry Combat
Vehicles, 1 Pioneer Grav Carrier, 46 men
3rd Platoon, Identical to 2nd
4th Platoon, Fire Support, 3 Cougar Fire Support Vehicles,
1 Pioneer Grav Carrier, 3 TL9 Cossack Grav APCs
used as cargo carriers, 19 men
Headquarters Group
Commander and Staff, 2 Pioneer Grav Carriers, 10 men
Recovery and Maintenance Section, 2 Dromedary recovery
vehicles, 1 Pioneer Grav Carrier, 38 men
Medical Section, 1 Pioneer Grav Carrier, 4 men
Reconaissance Section, 2 Dart Combat Speeders, 2 men
Special Operations Section, 12 men (Intelligence)
Totals: 201 personnel
5 Archer tanks
8 Tiger ICV
3 Cougar FSV
2 Dart Combat Speeders
2 Dromedary ARV
8 Pioneer G-Carriers
4 Cossack APC ammunition carriers
Annual Maintenance cost of existing vehicles: Cr15,025,800
Annual Maintenance/Salary cost of current personnel: Cr6,030,000
Minimum Maintenance Contract: Cr1,754,650 per month
Morale Grade of Company personnel (long service professionals):
50 recruit, 80 regular, 50 veteran, 21 elite