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 mandatory unless the draftee can prove religious objections before a military board. If found reasonable, they will be assigned to the medical corps or a non-combat role.

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 2012 stands at 250 active members; 1200 reserve; and 800 county militia members.

There is also a 25 man Susquehanna Guard who act as bodyguards to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other important dignitaries. They also act as the nominal special operations until for the country. They are the most heavily armed and well equips unit in the military.

Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna Army National Guard is the largest branch of the armed forces, with 264 active soldiers; 1100 reserve, and each county maintains a citizens militia for a total of 800 militia members.

There are 240 conscripts and recruit soldiers, ten platoon sergeants, ten platoon lieutenants, two captains, one major, and one brigadier general.

There is also one support regiment, consisting of a medical company, supply company and signals/communications company. Each support company consist of 25 men, although they are lightly armed for self defense, they are not counted as active personnel due to their noncombatant status.

It is also the oldest, being in existence in some form since the foundation of the nation.

Units
There are three active regional companies.
 * Appalachian Company (26 troops per platoon)
 * Platoon One (Infantry)
 * Platoon Two (Scout: Six Technical Pickup Trucks)
 * Platoon Three (Infantry)
 * Susquehanna Company (26 troops per platoon)
 * Platoon Four (Light Attack: Five Jeep Raiders)
 * Platoon Five (Infantry)
 * Platoon Six (Artillery: Four M151 MUTT Utility Vehicles, Four M101 Towed Artillery Pieces)
 * Platoon Seven (Light Attack: Five Jeep Raiders)
 * Schukill Company (26 troops per platoon)
 * Platoon Eight (Infantry)
 * Platoon Nine (Scout: Six Technical Pickup Trucks)
 * Platoon Ten (Infantry)
 * Support Company (25 troops per platoon)
 * Platoon A (Medical: Two M151 MUTT Utility Vehicles)
 * Platoon B (Logistics: M35/M37 Cargo Trucks)
 * Platoon C (Signals/Communications: Two M151 MUTT Utility Vehicles)

There are three regional reserve battalions.
 * Bald Top Battalion (100 troops per company)
 * Company 11 (Infantry)
 * Company 12 (Infantry)
 * Company 13 (Infantry)
 * Penn Battalion (100 troops per company)
 * Company 14 (Infantry)
 * Company 15 ''(Military Engineering)
 * Company 16 (Infantry)
 * Company 17 (Infantry)
 * Luzerne Battalion (100 troops per company)
 * Company 18 (Infantry)
 * Company 19 (Infantry)
 * Company 20 (Infantry)
 * Company 21 (Infantry)

Susquehanna Guard
The Susquehanna Guard is the most specialized unit of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna National Guard. Since the inception of the nation, the government realized the need for a special forces squad, and a security force for the governor and other dignitaries.

They started off as a group of former military and police officers, and have since expanded and specialized.

Presently, there are five squads of men, each squad having five members. One squad is the gubernatorial protection team, one is a communications and logistics team, one bomb squad, and two special forces teams. 1st Special Forces Team specializes in Urban Warfare and hostage rescue, and 2nd Special Forces Team specializes in Wilderness Warfare and cover operations.

List of weapons and equipment:
 * Battle Rifles:
 * M16A1- 10 (All with underslung M203 grenade launchers)
 * Sidearms:
 * M1911- 25
 * Sniper/Marksman Rifles:
 * M21 Sniper Weapons System- three
 * Shotguns:
 * Mossberg 500- six
 * Submachine Guns:
 * M3 Submachine Gun- six
 * Vehicles:
 * 1966 Ford Bronco- one
 * 1959 Willys CJ5- six
 * 1960 Lincoln Continental- one

Equipment used by each team:
 * Gubernatorial Defense Team
 * 1- M21 Sniper Weapons System
 * 1- M16A1
 * 5- M1911
 * 3- M3 Submachine Gun
 * 2- 1959 Willys CJ5
 * 1- 1960 Lincoln Continental
 * Communications and Logistics Squad
 * 2- Mossberg 500
 * 3- M16A1
 * 5- M1911
 * 1-1966 Ford Bronco
 * Explosives and Ordinance Disposal Squad
 * 2- Mossberg 500
 * 3- M16A1
 * 5- M1911
 * 1- M151 MUTT
 * 1st Special Forces Team
 * 1- M21 Sniper Weapons System
 * 1- Mossberg 500
 * 2- M16A1
 * 5- M1911
 * 1- M3 Submachine Gun
 * 2- 1959 Willys CJ5
 * 2nd Special Forces Team
 * 1- M21 Sniper Weapons System
 * 1- Mossberg 500
 * 1- M16A1
 * 5- M1911
 * 2- M3 Submachine Gun
 * 2- 1959 Willys CJ5

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.

The mission of the Air National Guard is to monitor the nation for foreign incursion, provide reconnaissance and air support for the army, and logistics and anti aircraft support.

There are 60 personnel, 12 pilots that operate five aircraft, and three 40mm anti-aircraft guns.

One Cessna 172 was lost in former Schuykill County on February 3rd, 2014 due to insurgent fire during a scouting mission. They have recently finished refurbishing another Cessna 172 to replace the lost one.

To compensate for the loss of one aircraft, the Air National Guard finalized a deal with the Superior Air Force, trading some old train manufacturing equipment for two older model FS-1 Lighting attack aircraft (otl: P-38 Lightning), as well as the right to purchase train cars in the future as needed. They also have recently completed refurbishing a new Cessna 172 Skyhawk. It will operate as a Forward Air Controller, and as a trainer aircraft.

The Air National Guard has received three Douglas C-47 Skytrain cargo planes to increase operational efficiency, from Canada. They are armed with a M60 machine gun on the hatch, and a nose turret with a M2 Browning machine gun.

The two remaining aircraft are undergoing conversion to natural gas, with the presidential aircraft first. Both aircraft are expected to be complete by June of 2014, with the Cessna 172 returning on May 12. It has had the avionics repaired, as well as a new radio installed.

There is a hope that eventually the Commonwealth will be able to reactive TRW and build jet engines to power their own combat aircraft, but this will be far into the future, as the Commonwealth does not have the funds, or means, to repair said facility back to operational status.

Aircraft Armament
Most of the aircraft have the ability to be armed with light weapons, and fly unarmed. The only two aircraft always armed are the two SF.1 Lighting fighters.

The SF.1 Lightings each carry an assortment of bombs and unguided rockets in a bomb bay an under the wings. It is unknown what guns are onboard.

The two Cessna 172 Skyhawks are occasionally armed with either an M2 Browning under the propeller nose, or rocket pods on each wing, carrying an assortment of smoke, illumination, or explosive rockets. Mainly, they mark targets for artillery or airstrikes to destroy.

Normally the Chotia Weedhopper is unarmed as a trainer glider. It has a forward bracket, giving it the ability to mount a M14 for light ground attack roles.

Units
91st Training Flight
 * Section 1:
 * Chotia Weedhopper JC-24B
 * Chotia Weedhopper JC-24B
 * Chotia Weedhopper JC-24B
 * Section 2:
 * Chotia Weedhopper JC-24B
 * Chotia Weedhopper JC-24B
 * Chotia Weedhopper JC-24B

112th Tactical Airlift Flight
 * Section 3:
 * Douglas C-47 Skytrain
 * Douglas C-47 Skytrain
 * Douglas C-47 Skytrain

114th Interception Flight
 * Section 4:
 * Superior FS-1L Lightning (Call sign- Fireye Alpha)
 * Superior FS-1G Lightning (Call sign- Fireye Bravo)
 * Section 5:
 * Bofors 40 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun
 * Bofors 40 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun
 * Bofors 40 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun

205th Special Operations Flight-
 * Section 6:
 * Cessna 172 Skyhawk (Call sign- Hawktrot Charlie)
 * Cessna 172 Skyhawk (Call sign- Hawktrot Delta)
 * Section 7:
 * Piper PA-28 Cherokee (Call sign- Bloomsburg One)

Airbases

 * Berwick Airbase
 * 91st Training Flight
 * Section One
 * 114th Interception Flight
 * Section Five
 * Danville Airfield
 * 91st Training Flight
 * Section Two
 * 205th Special Operations Flight
 * Section Six
 * Thornburgh Regional Airport
 * 112th Tactical Airlift Flight
 * Section Three
 * 114th Interception Flight
 * Section Four
 * 205th Special Operations Flight
 * Section Seven

Waterways Patrol
The Waterways Patrol is the smallest of the branches, not having active personnel, instead relying on volunteers. It acts as a search and rescue unit, with 35 current volunteers to patrol the Susquehanna River. They operate eight kayaks, two canoes and a small flat bottom boat.

In times of war, the government allows them to carry small arms (mainly individually owned handguns and revolvers) and act as a patrol force for the army.

Currently, due to the importance of the river, the government is refurbishing two former motorized pleasure craft. They will each be armed with one forward mounted M2 Browning machine guns, a rear mounted twin M1919, and a roof mounted Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. It will be similar in appearance to the former United States Navy PBR light patrol boat.

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 M4 and the M5 bayonet for the M1 Garand and the M14 assault rifle.

Appalachian Firearms Corporation mainly manufactures ammunition for the armed forces. In early 2014, the company began production of the M3 Submachine Gun to supplement the M14. 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.

The company also modified and refurbishes used and damaged weapons.

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

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

 * Acquire 20 M20 Super Bazookas (2014, purchased from Canada through North Pennsylvania on February 12, 2014).
 * Acquire four M101 towed artillery pieces (2014, purchased from Canada through North Pennsylvania)
 * Purchase six Alvis Saladin armored cars with two M1919, and one 76mm cannon (Cancelled due to political disagreements)
 * Purchase seven AVGP Cougar armored vehicles, three M113 APC's, and two AVGP Husky armored recovery vehicles.
 * Get five M113 Armored Personnel Carriers repaired (Ongoing, through Canada)
 * Purchase 33 M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles (Negotiating price with Superior)
 * Purchase 25 M1919 medium machine guns (Donated from Canada for counter raider operations)
 * Modernize the military service rifle to the XM-20 prototype (OTL: AR-10) (2017).
 * Recently received fourteen M2HB Browing heavy machine guns from Canada. Mounted on the 12 technicals, two mounted on patrol boats.

Air National Guard

 * Acquire two attack/fighter/bomber aircraft (Recently purchased from Superior)
 * Acquire three older Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns (Recently purchased from Canada )
 * Acquire, or construct, two propeller cargo plane (2014, Negotiating price with Canada)
 * Purchase two cargo helicopters (2015)
 * 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