4518th Infantry: Lift vs Mech?

[plop101]

Something I've wondered about:

In the JTAS article on the 4518th, and in the Spinward Marches Campaign, the 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions of the 4518th are listed as being "Lift Infantry."

When we get to the Fifth Frontier War game, the same battalions are listed as "Mechanized Infantry," something distinctively different from "Lift Infantry."

First question: Which is correct, in respect to the 4518th?

Second question: What makes a "lift infantry" battalion different from a "mechanized infantry" battalion?

Third question(s): Does anyone have a TOE for a "lift infantry" battalion? Or a TOE for a "mechanized infantry battalion?

 

[plop101]

Something I've wondered about:

In the JTAS article on the 4518th, and in the Spinward Marches Campaign, the 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions of the 4518th are listed as being "Lift Infantry."

When we get to the Fifth Frontier War game, the same battalions are listed as "Mechanized Infantry," something distinctively different from "Lift Infantry."

First question: Which is correct, in respect to the 4518th?

Second question: What makes a "lift infantry" battalion different from a "mechanized infantry" battalion?

Third question(s): Does anyone have a TOE for a "lift infantry" battalion? Or a TOE for a "mechanized infantry battalion?

 

[WyldRage]

I believe they are called "lift" because they use gravity defying vehicles (grav tanks and grav APC IIRC). Now, considering the appelation mechanized infantry, this can refer to infantry with ground-based APCs only or to infantry with any kind of APCs. So the 4518th can be mechanized infantry or not, depending on the definition used, but they should always be defined as lift infantry at least.

Unfortunately, I don't have any TO&E for them.

 

[WyldRage]

I believe they are called "lift" because they use gravity defying vehicles (grav tanks and grav APC IIRC). Now, considering the appelation mechanized infantry, this can refer to infantry with ground-based APCs only or to infantry with any kind of APCs. So the 4518th can be mechanized infantry or not, depending on the definition used, but they should always be defined as lift infantry at least.

Unfortunately, I don't have any TO&E for them.

 

[plop101]

Wyldrage writes:

I believe they are called "lift" because they use gravity defying vehicles (grav tanks and grav APC IIRC). Now, considering the appelation mechanized infantry, this can refer to infantry with ground-based APCs only or to infantry with any kind of APCs.

See, that last sentence is what confuses me. In the 5FF game, you have infantry and mech infantry units, both of which have the grav capable line under their icons. So there both grav capable. But if thats the case, why distinguish infantry from mech infantry?

My own notion is this (and please correct me if I'm off on the wrong track):

"lift infantry" units are infantry units which use grav vehicles but not grav apc's or tanks. These guys use air/rafts, "grav hummers", and grav trucks to get where their going.

"mech infantry" units are infantry units which use grav apc's, and have a certain smaller portion of grav tanks.

That would leave your grav armor units with a higher portion of grav tanks vs grav apc's, and your grav cavalry units with a even portion of grav tanks to grav apc's.

By that measure, the 4518th 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions are grav capable mechanized infantry units.

But thats just my notion. I'm looking for a more 'Official' ruling on the matter.

 

[plop101]

Wyldrage writes:

I believe they are called "lift" because they use gravity defying vehicles (grav tanks and grav APC IIRC). Now, considering the appelation mechanized infantry, this can refer to infantry with ground-based APCs only or to infantry with any kind of APCs.

See, that last sentence is what confuses me. In the 5FF game, you have infantry and mech infantry units, both of which have the grav capable line under their icons. So there both grav capable. But if thats the case, why distinguish infantry from mech infantry?

My own notion is this (and please correct me if I'm off on the wrong track):

"lift infantry" units are infantry units which use grav vehicles but not grav apc's or tanks. These guys use air/rafts, "grav hummers", and grav trucks to get where their going.

"mech infantry" units are infantry units which use grav apc's, and have a certain smaller portion of grav tanks.

That would leave your grav armor units with a higher portion of grav tanks vs grav apc's, and your grav cavalry units with a even portion of grav tanks to grav apc's.

By that measure, the 4518th 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions are grav capable mechanized infantry units.

But thats just my notion. I'm looking for a more 'Official' ruling on the matter.

 

[RandyT0001]

"Lift infantry" probably use grav belts whereas "mech infantry" use grav tanks and APC's but this is just my opinion

 

[RandyT0001]

"Lift infantry" probably use grav belts whereas "mech infantry" use grav tanks and APC's but this is just my opinion

 

[The Oz]

(from JTAS#9)

Lift Infantry Battalion (4518th Lift Inf. Rgt.)

Battalion HQ: 3 officers, 10 men, 4 command grav APC.

3 Lift Infantry Companies:
Company HQ: 1 command grav APC plus 3 platoons, each with 3 squads, each squad in a grav ACP plus platoon leader in command grav APC, giving 4 vehicles and 40 men per platoon.

1 Grav Tank Company: one HQ command grav tank, plus 3 platoons with 4 vehicles each (one vehicle in each platoon is a command grav tank).

1 Artillery Battery: HQ section has 2 officers and 6 men, with a grav APC with a fire direction center. 2 firing sections, each with 4 vehicles. One section has multiple rocket launcher vehicles, the other section has remote drone missle launcher vehicles.

 

[The Oz]

(from JTAS#9)

Lift Infantry Battalion (4518th Lift Inf. Rgt.)

Battalion HQ: 3 officers, 10 men, 4 command grav APC.

3 Lift Infantry Companies:
Company HQ: 1 command grav APC plus 3 platoons, each with 3 squads, each squad in a grav ACP plus platoon leader in command grav APC, giving 4 vehicles and 40 men per platoon.

1 Grav Tank Company: one HQ command grav tank, plus 3 platoons with 4 vehicles each (one vehicle in each platoon is a command grav tank).

1 Artillery Battery: HQ section has 2 officers and 6 men, with a grav APC with a fire direction center. 2 firing sections, each with 4 vehicles. One section has multiple rocket launcher vehicles, the other section has remote drone missle launcher vehicles.

 

[plop101]

The Oz posts:
Snippet-

(from JTAS#9)

Lift Infantry Battalion (4518th Lift Inf. Rgt.)

Yes, I saw that. The same thing is in the Spinward Marches Campaign Book. But in the Fifth Frontier War game those units (1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions) are described as grav capable mechanized infantry battalions. Says so right on the counters, if you happen to have a copy of the Games Reprint handy.

Randy Tyler writes:

"Lift infantry" probably use grav belts whereas "mech infantry" use grav tanks and APC's but this is just my opinion

Hmmm. That is a interesting notion.
I always thought of troops with grav belts being in very specialized units, not used as simple infantry. I might have to think about that some more.

 

[plop101]

The Oz posts:
Snippet-

(from JTAS#9)

Lift Infantry Battalion (4518th Lift Inf. Rgt.)

Yes, I saw that. The same thing is in the Spinward Marches Campaign Book. But in the Fifth Frontier War game those units (1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions) are described as grav capable mechanized infantry battalions. Says so right on the counters, if you happen to have a copy of the Games Reprint handy.

Randy Tyler writes:

"Lift infantry" probably use grav belts whereas "mech infantry" use grav tanks and APC's but this is just my opinion

Hmmm. That is a interesting notion.
I always thought of troops with grav belts being in very specialized units, not used as simple infantry. I might have to think about that some more.

 

[Uncle Bob]

I don't see the problem.

A "mechanized" unit has mechanical transport vehicles which not only carry the troops but enhance the troop's fighting, to which end the vehicles are usually armed and armored. A "motorized" unit has transport vehicles that carry soldiers to the battlefield but take no part in the fighting. "Airmobile" is a type of "motorized".

Mechanized units today mostly use tracked vehicles, sometimes use wheeled vehicles, and in Vietnam one mech battalion used hovercraft. Grav is just another type of engine.

So a unit in grav APCs could be called "mechanized", "grav", or "lift" with equal accuracy depending on the patron and today's assignment.

 

[Uncle Bob]

I don't see the problem.

A "mechanized" unit has mechanical transport vehicles which not only carry the troops but enhance the troop's fighting, to which end the vehicles are usually armed and armored. A "motorized" unit has transport vehicles that carry soldiers to the battlefield but take no part in the fighting. "Airmobile" is a type of "motorized".

Mechanized units today mostly use tracked vehicles, sometimes use wheeled vehicles, and in Vietnam one mech battalion used hovercraft. Grav is just another type of engine.

So a unit in grav APCs could be called "mechanized", "grav", or "lift" with equal accuracy depending on the patron and today's assignment.

 

[shield]

Hi,

i think the infantry, armoured (mechanized) infantry and tank actually depend upon the types of companies that make up the battalion.

A infantry battalion, has 3 infantry companies, a tank company and a support company (artillery and stuff)

The tank battalion is the reverse 3 tank companies, 1 support company and may be an infantry company for support.

The armoured infantry battalion probably has 2 infantry companies and two tank type companies + support.

It is better explained in the GURPS Ground Forces book. JTAS has a zho lift battalion TOE. There are TOEs for imperial and zho forces in Striker II.

From the desciptions all infantry units are in APCs, lift is added to the description if the vehicles are grav. Grav belts tend to be given to scouts, although grav bikes are faster and cary more. They are also given to commandoes, jump troops and various other special ops types.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Richard

 

[shield]

Hi,

i think the infantry, armoured (mechanized) infantry and tank actually depend upon the types of companies that make up the battalion.

A infantry battalion, has 3 infantry companies, a tank company and a support company (artillery and stuff)

The tank battalion is the reverse 3 tank companies, 1 support company and may be an infantry company for support.

The armoured infantry battalion probably has 2 infantry companies and two tank type companies + support.

It is better explained in the GURPS Ground Forces book. JTAS has a zho lift battalion TOE. There are TOEs for imperial and zho forces in Striker II.

From the desciptions all infantry units are in APCs, lift is added to the description if the vehicles are grav. Grav belts tend to be given to scouts, although grav bikes are faster and cary more. They are also given to commandoes, jump troops and various other special ops types.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Richard

 

[BMonnery]

Originally posted by The Oz:
(from JTAS#9)

Lift Infantry Battalion (4518th Lift Inf. Rgt.)

Battalion HQ: 3 officers, 10 men, 4 command grav APC.

3 Lift Infantry Companies:
Company HQ: 1 command grav APC plus 3 platoons, each with 3 squads, each squad in a grav ACP plus platoon leader in command grav APC, giving 4 vehicles and 40 men per platoon.

1 Grav Tank Company: one HQ command grav tank, plus 3 platoons with 4 vehicles each (one vehicle in each platoon is a command grav tank).

1 Artillery Battery: HQ section has 2 officers and 6 men, with a grav APC with a fire direction center. 2 firing sections, each with 4 vehicles. One section has multiple rocket launcher vehicles, the other section has remote drone missle launcher vehicles.

I thought Imperial Infantry platoons were organised as a 3 man HQ (Platoon Commander, Sergeant and Signaller), and 2 sections of 19 (section commander and 2 squads of 9, with 2 4 man fireteams and a squad commander).

Bryn

 

[BMonnery]

Originally posted by The Oz:
(from JTAS#9)

Lift Infantry Battalion (4518th Lift Inf. Rgt.)

Battalion HQ: 3 officers, 10 men, 4 command grav APC.

3 Lift Infantry Companies:
Company HQ: 1 command grav APC plus 3 platoons, each with 3 squads, each squad in a grav ACP plus platoon leader in command grav APC, giving 4 vehicles and 40 men per platoon.

1 Grav Tank Company: one HQ command grav tank, plus 3 platoons with 4 vehicles each (one vehicle in each platoon is a command grav tank).

1 Artillery Battery: HQ section has 2 officers and 6 men, with a grav APC with a fire direction center. 2 firing sections, each with 4 vehicles. One section has multiple rocket launcher vehicles, the other section has remote drone missle launcher vehicles.

I thought Imperial Infantry platoons were organised as a 3 man HQ (Platoon Commander, Sergeant and Signaller), and 2 sections of 19 (section commander and 2 squads of 9, with 2 4 man fireteams and a squad commander).

Bryn

 

[Aggressor]

Just as a thought to this. The military is always changing units around. It is not inconceivable that a unit would go from "lift" to "mech" and maybe back aging.

 

[Aggressor]

Just as a thought to this. The military is always changing units around. It is not inconceivable that a unit would go from "lift" to "mech" and maybe back aging.