Imperial Armed Forces, 5FW

Ooh boy, a real can of worms here.

David Johnson [email removed] writes:

>I agree.  Someone *please* dig out those *5FW* counters!

Hah!  Sure -- it's the best evidence we've got for the Imperial Army
structure questions.  (It's a different thread, but you did ask....)  :)

The counters in 5FW represent the Imperial forces that are space-mobile;
in other words, planetary army formations are only represented where
they have been "imperialized" and released to Imperial deployment.
(Someone else can look at planets, if they want!)  What does the
interstellar government have in the primary theater of operations?

* Huscarles:
     One elite regiment, tech-15, heavy lift infantry, deployed into
     its' six battalions.  (4518th "Duke Regina's Own".)  Details of
     composition are in _Spinward Marches Campaign_.  Originally
     Imperial Marines.

* Marines:
     Seven regiments, two of them elite, all tech-15.

No other large forces loyal directly to the Imperium are elites.

* Regular Army:
     Eight field armies, six corps, eight divisions, four brigades, four
     regiments.  75% tech-15, 25% tech-14.  Regiments are mainly drop
     troops.  Brigades are all lift infantry.

* Colonial Forces:
     RESERVES: Three field armies, six corps, five brigades, one
        regiment.  TL 10 to 15, average 12 to 13. Larger formations tend
        to better equipped.  The regiment is a tech-15 heavy lift
        infantry unit, however!
     PLANETARY:  Two field armies, nine corps, two divisions, one
        brigade, one battalion.  TL 8 to 13, average 10 to 11.   The
        tech-8 unit is the Esalin Mechanized Infantry Division.
        (Remember the "UN peacekeepers"?)  Both armies are from Porozlo
        -- the only world represented twice!  Assumed to be
        "imperialized" planetary forces since all here have planets
        for identifiers.
    Again, all brigades are lift infantry.

* Mercenaries:  Yes, the Imperium has this nasty little habit....
     One division, one brigade, one regiment, seven battalions.
     TL 12 to 16, average 14.  Five of the battalions are elites,
     including the tech-16 unit.

The marines are in first, easy to move to trouble spots, and are better
equipped and have higher morale, but most of the force is in the Army.
(Also note, because of this, the marines might get used more in
"peacetime".  Remember too, the technological background of the Marches
when considering the state of equipment in the regular and reserve
forces.)

>An Imperial Army (or Marine) unit should contain land, water, air and
>orbital elements capable of dealing with combat situations in any
>planetary environment.

Yes -- at the corps or army level.  But for best effectiveness, expect
to see the battalions to be a bit more specialized in their training.
Think about what such a capability would require.

Peter H. Brenton [email removed] writes:

>Ok, Now my questions.  How many combat battalions in an Imp. Marine
>Division?  How many companies per battalion?  Platoons per company?
>Troops per platoon?  Are companies combined arms? or are platoons?
>Is artillery organic to the Battalion? or the company?

Usually deployed as regiments.  When the 4518th was given to Baron
Regina, it was composed of two battalions of lift infantry, one of lift
cavalry, and one of jump troops.  It probably still follows Marine
doctrine.  There, some artillery is attached to the infantry/drop
troops, some to regimental.  HQ also gets a fighter squadron and an
_ortillery_ (planetary bombardment) squadron.  Organization seems
to follow the modern Western model closely.

>Space transport should be modular.  I envision a "Rodger Young" class
>Company Assault Transport which would be deployable alone, in pairs,
>or in hordes as a division.

Makes sense.  The _Kinunir_ is the closest thing that I can think of
that's been seen, but it's just not adequate.


   Steve Bonneville
   [email removed]