In reply to Project Director (msg # 494):

Too awesome!

Glad you guys had fun!

Sounds like a perfect vaca!

Welcome back.

In reply to Andy Maxwell Flasch (msg # 496):

Thanks!

For reference, the proposed Bell SK-10 is the basis for the later LCAC hovercraft. Planned but never built in real life but built by Morrow Aerospace under licence from Bell as a RO-RO hovercraft vehicle transport.

As well, the idea for the amphibious kit to make the V-150 more seaworthy was one I had a while back. Outrigger pontoons, a trim vane, outboard water jet thrusters and a bilge pump would greatly increase the V-150's amphibious capability, although not to that of a real boat!

Tony

In reply to Project Director (msg # 497):

The V-150 doesn't have a bilge pump?  Egad!

Even Gama Goats and 577's have bilge pumps!  BTW, I've seen Gama Goats swim... they did it pretty much the same as they did land, awkward but effective.  I've never known anyone brave enough to try to swim a 113 or 577.  I think the thought on the Goat was 'If it sinks, one less Gama Goat."

Did some light crawling thru google and found this.

...The Commando is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by its wheels; two electric bilge pumps are provided....

from here: http://asmrb.pbworks.com/w/pag...ral%20Specifications

However, that doesn't say how much water those two pumps can move.  I could inagine one getting swamped quickly.

In reply to Andy Maxwell Flasch (msg # 499):

While the Commando is amphibious without any prior preparation, it had problems with being swamped due to a low profile and an insufficient bilge pump. The pump in the add-on kit greatly enhances water removal, and the trim vane/splash plate prevents much of the water from entering the top hatches. The trade-off is it takes time to unstow the add-on kit and install it.

In-game, one thing that I've avoided addressing is who is going to be team leader. This it technically going to be a combined team built around newly-awakened Regional team RECON KR-P44. As the Morrow Project doesn't have a formal rank structure deciding command is less straightforward and is dependent on specialty, skills, experience and even seniority. Tim White is actually TL for RECON KR-P44 and he could be put in command of the new combined team.

That is if Cymon is ok with this?

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:14, Tue 12 Sept 2017.

In reply to Project Director (msg # 500):

Sorry everyone I have been slightly out of the loop recently with it now looking like I am going to have to move with all the associated problems that will cause. It has not been confirmed but it looks likely and it is a pain in the arse.

That being said it might be easier for someone else to assume command for the medium term until I have this stuff sorted out.

Cymon.

In reply to Tim Charles White (msg # 501):

Cymon, I know what it is like to move under good and bad circumstance, and it always sucks.

In reply to Tim Charles White (msg # 501):

Hi Cymon,

Dude! That blows.

In the mean time I think Elliot is the most qualified to be TL for the combined team. Tim should probably be 2IC (Assistant TL). Another team position I've seen in TMP games is "Security Specialist", which sounds like it's up Andy's alley. Insofar as Project teams are organised along paramilitary lines the TL is the unit commander and the 2IC/ATL and SS are sub-leaders (with the chain of command in that order).

Tony

I'm a little uncertain how much use a "Face Man" is on this mission now, lol.  Scout wasn't what I was intending to build and it shows.

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 504):

Don't worry, Jimmy has a wide range of skills suitable for the mission!

Doing some thinking, I see that Jimmy actually has (or at least could have) qualified for Team Leader training/MPTL (EXP and REA 50+, at least some points in Leader, Persuasion and Tactics). While Ell and Andy both have TL skills (Ell has tactics and Persuasion, Andy has some Leadership and Tactics).

Sorry, when I was going over this earlier I hadn't thought to look to see who according to the book was qualified for MPTL (per 4th edition rules). And of course you, as players, weren't necessarily focused on making PCs that fit that mould. (Why these rules are relevant is important is I am Timeline's errata coordinator for 4th edition, and have also asked to be a mod for their official forums on RPGNet. This game has helped me to pinpoint areas for improvement in the rules.)

With that in mind, Jimmy is probably the most qualified to be TL, with EL as 2IC due to his mission-appropriate skillset and Andy as Security Officer. This goes against what I said earlier, please accept my apologies! (Assuming everyone is ok with this idea.)

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:09, Wed 13 Sept 2017.

Security Officer.... just don't wear the red shirt.

O_O  I made him to be ATL for his team, yes.  If you guys can handle the "Purple People Meeter" as TL, I will be very conscious of logging in, posting, and listening to the experts in their fields.  Also, should Jimmy throw a grenade into a building he will wait for the explosion before entering the building himself.  This has been discovered to be important.

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 507):

As well, don't throw a grenade up a flight of stairs!

If everyone is cool, then Jimmy will be TL, Ell ATL and Andy as SS. This seems to work best if everyone is willing!

Tony

In reply to Project Director (msg # 508):

Sounds good. Cheers.

Roger that Kim!

(He's more likely to have a ghillie suit on anyway...)

Andy is good with that.  Obviously with only ~8 folks in the team, functions are really blurred anyway.  Almost all of us will be fightin' off the Krell while one or two rig up the demo charge...  (Man, I hope that's not the way this plays out.....)

Let's roll!

Or, Let's Boat!

In reply to Andy Maxwell Flasch (msg # 510):

You never know how it's gonna play out!

So far the roster looks like:

TL Jimmy (Contact Spec.)
ATL/2IC Elliot (SCIENCE-Nuclear/HAZMAT)
SO Andy (MARS/Sniper)
Lena (Comms)
Jenna (Medic)
Captain Kim (Boating)
Tim (Heavy Weapons)
Tina Marie (Demo)
Bobby (Mechanical/Technical)

These are primary areas of expertise but there is a good degree of cross-training. This means you have 9 members, and can (say) be broken into 3x 3-person elements if need be.

Tony

Typically, in Morrow Project players choose their weapon loads somewhat according to preference. In reality, they would be assigned a weapon load mainly depending on qualifications but also mission parameters, environment, expected threats, etc. There are a lot more variations in Project team weapon loads than would be available to most non-Special Operations military units.

In the Project loads would also probably be assigned in some rational manner. I assume 1 grenade launcher and 1 SAW/GPMG per 4 personnel with rifles/SMG/shotgunss rounding out the rest. In this case Jimmy (with Andy's advice) would be allowed to tinker with the team weapon loads if he felt there was a need not being addressed. Following are the general weapons loads:

1. TL Jimmy (Contact Spec.) - M16A1/M203 rifle/grenade launcher (Load #2)
   
2. ATL/2IC Elliot (SCIENCE-Nuclear/HAZMAT) - M10 SMG, HK69A1 GL (Load #18)
   
3. SO Andy (MARS/Sniper) - M21 sniper rifle (Load #3)
   
4. Lena (Comms) - M23 carbine (Load #11)
   
5. Jenna (Medic) - M10B shotgun (Load #10)
   
6. Captain Kim (Boating) - M23 carbine (Load #11)
   
7. Tim (Heavy Weapons) - Mk.23 carbine SAW (Load #5)
   
8. Tina Marie (Demo) - M22 rifle (Load #1)
   
9. Bobby (Mechanical/Technical) - M22 rifle (Load #1)

For 9 personnel there are 2 grenade launchers, 1 SAW, 1 sniper. There are no real deficiencies here, although maybe you could do with another SAW, if so, Tina Marie is qualified to do so (although her forte is really demolitions).

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:49, Sat 16 Sept 2017.

In reply to Project Director (msg # 513):

Anyone else want to pick up some kind of heavier support weapon?

We have a nice balance otherwise, in my opinion.  Lots of automatic rifles, maybe it would be nice if a couple folks would switch to using 7.62 NATO, though everyone being on 5.56 makes it easier to redistribute ammo as need.

Tony, is the Stoner variant of the M22/203 available so Jimmy can match magazines with the rest of the team?

Edit:  Found some cool Stoner videos!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF0aPSyUMjk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT0QvYsQb9c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zb8OgPwf5Q
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Sat 16 Sept 2017.

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 514):

Hi,

You could mount an M203 on a Stoner at the outpost's shop if you are waiting on the boat refit anyways. But Project-made Stoners have been modified to use NATO STANAG magazines so they use the same magazines as AR-pattern rifles, including M16A1 and M16A2s. Better ammo commonality with the US military if you were expected to operate in partnership with the government!

You could swap a Stoner for a MAG-58 GPMG and this kills 2 birds with 1 stone. (Another team support weapon that uses 7.62mm.)

A purpose-built hand-held Geiger counter is wise as a backup. The M1 CBRs are designed to be multi-purpose and are less sensitive. Plus a handheld counter would be easier to use with a HAZMAT suit and are easy to decontaminate.

Tony

Oh, no argument on the Geiger's, just saying that everyone doesn't need one, just a few people that really know what to do with one.

I forgot that bit about the Stoners, project Stoners are much more refined.  So Jimmy can stick with his M16A1/M203 and it uses the same mags, good!

It would not suck for us to pick up an additional crew served in 7.62 as a support weapon, MAG58 is a good choice.  Doesn't have to be anyone's basic load, right?

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 516):

Ha, let's just say in my version of the Project, Stoners use STANAG mags! They are manufactured under licence to Morrow Industries specifications (and probably with Eugene Stoner's help!) so this won't be technically difficult. For that matter the later Robinson M96 Expeditionary rifle uses STANAG magazines so it's pretty feasible!

And sure, I think a basic load for the MAG-58 per TM 1-1.3 is the weapon plus 3 belts (300 rounds) of linked 7.62mm ball at 19.67kg. Or the M60 plus 3 belts at 19.33kg. (Interestingly, the Stoner was intended to be chambered in 7.62mm NATO but was switched to 5.56mm NATO in development.)

A bicycle is fine!

Tony

Maybe Gene Stoner is Prime Base's armorer?

I don't think the Stoner was intended to be chambered in 7.62, 5.56 was Gene Stoner's invention and he wanted to play with it.  He'd already made the AR-10, after all?

Bicycle... no no no!  Project dirt bikes!  The don't have their own power cores, but can be charged off the boat's.

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 518):

Eugene Stoner first designed the AR-10, which was (and still is as the SR-25) chambered for 7.62mm NATO. Based on that he developed the AR-15. Likewise the later Stoner 63, it was originally intended to be chambered in the larger calibre but that never happened because it was clear that the US was going to 5.56mm and so the Stoner 63 was chambered for that calibre for sales to the US military or other NATO members (who did not go to 5.56mm until much later).

There are a handful of electric 3-wheel ATVs and dirt bikes but they are all in use in the southern sector due to the SAR efforts.

Tony