Heavy Gear Blitz Army Design Contest Entries

Northern Guard Task Force Raleigh - 1,500 TV

The combined task force that spearheaded the liberation of the city of Raleigh consisted of a gear/strider section and attached support assets. Because of the rapid advance of the Northern Guard into the Eastern Sun Emirates, Task Force Raleigh was separated from its usual support assets, and had to make do with what was available.

Northern Guard Army

Threat Value: 1,500
Priority Level: 3
Support Points: 6
Command Points: 6

Ranger Squad: 455

(Specialist, Member States: NAF)
Combat Group Leader
1x Sabertooth Army Commander (Attack 3, Defense 3, Electronic Warfare 2, Leadership 3) with Stealth 2
2x Tiger (Attack 3, Defense 3, Electronic Warfare 2) with Stealth 2
1x Cheetah NAF Chaplain (Attack 2, Defense 2, Electronic Warfare 2) with Stealth 2, Recon Drone
1x Cheetah (Attack 2, Defense 2, Electronic Warfare 2) with Stealth 2, Recon Drone
Base cost: 345 TV
Swap Combat Group Leader Jaguar for Thunder Jaguar (+10)
Swap Thunder Jaguar for Sabertooth (-5, see L&L Update, April 26, 2009)
Swap 2 Jaguars for Tigers (0)
Cheetah is Chaplain (+20)
Give Level 3 Attack and Defense Skills to Sabertooth and Tigers (+30)
Add Recon Drones to both Cheetahs (+20)
Add Stealth 2 to all gears (+25)
Give Level 3 Leadership to Sabertooth as Army Commander (+10)
Total: 455 TV

Recon Squad: 345 TV

(Auxiliary)
Combat Group Leader
1x Jaguar (Attack 2, Defense 2, Electronic Warfare 2, Leadership 1)
4x Cheetah (Attack 2, Defense 2, Electronic Warfare 2)
Base cost: 345 TV
Total: 345 TV

Veteran Strider Squad

(Specialist)
Combat Group Leader
1x Thunderhammer (Attack 3, Defense 3, Electronic Warfare 2, Leadership 2) with 2x HAAC
1x Mammoth (Attack 3, Defense 3, Electronic Warfare 2) with HAC, HGL, Mastodon refit
Base cost: 180 TV
Add 1 additional Mammoth (+170)
Swap Mammoth for Thunderhammer (+50)
Mammoth swaps its MAC for HAC (+5)
Mammoth swaps its ATM launcher for second SC (-55)
Mammoth swaps 1 SC for HGL (+0)
Thunderhammer swaps its LFG for 2x HAAC (-40)
Give Level 3 Attack to Mammoth and Thunderhammer (+25)
Give Mastodon refit to Mammoth (+15)
Total: 350 TV

Veteran Cavalry Squad

(Auxiliary)
Combat Group Leader
1x Badger (Attack 3, Defense 3, Electronic Warfare 1, Leadership 2) with AGM, Stealth 2, ECM 2
1x Badger (Attack 3, Defense 3, Electronic Warfare 1) with AGMs, Stealth 2, ECM 2
Base cost: 50 TV
Both Badgers swap LACs for AGM (+80, see L&L Update, April 26, 2009)
Give Level 3 Attack and Defense to both Badgers (+40)
Give Level 2 Leadership to Combat Group Leader Badger (+10)
Give Stealth 2 and ECM 2 to both Badgers (+10)
Total: 190 TV

80 Light Tank Squad

(Auxiliary)
Combat Group Leader
1x Bandit Hunter Klemm Tank (Attack 2, Defense 2, Electronic Warfare 1, Leadership 1)
Base cost: 160 TV
Swap Klemm for Bandit Hunter Klemm (-80)
Total: 80 TV

Veteran Field Gun Section

(Specialist)
Combat Group Leader
1x Field Gun (Attack 3, Defense 2, EW 1, Ld 1)
1x Field Gun (Attack 3, Defense 2, EW 1)
Base cost: 35
Add 1 Field Gun (+35)
Give Level 3 Attack to both Field Guns (+10)
Total: 80 TV

455 + 345 + 350 + 190 + 80 + 80 = 1500

The two gear squads that led the way into the city were made up mainly of Cheetahs, as speed and maneuverability were crucial.

Ranger Squad: "Urban Tigers"

The 100th Bluehorns Regiment first developed the Urban Tiger Squad based on the doctrines laid down by former Kenema Gear Police officer, Senior Ranger Elias Clarke. Clarke commanded the Gear Section of B Company during the Task Force's initial assault on Raleigh, where the Urban Tigers would have their baptism of fire. Each Urban Tiger Squad was formed from a specialized Ranger Squad composed of a Sabertooth, two Tigers and two Cheetahs, all coated with sensor-absorbent paint. The two Cheetahs carried Ovni Recon Drones, with which to forward observe enemy units in the streets of Raleigh long before the Urban Tiger Squad could be spotted in return.

Once targets had been spotted, the Urban Tigers could either engage the enemy using indirect fire from the powerful Medium Rocket Pods of the Sabertooth and Tigers, which would have the advantage of firing from ambush thanks to their near-total concealment, or the Cheetahs could call in fire support from the regiment's Rabid Badgers and Field Guns. The Army Commander of this particular force pilots the Sabertooth and has chosen to lead from the frontlines. In addition, a Norlight Chaplain rides in one of the Cheetahs, inspiring his fellow gear pilots in their crusade to liberate the ESE from the "immoral" Allied Southern Territories.

Recon Squad

An additional Recon Squad of one Jaguar and four Cheetahs supported the Ranger Squad in its advance into enemy-held Built-Up Areas. The Recon Squad's Cheetahs carried Deployable Pack Guns, Light Rocket Packs and Hand Grenades, more than sufficient to deal with enemy infantry, but if faced with tougher enemy resistance, the Recon Squad could designate targets for indirect fire from any of the other squads. Veteran Strider Squad: AA Hammer and Assault Mammoth The gear section of Task Force Raleigh included a powerful Strider Squad to provide the superior firepower needed to crack enemy strongpoints as well as to fend off Southern Republican airstrikes.

The Combat Group Leader was a Thunderhammer Strider with its Light Field Gun stripped out and replaced by a pair of Heavy Anti-Aircraft Cannons, capable of independent fire. This upgrade allowed the "AA Hammer" to saturate enemy gears and infantry as well as taking down all but the luckiest of enemy aircraft. The AA Hammer would trail behind the main force, guarding the deployment zone where the Task Force's Field Guns were located. When necessary, however, its autocannon-laden chassis could be brought forward to provide direct fire support. Its best position was usually hull-down behind a tank blind in an elevated position where it could command long fire lanes.

The other strider was an Assault Mammoth, outfitted for urban operations alongside the Recon Squad and Ranger Squad. This Assault Mammoth had a Heavy Autocannon in place of the usual Medium Autocannon, as well as a Snub Cannon for close-range armor hunting and a Heavy Grenade Launcher for hitting concentrations of enemy gears and infantry alike. The Mastodon upgrade gave the strider some improvements in maneuverability that might mean the difference between survival and destruction.

Veteran Cavalry Squad: "Rabid Badgers"

Two "Rabid Badger" variants of the traditional Northern APC followed behind the gear section, each armed with a Hammerstrike missile launcher. The skilled crews of these fighting vehicles would work closely in conjunction with the Recon Squad and the Ranger Squad, picking off enemy gears designated by the target designators of the Cheetahs and Recon Drones. The high speed of the APCs more than made up for the lower maneuverability of their wheeled movement in the city, and their Stealth and ECM equipment allowed them to shield their position from enemies.

Light Tank Squad

A single Bandit Hunter Klemm light tank was assigned to assist Task Force Raleigh in its operations, although it was usually not sent in first during urban operations. While the tank was no match even for Southern light tanks like the laser-equipped Hun, it could hold its own against gears well enough, and its smoke launchers could be used to cover friendly units from sight in the case of a flanking attack or an airstrike.

Field Gun Section

Finally, the task force brought two Light Field Guns to give cheap but effective indirect fire support to frontline units. The Field Guns were vulnerable to attack, so they were kept back from the urban center, and were usually guarded by the Bandit Hunter Klemm and the "AA Hammer" strider.

Tactics

Standard or Defense Mission: Favor taking Blockade, Recon and Scout. Attempt Scout Objective (not more than 1) using Recon, Ranger and Cavalry Squads. Attempt Recon Objectives using Recon, Ranger, Light Tank and Cavalry Squads, and using Strider Squad and Field Gun Section to destroy Recon objectives if given the chance. Try to hold enemies at a chokepoint in the urban terrain to achieve Blockade. Infiltrate the Ranger Squad or the Cavalry Squad.

Offense Mission: Try to take 2x Assassination, Wipe Them Out and Recon. Use Recon and Ranger Squads to Active Detect targets for Recon, then call in Airstrikes and Artillery and indirect fire from Cavalry Squad, Strider Squad and Field Gun Section to achieve Wipe Them Out. Infiltrate both the Ranger Squad and the Cavalry Squad.

Spend Support Points on Blind (2 SP) for the Thunderhammer, and depending on the situation, a combination of Fighter-Bomber Airstrike, Medium or Heavy Artillery, Command Points and Infiltration (for Ranger Squad or Cavalry Squad).