Commonwealth of Susquehanna Defense Force (1983: Doomsday)





The Commonwealth of Susquehanna maintains a small armed forces. Most of the military units were formed post-Doomsday, with a few pre-Doomsday units training troops after the apocalypse. Military service is by volunteer only, although in times of need the government can draft from ages 17 to 45 years old, in a selective service style recruitment.

Much of the equipment operated by the Commonwealth are pre-1960's equipment that is being replaced with newer models as funding becomes available.

The total military strength as of 2014 stands at approximately 706 soldiers and personnel.

Many of the soldiers that formed the early predecessors to the Defense Forces came from surviving personnel from the Scranton based 55th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, the Berwick Headquarters 55th Headquarters and Headquarters Command, as well as surviving units from the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard is the largest branch of the armed forces.

It is the oldest branch of the armed forces, being in existence in some form since the foundation of the nation. There are 500 soldiers in the Army National Guard. The military allows females to serve in any branch of the Defense Forces. The Jeep battalion, as well as the engineering and logistics company are commanded by a female.

Both men and women earn the same pay, and rank advancement in the armed forces.

Training
All soldiers irregardless of gender or job are sent through the same training.

First they are sent to four weeks of physical training. To pass basic training, they must be able to run a mile with a full combat load (73 pounds of gear, plus weapons and ammunition) in under fifteen minutes, then ten miles with a training load (40 pounds of gear, plus weapons and ammunition) in under an hour and twenty minutes, do 60 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 20 pull-ups, and do ten chin-ups.

If they pass that, they go to weapons training. At weapons training, they spend two weeks training on handguns, one week on their personal assault rifles, one week on grenades, and five days on improvised explosives. To pass weapons training they must shoot seven rounds and hit at least five targets with a one-inch spread; fire ten rounds from their rifles, hit at least eight targets (nine for scout or sniper), and have a one-inch spread; destroy two targets with a grenade; and make and use two improvised explosives.

Infantry
The largest branch of the Army National Guard is the infantry branch. The main role is to provide defense from foreign powers, and raiders, offensive against hostile nations and groups, as well as security and aid police during a natural disaster.

History

The infantry can trace back to immediately after Doomsday. It is the successor to local militias that formed to defend the towns and communities from raiders, and rouge army groups.

In 2005 the military was officially formed as part of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna Defense Force.

Manpower

The nation maintains three companies of infantry of 104 men, for a total of 316 available soldiers. All infantry regardless of role are issued M1911 pistols and either the M26 or M67 hand grenades.

Each company has four platoons, divided into four infantry fireteams, and three heavy weapons fireteams (Machine Gun Team, Rocket Team, and Mortar Team).

Two companies are active units, with full time soldiers, while the third is a reserve company, which only activates if needed.

Fireteam


 * Team Leader- Leader of the unit. Armed with a select fire M14 rifle, five ten-round magazines, and fifty extra rounds of ammunition, as well as the unit radio if issued one. Provides direct leadership in situations as well as information on the mission.
 * Rifleman- Baseline infantryman. Equip with an M14 select fire, ten ten-round magazines, and fifty extra rounds of ammunition. He may be issued an M72 LAW depending on the mission.
 * Designated Marksman- Acting scout and sniper of the fireteam. Equip with select fire M14, bipod, and a scope as well as five ten-round magazines, and thirty rounds of loose ammunition.
 * Automatic Rifleman- Issued a fully automatic M1918 BAR with ten 20-round magazines, and forty extra rounds. Provides suppression fire as well as fire support for the team.

Machine Gun Team
 * Team Leader/Gunner- Leader of the team. Equip with the M1919, and standard issue weapons. Provides support fire for fire teams and bazooka team. Carries one belt of ammunition (250 rounds).
 * Loader/Ammunition Bearer- Carries the machine gun's tripod, and two belts of extra ammunition (500 rounds). Loads gun as needed. Issued standard issue pistol and grenades.
 * Spotter- Spots for the crew. Carries one belt of ammunition (250 rounds). Issued M14 and eight ten-round magazines.
 * Infantryman- Equip with an M14 select fire, ten ten-round magazines. He also carries one belt of ammunition (250 rounds).

Rocket Team
 * Team Leader/Gunner- Leader of the team. Issued Super Bazooka as well as the standard issue sidearm. Carries two rockets.
 * Ammunition Bearer- Carries ten extra rockets. Issued standard sidearm as well as a Model 870 shotgun for close combat.
 * Spotter/Infantryman- Issued M14 select fire rifle with eight ten-round magazines. Also carries two extra rockets as well as the sidearm.

Mortar Team
 * Team Leader-
 * Ammunition Bearer-
 * Spotter/Infantryman-

Units
 * 55th Infantry Company
 * 109th Infantry Company
 * 223rd Infantry Company (Reserve)

Artillery
Artillery is a newer branch of the Army National Guard. It was formed on April 3rd, 2013 when the nation received four M101 artillery pieces from the Canadian government as well as trucks to tow them and carry ammunition and supplies. There is one battery of four guns, with four trucks towing and four supporting. Recently, a single M40 recoilless rifle has been added to the inventory.

Manpower

There are five men assigned per howitzer, three for firing, and two as spotters. There are three men assigned to the recoilless rifle, two for firing, and one for spotting. Overall, there are 20 soldiers in the artillery branch, although that may change as Susquehanna faces better armed opposition.


 * Artillery Battery (four guns, one recoilless rifle, 23 men)
 * Two Artillery Platoons (two howitzers, ten men)
 * Two Artillery Sections (one howitzer, five men)
 * One Recoilless Rifle Platoon (One recoilless rifle, three men)

Howitzers
 * One Team Leader- Directs firing of gun, as well as ordering movements of the unit. Armed with standard issued weapons.
 * One Ammunition Bearer/Loader- Carries fresh shells to the gun, loads guns, and piles spent shells. Carries a Model 870 shotgun for close range defense, as well as standard load.
 * One Artillery Gunner- Armed with standard equipment as well as Model 870 shotgun. Fires the gun.
 * Two Artillery Spotters- Armed with M14's. Act as forward observers to direct artillery rounds as well as provide defense for the gun. Also carry standard issue weapons.

Recoilless Rifle
 * One Team Leader- Directs firing of gun, as well as ordering movements of the unit. Armed with standard issued weapons.
 * One Ammunition Bearer/Loader- Carries fresh shells to the gun, loads guns, and piles spent shells. Carries a Model 870 shotgun for close range defense, as well as standard load.
 * One Artillery Gunner- Armed with standard equipment as well as Model 870 shotgun. Fires the gun.

Units
 * 107th Field Artillery Battery

Motorized Infantry
Susquehanna has a single jeep force that utilizes twelve Jeep Raiders purchased from North Pennsylvania. Originally twenty Jeeps were operated, but eight have been destroyed by enemy action. They are divided into two platoons of six jeeps, and each company has three squads of two. There are forty eight soldiers in the Jeep battalion.

Manpower
 * One Company of Twelve Jeep Raiders
 * Two Platoons of Six Jeep Raiders Each
 * Three Squads of Two Jeep Raiders
 * Four soldiers per Jeep

Units
 * 103rd Motorized Infantry Company

Armored Forces
Currently there are no armored vehicles operated by Susquehanna, although there have been negotiations with Virginia, Kentucky, North Pennsylvania, Canada, and Niagara Falls. The Army National Guard is fighting for a budget to purchase ten vehicles to support the unarmored Jeeps, which have suffered heavy casualties against the raiders.

As an interim measure a unit of 30 soldiers has been activated, operating ten M151 MUTT utility vehicles mounting M40 106mm recoilless rifles.

The infantry commanders want either the M113 APC, or the M2 Bradley to support the foot soldiers in infantry. Armored and artillery commanders want the M60 Patton tank to increase the firepower, although the cost is high enough that, if purchased, it will only operate one or two of the vehicles alongside a few other vehicles.

Susquehanna opened the competition to any nation willing and capable to produce between eight and ten of the vehicles within six months.

Competitors:
 * Canada-
 * M901 Improvised TOW Vehicle (Armament: Twin TOW launchers (Ten missiles), Two M243 smoke grenade launcher (40 grenades))
 * Kentucky-
 * M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (Armament: One M2 Browning heavy machine gun (3,000 rounds), four M243 smoke grenade launchers (20 grenades))
 * M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Armament: One M242 25mm Bushmaster (900 rounds), One TOW launcher (Seven missiles), One M240 general purpose machine gun (2200 rounds))
 * Niagara Falls-
 * Lynx Reconnaissance Vehicle (Armament: One M2 Browning heavy machine gun (3000 rounds), One M1919 medium machine gun (1,000 rounds))
 * North Pennsylvania-
 * Armored Jeep (Armament: M2 Browning (2000 rounds))
 * Virginia-
 * M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (Armament: One M2 Browning heavy machine gun (3000 rounds), four M243 smoke grenade launchers (20 grenades))
 * M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Armament: One M242 Bushmaster (900 rounds), One TOW launcher (Seven missiles), One M240 general purpose machine gun (2200 rounds))
 * M60 Patton Tank (Armament: M68 105mm gun (55 rounds), M2 Browning heavy machine gun (900 rounds), M1919 medium machine gun (9,000 rounds))

Units:
 * 56th Armored Company

Waterway Patrol
The Commonwealth does not have an independent military branch for maritime defense, simply because there was not a need for a large naval force. Instead it was formed as a component of the Army National Guard, similar to the pre-Doomsday Swiss Lakes Flotilla. There are sixteen soldiers assigned to the Waterways Patrol.

Recently, the Commonwealth commissioned two Susquehanna-class patrol boats. Each is similar to the Vietnam era PBR boats. Both were former pleasure craft that were recommissioned as patrol boats. There are plans to purchase an additional four boats from Niagara Falls and convert the two current patrol boats to fire and rescue boats.

Units
 * 1st Bloomsburg Detachment

Engineering and Logistics
There is a small 100 man engineering and logistic company. They operate the earth moving equipment as well as supply trucks to support the army in operations against the enemy.

There are 40 soldiers in the Engineering platoon, with their role as providing support for the army. An additional 40 are in the logistics, providing planning for meals, and bringing supplies and fuel to the front lines in wartime. They coordinate with the Air National Guard to ensure a constant flow of supplies makes it to the men. The last twenty personnel are the finance and office duty personnel. They keep up with the paperwork, payroll and standard clerical duties. The majority of soldiers here are female, but all soldiers are still trained for combat roles and are capable of acting as infantry in an emergency.

Equipment
Individual Arms

Explosives, Rockets and Missile Systems

Crew Served Weapons

Artillery

Unarmored Vehicles

Armored Vehicles

Patrol Vessels

County Militia
Because Susquehanna does not have the money to operate a large armed force, each county and territory is required to have a militia with approximately 4-5% of their population. Most of the arms used by the counties are older model arms, civilian models, or former stockpiles that the Defense Forces never needed or wanted.

Columbia County Militia
Columbia County supports four hundred militia members divided into four companies. Training is required, two weeks in the summer and one weekend a month. Militia members are paid $50 a day during training, and $90 a day during active duty. They have no heavy weapons or vehicles.

Luzerne Territory Militia
Luzerne Territory has one company of 105 soldiers. Training is one weekend a month, and one week in the summer. Members are given a stipend of $39 for training per day, and $70 for active duty per day. Soldiers are mainly armed with light weapons.

Montour County Militia
Montour County has two companies for a total of 200 men in the militia. Training is one week in the summer and one day a month. Members are reimbursed fuel and food cost, and are paid $48 a day during training, and $80 a day during active duty.

Schuylkill County Militia
Schuylkill County operates two thirty man platoons. Most members train on their own time at squad levels, although there is a three day course once a year where all members meet to train. Members are given a food ration during training and active duty, and paid $30 a day during training, and $50 combat salary per day.

Sullivan County Militia
Sullivan County has the smallest militia, with four ten-man squads.

Wyoming County Militia
Wyoming County operates the largest militia with 1025 members of the militia. It is the only militia to operate an air contingent and special forces as well as ground forces. Training is required, two weeks in the summer and one weekend a month. Militia members are paid $50 a day during training, and $90 a day during active duty.

Military Police
There are 30 members of the Military Police. They are the former personnel of the Hazleton Security forces. Many are assigned as law enforcement on military bases and in military secured regions.

They are qualified to aid local police and security as well as the State Police in criminal investigations and securing crime scenes.

All are trained in counterinsurgency, hand-to-hand combat, firearms, and nonlethal tactics.

They are equipped with 15 motorcycles, 12 armored pickup trucks, and each officer is issued an M-16, an M1911, handcuffs, and pepper spray. There are three divisions of the Military Police: Airbase Guard, Base Guard, or Peacekeeper. Each has ten officers, although they all may change positions as needed. They are broken up into three squads:
 * A Squad (Airbase Guard)
 * B Squad (Base Guard)
 * C Squad (Peacekeeper)

Susquehanna Guard
The Susquehanna Guard has duties as both the bodyguard to the Governor and dignitaries, as well as the Special Forces of Susquehanna. It is made up of one platoon of 32 soldiers, and broken up into two squads of 16 soldiers. Both are trained in both special operations, security detail for VIP personnel, and support the military police in investigations into the military if there are violations. Each squad is assigned to a branch of the Defense Forces.

Training
All soldiers in the Susquehanna Guard are selected from the Army National Guard, Military Police, or Air National Guard. They must be between the age of 21 and 38 to enter into the program. Approximately 70 soldiers are selected each year, but only about 6 make it through.

Since all the soldiers have basic training, and most have some combat experience, they are sent straight to training in Special Operations and security training, as well as law enforcement. Most who want to join the Susquehanna Guard have gone to Columbia County Community College for an associates degree in Criminal Justice.

Once they are certified by a board of Army National Guard or Air National Guard, they are sent to training camp.

Ranger Squad
Ranger Squad is attached to the Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard.

SEAL Squad
SEAL Squad is assigned to the Air National Guard. They are trained in BASE jumping, paratrooping, tactical insertion by water, as well as the basic training that both squads receive.

Commonwealth of Susquehanna Air National Guard
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna Air National Guard operates several aircraft from pre-Doomsday. Several light aircraft were salvaged from the Bloomsburg Area Airport, and Riverside Airport, while two were purchased from Canada.

The Air National Guard has only been recently formed, created in 2010 as an independent branch of the Defense Forces. Most of the aircraft have been refurbished, or purchased from Canada.

The mission of the Air National Guard is to monitor the nation for foreign incursions, provide logistics and support, as well as air defense, and a light ground attack role.

There are ten fixed wing aircraft operated by the Air National Guard, and 144 personnel on duty.

Currently there are no rotary aircraft in their inventory, although there is consideration of purchasing as many as four UH-1 Huey helicopters for Medivac and cargo transport in the coming years.

201st Training Wing
The training wing is the Air National Guard's smallest section. It operates two Cessna 172 bush planes as basic trainers, and active military aircraft on occasion as advanced trainers, under guidance by an experienced pilot. Most people in the wing are cadets training on aircraft maintenance, or flight, but there are three flight instructors, and six maintenance personnel.

171st Tactical Airlift Wing
The transport wing is the largest in the Air National Guard. It operates two Douglas C-47 Skytrain cargo planes, as well as two Cessna 172's as liaison aircraft. There are eight pilots, four flight crew, and fifteen maintenance crew assigned to this wing.

111th Aerial Combat Wing
The aerial combat wing operates two Piper PA-28 Cherokee's as COIN aircraft, armed with two forward M2 Brownings, and wing mounts for eight unguided rockets per wing, in two clusters of four each. The aircraft have the rear two seats removed, and additional fuel tanks added, extending their range. There are four pilots, and eight maintenance crew.

193rd VIP Wing
The VIP wing operates two aircraft, one long range, a Cessna 404 Titan, and one short-medium range, Cessna 195 Businessliner. Their job is to transport the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other governmental personnel around the nation and to visit other countries as well. There are five pilots and ten maintenance personnel assigned to the VIP Wing.

112th Air Defense Wing
The air defense wing is responsible for securing the airspace in the nation as well as defending the airports from hostile forces. They operate four Bofors 40 mm antiaircraft guns at the two airports in the nation. There are six gunners, four munitions personnel, and six crew members.

271st Air Support Wing
The air support wing are the support units for the rest of the Air National Guard. There are eighteen air traffic controllers, fifteen communication specialists, twelve refueling operatives, and twenty firefighters.

Airbases
There are two military airbases in Susquehanna, both based out of civilian airports. A small landing strip in Berwick can be used in time of war or emergency, but is unlit, and only 3,000 feet long. It is paved, an usually used as a feeder airport for Bloomsburg Regional Airport.

Each airport has a military hanger section and fuel tanks reserved for emergency military usage. All the personnel that handle vital operations such as radar firefighting, and refueling are handled by the military.


 * Hazleton Regional Airport


 * Bloomsburg Regional Airport

Training
Trainees are required to have attended Columbia County Community College or another institution to obtain the two year Aviation Professional Pilot's Associates Degree.

Once obtaining their degree, they are transferred to the 201st Training Wing. New inductees are first sent to six weeks of wilderness survival courses. Once completing that, they receive one month of firearms training, and hand-to-hand combat training.

Once completing basic training, the personnel are given one week of flight training, showing them around the aircraft and basic controls. They are then given a month training in the Cessna 172 basic trainers, and on emergency field repairs that can be done to the aircraft.

After basic flight introduction, they train on their respective aircraft for up to one month, although more recently it has only been for two weeks.

Uniforms
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna has three main uniforms for the Army National Guard and Susquehanna Guard, one additional one for the Waterway Guard, one for the Military Police, and one for the Air National Guard.

The Army National Guard and Susquehanna Guard use the Battle Dress Uniform for combat, training and emergency situations. The uniform is directly planned from the former United States Battle Dress Uniform. Badges are attached using buttons. The left arm has the rank badge and the National Guard arm patch. The right sleeve has the flag of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna as well as the unit patch below it.

The second is for soldiers to wear on base while off duty and for physical training. It is a tan color, with Susquehanna's flag and the National Guard arm patch on the right sleeve and the rank insignia on the left sleeve.

The last combines the Mess Uniform and the Service Uniform into one uniform. It is a blue uniform, based on the Army Service Uniform, and is named the Army Formal Service Uniform. Soldiers are to wear it during formal dinners, services, or other activities.

The Waterways Guard uses the same uniforms as the Army National Guard for base wear and formal occasions. The combat uniform is the same design as the Battle Dress Uniform, except it's naval camouflage, and has the naval insignia instead of the National Guard arm patch.

The Military Police share the same uniforms for duty with the Army National Guard, but utilize one special one while acting in a law enforcement role. It is olive green with no insignia on the right arm, and a simple armband on the left saying: Military Police.

The Air National Guard has its own uniforms for flight personnel. When soldiers or airmen are off duty, they use both the base and exercise wear, and the Army Formal Service Uniform with a Susquehanna Air National Guard pin for formal occasions. All personnel not assigned to fly in an aircraft use the Battle Dress Uniform for combat jobs. The flight uniform is called the Flight Personnel Active Uniform.

Defense Industry
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna does not have a large defense industry. The two major domestic suppliers to the armed forces are the Danville Steel Mills, and Appalachian Firearms Corporation.

Danville Steel Mills provides stamped armor for the military, knives and bayonets for the military. Currently they manufacture the M5 bayonet for the M14 assault rifle.

Appalachian Firearms Corporation mainly manufactures ammunition for the armed forces. They also manufacture the M26 hand grenade, the M67 hand grenade, and both the M7 and the M76 rifle grenade launcher.

They are currently working on prototypes for the XM-20 assault rifle. Experts plan on mass production of the new service rifle in 2018 to 2020, although realistically, it won't be in service until 2030-2035.

The company also modified and refurbishes used and damaged weapons.

The newly formed Columbia Ordnance Facility opened in Berwick, in February of 2014. It manufactures unguided bombs and rockets, as well as incendiary bombs.

Miscellaneous
Susquehanna has several small services that are not classified as part of the military, but most are actually divisions. They are mostly underfunded and some are on the cutting board for the 2015 budget.

Space Program
Currently there are no available facilities to launch rockets within the nation. There is a small $50,000 a year budget to construct a small facility to test missiles, and possibly launch a small communication satellite. The pad is located in Luzerne Territory, outside of Nescopeck, so there is a clear launch area.

So far, a foundation has been dug, and some steel rebar re-inforcing is in place. Plans are to complete the foundation by 2016, and erect a steel launch tower, fueling tower, and storage facilities by 2020. At the current rate of progress, the actual dates will be closer to 2020 and 2028 respectively. So far, the rockets themselves are only in the design phase, but a satellite has been drawn up and planned for communications.

The goal of the space program is to design and construct a rocket capable of carrying a small satellite to Low Earth Orbit, and design short range ballistic missiles.

The program is severely limited by the lack of funding, and has suffered many delays. The Commonwealth Party and Libertarian Party want to abandon the project due to the lack of progress.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
There is a small program focused on constructing a dozen or so remote controlled reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Cessna 172's in a liaison role, and to support the artillery branch in fire support.

Modernization Plans
The Commonwealth government realized in 2012 after a few years of combating raiders that the military needed to be modernized. Since then there have been several proposed acquisitions proposed, with several completed.

Army National Guard

 * Acquire 20 Jeep Raiders from North Pennsylvania (2013)
 * Acquire 24 M20 Super Bazookas (2014, purchased from North Pennsylvania on February 12, 2014).
 * Acquire four M101 towed artillery pieces (2014, purchased from Canada through North Pennsylvania)
 * Acquire 10 armored vehicles (2015)
 * Modernize the military service rifle to the XM-20 prototype (OTL: AR-10) (2017)

Air National Guard

 * Acquire four older Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns (Acquired 2014)
 * Acquire, or construct, two propeller cargo plane (Acquired 2014)
 * Purchase one-four utility helicopters (2016-2020)
 * Refurbish the old TRW building to construct aircraft engines and light attack and transport aircraft (2015 - Unknown)

Waterways Patrol

 * Acquire four lightly armed patrol boats (2016).

Current Missions

 * Operation: Retribution