New Material for the Jackson Republic

[RandyT0001]

I would like to see more background of this "country". There has to be one hell of an economic base to support that kind of engineering.

It is unfinished and probably too long for a direct post so I made it a pdf attached below.

The Jackson Republic

UPDATE
The final version can be found in this thread:
http://forum.juhlin.com/showthread.php?t=4742

[kato13]

Very nice fleshing out of details. Looking forward to more.

[rob]

I downloaded and read through it, nice job. I really have give a bit of thought as to how much of todays' technology hardware would will still exist in 150 years from now. That said, how many of future generations will still be able to use the devices. Given that training manuals, courses, etc. are now digital, would not paper training materials be a better course? Just a thought.

[mmartin798]

I had to think about how I learned how to use technology over the years. Most of the devices I learned to use I learned by example from a more skilled user. Using an AM radio, dialing a rotary phone, using a wood lathe, running and maintaining a high-speed copier were all done by way of demonstration. Very few devices have I only had a manual to use to learn it. Most of the time, the manual was used to figure out how a function I knew how to perform on one device was implemented on a different one if I could not figure it out.

But to address your manual question directly, paper is better in this case. But what would most likely exist would be a paper manual to bootstrap you until you can access the online manual. That was the trend in electronic documentation in the 1990's and is still the norm today.

[RandyT0001]

Added some material.

Still a work in progress.

[ArmySGT.]

Minor Spelling point...... Garand....... one R.

Enbloc clips.... Loaded as a unit. Eight rounds per Enbloc clip. I don't see an indication of what is the Soldiers basic ammunition load for their rifle.

The Infantry basic load doesn't have a Rucksack or a duffle bag. Unless the web gear is like the WW2 or British style with a multitude of individual pouch and a shoulder bag.

I would divide the basic load like a packing list. On the person, in the rucksack, and in the duffle bag on the truck or in camp.

A Lewis gun is in .303 British.. The rimmed case of .303 is the reason for the distinctive round pan magazine.

Grenades....Any handgrenades... I didn't notice an White Phosphorus or Hexachlorethane (HC) smoke grenades or colored smoke for signalling.
The KFS is utilizing bullet trap style rifle grenades, assuming defectors from the corrupt KFS army would take what they have, I would think this Republic would be able to field the same, scaled up for 30.06. Smoke is vital to movement in combat, it screens your forces, and provides misdirection to the enemy.

The Wall seems to be a variation on Hadrian's wall. The effectiveness of that had more to do with legionaries station in mile forts (literally a roman mile apart) than being a physical wall. Those guards were formed from the three Roman Legions assigned to guard it.

Sounds like your centering the Republics military on the German Army's flexible defense. This typically means a small unit occupies a static fortress, redoubt, or trench work forward and in contact with an enemy force while the other two thirds of a unit can maneuver. It is a sound system; However, the KFS has several batteries of 105mm artillery. This can pin down forces in a static position, tear up a minefield, target cross roads, and make life miserable if you can't answer back with your own artillery or rockets.

A General Purpose Machine Gun..... The KFS can (and doesn't for some reason) field a 7.62 NATO GPMG. The Republic could be fielding M1919A2/A3/A4 GPMGs at the Platoon Heavy weapons level and in static forts. Machineguns dominate open ground, making one three man gun team plus ammo bearers the equivalent of a platoon on their own. Paired with another gun team in another position with interlocking fire and no one is crossing that ground.

Combat Engineers without a bangalore torpedoe? In offensive operations, the combat engineers open gaps in enemy minefields, and wire defenses using these explosives.

Armor...... The KFS has it, and the Jacksons do not. The Jacksons "Relics" are not well defined. Armor is the battlefield bully that gets infantry onto the objective by destroying defenses, and killing other tanks.

The Jackson's have AAA though this isn't defined either. The KFS has the P-47 Thunderbolt which is heavily armed, redundant controls and an armored cockpit. Damned hard to shoot down.

The KFS does have total air dominance, can destroy any fixed forts, shut down river traffic, can sweep through Jackson's territory with V-300s, M2 Bradleys, and M1 Abrams. The Jackson's don't stand a chance and probably would have to do whatever the KFS wants.

[ArmySGT.]

For this defensive doctrine to work it need integrated Anti Armor, Anti Air, Artillery, with heavy defensive works covered by machine guns, behind a belt of mines.

Defense to be effective has to be layered with row upon row of defenses..... Breach one and start getting hit by the next one behind it, while being flanked from left and right.

Heavy weapons needs a 80/81/82mm mortar to effectively engage enemy forces using a wall, trenches, or a hill top for cover. Probably larger 120mm mortars in the Regimental heavy weapons section, along with larger possibly towed AT guns (Soviets field a 125mm AT gun currently) so there is enough punch to stop a M1 tank.

AAA pedestal mounted 12.5mm (.50) M2HBs in a single mount, quad fifties are good at the company level, something larger like the 40mm Bofors, and the 90mm AAA artillery are necessary to protect larger formations or fixed assets like rail yards, bridges, cross road, ammo dumps, factories, water dams, etc.

[ArmySGT.]

Politics......

Haves against have-nots.

KFS sympathizers

Abolitionists frothing at the mouth to set the KFS straight.

Protesters against spending on military projects.
Protesters against spending on immigrants.
Protesters demanding one language, history, or core subjects.

Protesters against military spending vs protesters for military spending.

Civilians vs militia in allocation of materials or bar brawls or travel.

USA nostalgic dreamers versus this is what we have.

More liberty vs more security

Smugglers vs revenue agents.

Anti tobacco, marijauna, moonshine, brewers vs freedom and self reliant types.

Work vs wage disputes. Unions and Union breakers.

Political parties and betrayal.

Criminal organizations. Drugs, sex trade, booze, weapons, ammo, women, children, outlawed books.

[ArmySGT.]

Hmmm solution to the KFS air force...... a tiny force of Korean war era jets..... Say F-86 Sabre jets....... salvaged from from a Air Force museum, memorial display, collectors, private air fields... 3-4 capable of flying and 2-6 that sit on the ground and train ground crews / maintainers.

This could meet the KFS P-47s in the air and whip them... enough to control the air over the Jackson Republic with ground radar and ground controllers to vector onto a target. Not enough for an expansionist campaign.

[RandyT0001]

Minor Spelling point...... Garand....... one R.

Don't know how I started to do that, never did occur to me I was spelling it wrong.

Enbloc clips.... Loaded as a unit. Eight rounds per Enbloc clip. I don't see an indication of what is the Soldiers basic ammunition load for their rifle.

Individual weapon loads are something I have yet to do.

The Infantry basic load doesn't have a Rucksack or a duffle bag. Unless the web gear is like the WW2 or British style with a multitude of individual pouch and a shoulder bag.

I would divide the basic load like a packing list. On the person, in the rucksack, and in the duffle bag on the truck or in camp.

Web gear is like WW2 but I will divide the basic load into carry load and stowed gear. (Any suggestions on the labels for the distinction?)

A Lewis gun is in .303 British.. The rimmed case of .303 is the reason for the distinctive round pan magazine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_gun
"The US Navy and Marine Corps followed in early 1917, adopting the M1917 Lewis gun (produced by the Savage Arms Co.), in .30-06 caliber.

The US Army never officially adopted the weapon for infantry use[13] and even went so far as to take Lewis guns away from US Marines arriving in France and replace them with the cheap, shoddy, and extremely unsatisfactory Chauchat LMG[20]—a practice believed to be related to General Crozier's dislike of Lewis and his gun.[21] The US Army eventually adopted the Browning Automatic Rifle in 1917 (although it was September 1918 before any of the new guns reached the front).[22] The US Navy and Marine Corps continued to use the .30-06 caliber Lewis until the early part of World War II.[23]"

Grenades....Any handgrenades... I didn't notice an White Phosphorus or Hexachlorethane (HC) smoke grenades or colored smoke for signalling.
The KFS is utilizing bullet trap style rifle grenades, assuming defectors from the corrupt KFS army would take what they have, I would think this Republic would be able to field the same, scaled up for 30.06. Smoke is vital to movement in combat, it screens your forces, and provides misdirection to the enemy.

Individual weapon loads are something I have yet to do.

The Wall seems to be a variation on Hadrian's wall. The effectiveness of that had more to do with legionaries station in mile forts (literally a roman mile apart) than being a physical wall. Those guards were formed from the three Roman Legions assigned to guard it.

Jackson has lots of trees. Tree trunks set close together form a barrier for vehiclar movement. Putting the ditch spoil between the walls makes it somewhat resistant to cannon fire. Vehicular patrols of the wall are made daily.

Sounds like your centering the Republics military on the German Army's flexible defense. This typically means a small unit occupies a static fortress, redoubt, or trench work forward and in contact with an enemy force while the other two thirds of a unit can maneuver. It is a sound system; However, the KFS has several batteries of 105mm artillery. This can pin down forces in a static position, tear up a minefield, target cross roads, and make life miserable if you can't answer back with your own artillery or rockets.

The Republic has three platoons of 81mm mortars as auxiliary units. The KFS 105mm artillery is a serious problem for the Republic. Jackson is relying on home guard or militia units attacking theses units once they have entered Republic territory. Not a good idea but it's all they've got right now. Maybe calling in 81mm mortar fire if possible, though it is unlikely to be available.

A General Purpose Machine Gun..... The KFS can (and doesn't for some reason) field a 7.62 NATO GPMG. The Republic could be fielding M1919A2/A3/A4 GPMGs at the Platoon Heavy weapons level and in static forts. Machineguns dominate open ground, making one three man gun team plus ammo bearers the equivalent of a platoon on their own. Paired with another gun team in another position with interlocking fire and no one is crossing that ground.

The Republic has some M2HB machine guns but no GPMG. The Lewis MG is it.

Combat Engineers without a bangalore torpedoe? In offensive operations, the combat engineers open gaps in enemy minefields, and wire defenses using these explosives.

The Jackson Republic engineers are taught defensive techniques to impede enemy movement using mines, booby traps, abatis, setting charges to create vehicular ditches, etc.

Armor...... The KFS has it, and the Jacksons do not. The Jacksons "Relics" are not well defined. Armor is the battlefield bully that gets infantry onto the objective by destroying defenses, and killing other tanks.

Yep. The relics are V-150's with 20mm guns and few rounds. Jackson is relying on defensive engineering and the recoilless rifles. They are building more to equip two platoons per company, infantry and militia, but it takes time.

The Jackson's have AAA though this isn't defined either. The KFS has the P-47 Thunderbolt which is heavily armed, redundant controls and an armored cockpit. Damned hard to shoot down.

See attached image.

The KFS does have total air dominance, can destroy any fixed forts, shut down river traffic, can sweep through Jackson's territory with V-300s, M2 Bradleys, and M1 Abrams.

Yep.

The Jackson's don't stand a chance and probably would have to do whatever the KFS wants.

Jacksonians are stubborn people and not inclined to be intimidated by just words nor inclined to submit after the first few battles. They know how ruthless the KFS is and are willing to die instead of submitting to KFS rule. And Jacksonians would be just as ruthless with KFS military and police forces. It would be much like the Eastern Front in WW2. No quarter.

But what if? What if Jackson defeats the armor column attacking, destroying a couple of planes, a few tanks, several Bradleys, and several V-300's and survives, defiant? How will the freemen and slaves in the KFS react to the news? (And the news would get around.) What about those other small communities around the KFS, would they be embolden to stand up to attacks and raids by the KFS, possibly causing more loses?

A direct assault would be risky. It would be better to isolate the Republic from resources and when triumphant forces from attacks in North Carolina and Ohio return, then attack from three sides, north, south and east, to crush the Jackson Republic.

[RandyT0001]

Politics......

Haves against have-nots.

KFS sympathizers

Abolitionists frothing at the mouth to set the KFS straight.

Protesters against spending on military projects.
Protesters against spending on immigrants.
Protesters demanding one language, history, or core subjects.

Protesters against military spending vs protesters for military spending.

Civilians vs militia in allocation of materials or bar brawls or travel.

USA nostalgic dreamers versus this is what we have.

More liberty vs more security

Smugglers vs revenue agents.

Anti tobacco, marijauna, moonshine, brewers vs freedom and self reliant types.

Work vs wage disputes. Unions and Union breakers.

Political parties and betrayal.

Criminal organizations. Drugs, sex trade, booze, weapons, ammo, women, children, outlawed books.

Tanks for some ideas!

[rob]

I have had a few thoughs on the KFS P-47s: Would not some loyal but 'enterprising' member of the KFS establishment use one (or more) aircraft for photo recon purposes? Same removing the ammo for the guns and putting a photographic equipment or some type of under wing photo pod. Even designing non-droppable fuel tanks for extended range. Just a couple of thoughts.

[RandyT0001]

The Wright R-1820 engine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_R-1820) that powers the Sikorsky H-34 helicopter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_H-34) (and the Boeing B-17) was modified slightly and put on a modified F4 Wildcat at General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division during WW2 to become the FM-2. The FM-2 Wildcat (http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=fm-2_wildcat) has less guns (4 vs 6) but more maneuverability and a faster climb rate than the F4F-4 Wildcat. Like the P-47 the Wildcat had a reputation for survivability, bringing it's pilots back after suffering heavy damage. The question is how well does the FM-2 compare to the Jug in a dogfight? Both were renown for ground attack using strafing, bombing and rocket attack.

The training of the pilots has to be considered also. The pilots of the P-47 are part of the elite that is trusted to be pilots or have used influence to become pilots, not necessarily the best pilots available. Jackson pilots are probably more likely to be assigned and advanced due to flying ability than KFS pilots, on average. However, the KFS probably flies more often than the Republic due to a larger support base and availability of fuel.

It would be an interesting scenario to play out.

[nuke11]

I have had a few thoughs on the KFS P-47s: Would not some loyal but 'enterprising' member of the KFS establishment use one (or more) aircraft for photo recon purposes? Same removing the ammo for the guns and putting a photographic equipment or some type of under wing photo pod. Even designing non-droppable fuel tanks for extended range. Just a couple of thoughts.
The best is to base the air frame of the P-47N, a special long-range escort version. More fuel, different wings with internal fuel capacity, more powerful engine, automatic pilot, homing radio. It carried 1266 gallons of fuel with internal and external tanks used, with a range of around 2350 miles.

Now for photo recon as you mentioned some sort of under wing store would have to be developed, as all of the internal areas that would normally house a camera is already taken. Any sort of under wing pod would have to be rigid as to provide the best possible camera stability.

[RandyT0001]

I have been reviewing some of the material for the Jackson Republic. I have decided to make some changes:

Replace the Lewis MG with the .30 M1919A6 model. The pan magazines held too little ammunition for the weight.
Add about eight to sixteen M116 howitzers, 75mm, 9,600 yd eff range, 3-6 rpm, about 1,440 lbs to address the KFS's 105's. Yeah, the 105's out range the M116's but they are transportable by the H-34 helicopters and towable by any truck at least 3/4 ton the Republic has.
Going to add six to eight FM-2 Wildcats to counter the P-47's. It uses a variant of the Wright R-1820 engine like the H-34 helicopters do.

I am considering changing the organization of the combat units also.

[ArmySGT.]

Where is all their industrial capacity coming from?

The KFS has its industrial base from before the war. The factories, spare parts, tools, and great quantities of materials were hidden in bunkers and kept hidden.

More importantly than that the Rich Five cryogenically froze 2000 loyal followers...... presumably the machine operators, engineers, production managers, trainers, etc.

Where is the resources for the Jacksonian's coming from if they are scavenging from the wreckage?

[Project_Sardonicus]

Where is all their industrial capacity coming from?

The KFS has its industrial base from before the war. The factories, spare parts, tools, and great quantities of materials were hidden in bunkers and kept hidden.

More importantly than that the Rich Five cryogenically froze 2000 loyal followers...... presumably the machine operators, engineers, production managers, trainers, etc.

Where is the resources for the Jacksonian's coming from if they are scavenging from the wreckage?

I completely agree, it's also kinda dull to reduce the game to little more than a bloody 1960s civil war.

I think history is replete with technologically, advanced, wealthy nations that came amiss. Where as the P47s seem like a game changer there's a handful of them to cover, reconnaissance, bombing, ground attack, even one would suspect VIP transport. And they're not flown by the best or most skilled pilots, rather a toxic mix of the wealthiest and most politically reliable. Rather like the DPRK airforce, not to mention the cost in fuel, maintenance and spare parts keeping them in the air.

It seems improbable they'd be used reliably for anything as useful as reconnaissance or tactical bombing. Rather wealthy brylcream boy flyboys, would support ongoing battles or strafe convoys spotted by ground forces for the glory.

If some bright spark in the JFS was a student of history and had a shed to tinker in, they might come up with this as a solution to low flying propeller aircraft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fliegerfaust

It's no stinger and probably wouldn't work but might achieve the aim of scaring off bullying, KFS flying glory boys.

[Project_Sardonicus]

I have been reviewing some of the material for the Jackson Republic. I have decided to make some changes:

Replace the Lewis MG with the .30 M1919A6 model. The pan magazines held too little ammunition for the weight.
Add about eight to sixteen M116 howitzers, 75mm, 9,600 yd eff range, 3-6 rpm, about 1,440 lbs to address the KFS's 105's. Yeah, the 105's out range the M116's but they are transportable by the H-34 helicopters and towable by any truck at least 3/4 ton the Republic has.
Going to add six to eight FM-2 Wildcats to counter the P-47's. It uses a variant of the Wright R-1820 engine like the H-34 helicopters do.

I am considering changing the organization of the combat units also.

Don't change it the original version is great, setting the KFC and JFS as equal rivals seems terribly dull and unrealistic.

I do suspect the JFS would have developed something far simpler in terms of anti armour warfare. Such as the Panzerfaust or the RPG which would give even the smallest squad, some sort of a realistic armour punch. And those weapons have been hand made in sheds since they were invented.

One thing I always found terribly unbelievable is the KFS having fleets of M1s and M2s. Without the hitech sights, communication equipment etc why bother. And unless the KFS has millions of gallons of hi quality fuel they'd be too slow to do anything useful and a realistic enemy would stick to ambushing their over extended supply lines.

More realistic I'd think would be v300 and v600s, they're from an engineering point of view pretty much a yellow school bus with guns.
A fairly basic maintenance vehicle could switch out engines or tow them and the on board crew could probably change a busted tire.

The SADF in it's various border wars left its tanks behind for all but the most show cased battles. And a fast, heavily armed (if you don't have your own tanks they're all terrifying), long ranged strike force of wheeled vehicles would be terrifying for a foe. I mean with the Stryker brigades it's pretty much current US strategy.

http://www.jedsite.info/afv-charlie/charlie/commando_series/v600/v600.html

I think this would be the most likely "M1 boogy man" to scare the KFS's enemies. Perhaps equipped with first generation ERA armour (relatively simple and cheap to manufacture).

[ArmySGT.]

I do suspect the JFS would have developed something far simpler in terms of anti armour warfare. Such as the Panzerfaust or the RPG which would give even the smallest squad, some sort of a realistic armour punch. And those weapons have been hand made in sheds since they were invented.

The most difficult part is a reliable fuse. Getting it to detonate on impact and getting a shaped charge to reliably form the superheated jet was the hard part. The motor propellants are relatively simply if you have the refining capability....... Even black powder makes a rocket propellant going back to the Revolutionary War.

One thing I always found terribly unbelievable is the KFS having fleets of M1s and M2s. Without the hitech sights, communication equipment etc why bother. And unless the KFS has millions of gallons of hi quality fuel they'd be too slow to do anything useful and a realistic enemy would stick to ambushing their over extended supply lines. I think the KFS can repair the M1s and M2s, yet chooses not to field them..... More really in the game to offset player ambitions and to prove why the KFS is the economic and military powerhouse that dominates the region. Maxwell's militia has several operational M60A1s that would annihilate the V300s and M2s, also would be capable of taking down the M1s a fair percentage of the time.. Maxwell's militia just doesn't have an economy strong enough to project power and is too paranoid to take their tanks outside.

More realistic I'd think would be v300 and v600s, they're from an engineering point of view pretty much a yellow school bus with guns.
A fairly basic maintenance vehicle could switch out engines or tow them and the on board crew could probably change a busted tire.

That is pretty much in line with both KFS modules. Additionally lots of foot infantry supported by 2 1/2 ton trucks.

[RandyT0001]

Jackson Republic Slang
whirly: crazy
downhill ducks: easy to shoot or kill, synonymous with “fish in a barrel”
downwind ducks: hard to shoot or kill, people alerted to threats
pinball: bouncing from one task to another, often without completing each task; unorganized
O’ Hickory Heart or Hickory Heart: stoic, unfeeling person - can be used in a positive (by adults and adolescents) or negative (by pre-puberty youths) connotation
Pop-a-top: civilian name for M20A1B1 rocket grenade launcher and /or the effect of the warhead on a vehicle. (Use of the phrase while in military service is rewarded with push-ups. The phrase was used in a recent movie and has caught on.)
Free State Logic: reasoning or excuses to maintain slavery and/or the rich five status quo; reasoning that is illogical
Fascist Blacks: KFS secret police
Catspaw: descriptor of one skilled in intrusion and/or sneak with camouflage; a stealthy approach


Ballad of the Republic's Army
(sung to the rhythm of Ballad of the Green Berets)

Citizen-soldiers, of the land
Brave people, willing to die
People that mean, what they say
Serving in, the Republic Way

Eagle wings, upon their chest
People who are, Jackson’s best
Holding invaders, at the bay
Defend the Republic, every day

Trained to live, off nature’s land
Trained in combat, hand to hand
People who fight, night and day
Protect the Republic, day to day

Eagle wings, upon their chest
People who are, Jackson’s best
Holding invaders, at the bay
Defend the Republic, every day

Back at home, children are born
“Protect them”, we have sworn
Open the letter, from the chest
A passed parent’s, last request

Put eagle wings, upon their chest
Make them one, of Jackson’s best
Hold the invaders, at the bay
Defend the Republic, enduring days


Thoughts, comments?

[Project_Sardonicus]

I think the killer advantages of the JR are their morale and training. The KFS are closer to the conscripts the USSR sent into Afghanistan or Chechnya. Who can be best summed up by one Russian general when discussing their seizure of an airport in the Kossavan war.
"What are they going to do? What they always do get drunk and sell their weapons"

JR troops all have garrands as opposed to assault rifles, which at first seems a disadvantage. But has maybe 50% more effective range, not to mention when paired with combat bows they all learned to use as kids.

If their tactic was sniping and disruption they could cause havoc amongst less disciplined KFS troops. Most KFS vehicles are about as heavily armed as a ww1 tank so it's likely the JR would have some anti material rifles. Ok nothing as sophisticated as a Barratt, but more like a T Geweher, would such a rifle if equipped with incedinary bullets be able to blow up fuel tanks or ammo stored in vehicles?

But most importantly JR troops are trained from childhood to fight, believe in their cause and are in units made up of willing volunteers who know and trust each other. These are the kind of forces who historically kick out occupying empires.

I think if it came to war. The KFS forces would face empty villages fled in an organised manner and draining ambush and insurgency, whilst JR raiders snuck over the river to cause havoc in their back yard.

[Project_Sardonicus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wz._35_anti-tank_rifle

this weapon could prove to be an absolute nightmare if someone remembered how to make one. Especially if equipped with some kind of modern hard core bullet (depleted uranium for a few special shots?)

And as for cross bows, how improbable would an ultra heavy 2 man cross bow be firing captured KFS rifle grenades silently?

[mmartin798]

The KFS are closer to the conscripts the USSR sent into Afghanistan or Chechnya. Who can be best summed up by one Russian general when discussing their seizure of an airport in the Kossavan war.
"What are they going to do? What they always do get drunk and sell their weapons"

I never got this kind of impression about the KFS when I read the material. I always feel it is more an integral nationalist state, more like Mussolini's Italy or Nazi Germany. While they don't feel full on fascist, they still feel nationalist to me.

Given that the KFS was started by industrialist expecting a troubled and war torn world, it is not unreasonable that they might have a small number private military contractors. This would give a core for training an army later with some skill. While the KFS has kept the military for rich family members to lead over the 150 years or so, it is not some band of irregulars that would be ill trained and naive. The KFS forces and JR forces would be close in capability and training.

[Project_Sardonicus]

I think KFS are gone into detail in Bullets and Bluegrass and Fallback.

Fallback describes the regular army, with each "noble landowner" raising his own forces. These guys came over as poorly, organized but well equipped bullies. Who relied on overwhelming force and lots of artillery fire power to cow their enemies.

Whilst Bullets and Bluegrass covered the centurions I think they were called? The antiMP secret police, who seemed far more disciplined and skilled.

I think in any campaign one needs to steer away from unengaging scraps between roughly equal forces. Certainly the youth camps of the JR seem to describe a much more interesting and skilled opponent.

[RandyT0001]

KFS Raids into the Confederation of Counties
Before the formation of the Jackson Republic

In the year 2062 (2034 for the 3rd edition of Morrow Project), The Kentucky Free State sent the Fifth Regiment across the Tennessee River. Eleven years earlier the army of the Rich Five had begun its expansion into Middle Tennessee for the purpose of expanding the labor force to serve the needs of the Rich Five. This invasion prompted the evacuation of Tennessee’s MP M&CA Combined Team into West Tennessee the following year. Two years after the M&CA relocation, several counties in West Tennessee formed a confederation for trade and mutual protection, the Confederation of Counties. Consolidation of power in Kentucky was completed and the Kentucky Free State was proclaimed in 2057 (2029 for the 3rd edition of Morrow Project). However, the subjection of Middle Tennessee was not completed for another three years. The commander of the Fifth Regiment had not told the Five Families of the difficulties in conquering Middle Tennessee nor of the formation of the Confederation. He was replaced, arrested, tried and executed within two days. The Rich Five reorganized the military leadership into a patronage system to ensure control and communication. The Inspector General Office of the Army was eliminated as the Secret Police was given policing authority over the Army.

The new commander, Gerald Carswell, of the Fifth Regiment was ordered to attack the Confederation immediately. His letter of refusal was accompanied by a report from the Captain of the Secret Police assigned to the Fifth Regiment listing the shortages of material, abundance of poorly trained troops, and absent morale as detriments to the task ordered. The Five gave him a year to turn the Regiment into an effective force. After nine months delay, the material and ammunition finally arrived. The commander trained his regiment for two months. The following month he sent recon patrols into Confederation territory while the Secret Police sent a few abduction teams to capture and return with some near border community leaders. Units not assigned to patrol duty built flat bottom johnboats for the infantry and pontoon boats for a wood pontoon bridge the artillery could use to cross. After reviewing the intelligence reports from the recon patrols and summations of the interrogations by the Secret Police, Colonel Carswell formulated a plan of attack.

Colonel Carswell was not impressed by Confederation. He concluded that a coordinated attack would cause the Confederation to collapse. He divided his regiment into four columns to attack across four points on the Tennessee River. Each column consisted of a platoon of cavalry, a company of foot infantry and a battery of artillery for support. The plan was that the V-300s of the cavalry would establish a beachhead across the river and protect the infantry as it crossed on johnboats and built the pontoon bridges. Once the artillery crossed the river, an infantry platoon would be left to guard the bridge while the remaining forces would advance to their target. Column A would attack Benton, column B would attack Murray, column C would attack Camden and column D would attack Parson. Once column A and column B had destroyed their initial target cities, they would converge on Mayton and destroy it. Column C would advance to Huntington after razing Camden and column D would advance to Lexton. The assaults would continue through Martin, Trenton and finally to Dyersburg to split the Confederation. The often-quoted paraphrase of Moltke the Elder, “No strategic plan survives contact with the enemy” would end up as “No strategic plan survives a river crossing” for Colonel Carswell.

At each river crossing, the cavalry platoon had established an effective defense of the beachhead and the initial supporting platoon had arrived. After a dry summer season, the river was low and the weather was clear with a full moon. The four-hour operation of building the pontoon bridges began. About an hour after the building began the weather turned starting at Benton. Clouds rolled in from the northwest with a drastic increase in southwesterly surface winds. Though slowed the bridge building continued. When the winds and clouds made it to the Parson crossing Benton was in the middle of a hailstorm driven by gale force winds. The advancing line of thunderstorms destroyed the bridges within three hours of the start of construction of each bridge. The Camden bridge site was struck by a F1 tornado. Carswell ordered those forces already across the river to attack their initial targets and destroy them, then return. Because column C had lost nearly all of its johnboats, it was ordered to rendezvous with column D in Parsons after mission completion and return using those boats. For Colonel Carswell four small victories can elevate one to hero status within the family.

Each town was set afire and suffered severe damage. For the attacking forces, the damage was light. One V-300 had a central wheel blown off with an improvised land mine and another had its anti-air machine gun destroyed. Of the infantry, two soldiers were seriously wounded and eight were lightly wounded. There were no combat deaths but the storm had killed seventeen soldiers building the Camden crossing bridge. After the withdrawal was completed, Carswell set up patrols and defensive positions to repel any counter attack. None was forthcoming. Lauded as a hero by the family, Gerald returned to Danville and was soon replaced as the commander of the Fifth Regiment. The new commander moved the regiment farther into the interior of the KFS to suppress a slave rebellion. The lack of any military action by the Confederation convinced the Council of Five that no credible threat outside of the Free State existed. For the next twenty years, the Army of the KFS was too busy suppressing a succession of slave revolts to venture across the Tennessee River. When they did, the response was very different, shocking and troubling.

In Newtonian physics, for every action there is an opposite reaction. If the KFS raids were the action, the reaction was the creation of the Jackson Republic, virtually opposed to the KFS in every way: anti-slave versus slave, democracy versus oligarchy, character versus class, communism versus capitalism, freedom versus servitude, motivation versus stagnation.

More than one hundred years would pass before the Army of the KFS would again advance beyond its borders.

[RandyT0001]

The beginning of a new module I have been working on.

Comments, suggestions?

[rob]

I'd be up for a copy of the module if/when it is done please. Thanks for the work RandyT0001.

[RandyT0001]

Carryall Truck, 4x4 3/4ton (4th Edition)
Crew: 2 +7 passengers
Length: 4.7m
Width: 2.0m
Height: 2.06m
Max. Road Speed: 87kph
Fording Depth: 0.86m
Gradient: 55%
Vertical Obstacle: ?
Trench: ?
Ground Clearance: 0.26m
Turning Radius: 7.47m
Armor Value: 4(B), 9(NB), 128(EX)
Payload: 818kg

Mass: 34 (2,613.6kg) including fuel (113.5 liters)
Stats:
SP: 1,156
STR: 103 (56.7kw powerplant)
DEX: 13
PACE: 15
INT: 18

Public officials in the Jackson Republic that require a four-wheel drive vehicle use the carryall truck. The rear seats can be folded forward for additional cargo space or removed for maximum capacity.