Colonial Marine Assault Raiders
The Colonial Marine Assault Raiders (also called Raiders, Assault Raiders, or CMAR) are an elite shock infantry/special operations force of the Commonwealth Colonial Marines. Founded in 2232 CE, they are famed throughout the Commonwealth of Man for their daring raids on highly-defended enemy positions using drop pods. Due to their strict requirements, intense training, and high casualties, the Raiders are among the most renowed units in the entire Commonwealth military.
Composition
Manpower
Although the true number of Assault Raiders is classified, they are estimated to be approximately equivalent to an Army Group, including integrated support personnel (who are not necessarily Raiders). The latest United Nations reports place the total manpower available to the Assault Raiders at 500,000-800,000, in line with the commanding officer's rank of Field Marshal. The vast majority of the formation are male, but a few female Raiders have been able to pass the gruelling training and receive the Assault Raider Badge.
Equipment
As they are among the most elite of the Colonial Marines, Assault Raiders are issued equipment that regular units do not have access to. For a combat uniform, Assault Raiders wear a bodysuit that monitors their vital signs, provides insulation, and protects them from environmental hazards like vacuum, water, chemical agents, and radiation. A standard flame-resistant uniform is worn on top of this, typically in black urban camouflage, but other colour variants are available for different environments. Body armour is a combination of ceramic plates backed by durasteel alloy, providing protection to the torso, shoulders, forearms, thighs, and shins. A full-face helmet provides head protection and a computerised helmet-mounted display on the visor.
In order to support the weight of the armour and carried equipment, Assault Raiders are issued with exoskeletons. Early exoskeletons were bulky and worn on the exterior of the armour, but modern exoskeletons are small enough to be worn under a uniform, while still providing the same strength boost. The exoskeletons are powered by power cell located on the lower back, below any backpack or communications equipment a Raider is wearing.
In addition to their uniform and weapon, Assault Raiders carry spare ammunition, first-aid kits, combat knives, grenades, navigation computer, rations, canteen, spare clothing, and any specialist equipment for their mission. In theatres where it may be an issue, oxygen supplies are carried, as the helmet and bodysuit can be sealed to provide airtight protection. The helmet itself contains an enhanced Colonial Marine infantry operating system, providing integrated night vision and real-time IFF highlighting.
In order to support the weight of the armour and carried equipment, Assault Raiders are issued with exoskeletons. Early exoskeletons were bulky and worn on the exterior of the armour, but modern exoskeletons are small enough to be worn under a uniform, while still providing the same strength boost. The exoskeletons are powered by power cell located on the lower back, below any backpack or communications equipment a Raider is wearing.
In addition to their uniform and weapon, Assault Raiders carry spare ammunition, first-aid kits, combat knives, grenades, navigation computer, rations, canteen, spare clothing, and any specialist equipment for their mission. In theatres where it may be an issue, oxygen supplies are carried, as the helmet and bodysuit can be sealed to provide airtight protection. The helmet itself contains an enhanced Colonial Marine infantry operating system, providing integrated night vision and real-time IFF highlighting.
Weaponry
Marine Assault Raiders are armed with the latest weaponry the Colonial Marines have at their disposal. The current standard-issue rifle is the same AR-85 ballistic assault rifle used by the Colonial Marines, though Raiders have more options for weapon attachments (particularly optics and suppressors). The exact choice of weapon is highly dependent on the mission in question, as some Raiders will prefer carbines and shotguns for close-quarters engagements, or high-power rifles for long-distance ones. Raider unit commanders are given discretion in their unit's choice of weapon for an operation, as all Raiders are expected to be highly proficient with all standard Colonial Marine small arms.
Due to a lack of heavy armour dropping with the Assault Raiders in their typical operations, they are heavily armed with man-portable anti-armour and anti-fortification weapons. Rocket launchers, guided missile launchers, and light mortars are particularly popular among Assault Raiders. Additionally, many Raiders carry explosive charges for demolition purposes during their missions. Wherever bunkers need clearing, Raiders are equipped with flamethrowers, chemical weapons, and thermobaric weapons. Finally, all Raiders are armed with hand grenades and their personal choice of a sidearm.
Due to a lack of heavy armour dropping with the Assault Raiders in their typical operations, they are heavily armed with man-portable anti-armour and anti-fortification weapons. Rocket launchers, guided missile launchers, and light mortars are particularly popular among Assault Raiders. Additionally, many Raiders carry explosive charges for demolition purposes during their missions. Wherever bunkers need clearing, Raiders are equipped with flamethrowers, chemical weapons, and thermobaric weapons. Finally, all Raiders are armed with hand grenades and their personal choice of a sidearm.
Vehicles
The first vehicle every Assault Raider familiarises themselves with is the drop pod. These disposable single-occupant atmospheric entry vehicles are deployed from assault ships in orbit, through the atmosphere, and crash into the planetary surface at high speeds. They can even be equipped with shield modulators, allowing Raiders to be dropped through planetary shields to directly target the generators. After crashing through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, drop pods are slowed down by drogue parachutes and retrorockets, but still impact the ground at hundreds of kilometres per hour. The impact is absorbed by a single-use inertial dampener, which keeps the soldier inside alive and ready to exit the pod shooting.
When Assault Raiders require extraction, they typically do so via dedicated dropship. Although most dropships are operated by the Navy, the Raiders retain a large number of specially modified ships designed for rapid entry into heavily-defended positions to quickly extract Raiders. Raider pilots are taken from the best dropship pilots in the Colonial Navy, undergoing similar training to the infantry Raiders. Although Raider pilots are daring, doctrine requires that Raiders on the ground destroy any anti-aircraft installations before extraction is called in. In an emergency, pilots can attempt to breach enemy defences with the aid of Navy wild weasel ships.
Due to the nature of the Assault Raiders' preferred insertion method, they rarely have access to heavy armour or artillery support. Instead, they rely on hot-dropped light vehicles like the LM-63 light mobility/utility vehicle. Light vehicles are also inserted via drop pod, though they use significantly larger, specially-designed pods. Ships in orbit can resupply the Raiders on the ground with single-use resupply pods, or "ammo canisters" as Raiders call them. They are similar to the Raiders' drop pods, but are instead loaded with ammunition, weapons, and supplies for the Raiders on the ground to use.
Raiders often rely on other branches of the Commonwealth military for fire support. In most cases, they act as forward air controllers for Colonial Navy orbital bombardments or close air support via strike craft. During operations where friendly forces are available, Raiders are supported by conventional Colonial Marine forces, such as armoured and artillery units.
When Assault Raiders require extraction, they typically do so via dedicated dropship. Although most dropships are operated by the Navy, the Raiders retain a large number of specially modified ships designed for rapid entry into heavily-defended positions to quickly extract Raiders. Raider pilots are taken from the best dropship pilots in the Colonial Navy, undergoing similar training to the infantry Raiders. Although Raider pilots are daring, doctrine requires that Raiders on the ground destroy any anti-aircraft installations before extraction is called in. In an emergency, pilots can attempt to breach enemy defences with the aid of Navy wild weasel ships.
Due to the nature of the Assault Raiders' preferred insertion method, they rarely have access to heavy armour or artillery support. Instead, they rely on hot-dropped light vehicles like the LM-63 light mobility/utility vehicle. Light vehicles are also inserted via drop pod, though they use significantly larger, specially-designed pods. Ships in orbit can resupply the Raiders on the ground with single-use resupply pods, or "ammo canisters" as Raiders call them. They are similar to the Raiders' drop pods, but are instead loaded with ammunition, weapons, and supplies for the Raiders on the ground to use.
Raiders often rely on other branches of the Commonwealth military for fire support. In most cases, they act as forward air controllers for Colonial Navy orbital bombardments or close air support via strike craft. During operations where friendly forces are available, Raiders are supported by conventional Colonial Marine forces, such as armoured and artillery units.
Structure
The Colonial Marine Assault Raiders are a semi-independent unit directly subordinated to the Colonial Marines. The commander of the CMAR is a Field Marshal, officially equivalent to the Field Marshal in command of any given Colonial Marine army group. In practice, the prestige and prowess of the Assault Raiders means its commander wields far greater authority than their nominal position grants them. Assault Raiders are typically deployed on the divisional level, approximately 15,000 troops at a time. Larger formations can be fielded, but the targeted nature of Raider operations means they rarely require additional manpower in the same spot.
Lower-level Raider organisation uses the same ranks and formations as typical Colonial Marine units. The main difference is in the squad and platoon - Raider companies are authorised to make ad hoc modifications as they see fit in order to accomplish missions, particularly on special operations. As they are often cut off from command and reinforcements, Raiders are expected to act more independently and use even more initiative than regular Marines.
Lower-level Raider organisation uses the same ranks and formations as typical Colonial Marine units. The main difference is in the squad and platoon - Raider companies are authorised to make ad hoc modifications as they see fit in order to accomplish missions, particularly on special operations. As they are often cut off from command and reinforcements, Raiders are expected to act more independently and use even more initiative than regular Marines.
Tactics
The standard tactic of the Assault Raiders is that of shock tactics. A division of Assault Raiders is dropped from low orbit onto an enemy position with at most five minutes (usually closer to two minutes) of warning, landing in the midst of disorganised enemy units or behind enemy lines, then destroying enemy positions from the inside. It is a tactic that carries extreme risk and an accepted level of casualties, but can greatly ease future operations for the Colonial Marines. Following the initial landing, Assault Raiders eliminate enemy anti-aircraft positions in order to permit their specialised dropships to extract them once their missions are complete. For missions where they are taking a landing zone for the regular Marines, they stay on the ground to secure it until friendly reinforcements arrive.
Assault Raiders are conditioned to be highly aggressive, always preferring to attack or counterattack instead of defending. Their small unit tactics are designed to prevent enemies from regrouping, as well as breaking their morale. They often employ explosives, such as rocket and grenade launchers, on enemy positions, staying resupplied with orbital ammunition drops from their motherships. However, as light infantry units with limited fire support, they are poorly suited against heavy armour. This is factored into Assault Raider mission planning, so objectives are typically chosen where enemy armour cannot quickly respond.
Assault Raiders are conditioned to be highly aggressive, always preferring to attack or counterattack instead of defending. Their small unit tactics are designed to prevent enemies from regrouping, as well as breaking their morale. They often employ explosives, such as rocket and grenade launchers, on enemy positions, staying resupplied with orbital ammunition drops from their motherships. However, as light infantry units with limited fire support, they are poorly suited against heavy armour. This is factored into Assault Raider mission planning, so objectives are typically chosen where enemy armour cannot quickly respond.
Training
The training process for the Assault Raiders is considered to be the most brutal in the Colonial Marines. Any applicants who pass the initial screening are subjected to an intense 30-week program designed to screen out 80% of the remaining recruits. This program features extreme tests of strength, endurance, dexterity, marksmanship, survival skills, and psychological resilience. The program has been argued by many as being overly-brutal, as deaths among recruits are relatively common.
Following the full screening and pre-training program, the remaining recruits formally begin their training. CMARs training is a six-month program expanding on the pre-training program, transforming Colonial Marines into Assault Raiders. Raider trainees learn how to drop from orbit, conduct unconventional warfare, assault fortified enemy positions, sabotage infrastructure, pilot vehicles, and fight against overwhelming enemy odds. Although some recruits drop out during the full training process, it is vastly less brutal than the pre-training program. At the conclusion of the training course, successful recruits are given their Raider Badge and inducted into the Assault Raiders.
Following the full screening and pre-training program, the remaining recruits formally begin their training. CMARs training is a six-month program expanding on the pre-training program, transforming Colonial Marines into Assault Raiders. Raider trainees learn how to drop from orbit, conduct unconventional warfare, assault fortified enemy positions, sabotage infrastructure, pilot vehicles, and fight against overwhelming enemy odds. Although some recruits drop out during the full training process, it is vastly less brutal than the pre-training program. At the conclusion of the training course, successful recruits are given their Raider Badge and inducted into the Assault Raiders.
Logistics
Logistical Support
Virtually all logistical support for the Assault Raiders is handled by the Colonial Navy. Assault Raider transport ships are specially built to be able to rapidly deploy large numbers of Raiders and their supplies onto a planet's surface, as well as containing hangars for the large numbers of dropships needed to retrieve a division. Fire support is handled by regular Navy ships, such as targeted orbital bombardment or strike craft close air support. Between missions, Raiders train onboard their transport ships or at the many Colonial Marine barracks across Commonwealth space.
Recruitment
The Assault Raiders recruit from both branches of the Commonwealth military, but almost all final recruits come from the Colonial Marines. The application process is voluntary, but due to the prestige of the Assault Raiders, they are never short on recruits. After applying, potential recruits are required to take a robust examination of their physical and mental health, as well as their ideological loyalty to the Commonwealth and its ideals. This process filters out the majority of recruits before they even enter the selection process.
History
The ancestors of the Marine Assault Raiders are the ancient Marine Raiders of the United States Marine Corps. Founded during the Second World War on Earth, they were a special operations force created to launch small, stealthy attacks on heavily defended islands in the Pacific Theatre. Capable of striking deep inside enemy territory, their lightning assaults saw them inflict heavy damage before quickly withdrawing before the enemy could bring heavier forces to bear on them. The unit was reactivated seventy years later during the Second Cold War, once again in order to fight in the Pacific Theatre.
The modern Colonial Marine Assault Raiders were the brainchild of Colonel Salehe Adeoye, an officer in the Colonial Marines who was attached to the 1st Fleet during combat operations in the Commonwealth-Xanid First Contact War. Although the Marines undertook very few combat operations (entirely boarding actions against hostile starbases), Colonel Adeoye studied Xanid ground defences and compared them to the Commonwealth's own. He examined methods of invading a planet with a force far smaller than the defenders, going against traditional military logic. In his report to the Admiralty, he identified that taking and holding critical political and economic points would be key in any future conflict. To this purpose, he devised a rapidly-deployed unit of shock troops that could suppress enemy air defences or capture political targets to pave the way for a full ground invasion. In 2231 CE, the Admiralty approved the creation of the Colonial Marine Assault Raiders.
The first major action of the Assault Raiders would come in 2237 CE, during the first contact war with the Tzynn Empire. Following the Colonial Navy securing the orbit over the Tzynn colony of Shi'Suma, the Marine Raiders were tasked with dispatching a major anti-air installation near the landed colony ship. Despite heavy casualties during their descent, and confusion on the ground, the Raiders were able to seize the guns and allow the Marines to land safely. Thanks to the Raiders, the Commonwealth secured the planet's political centre in under one planetary rotation.
The modern Colonial Marine Assault Raiders were the brainchild of Colonel Salehe Adeoye, an officer in the Colonial Marines who was attached to the 1st Fleet during combat operations in the Commonwealth-Xanid First Contact War. Although the Marines undertook very few combat operations (entirely boarding actions against hostile starbases), Colonel Adeoye studied Xanid ground defences and compared them to the Commonwealth's own. He examined methods of invading a planet with a force far smaller than the defenders, going against traditional military logic. In his report to the Admiralty, he identified that taking and holding critical political and economic points would be key in any future conflict. To this purpose, he devised a rapidly-deployed unit of shock troops that could suppress enemy air defences or capture political targets to pave the way for a full ground invasion. In 2231 CE, the Admiralty approved the creation of the Colonial Marine Assault Raiders.
The first major action of the Assault Raiders would come in 2237 CE, during the first contact war with the Tzynn Empire. Following the Colonial Navy securing the orbit over the Tzynn colony of Shi'Suma, the Marine Raiders were tasked with dispatching a major anti-air installation near the landed colony ship. Despite heavy casualties during their descent, and confusion on the ground, the Raiders were able to seize the guns and allow the Marines to land safely. Thanks to the Raiders, the Commonwealth secured the planet's political centre in under one planetary rotation.
Type
Shock
Founding
2232 CE
Overall training Level
Elite
Assumed Veterancy
Veteran
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