Mountain troops: What features would you use.

Many different factions could plausibly use mountain troops squads in vCoH mods. The only justifcation for doing so in my mind is to create a significantly different class of infantry. I wish to entertain your suggestions for design of mountain troops and their abilities , counters etc.

To start off the discussion I propose a tier 3 Suomi Squad (Finnish) 5 man squad airborne armor G43 type rifles, ability: Enhanced movement, (either cable of crossing all terrain at base speed and/or small speed bonus ~1.1) Capping Speed ~1.1. Ability: Build: sandbags, barbed wire, tanktraps. Ability: Passive Camoflage IE like THs or Falls. Weapons ability and or upgrades: Molotov attack with Anti Vehicle crits (or a stickie type attack), Fragmentation grenades ,  perhaps a AT rifle or Panzer faust type upgrade. counter: infantry, LVehicle, Soft counter Hvehicle. Production CT call-in at or after 3CP suggested cost 360-380 MP.

I never know mountain troops are supermens though. If it's a mod involve high and harsh terrain, then bonus movement is definitely a must-have ability of mountain troops. But come on, passive camo, soft-vehicles counters, molotovs... You serious? Let them can fire accurately on the move, normal nades are okay too (I suggest insta-explov nades).
Otto, your mountain troop's prototype actually looked like a bunch of super conscripts fight through a whole german army to get to safety in a fictional SU campaign. :P

I guess it could be better if you UPGRADED for these thing. I mean these guys sound like bad ass riflemen. But rifles must tech to get their stuff. But Xemsex is right, these sound nice but not too balanced

Mr. wrote:
I never know mountain troops are supermens though. ....(I suggest insta-explov nades).
Otto, your mountain troop's prototype actually looked like a bunch of super conscripts fight through a whole german army to get to safety in a fictional SU campaign. :P

What is an insta explov nades?

QuoteThe battle of Raate road, which occurred during the month-long battle of Suomussalmi, resulted in one of the largest losses in the Winter War. The Soviet 44th and parts of the 163rd Rifle Divisions, comprising about 14,000 troops,^[107] were almost completely destroyed by a Finnish ambush as they marched along the forest road. A small unit blocked the Soviet advance while Finnish Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo and his 9th Division cut off the retreat route, split the enemy force into smaller fragments, and then proceeded to destroy the remnants in detail as they retreated. The Soviets suffered 7,000–9,000 casualties,^[108] while the Finnish units lost only 400 men.^[109] In addition, the Finnish troops captured dozens of tanks, artillery pieces, anti-tank guns, hundreds of trucks, almost 2,000 horses, thousands of rifles, and much-needed ammunition and medical supplies.^[110]

Who said anything about fighting through a german army? 8)

He is joking about the insta explosive nades.

Otto wrote:
Many different factions could plausibly use mountain troops squads in vCoH mods.

I think you've been here long enough to know EF's vCOh policy

Otto wrote:
Who said anything about fighting through a german army? 8)

You probably should have mentioned that b4. And you say "Finnish" along with "vCOH" so we can only assume you mean Germans.

Hey Cat,
I know all to well the vCoh rules. I would like to explore the possibilities of using Elite Light troops in a CoH setting , not EF per se.  Thats why I posted in Off Topic.

Why don't you think of how you would design  Legion Etrangee light troops. THe French Foreign Legion. Among their abilities would be included Air Drops.

Why do they get Air Drops

I'm joking in some parts but actually I'm find Otto's post worth reading.
First, my suggest is intanstly-explode nades. Yeah, TH had those but to against vehicles not infantry, it's good if there is a anti infantry one.
Second, a unit with too much abilities is definitely a unit in campaign so Otto's suggestion should be used as a unit of SU fight through a fucking large German army in a campaign mission :P

Cat wrote:
Why do they get Air Drops

It is my understanding that the legion Etrangee Had para training during the 1930s.  The nature of the fall of France in June of 1940 led to a massive fragmentation of various portions of the French army. Britain's Attack on the French battleships at Oran Algieria further divided the loyalties of French Soldiers . In a nutshell the Foreign Legion units serving with the Free French Forces were used against the Vichy in Syria and Lebanon, Perhaps in Iraq aswell. They were employed in the mountains of Eritrea and Somalia against the Italians  And scattered across the North African theater against a range of different combatants. None of these engagements were really suited for airbourne operations and it is doubtful whether Air transport would have been allocated to the Free French. THe training was there. LE repeated fought in all manner of difficult terrain during WWII. IIRC the first combat air drops the LE actually engaged in were in Indochina in 1952. Here again they fought in the mountains of Laos and Vietnam. At that time there were 3-4 battalions of BEF.

In addition to air drop possibilities The LE should have build abilities including mine laying. Here's What Rommel had to say about the LE at Bir Hachim:

Quote Bir Hakim was to be invested and attacked the next day on June 2 Groups in British and French went to continual raids on our lines of communication. It had to be stopped....

Encirclement of Bir Hakim...On the night of 1 to 2 June, the 90th Light Division andthe division advanced towards Trieste Bir Hakim. After these two units had crossed without significant losses, minefields, the encirclement of the fulcrum was completed by the East... the attack was launched around noon, conducted by the Northeast Division Trieste, and South East by the 90th light, against fortifications, positions and minefields, established by French troops. The battle began ...continued for ten days with an uncommon violence. During this period, I assumed myself, several times, the command of an attacking force. On African theater, I have rarely seen more hard fighting. The French had appointed positions remarkably, they used foxholes, bunkers, location of machine guns and antitank guns, and all were surrounded by a broad belt of mines...Supported by the continuous attacks of Flight - between 2 and 11 June, day of taking the last French positions, the Luftwaffe attacks executed 1300: against Bir Hakim - assault groups, composed of troops from various weapons and taken from different units, pledged action in North and South. But each time, the assault was stopped in the fortifications remarkably established by the French. Curiously, the bulk of British troops refrained from intervention in the early days of the offensive against Bir Hakim. Only the Ariete division was attacked on June 2, but opposed a stubborn resistance the assailant. After a cons-attack made by the 21st Panzer, the situation stabilized....the assault was stopped by the fire of all weapons available to the circled. ..He was an admirable feat on the part of defenders...hat day, General Ritchie launched, south of Bir Hakim, a small diversionary attack against the elements protecting the flank of the 90th Light. Alongside detachments, motorized, he hired a tank platoon belonging to the 4th Armoured Brigade. We had no difficulty in repelling them.... Kesselring violently criticized the slow progress of our offensive against French troops. The fact that the Luftwaffe squadrons were constantly flying over Bir Hakim, where they suffered heavy losses (in one day, the RAF had shot nearly 40 Stuka)...I ordered the 15th Panzer reach Bir Hakim. The next day the French garrison was to receive the coup de grace. Unfortunately for us, the French did not wait. Despite the security measures we had taken, they managed to leave the fortress, commanded by their chief, General Koenig, and save a significant portion of their workforce...    (Excerpt from The War Without Hate).

Kinda looks like the entire Armored Strength of Panzer Armee Afrika to me. Not bad for lightlyt armed mountain troops Ehh?

Lightning is striking nearby. Tommorow perhaps the 1ssf Devils BDE or the 30th Bergsalieri in Romania.

Last edited May 3, 2012 at 5:46 AM by Otto Halfhand

Italian alpinis?

*Awesome Robin Hood lookalike hats

* They had  detonate on impact grenades IRL ( SRCM 35/38). Though they didnt work, like didnt actually detonate on impact XD so well, so let it be a random abilety. When you throw it, it explodes on impact OR it doesnt and just lay there and will later on explode if somebody shoot at it, touch it, piss on it you get it! Like a butterfly bomb?

*They are fast and dont react to heavy terrain! ( like the schwimmwagen!)

*Italian weapons?

* Everybody loves italians! <3

Hi Sommarkatze. This one should be fun. ;) Why don't you do the Alpini/Bersalieri Squad. THe Italians had an entire Mountain Corps deployed to the Eastern Front.  Wiki has a good overview.

Sommarkatze wrote:
Italian alpinis?

*Awesome Robin Hood lookalike hats

* They had  detonate on impact grenades IRL ( SRCM 35/38). Though they didnt work, like didnt actually detonate on impact XD so well, so let it be a random abilety. When you throw it, it explodes on impact OR it doesnt and just lay there and will later on explode if somebody shoot at it, touch it, piss on it you get it! Like a butterfly bomb?

*They are fast and dont react to heavy terrain! ( like the schwimmwagen!)

*Italian weapons?

* Everybody loves italians! <3

The SRCMs remind me of the Flash-Bangs we made as kids. BB, Cap, Aluminum foil. They worked though. :P

http://comandosupremo.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Army_equipment_in_World_War_II

Last edited May 3, 2012 at 11:24 AM by Otto Halfhand

Hehe. Yeah, I could give it a shoot ^^ Thanks!

Here's a suggestion for modder's Who are intrested in Pacific theater Mods.

On VE Day I was talking to Gabby (91 years old), in the local gun shop. Also known a "Dutch by his section mates in the 179 ordinance Co. Attached to the 32nd and 41st Infantry Divisions 1940-1945,. Gabby is a PA Dutch Country Boy and was a Crack Shot. He served at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, New Holland, Luzon, and Philippines. two bronze stars, Sharpshooter, a saladfull of combat ribbons on his chest 5 stars for five combat zones. I will tell his story if we ever get EF Short Stories thread fixed. I think I broke it.  :-[

My suggestion 179th Ordinance Co CT call-in. 5 man Elite infantry section, 1 Flame thrower 4 carbines. upgrade to Springfield '03 Sharpshooters Rifle. Airborne Armor: Abilities: Demolitions, Fire-up, global healing. (Gabby said they ate so much Atropine on a daily basis they looked like Yellow Chinamen.

Gabby said the Government has still not sent him all the ribbons etc he earned over 65 years ago.  On that subject I wish to thank Rose Mary Sabo-Brown, for the Sacrifices and services of her family. She is widow of Leslie Halasz Sabo, Jr, KIA 10 May 1970, in Se San Cambodia. She will be meeting with President O'Bama today.She will receive the posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor  due  Leslie Halasz Sabo, Jr. The paperwork was lost for 42 years. SNAFU. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_H._Sabo,_Jr