Map/Faction idea!

[havoc1482]

I like the "Iron Gator" idea. But I know it doenst really seem like PR material. But maybe you could do a CoD4 scenario where the Russian Loyalists go and retake the missile silo that the Russian Ultranationalist (rebels) took over, it would make a good CQB/C (Close Quarter Battle/Combat) level, fighting on the corridors of an old Cold War Russian silo. I mean, you alrady have the factions all you need is a map. But im not obligating you to do this, since you guys have lots of work to do already.

[Eddie Baker]

Nk87, Somali pirate maps have been suggested many times since last October/November. Please use search in the future.

first off... Boarding ships is not the business of conventional forces, that's SF shenannigans.

It depends on the threat level. USN defines four levels of VBSS threat.

I. Compliant
II. Non-compliant, low freeboard (distance from waterline to upper deck)
III. Non-compliant, high freeboard
IV. Overt armed resistance.

All US Navy ships (and I believe it is similar for the RN and other navies) have a VBSS team manned by selected/trained personnel from the ship's crew who can perform up to Level II. US Navy Expeditionary Combat Command has VBSS teams with capability up to Level III (to include helicopter rope suspension training), and they are attached to different ships / battle groups. UK Fleet Protection Group RM and USMC Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team companies are also conventional force units that possess level III (possibly higher) capability. However, Level IV is generally the territory of special operations forces (Bundesmarine KSK, UK SBS, SEALs, MEU(SOC) Direct Action/SR Platoon, etc.).

[Tannhauser]

Thanks a lot for the information Eddie, I had no idea how they structured naval boarding until now! But then, are the Level III intervention teams using the same hardware as their ''Marines'' counterpart? Being exclusively Navy I'd imagine they use equipment adapted to boarding ships rather than weapons used on the ground by regular troops... Or is it exactly that wich makes Level III and Level IV ITs different?
Because then, if they're navy we're talking about a whole other faction, wich is a hard one to pull off.
Also, would those teams stay and keep security for those ships even when docked? Like if an Aircraft carrier is docked at a foreign US naval base, would they stay on and defend it in case of attack/boarding?

[Eddie Baker]

Thanks a lot for the information Eddie, I had no idea how they structured naval boarding until now! But then, are the Level III intervention teams using the same hardware as their ''Marines'' counterpart? Being exclusively Navy I'd imagine they use equipment adapted to boarding ships rather than weapons used on the ground by regular troops... Or is it exactly that wich makes Level III and Level IV ITs different?
Because then, if they're navy we're talking about a whole other faction, wich is a hard one to pull off.

Only speculation here, but I think that VBSS / MIO in general has some specialized equipment associated with it that all units who train in the mission use. Otherwise, the NECC Level III VBSS teams use the same small arms as the rest of the US forces. I have heard of and seen photos of them and EOD teams using the Mk-18 as a primary weapon (it's an even shorter upper receiver for the M4) but I am not sure if that's the norm or a matter of selecting the weapon based on METT, because I have also seen photos of them with M4s. I have read that they use a different body armor type/manufacturer for some things, also.

Also, would those teams stay and keep security for those ships even when docked? Like if an Aircraft carrier is docked at a foreign US naval base, would they stay on and defend it in case of attack/boarding?

I would imagine so. The ship's crew VBSS teams are drawn from Ship's Reaction Force personnel, and the Level III teams are made up of Masters at Arms and Gunner's Mates who also are trained to do that job. USMC Security Forces and their FAST Platoons also deploy to protect ships in port (both at home and abroad), and UK Fleet Protection Group RM is analogous to those units.