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Colonial military operations in fiction

J

jappel

SOC-13
Thought I'd split out a bit of the discussion going on in the Piper thread that branched off into Pournelle's CoDominium stories, and his portrayal of war in an interstellar colonial setting.

One of the best treatments of this IMNSHO is Robert Frezza's "A Small Colonial War", which covers a campaign by a small military task force on a mixed rural-to-urban mid-pop planet. Frezza clearly thought hard about the logistics of fielding a credible military force across interstellar distances. His Imperial forces (this was written in the late 80s, so his world is governed by a resurgent Imperial Japan) use light helicopters, armored cars (burning alcohol IIRC) and mortars - along with chemical and biological weapons (sparingly). At least in the first book, his characters are hardly invincible, and the effects of war are portrayed pretty realistically.

Any other good treatments out there that aren't patently absurd, or some chairborne types' wet dream of military fantasy?
 
jappel said:
Thought I'd split out a bit of the discussion going on in the Piper thread that branched off into Pournelle's CoDominium stories, and his portrayal of war in an interstellar colonial setting.

One of the best treatments of this IMNSHO is Robert Frezza's "A Small Colonial War", which covers a campaign by a small military task force on a mixed rural-to-urban mid-pop planet. Frezza clearly thought hard about the logistics of fielding a credible military force across interstellar distances. His Imperial forces (this was written in the late 80s, so his world is governed by a resurgent Imperial Japan) use light helicopters, armored cars (burning alcohol IIRC) and mortars - along with chemical and biological weapons (sparingly). At least in the first book, his characters are hardly invincible, and the effects of war are portrayed pretty realistically.

Any other good treatments out there that aren't patently absurd, or some chairborne types' wet dream of military fantasy?
Click to expand...

I don't know how good a treatment it is, but the John Wayne Cavalry Trilogy, gives some of the nature of colonial war.

I believe Rosemary Sutcliff has a few fifties style juvenile stories about the borders of the Roman Empire.

There are a number of historical works on Victorian war.

How good all of this is for your purpose, Your Mileage May Vary.
 
jappel said:
Allow me to clarify - science fictional treatments. Though I love me some John Ford. :)
Click to expand...

Hmm. I can't think of any. Though strategy changes slower then tactics and it isn't implausible to simply mine classic small-war histories and novels for this sort of thing.
 
Probably the best historical source for Colonial Wars would be the French Post-War experience in its empire, which went badly wrong. IIRC forces were light, air mobility was starting to be used in Algeria, and the French planned, but did not bring to production, dedicated Counter-Insurgency planes for these conflicts.

In fact, in a lot of colonial areas STOL planes were of more use than helicopters due to their longer range and higher payloads.

For success you need hearts-and-minds, post-conflict planning, and an exit strategy in case things go wrong.
 
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The Last Legion series by Chris Bunch (the first book) starts out as a "colonial operation", then shifts in the last 3 books, as the Human Confederation starts to collapse.

1. The Last Legion (1999)
2. Firemask (2000)
3. Storm Force (2000)
4. Homefall (2001)
 
BlackBat242 said:
The Last Legion series by Chris Bunch (the first book) starts out as a "colonial operation", then shifts in the last 3 books, as the Human Confederation starts to collapse.

1. The Last Legion (1999)
2. Firemask (2000)
3. Storm Force (2000)
4. Homefall (2001)
Click to expand...
Yes, they're good gaming inspiration. I've been idly speculating on basing a campaign on them. Fall of the Long Night sort of thing, with the Vargr standing in for the aliens in the books.


Hans
 
Starviking said:
Probably the best historical source for Colonial Wars would be the French Post-War experience in its empire, which went badly wrong. IIRC forces were light, air mobility was starting to be used in Algeria, and the French planned, but did not bring to production, dedicated Counter-Insurgency planes for these conflicts.

In fact, in a lot of colonial areas STOL planes were of more use than helicopters due to their longer range and higher payloads.

For success you need hearts-and-minds, post-conflict planning, and an exit strategy in case things go wrong.
Click to expand...

Yes, I just read "Hell in a Very Small Place" about Dien Bien Phu, it shows very good tactics and the politics surrounding the the war in French Indochina, I can recommend it highly for anyone wanting a real account of a colonial war.
 
My favorite source (outside the already mentioned Steel Bonnets and Hell In A Very Small Place) is The Washing of the Spears by Donald Morris. It is an exhaustive history of the Zulu War and the difficulties encountered in maintaining the long logistics tail behind a force that is moving around the countryside attempting to bring an unconventional enemy to a decisive battle. And what with the long communications delays making it hard to figure out and manage the big picture I've always thought it is a good example for Traveller.
 
jappel said:
Any other good treatments out there that aren't patently absurd, or some chairborne types' wet dream of military fantasy?
Click to expand...


John,

The few I'm aware of, Frezza, Bunch, etc., have all been mentioned. Findings stories which involve small units at the end of torturous supply lines using whatever superior technology they can deploy to get inside their opponent's decision curve is tough. Truth be told, military sci-fi tends towards the "big battalions".

While most of the stories involve situations in which the entire armored regiment is either present or just off-stage, a few of Drake's Slammers pieces could fit your parameters. One in particular, The Sharp End, deals with a "scout" or "pioneer" team sent to a world to see whether the regiment should accept a contract there. The six or so members of the team use good old guile with a dose of high tech gadgets to thoroughly shake up the wretched planet in question.

Another novel, "Rolling Hot", features a small force sent off on the usual desperate mission with little support. Again, the Slammer's superior technology and sheer bloodymindedness let them "win".

Drake's Slammers stories are a poor choice for this topic, however, as interstellar transport has a fairly trivial price, in both money and time, and FTL comms are also available. Those factors mean that large merc and national forces are routinely "lifted" to various hotspots and easily supplied once engaged.

Piper's short Oomphal in the Sky gives us a peek at Terran Federation peacekeeping, although again on a larger scale than we'd be interested in. With his amazing prescience, Piper had seen the "jointness" craze modern militaries have been following for the last 20 years or so. A combined "Fleet-Army Force" is stationed on the word in question and despite having substantial troops on hand - brigades are specifically mentioned and the ranks mentioned suggest at least a corps must in play - the Terrans are having a rough time putting down a sudden outbreak of millennial anarchy gripping the natives.

Unlike Drake's setting, interstellar transport in Piper's Federation takes a great deal of time and no FTL comms other than shipping exists. So, just as in Uller Uprising, the people on hand have to deal with the crisis with the tools already available. In a nice departure from many military sci-fi stories, the solution Piper's characters eventually employ isn't a variation on the "Hoof and Mouth Cure".

If any readable Traveller fiction is ever produced, the type stories you asked about in this thread should be part of it.


Regards,
Bill
 
Stark's War Trilogy John Hembry.

Covers some actions on Earth and the rest on the moon. Written in 2000 set around 2100, it is a somewhat satirical lambasting of current military trends. The US Army has 3 Inf Div's and an armored brigade. The air force a couple of planes the Marines a whole platoon and a fairly large navy. The officers are ruled by PC. Advanced electronics mean advanced micro managing, time lines for ops. Clueless officers transferring every 6 months jockeying for promotions and learning nothing about their actual jobs. US Corporations run everything and the military is a caste with children following parents into service. Stark joined, a great rarity. Soldiers are seen by civvies as killer psycho rapists and discouraged from wandering far from their bases. Stark was barred once from visiting his parents by a cop oneday. So lots of vacuum combat, including armor; one Amazon reviewer felt TRAV would be good RPG for series.

Ian Douglas Heritage Trilogy.
Again lots of current trends extrapolated to future. US at war with French led UN (aka dirty UN-dies) on Mars and Earth. Douglas is of course Traveller's Bill Keith.

STARFIST Series by Sherman and Cragg
FTL Marines of the Fleet Initial Strike Force serving the corrupt Earth Federation (disappears all annoying persons from pirates, politicians, newsies and entire Marine FIST's who've seen that which can't be mentioned. Has Counterinsurgency, Desert Raiders, tank battles, jungle fights, things that can't be mentioned and a trope. Before going into combat/missions a Sgt Major comes in to prick the bubble of complacency telling several stories of bad ends to those going on a similar mission in the past. In one he told of the companies and battalions that found grief on a similar "We've lost contact with LV-42" check it out missions. Then reminds groups, these were all Co/Bn. your just a platoon.
 
juvenile as in 'aimed at teenagers' but readable by adults, rather than ... for kids!

Not sure any of her books are suitable fodder for a colonial-style armed conflict though ...

jatay3 said:
I believe Rosemary Sutcliff has a few fifties style juvenile stories about the borders of the Roman Empire.
Click to expand...
 
It might seem a bit of a leap, but have you considered the logistics involved in supporting troops in a previously quiet sector? For an excellent (true) account in runnning a bombing raid over seemingly impossible distances, with limited resources, I can recommend Rowland White's Vulcan 607.
Many of the problems involved could be adapted for use.... for instance, an isolated world (Jump-3 connection perhaps, and the nearest available troops are equipped with Jump-2 troopships).
 
I know its not really sci-fi, but....

George MacDonald Fraser's "Flashman" series of books might give some ideas.

okay, so I'm too slow
 
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