[Ultra-Tech] Infantry drones and robot gun carriages

[Agemegos]

I think that that is it for the infantry section, squad, or fireteam. Are there any functions of basic infantry that I have overlooked? Anything that the most basic unit doesn't need now but will need at TL10?

At TL10, what functions are likely to be added at the platoon level? Integral anti-armour weapons? Integral anti-aviation weapons? What's the equivalent of the platoon MMG, sniper, trench mortar, PIAT/LAW or Carl Gustav?

[Balor Patch]

Small drones (possibly down to insect sized) and missiles will be ubiquitous so I'd say integral anti-aviation weapons are a must. Full size aircraft can be someone else's problem.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Brett

I think that that is it for the infantry section, squad, or fireteam. Are there any functions of basic infantry that I have overlooked? Anything that the most basic unit doesn't need now but will need at TL10?

At TL10, what functions are likely to be added at the platoon level? Integral anti-armour weapons? Integral anti-aviation weapons? What's the equivalent of the platoon MMG, sniper, trench mortar, PIAT/LAW or Carl Gustav?

Loitering missiles of various sizes can fill several of those roles.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Balor Patch

Small drones (possibly down to insect sized) and missiles will be ubiquitous so I'd say integral anti-aviation weapons are a must. Full size aircraft can be someone else's problem.

Righto, then! What should an anti-missile infantry drone look like?

What insect-sized and other small drones ought an infantry section or fireteam to have?

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Loitering missiles of various sizes can fill several of those roles.

Cheap quadricopter drone with an IML?

[lexington]

Originally Posted by lwcamp

There is some thought going on these days that you can make ionocraft that are more practical than simple toy/science fair project status. If so, you could have a small flying drone that was perfectly quiet. The smell of ozone might give it away, and it would need shrouding around the corona wires (to prevent the blue-violet glow from escaping).

This is speculative - ionocraft may never take off (pun intended). But, hey, its science fiction after all, and nothing seems to completely rule it out.

If your setting does have practical ionocraft, they may replace helecopters and allow VTOL airplanes without propellers or jets (just an electrode grid and its structural support).

Luke

With ultra-light materials you might also be able to make quiet flying machines using the technology in those bladeless fans. No glow to deal with.

[Pomphis]

I did a couple of weaponcarriers for 3e Robots/VE2/Traveller:

Limited Sensors: Basic Sensors, Acute Vision +2, Nightvision, TGVision, Codereader, Radiation Detector

Full Com: Basic Com, Bullhorn, MR-Radio, IR-Com, IFF, Ultrasonic Speech, Lasercom

Terrier-4 : 4mm 6Barrel Medium GaussGatling, Universal Mount, Full Stabilization, 60,000 shots, Laser Rangefinder 5 miles (+2), Limited Sensors, Full Com, Inertial Compass, CG 4,000 lb, 180 lb vectored thrust, 2 rE-cells, Hardened Dumb Small Brain DX+3, Hardened Small Computer Dedicated to Targeting, MD Very Cheap Robot Frame, Sealed, Radiation Shielding, Psi Shielding, Instant Chameleon, Basic Stealth, Basic Emission Cloaking, Basic Sound Baffling

2.9754 cf / 12.5 sf,HT 12 / 19, aSpeed 328 mph

RoF 100, ½: 1,000, Max: 3,800, Acc 14, KE 12, HD 6dx2 (2), APS 5dx3 (2)

TL 10: DR 100 ExpMetal, Complexity 3, IQ 6, DX 12, Gunner-13 + Targeting+5, Sig-7, 497.0325 lb, 21,168.7 Cr

TL 11: DR 150 ExpMetal, Complexity 4, IQ 7, DX 13, Gunner-15 + Targeting+6, Sig-8, 470.02 lb, 18,913.7 Cr

TL 12: DR 250 ExpMetal, Complexity 5, IQ 8, DX 13, Gunner-16 + Targeting+7, Sig-9, 470.02 lb, 18,988.7 Cr


Terrier-60 : 60mm ExtraLowPower VeryShort FastAuto GaussGun, Universal Mount, Full Stabilization, 142 shots, Laser Rangefinder 5 miles (+2), Limited Sensors, Full Com, Inertial Compass, CG 4,000 lb, 180 lb vectored thrust, rE-cell, Hardened Dumb Small Brain DX+3, Hardened Small Computer Dedicated to Targeting, MD Very Cheap Robot Frame, Sealed, Radiation Shielding, Psi Shielding, Instant Chameleon, Basic Stealth, Basic Emission Cloaking, Basic Sound Baffling

2.9402 cf / 12.5 sf, HT 12 / 19, aSpeed 328 mph
´
RoF 1, ½: 780, Max: 4,100, Acc 13, KE 27, HEAT 6dx15 (10), HEDP 6dx15 (5) (6d), HE 6dx10 (6d), SICM 27 yards (2 subammo), ICM 27 yards

TL 10: DR 100 ExpMetal, Complexity 3, IQ 6, DX 12, Gunner-13 + Targeting+5, Sig-7, 13.1525 lb, 18,795.5 Cr

TL 11: DR 150 ExpMetal, Complexity 4, IQ 7, DX 13, Gunner-15 + Targeting+6, Sig-8, 486.14 lb, 16,540.5 Cr

TL 12: DR 250 ExpMetal, Complexity 5, IQ 8, DX 13, Gunner-16 + Targeting+7, Sig-9, 486.14 lb, 16,615.5 Cr

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Brett

I think that that is it for the infantry section, squad, or fireteam. Are there any functions of basic infantry that I have overlooked? Anything that the most basic unit doesn't need now but will need at TL10?

One or more guys on counter-observation, dedicated to checking for and neutralizing smart dust and swarmbots of various scales. Or you may want to come up with a reason why this is unnecessary, to avoid infantry engagements from proceeding at the pace of a decking scene, since these guys would essentially be running the "internet of things" all the time.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Brett

So: nothing heavier than about half a tonne, and best keep it under 200 kg. .

The 1/2 ton thing is the Warbot from UT p.167. the under 200kg thing is the Combat Android also from that page.

The robot for scouting is the Scout Robot from p.80, almost always in the aerial configuration. For really covert (but slow) infiltration you have the Robobug from p.111.

The Hunter and Striker missiles from p.168 are probably your primary long range munitions. The Warbots can carry any 70lb semi-portable class weapon you want and do it 3 at a time. They even have a 160lb Payload that doesn't count as Encumbrance against their 320 lb BL (Lift ST 40).

The Combat Androids can also use semi-portable class weapons with their ST 20. They probably wear Combat Hardsuits over their base DR.

Extra ammo and power cells can be handed off to ST 20 Robot Mules (p.79).

Overseeing all this would be at least 2 soldiers in Commando or Scout Battlesuits. One would be handlijg offensive operations and the other would be doing defense and situational awareness. Split that into 3 jobs if you think you have to.

My apologies to everyone who really, really feels compelled to design all this stuff from scratch but a usable (by my personal standards) version of everything from Brett's list is already in UT.

[martinl]

Originally Posted by Brett

By "infantry" I mean the stuff that sneaks about in cover because it would get slaughtered by armour or artillery if it got seen out in the open; stuff for which concealment and cover are vital; stuff that thrives of fieldcraft.

As a high level observation, with TL10 sensors and AI data processing, concealment and cover are hard. Not to say that there aren't plausible countermeasures, but so much depends on not being seen that it is hard to postulate a good strategy without knowing at least a broad outline of what fieldcraft is in the setting.