Battletech Story Brainstorming

[namar13766]

What do you guys think of this TOE for a military?

	Mech	Combat Vehicle	Infantry	Battle Armor	ASF(Active)	ASF (Reserve)
Element	1	2	36	6	1.5	0.5	Element
Lance	6	12	216	36	9	3	Flight
Company	36	72	1296	216	54	18	Squadron
Battalion	216	432	7776	1296	324	108	Wing
Regiment	1296	2592	46656	7776	1944	648	Regiment
Brigade	7776	15552	279936	46656	11664	3888	Brigade

6 Lances made up a single Company, which was deemed to be the minimum combined-arms force to fight a low-scale operation. Each Company is roughly equal to a SLDF reinforced combined arms battalion.

A Reinforced Company is a double Strength formation of 12 Elements, Each of which combines 6 infantry or BA Elements with a mix of six other combat elements. However, these two Companies are treated as a single unit and always deploy together as a fully integrated combined-arms combat group. If a regular Combined Arms force is viewed as two independent soldiers working together, then an Augmented COmpany is trained to act as extensions of a single body.

6 Companies were then combined into a Battalion, which was roughly equal to two to three
standard Star League Regiments. Each Battalion also incorporates a command Lance.

6 Battalions are combined into a Regiment, and 6 Regiments are Combined into a Brigade.

	Element	Lance	Company	Battalion	Regiment	Brigade
Element	1
Lance	6	1
Company	36	6	1
Battalion	216	36	6	1
Regiment	1296	216	36	6	1
Brigade	7776	1296	216	36	6	1

	Element	Flight	Squadron	Wing	Regiment	Brigade
Element	1
Flight	6	1
Squadron	36	6	1
Wing	216	36	6	1
Regiment	1296	216	36	6	1
Brigade	7776	1296	216	36	6	1

 

[PsihoKekec]

So battalion is a reinforced Comguards division, regiment is an overstrength Comguards Army and brigade is more than half the Comguards. Why not just call your companies battalions, like everyone else does?

 

[namar13766]

I was trying to make a combined arms system using a hybrid of Comstar and Clan organization with SLDF terminology as icing On the cake.
The regiment and brigade were both more intended to be formations existing as bureaucratic manner than deploying as a whole. (Unless there was a Tukayykd or equivalent scale battle.)

 

[namar13766]

I've got a pair of organization charts here, based on the Renegade Legion Legion system, one for the Marine Corps and one for the Actual Army. What do you think about them?

Spoiler: Marines TOE

Squad

Armored
1 Combat Vehicle

Infantry
8 person squad + APC/IFV

----

Platoon
4 Squads
Armored
4 Combat Vehicle

Infantry
4 APC/IFV and 3 8-person squads

HQ Platoon
1 Supply Vehicle, 1 Maintenance Vehicle, and 1 Recovery Vehicle
4th and Final vehicle is based on preference

----

Company
4 Platoons = 1 Company
Armored Company:
2 Tank Platoons, 1 Infantry Platoon, and 1 HQ Platoon

Infantry Company:
2 Infantry Platoon, 1 Tank Platoon and 1 HQ Platoon

Line Company
2 Tank Platoons, 2 Infantry Platoons, and 1 HQ Company

HQ Company
1 Supply Platoon, 1 Command Platoon, 1 Medevac Platoon
4th Platoon based on preference

MP Company
4 Infantry Platoons and 1 HQ Platoon

---

Battalion
1st Battalion Has 10 Line Companies and 1 HQ Company

Heavy Battalion (Battalion Primus)
4 Heavy Grav Armour, 3 Medium Grav Armour, 3 Light Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ

The 2nd-10th Battalion has only 6 line Companies each and 1 HQ Company
Types of Marine Battalions
Medium Battalion

3 Medium Grav Armour, 3 Light Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ

Armoured Infantry Battalion

3 Grav Armoured Infantry, 3 Light Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ

Light Battalion

2 Medium Grav Armour, 4 Light Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ

Artillery Battalion

6 Grav Artillery NB no HQ

Marine Battalion

6 Marine, 1 Ground HQ

Guard Battalion

5 Medium Grav Armour, 1 Grav Artillery, 1 Grav HQ*

Armoured Cavalry Battalion

3 Light Grav Armour, 1 Medium Grav Armour, 1 Heavy Grav Armour, 1Grav Arty, 1 Grav HQ*



HQ Battalion
4 Support Companies
Administrative, Command, Intelligence, and Liaison Companies

---
Marine Regiment
4 Battalions of Special Troops

A Regiment is about the size of a Brigade. Unlike Brigades, it has organic support troops assigned to it. This allows the Regiment to operate without additional support troops for a limited time. In contrast, a Brigade is totally dependent on Division support units to maintain it in the field.

Guard Regiment

4 Guard Battalion, 1 Grav HQ

Armoured Cavalry Regiment

4 Armoured Cavalry Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

---

Brigade
1st Brigade
Has 1st Battalion and 3 other Battalions

2nd-4th Brigades
Has 2 Battalions each

5th Brigade
Has Remaining Battalions

Artillery Brigade
3 Battalion of Artillery, 1 Air Defense Battalion, and 1 Rocket Company
Supply Brigade

Signal Brigade

Engineer Brigade
3 Combat Engineer Companies and 3 Construction Engineer Companies

Renegade Strike Brigade

2 Medium Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Renegade Strike Brigade Primus

1 Heavy Battalion, 3 Medium Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Renegade Infantry Brigade

2 Armoured Infantry Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Infantry Brigade Primus

1 Heavy Battalion, 3 AI Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Striker Brigade

4 Light Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Reinforced Heavy Brigade

4 Reinforced Heavy Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Reinforced Medium Brigade

4 Reinforced Medium Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Reinforced Infantry Brigade

4 Reinforced Armour Infantry Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

----

Division
10 Combat Battalions
1 Artillery Brigade
1 Supply Brigade
Signal Battalions
Engineer Battalions

Renegade Strike Division

1 Renegade Brigade Primus, 3 Renegade Strike Brigade, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies

Renegade Infantry Division

1 Infantry Brigade Primus, 2 Renegade Infantry Brigade, 1 Renegade Strike Brigade, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies

Striker Division

4 Stryker Brigades, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies

Reinforced Division

2 Reinforced Heavy Brigades, 1 Reinforced Medium Brigade, 1 Reinforced Armoured Infantry Brigade, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies.

Spoiler: Army TOE

Squad

Armored
1 Combat Vehicle

Infantry
8 person squad + APC/IFV
----
Platoon
Armored
4 Combat Vehicle

Infantry
4 APC/IFV and 4 8-person squads

HQ Platoon
1 Supply Vehicle, 1 Maintenance Vehicle, and 1 Recovery Vehicle
4th vehicle based on preference and/or role

----
Company
Armored Company:
3 Tank Platoons, 1 Infantry Platoon, and 1 HQ Platoon

Infantry Company:
3 Infantry Platoon, 1 Tank Platoon and 1 HQ Platoon

Line Company
2 Tank Platoons, 2 Infantry Platoons, and 1 HQ Platoon

HQ Company
1 Supply Platoon, 1 Command Platoon, 1 Medevac Platoon
4th platoon based on preference and/or role

MP Company
4 Infantry Platoons and 1 HQ Platoon

-----

Battalion
10 Companies always forms an Army Battalion
1st-10th Battalion each all have 10 Line Companies and 1 HQ Company

Heavy Battalion (Battalion Primus)
4 Heavy Grav Armour, 3 Medium Grav Armour, 3 Light Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ

HQ Battalion
4 Support Companies
Administrative, Command, Intelligence, and Liaison Companies

Types of Army Battalions

Army Infantry Battalion

5 Grav Armoured Infantry, 5 Light Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ

Army Medium Battalion

5 Medium Grav Armour, 5 Light Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ

Guard Battalion
5 Medium Grav Armor, 5 Grav Artillery, 1 Grav HQ

Army Armored Cavalry Battalion
3 Light Grav Armor, 3 Medium Grav Armor, 3 Heavy Grav Armor, 1 Grav Artillery, 1 Grav HG

Reinforced Heavy Battalion

5 Heavy Grav Armour, 3 Medium Grav Armour, 2 Light Grav Armor, 1 Grav HQ†

Reinforced Medium Battalion

5 Medium Grav Armour, 3 Light Grav Armour, 2 Heavy Grav Armor, 1 Grav HQ†

Reinforced Armoured Infantry Battalion

5 Grav Armoured Infantry, 5 Medium Grav Armour, 1 Grav HQ†

Reinforced Artillery Battalion
10 Grav Artillery


---

Regiment
6 Battalions of Special Troops

A Regiment is about the size of a Brigade. Unlike Brigades, it has organic support troops assigned to it. This allows the Regiment to operate without additional support troops for a limited time. In contrast, a Brigade is totally dependent on Division support units to maintain it in the field.

Guard Regiment

6 Guard Battalion, 1 Grav HQ

Armoured Cavalry Regiment

6 Armoured Cavalry Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

---

Brigade
1st Brigade
Has 1st Battalion and 3 other Battalions
2nd-4th Brigades
Has 2 Battalions each
5th Brigade

Artillery Brigade
3 Battalion of Artillery, 1 Air Defense Battalion, and 1 Rocket Company
Supply Brigade

Signal Brigade

Engineer Brigade
3 Combat Engineer Companies and 3 Construction Engineer Companies

Renegade Strike Brigade

2 Medium Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Renegade Strike Brigade Primus

1 Heavy Battalion, 3 Medium Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Renegade Infantry Brigade

2 Armoured Infantry Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Infantry Brigade Primus

1 Heavy Battalion, 3 AI Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Striker Brigade

4 Light Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Reinforced Heavy Brigade

4 Reinforced Heavy Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Reinforced Medium Brigade

4 Reinforced Medium Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

Reinforced Infantry Brigade

4 Reinforced Armour Infantry Battalions, 1 Grav HQ

---
Division
10 Combat Battalions
1 Artillery Brigade
1 Supply Brigade
Signal Battalions
Engineer Battalions

Renegade Strike Division

1 Renegade Brigade Primus, 3 Renegade Strike Brigade, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies

Renegade Infantry Division

1 Infantry Brigade Primus, 2 Renegade Infantry Brigade, 1 Renegade Strike Brigade, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies

Striker Division

4 Stryker Brigades, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies

Reinforced Division

2 Reinforced Heavy Brigades, 1 Reinforced Medium Brigade, 1 Reinforced Armoured Infantry Brigade, 1 Grav HQ, Various Support Companies.

 

[bullethead]

Here's an idea for a Mass Effect crossover:
It is January 2767, in the early days of the Amaris Coup. A lone Star League Defense Force warship, on the run from Amaris warships, stumbles upon a secret research facility working to activate a massive alien artifact under the ice of a moon in the outer edge of an uninhabited star system. Desperate, with nothing to lose, the SLDF crew activates the device... and winds up in a star system being guarded by Turian patrol fleets.

The Turians, on spotting an unidentified ship of unknown design... kick the entire thing upstairs, sticking the Citadel Council with a tricky situation: get involved in a potential civil war in the hopes of eventually bringing humanity into the Council via the Star League, or let the whole thing play out and see what happens.

For extra fun, the ship that makes contact could be the SLS Tripitz.

Might be a cool round robin type story.

 

[Spartan303]

Here's an idea for a Mass Effect crossover:
It is January 2767, in the early days of the Amaris Coup. A lone Star League Defense Force warship, on the run from Amaris warships, stumbles upon a secret research facility working to activate a massive alien artifact under the ice of a moon in the outer edge of an uninhabited star system. Desperate, with nothing to lose, the SLDF crew activates the device... and winds up in a star system being guarded by Turian patrol fleets.

The Turians, on spotting an unidentified ship of unknown design... kick the entire thing upstairs, sticking the Citadel Council with a tricky situation: get involved in a potential civil war in the hopes of eventually bringing humanity into the Council via the Star League, or let the whole thing play out and see what happens.

For extra fun, the ship that makes contact could be the SLS Tripitz.

Might be a cool round robin type story.

Fascinating....tell us more.

 

[bullethead]

Fascinating....tell us more.

Really don't have too much more concrete ideas about this, besides maybe having the mass relay somewhere relatively close to Nirsaki, so the SLDF and Turians can take the planet before Amaris can ship off the NCC workers. Maybe have that being the last big offensive before everything bogs down as the SLDF holdouts try to contact Kerensky to work out better parameters for cooperation with the Council races.

 

[Spartan303]

Really don't have too much more concrete ideas about this, besides maybe having the mass relay somewhere relatively close to Nirsaki, so the SLDF and Turians can take the planet before Amaris can ship off the NCC workers. Maybe have that being the last big offensive before everything bogs down as the SLDF holdouts try to contact Kerensky to work out better parameters for cooperation with the Council races.

The Star League is certainly a game changer in more than one way.

 

[ShadowArxxy]

The Star League us certainly a game changer in more than one way.

I'd be worried about how aggressively the Council enforces its ban on AI research & development, however.

 

[Bear Ribs]

How does the KF drive stack up to Mass Effect FTL drives without the Relays?

 

[ShadowArxxy]

How does the KF drive stack up to Mass Effect FTL drives without the Relays?

A mass-effect drive allows steady travel speeds on the order of a dozen light-years per day, versus the K-F drive jumping thirty light-years in a few seconds but having to recharge for over a week between jumps.

 

[bullethead]

I'd be worried about how aggressively the Council enforces its ban on AI research & development, however.

I dunno, CASPAR drones seemed to be at best VI equivalents, with the extra side effect of going nuts if left on during a K-F jump. They don't seem to be that smart or self-aware, relative to anything else in scifi.

A mass-effect drive allows steady travel speeds on the order of a dozen light-years per day, versus the K-F drive jumping thirty light-years in a few seconds but having to recharge for over a week between jumps.

IIRC, K-F Drive takes like 2 weeks to charge, unless you use Lithium Fusion Batteries to be able to jump in quick succession. It's also got that huge limitation where it can only take you to points where gravity's effects are neutralized, like lagrange points or the areas above/below the solar system.

The bigger thing about Mass Effect ships is that they have inertial dampening and the BattleTech ships don't, so none of the manned ships can actually keep up with ME ships at sublight. The CASPARs might, depending on how fast ME sublight is.

 

[ShadowArxxy]

The bigger thing about Mass Effect ships is that they have inertial dampening and the BattleTech ships don't, so none of the manned ships can actually keep up with ME ships at sublight. The CASPARs might, depending on how fast ME sublight is.

Per the codices, civilian grade sublight drives in Mass Effect are fusion torch drives, but military grade sublight drives use antimatter annihilation. The speed of the sublight drives isn't explicitly spelled out, but because of how their FTL works, should pretty much scale all the way up to C via the use of eezo-core mass reduction.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

I thought ME was pretty much without FTL except for the relays.

 

[ShadowArxxy]

I thought ME was pretty much without FTL except for the relays.

No, the relays are used for *long range* FTL. They then have regular FTL that's used for shorter range transits between systems and relays.

 

[Bear Ribs]

A KF Drive takes one week to charge in complete safety, it can be done faster but that risks damage if the crew aren't skilled enough.

Checking the Mass Effect Wiki it suggests that human ships have an FTL speed of about 50 times the speed of light, so a KF drive is significantly faster, but Citadel ships do a dozen lightyears a day so about three times faster than a KF drive, and reapers do 30LY a day so seven times faster. The fact that the KF drive effectively teleports and gets all its travel for the week done in the first second is a bit of an edge and they can be set up in Command Circuits to shuttle a DropShip across vast areas, a Command Circuit would beat out anything but a really long relay, but that's going to be so expensive I imagine it'd be pretty niche.

The fact that the KF drive doesn't need any eezo and instead just needs a huge honking pile of germanium and a solar sail might make it attractive to the Quarians given how rare and expensive eezo is.

This is presuming the Wiki is accurate of course.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

This is presuming the Wiki is accurate of course.

😂

 

[bullethead]

Random thought - what if the Citadel discovers that the Inner Sphere has had their technological progress hampered by absurd patent and licensing laws? Something like there being no time limits on patent protections as long as the creator/corporation is alive? No open source anything, beyond what the Hegemony allows to be open source?

This is presuming the Wiki is accurate of course.

Mass Effect's wiki is one of the more accurate and complete ones, partly due to the Codexes being in the game.

 

[Flintsteel]

IIRC, K-F Drive takes like 2 weeks to charge, unless you use Lithium Fusion Batteries to be able to jump in quick succession. It's also got that huge limitation where it can only take you to points where gravity's effects are neutralized, like lagrange points or the areas above/below the solar system.

It's actually very variable, depending on star type and distance. You can even charge off fusion reactors, but this isn't normally done because solar is free, and fusion fuel isn't. The big issue wit fast-charging is it starts radically increasing the odds of damaging a drive and/or misjumping.

The bigger thing about Mass Effect ships is that they have inertial dampening and the BattleTech ships don't, so none of the manned ships can actually keep up with ME ships at sublight. The CASPARs might, depending on how fast ME sublight is.

Except... not. ME, despite having inertial dampening, demonstrably cannot have high accelerations. Because if they did, ME dreadnoughts would be useless. The entire 'long-range gunnery duel' of dreadnoughts, the preeminent space combat platform of the setting, simply does not work if they can manage multi-G accelerations.

 

[bullethead]

Another idea for this story: The Draconis Combine tries to MAGIC BUSHIDO HANDS when it stumbles on a mass relay in their territory, but it leads to an unactivated relay in Batarian space and allows the Batarians to send slave raids into the heart of the Combine. Since the Batarians have been suffering under Citadel sanctions, they use lots of kinetic kill missiles that are just fighter engines with a basic sensor package and a big bundle of depleted uranium rods. These were supposed to target ships with depleted kinetic barriers, but since Inner Sphere warships/dropships don't have kinetic barriers...

The factions of the Inner Sphere could've made these ages ago, but didn't do so, because everyone else would also do that, but since aliens did it, now the cat's out of the bag and the arms race is on.

Except... not. ME, despite having inertial dampening, demonstrably cannot have high accelerations. Because if they did, ME dreadnoughts would be useless. The entire 'long-range gunnery duel' of dreadnoughts, the preeminent space combat platform of the setting, simply does not work if they can manage multi-G accelerations.

Considering that it seems they take only hours to traverse systems, rather than days like BT, that doesn't work.

That said, since ME ships don't have FTL sensors, how I interpret the codex's description of space combat doctrine is that ME forces rush into minimal light-lag range, then the dreadnoughts and cruisers kill forward momentum and move laterally/vertically to avoid enemy fire, while destroyers and frigates close to knife-fight ranges and engage in more complex maneuvers.