KFS Refit

[Project_Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

Krell? Probably not so much. Thought and innovation are discouraged. Molotovs and satchel bag bombs and some captured MP gear.

The KFS on the other hand, Yes. Especially the "Praetorians" and the Secret Police force. The regular army? Possibly not.

The KFS V-300s with the 90mm gun would just need the slat armor system and possibly a fire system to get there.

I think in terms of KFC in many ways like the SADF in the border wars of 70s-80s no political support intended, they were part of a horrid government.

But they do seemed to have mastered a modern form of Blitzkreig. For them the number one vehicle was the Rattel a big wheeled, armoured vehicle, with very long range, high speed and excellent cross country capability. At the expense of armour or until the Ingwe missile heavy armament.

Rather it was where it needed to be and in large numbers. With good recon it wasn't where enemy heavy tanks such as T55 were until they were in sufficent numbers to win.

The Rattel also had big windows, lots of doors and a few would have quick firing smoke launchers. So if facing an ambush, or a force of tanks it could quickly get the infantry out, screen the enemy with mortar smoke and then either run away from an ambush or charge down a tank at point blank range.

It's how a thin skinned vehicle with an ancient french 90mm took on a full size t55 and won again and again.

But where possible heavy armour was spotted by recon units and ambushed by lighter infantry units. At first with rpgs and mines later with atgms.

It's a model I can see KFS adopting, certainly the v300 is perfectly suited for such warfare. One could picture a skilled group of Spartans in v300s with good recon giving a MARS1 quite a head ache.

I could also vision elite recon Spartan tank hunters riding around in jeeps or on horse back hunting lone morrow units. Before crippling them with shots from anti material rifles, shattering engine blocks and puncturing tyres.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by Project_Sardonicus

I think in terms of KFC in many ways like the SADF in the border wars of 70s-80s no political support intended, they were part of a horrid government.

But they do seemed to have mastered a modern form of Blitzkreig. For them the number one vehicle was the Rattel a big wheeled, armoured vehicle, with very long range, high speed and excellent cross country capability. At the expense of armour or until the Ingwe missile heavy armament.

Rather it was where it needed to be and in large numbers. With good recon it wasn't where enemy heavy tanks such as T55 were until they were in sufficent numbers to win.

The Rattel also had big windows, lots of doors and a few would have quick firing smoke launchers. So if facing an ambush, or a force of tanks it could quickly get the infantry out, screen the enemy with mortar smoke and then either run away from an ambush or charge down a tank at point blank range.

It's how a thin skinned vehicle with an ancient french 90mm took on a full size t55 and won again and again.

But where possible heavy armour was spotted by recon units and ambushed by lighter infantry units. At first with rpgs and mines later with atgms.

It's a model I can see KFS adopting, certainly the v300 is perfectly suited for such warfare. One could picture a skilled group of Spartans in v300s with good recon giving a MARS1 quite a head ache.

I could also vision elite recon Spartan tank hunters riding around in jeeps or on horse back hunting lone morrow units. Before crippling them with shots from anti material rifles, shattering engine blocks and puncturing tyres.

Fortunately for the PCs the KFS army is not that professional. The Officer Corps is hereditary, corrupt, and suspicious of one another.

Some of them are soldiers because they are not competent enough to be trusted with Family business!

[Project_Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

Fortunately for the PCs the KFS army is not that professional. The Officer Corps is hereditary, corrupt, and suspicious of one another.

Some of them are soldiers because they are not competent enough to be trusted with Family business!

Of course one of the earliest uses of war has been to keep the number of inheriting sons don't to an acceptable level. So there's a real useful purpose to fierce pointless conflicts. Of course too many out of control conflicts can have a real cost. So most armies would still have a professional cadre of corporals and sergeants.

Beyond that there'd still be a need for all professional units, to prevent too many resources being wasted on fools errands. There may be an expandable resource of 3rd sons but not radios or armoured vehicles.
Further what happens when a feckless officer sells his equipment to the enemy to pay off a gambling debt.

As such I think there'd be a KFC professional force paid for by taxation and commanded by appointed commanders beyond all but the highest political control.

L Sprague De Camp had an interesting idea about this, with the royal bastard. An illegitimate son of the highest family. Who was the most senior general, but unable to ever actually command any form of government.

[welsh]

As I recall, the earliest political murder in Rome occurred because of a form of political factionalism when conservative elites (dominant landowning Senators) were pressured by political challengers to provide land to returning soldiers. This problem eventually contributed to the fall of the Republic- http://www.unrv.com/empire/gracchi-brothers.php

If you have a highly factionalized army and competing elites, that might put a damper on an expansive KFS, especially if the problem is more about elite rivalry, with powerful political patrons supporting military clients, that trying to keep your military compliant. One might add the danger of a slave revolt and the temptation is to keep the army close (especially if it is small) and protective of the patron. If the army does become expansive- as elites expand their power base- than they need to seize land or people quickly so that they can move back home should the patron be threatened.

The puzzle is why stay together and not just break apart into rival states. An oligopoly of paranoid elites would require an incentive to remain cooperative and willing to accept the risk of coup or assassination. If everyone is in the capital, than they are constantly at risk of assassination or a coup that wipes out the potential rivals and places one as leader. it might be easier just to carve out a chunk of the state, declare independence and defend your chunk of land against adversaries or launch a civil war from outside the capital and try to defeat your enemies.

This is the problem of coups in Africa- you can't break away because the state is either too small, the state as administration is too powerful to abandon. Add to that is the problem that the international community frowns on secessionist movements. The Glorious Revolution replaces the king with parliamentary oligopoly but they had to worry about foreign threats.

SO what keeps the KFS together?

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by welsh

SO what keeps the KFS together?

They operate as a corporation. The heads of the Families act as the Board and a rotating Chairman makes the daily (hasty) decisions.

The military elite is made of family members. The pilots are entirely family members, as are the ground commanders. The cooperation between the branches of the Forces has more to do with family loyalty than fidelity.

Fallback! Is the result of the KFS going to war to prosecute an assassination of a family member.

Each family brings something to the overall merchant empire, so they all cooperate. There is plenty of room for expansion and not enough external competition to cause hardship at home.

[ArmySGT.]

M35A2.pdf

PURPOSE: This vehicle is employed by various units primarily as a cargo and personnel carrier. It is operational on and off the highway.

GENERAL INFORMATION VEHICLE DATA
Nomenclature: TRUCK, CARGO: Type Classification & Date: Std A, 1963
2 1/2 Ton, 6x6, W/Winch, W/E
Replaces: M35A1
Model Number: M35A2
Life Expectancy: 15 Years
Crew/Cab Capacity: 2
Payload: 10,350 lb, Off Road: 7,000 lb
NSN: 2320-00-077-1617
Towed Load Allowance: 6,000 lb
LIN: X40146
Air Transportability: Phase II
SSN: D131030
TM: 9-2320-209-Series

CHARACTERISTICS
Horsepower: 140 bhp @ 2,600 rpm
Transmission: Manual; 5 fwd, 1 rev
Electrical System: 24 Volt
Tires: 9:00 x 20, 8-ply
Brakes: Air over hydraulic
Blackout Lights: Yes

PERFORMANCE DATA
Fording:
W/Kit: 72 in
WO/Kit: 30 in
Approach Angle: 40 Degrees

EQUIPMENT OPTIONS
Kits: Personnel Heater, Winterization,
Fording, Electric or Air
Brake, Troop Seat, Cargo Body
Closure (Arctic)
Winch: Yes

SHIPPING DATA
Weight: 13,700 lb
Cube: 1,260 cu ft
Ground Clearance: 10 15/16 in
Maximum Speed: 58 mph
Range: 350 miles

[ArmySGT.]

M109A3.pdf

PURPOSE: Mobile maintenance facility.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Nomenclature: TRUCK,VAN: 2 1/2 Ton,
6x6, Shop,W/Winch
Model Number: M109A3
Crew/Cab Capacity: 2
NSN: 2320-00-077-1637
LIN: X62477
SSN: D131120
TM: 9-2320-209-Series

CHARACTERISTICS
Horsepower: 140 bhp @ 2,600 rpm
Transmission: Manual; 5 Fwd, 1 Rev
Electrical System: 24 Volt
Tires: 9:00 x 20, 8-ply
Brakes: Air over hydraulic
Blackout Lights: Yes

PERFORMANCE DATA
Fording:
W/Kit: 72 in
WO/Kit: 30 in

VEHICLE DATA
Type Classification & Date: Std A, 1964
Replaces: M109, M109A2, M109A1
Life Expectancy: 15 Years
Payload: 5,000 lb
Towed Load Allowance: 6,000 lb
Air Transportabiiity: Phase iii

EQUIPMENT OPTIONS
Kits: Personnel Heater, Vent Body
Heater, Winterization, Fording,
Electric or Air Brakes
Winch: Yes

SHIPPING DATA
Weight: 15,400 lb
Cube: 2,020 cu ft
Ground Clearance: 1015116 in
Approach Angie: 40 Degrees