Oceanic Union

The Oceanic Union includes what is today Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and the island nations of the SW Pacific rim. The diverse nature of operating environments; from steamy jungles of New Guinea to snow bound mountains of New Zealand and the inhospitable arid rocky deserts of Northern Australia have resulted in the development of a versatile and adaptable Defence Force capability. OU military forces are capable of, and experienced in, prolonged independent operations down to platoon level. Consequently, heavy weapon suppport is available more directly at the tactical level than in other military organisations. It is not uncommon for a Platoon Commander to call Heavy Artillery or Orbital Support Fire directly.  Regional antagonists; principally the Indonesian Commonwealth as well as various mercenary organisations, are normally light in armour suppport. Consequently, GMS weapons are not carried within the standard platoon but are held at Coy and Bn level.

The OU Regular Army Battalion includes specialist EW, Pioneer, Mortar and Heavy Weapons (Ground Mount RAFC) Platoons. Normally the Transport Platoon provides organic vehicles the Rifle Companies; GEV (the locally produced Wombat) for operations in open country and the M38 wheeled APC for operations in mountain and close country. Standard Infantry weapons include the F72 Advanced Combat Rifle and the F77 Support Weapon. Both fire the conventional 4mm caseless round. OU Infantry Sections, whilst lacking the heavier GMS of other nations armies, are liberally supplied with the 72mm IAVR.

Rifle Company Organisation

Detailed below is the doctrinal Orbat (Order of Battle) for a standard Rifle Company in an Infantry Battalion.
 
Company Headquarters:
One squad sized unit including Company Commander, Company 2IC, Company Sergeant Major, two support staff, plus a Battalion detachment of three to include Fire Support, EW or other specialist liaison as required. Transport is a standard APC (Wombat or M38).

Support Section:
This provides the organic heavy weapons support for the Rifle Platoons. It consists of the Section Sergeant and a Signaller and two detachments each of four men. Normally each detachment mans a Ground Mount GMS/L although when operating in light scales these are replaced with either two GMS/P or PPG(I) per detachment, as operations require.

Platoon Headquarters:
Four men comprising the Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Signaller and Combat Medic.

The Infantry section:
The standard section consists of  nine men divided into three Teams. A Command Team contains the Section Commander and two Scouts whilst the other two Fire Teams each consist of SAW Gunner (F77) and two Riflemen. Standard weapon is the F72ACR, whilst each Team will carry one or two additional IAVR giving a total of three to six per IAVR per section.

OU Infantry Weapons and Equipment:

The emphasis on OU weapons development has been reliability and durability under particularly harsh environments. Consequently use of liquid chemical propellants (susceptible to degradation in heat and cold) or advanced but high-maintenance weapons components such as Gauss accelerators has been limited to specialist and heavy weapon development.

F72 Advanced Combat Rifle - TYPE: Advanced Assault Rifle FIREPOWER:2, IMPACT: d10. Standard Infantry small arm firing 4mm conventional caseless round. Fitted with advanced Electro Opitic sights and a bullpup firing mechanism make this a weapon well suited to jungle and urban operations. The lack of an integral grenade launcher is considered to be balanced within a section by the addition of the second SAW as more suitable in both open and close country.

F77 Light Support Weapon - TYPE: Light Machine Gun FIREPOWER: d8, IMPACT: d10. A belt/magazine fed 4mm light machine gun. Although it may becarried on a Gyro Mount, most infantry gunners prefer to carry it freehand as it enables the firer to adopt better fire positions unhindered.

M27P/L GMS: TYPE: Guided Missile System; IMPACT: d12, GUIDANCE: Enhanced (d8). A standardised "fire'n'forget" 81mm missile system that is employed man-portable, Ground Mount and in the Support Vehicle roles.

M9A2 PPG(I): TYPE: Portable Plasma Gun (Infantry); FIREPOWER: d6, IMPACT: d12. This PIG may be employed in place of the GMS/P particularly in urban environments where back blast from a missile launcher can be a disadvantage. Not well favoured due to high maintenace requirements.

M39 IAVR: TYPE: Single Shot Disposable Rocket. FIREPOWER: d8, IMPACT: d12. A popular anti-vehicle and "bunker buster" this 72mm unguided rocket is fitted with a dual purpose warhead that can be 'dialled' by the firer to impact as a 'squash head' round against light armour or hardened targets or as a general explosive against soft targets such as troops in the open or light cover.

F82 Sniper Rifle (Laser): TYPE: Laser Sniper Rifle, FIREPOWER: d12, IMPACT: d8. The Lithgow Arms Electra is the one exception to the OU imperative of simplicity in weapons design. This high energy pulse laser rifle can be powered from either a high capacity backpack or 5 shot magazine-batteries.

Other Equipment

Ballsitica Body Armour: IR and microwave resistant ballistic clothe has been augmented with ferro-ceramics to produce a light weight but effective body armour. The helmet incorporates a standard HUD feeding information from the personal weapon sensors and Platoon and Company Intel and Targetting systems. A lightweight head set has been produced to provide a cooler alternative to a helmet particularly in the sweltering and humid jungle heat. ARMOUR VALUE: d6, MOBILITY TYPE of wearer: NORMAL INFANTRY (d6 or 6")

Power Armour: One of the issues still undecided after the recent restructure of the OUDF is the employment of PA in support of  operations. Currently, PA is being trialled in selected Mechanised Infantry Battalions. It is envisaged to augment the Mech Inf Bn by replacing one Rifle Coy with a PA Coy. More information will be released as the trials progress.

Vehicles

When vehicle mounted (either temporary for an operation or as part of a Mechanised Battalion/Battle Group) the Platoon will be provided with four APCs: one APC for the Platoon HQ and one for each Rifle Section.  For conduct of Defence Force Aid to Civil Communities (DFACC) the APCs are replaced by the Cassowary; a 6 wheel-drive Hi-mobility vehicle commonly used by the Regional Force Patrol units.

Wombat GEV: Medium sized GEV APC of Fed Stats origin produced under license since 2148.
MOBILITY TYPE:  GEV (hover)
SIZE CLASS:   3 (Medium)
ARMOUR CLASS:  2
WEAPONS: Remote turret mounting RAFC/1 or DFFG/1. Fire Support variants may be fitted with GMS. Additional RAFC or SAW may be mounted on the rear decking for added firepower. Enhanced Fire Control for all weapons.
CREW:    2 (Commander/Gunner, Driver)
TROOP SPACES:  9
OTHER EQUIPMENT:  Basic ECM, Smoke Launchers.

Bandicoot Light APC: Medium sized 6 Wheeled APC based on the NAC Industries M38 LIPPD.
MOBILITY TYPE:  Hi-mobility Wheeled
SIZE CLASS:   3(Medium)
ARMOUR CLASS:  2
WEAPONRY: Standard fit of a turret mounted RAFC/1 (Enhanced Fire Control and GMS/L (Superior Fire Control).
CREW:    2 (Commander/Gunner, Driver)
TROOPS:   9
OTHER EQUIPMENT:  Basic ECM, Smoke Launchers

Battalion Organisation

The following details are provided to give additional background to the level of support available to the Rifle Platoon.Compared to other nationalities the OU Battalion/Battle Group organisation contains a somewhat heavier emphasis on heavy and support weapons. This provides the Rifle Companies the organic supported needed for the dispersed nature of operations they often undertake.

notes:
1. Recon Patrols consist of 1 Patrol Commander, SAW Gunner, Medic, Signaller and sniper qualified soldier (no sniper rifle). The sniper team consists of a No.1 sniper armed with the F82 Laser Rifle and a No.2 armed with F72ACR. The Recon Pl also may contain 2 motorcycle teams each of 2 men mounted on wheeled or hover 'bikes'. All Recon soldiers have Superior Sensor suites (d10).
2. Direct Fire Wpns Sects each consist of two 4 man teams to operate an RAFC/1 in Ground Mount or on a 4WD 'Gun Buggy'
3. Each Mortar Sect operates two RAM. In support of each Rifle Coy is a 2 man Mortar Forward Observer (MFO) team per Mortar Section.
4. Pioneer Sections can detach a 4 man 'splinter team' to support Company or Platoon operations in assaults using flamers or in clearing defensive minefields and obstacles and assist in laying minefields during defensive operations.
5. ESM/ECM detachments of two men may be deployed down to Rifle Platoon level.

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