Thoughts on Mortars in the Sci Fi Battlefield

I have to admit, for many years I didn't get mortars in a Sci Fi setting. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I don't understand their use or effectiveness, but rather, given a choice between a mortar, no matter how fancy and high fallutin' the ammo is, vs a rotating barrelled plasma cannon or multi-legged MRLS system - guess which I'd prefer?

The reality of the situation is that moratrs are going to be around for a long time to come. They are cheap, lightweight, fast to set up and get into action, plus they can be deployed within eyeball of the enemy. And, not to be dismissed lightly either, pound for pound they offer a bigger bang and greater lethality than 'conventional' artillery rounds.

Mortar rounds may include airburst, burrowing (to explodes several seconds after impact) and regular impact. They may include sub-munitions, such as a bomblets, top down anti-armour rockets, micro-bot cloud, drones, minelets, ECM They may also have 'smart' munitions that can search for a particular target signature - a type of tank, infantry, or even an individual.

With the increase in mortar round detection and defence systems coming into play today, mortar rounds may have to be 'stealthed' so they are blind to the enemy Grid

Even in the 70's mortar locating radar systems could backtrack mortar rounds to locate the firing position. Future technology will only make it easier, even for the individual infantryman and allow countermeasures to respond immediately..

Mortars may well become like LAW's or other disposable rocket systems. A futuristic mortar could be a single shot or magazine fed weapon. Automated - on the Grid and highly 'disposable'.

A field of 'remote' automated mortar tubes could be deployed by the infantry or even by drop capsule. The Grid or even the infantry themselves could transmit fire support orders to the mortar's on board intelligence chip which makes the necessary calculations and fires the number and type of tubes necessary. Any enemy counter-measures simply target a group of now useless tubes.

In a hostile aerospace environment it could be that the scenario is for a small group to iniltrate enemy positions, set up a mortar - manned (for protection) or remote, and then launch a smart munition on a laser painted enemy facility or personage at the correct moment.

Cheers

Mark

The SAW Debate

 

One of the things that attracts me to playing skirmish level - individual/squad/platoon level games in the late C20th and beyond over say Crimean War is the range of weaponry available.

No, I'm not a 'gun nut'. Neither is this a prediliction for a particular firearm or love of firepower. I'm a firm believer that the man maketh the weapon. In fact, see this interestiung article in The Marine Corps Gazette that demonstrates this - the lack of training for SAW gunners reducing their effectiveness in the fight, whilst the cursory training metered out to their assistant all but means that the loss of the prime SAW gunner meant the los of the weapon to the firefight.

A range of different weapon systems within our skirmish games provides tactical and leadership challenges that having the single weapon "well it is as powerful as a SAW and has a grenade launcher too" argument does not. In effect not giving you a range of weapons at squad level is tactically consigning you and me to a pre 1917 tabletop. Even in the final years of WW1 the British  were organised into rifle, 'bomber', Lewis gun and rifle grenade teams.

So the question is, are you playing Sci Fi or Retreat from Mons with space helmets?

OK, so you may argue that the character/characteristics given to the figures themselves in a game makes the difference. Yes it does. I don't disagree. But think how much richer your game is when you have a range of different weapon systems with different deployment, combat ranges and effects to add into the mix. The weapons take on characters themselves and at the very least become character multipliers.

Of course, I'm not just talking SAWs. According to Rethinking The 'Rifle' Platoon again from The Marine Corps Gazette:

The SMAW (Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon), particularly with the thermobaric round, has proven to be one of the most effective weapons used during urban combat in Iraq. Many observers have pointed them out as one of if not the key infantry weapon during the battle of Fallujah in November 2004 and have recommended that their numbers be increased or that one be provided in support of each squad.

Yes, but what about future weapons which will put out a lot of rounds like a SAW and have integral Lasers and grenade launchers. With set Lasers to 'dead leg' or 'a bit of a sniffle', and all that future stuff? Sure, but there'll always be more alien greeblies, always be a bigger alien tin can to defeat.

Take a look at the Zas Mercs (Critical Mass Games: Merc 13) in the banner at the top of the page. In a single pack you get two riflemen, a sniper and a SAW/LMG gunner. Even before you've assigned the first Veteran, Average, Novice character to these figs, you have three different military roles and characteristics on your tabletop.

Right, so let's take a pack of say, Rebel Minis' Earth Force Armoured Troops or Drop Troopers. Am I stuffed then? Luckily NO!

Jon at GZG has brought out a wide range of remotes, drones and bots over the past two years which can augment the firepower and reach of the basic riflemen figures. In fact we can create an opportunity out of a pack of just riflemen to think outside of the squad box by embedding a combination of remotes/drones/bots or even androids and walkers/battlesuits into our small level combat formations.

GZG 15mm Sci Fi:

V15-70 Mini Hover Drones

Suddenly our squad or platoon level battle takes on a greater complexity with aerial, armour and artificial intelligence characteristics. We now enter a multi-D (multi-dimensional) combat environment.

"We're on the Grid, five by five"

The provision of squad and support weapons may even leave us with a false sense of futuristic complacency on the tabletop.  When in fact the human element of a platoon sized combat force in the future may be very small indeed and only need weapons for personal defence as the bots do the rest.

Cheers

Mark

IN THE PIPE: Khurasan Federal RAM Mortar Team

 
A whole heap of new goodies from Khurasan Miniatures are in the pipe and heading to a galaxy near you soon. I can bring exclusive news from Khurasan Alienworkz gmb that RAM (rocket assisted munition) Mortars are the asset of the day for any self-respecting intergalactic overlord.

There will be mortars for the Feds, Lhurggs and, in time, for the Control Battalion and Sepulvedan Resistance too. RAM Mortars provide a cheap, mobile and versatile weapons platform that can deploy a range of munitions. Providing the grunts on the ground with their own dedicated, on-call artillery.

So we're going to need a forward control element to locate the enemy and direct effective fires onto them. What better than a highly manoeuvrable eye in the sky.

Here we see the Federal Army Infantry Drone team, previewed recently on Khurasan Miniatures' blog. These drones are perfect for providing real-time information back to 'the grid'.

Modern C-RAM (Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) weapons are ground based - but a fast moving drone with a powerful energy weapon may be able to conduct successful point defence missions and set up a C-RAM environment around the unit or facility it is protecting. I foresee (C-S) Counter Sniper Drones and C-RAMS (Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar and Sniper) Drones in the future.

So, when are these going to be available? The Federal Infantry Mortar team above will be released at the same time as the drone and operator, the army casualty and medics diorama, the DIMOG 3 "Berserker" and Hercules civilian loader (both are conversion sets for the basic DIMOG).

Included in this release and again exclusively to Dropship Horizon will be a new kick ass unit of Federal Elite forces, but more on those tomorrow! Hooyah!

Cheers

Mark

Rebel Minis - 15mm Marine Support Weapons

Following my preview of Rebel Minis new Earth Force Marines, Mike has sent along photos of the infantry support weapons that will give his 'grunts' additional firepower. They will be available in a separate 'support' pack containing two of each miniature.

15mm Earth Force Marine
Support Team

15mm Earth Force Marine
Support Team Detail

The Rebel Minis Earth Force Marine snipers (below) were compleley unexpected. I currently use the WW2 British Snipers from Peter Pig (pack 413) which I've 'Ghillied up' using dried herbs. They are not so useful on Mars or similar planets though, which makes these new miniatures doubly welcome!

15mm Earth Force Marine
Sniper Team

I like the look of that sniper rifle as an anti-tank rifle and am even wondering about converting them into a guided anti-tank rocket launcher team along the lines of MILAN or SPIGOT/KORNET. Should be fairly straight forward with miliput and a piece of plastic rod/sprue.

15mm Earth Force Marine
Sniper Team Top View

I think the detail in the pictures speaks for itself. Like the 'Grunts', these are photos sent by Mike, so I have no actual figures to review and provide comparison with other ranges just now.

Keeping this short as I've broken a tooth down to the gum and the pain is distracting.

Cheers
Mark