What If: Arming "your" troops

[duckfoot]

You and your comrades have just over thrown the fascists dictator of a small Island country of Twoforone. Now you find your self in charge of arming the national army of about two thousand troops. What and why would you issue a Main battle rifle, Service Pistol, Sniper Rifle, and Carbine.

Main battle rifle-Fal 7.62x51 "proven rifle and in a common caliber"
Service Pistol-1911 "proven pistol and in a common caliber"
Sniper Rifle-SIG LRS2 7.62x51 "state-of-the-art and in a common caliber"
Carbine- FNP90 "just looks cool"

 

[jsalcedo]

M14
1911
Barrett
Marlin camp carbine in .45acp with folding stock and sights capable of easy target acquisition.

 

[only1asterisk]

Hk G36
Hk USP45
Custom
Hk UMP45

Dave

 

[Wanderer]

FN-FAL
1911
Remington 700
Uzi

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Some of the choices I see here are very unrealistic.

I would assume that funding might be a problem, if you have just seized control of a small country. Lack of skilled weaponsmiths would probably also be an issue. There probably would not be an infrastructure for manufacturing and repairing weapons, or even producing ammo.

While an M14, HKG36, or other pricey rifle would undoubtedly arm an individual rifleman better than an AK 47, I don't think that would necessarily apply to an entire army

In other words, I would say that comparably trained and equipped armies would probably do just as well with the AK as anything else.

As for handguns, I would not issue them at all, and spend the money I saved on my Presidential Palace.

 

[erikm]

Well, it really depends on what's available and how much cash is on hand.

If I have to use comblock stuff, I'd probably take the following (or their clones):
Rifle: AK-74 or AK-47
Carbine/SMG: AKSU/AKR
Sniper rifle: Dragunov SVD
Pistol: M1911 clone
LSW 1: RPK-74 or RPK-47
LSW 2: RPG-7 or followon
GPMG: PK/PKM

AK and RPK would be in the same caliber. If -74's weren't available, the AKSU would be replaced with a .45 ACP camp carbine. I'd try to get C-mags for the RPK's.

Western gear would be:
Rifle: M-16 or copy
Carbine: M-4 or copy
Sniper rifle: Remington M700
Pistol: M1911 clone
LSW: Minimi or Ultimax 3
GPMG: MAG or MG3
If money were no real problem I'd probably be looking at either the G-36 or preferably a modular system for rifle, LSW and carbine roles.

Any difficiencies in weapons quality would be made up in weapons training. The ammunition training allowance would be generous, as would the range allowance (urban training etc)

Cheers,
ErikM

 

[axeman_g]

my fantasy ..

It has always been one of my dreams or fantasies to rule my own little island nation. Boxer Shorts as a flag, clothing optional fridays, immigration would limited on gender (females only) etc etc etc ....

Troop planning never really entered my mind ... but ok.


Battle Rifle: STG58
Handgun: FN HP 9mm
Sniper Rifle: operators choice
Carbine: STG58 16" barrell, paratrooper stock

 

[buzz_knox]

Questions that need to be answered before evaluating how to equip troops.

What's the training level and/or ability to be trained? Are they illiterate, educated, etc? Motivated or just putting in time? This will heavily affect issues such as likelihood of proper maintenance.

What's the threat level and/or nature of potential opposition? Are they going up against the equivalent of Moros, Somalis, troops in body armor?

What's the terrain like, jungle or open areas?

What kind of supply lines will they have? Will they have to hump ammo long distances or will road/helo access be rapid?

What's the overall tactical doctrine?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Violence begats violence. I would teach my troops how to chant slogans, hold signs, dispersal techniques for increasing crowd count, basic writing skills (for letters to the editor), speechmaking (for soapbox), propaganda dissemination, media manipulation and of course, wills & trusts so when they get gunned down, at least their survivors will be cared for.

As for arms, I'd go with whatever the dictatorship has. Makes supply easy.

 

[45R]

Rifle: M14
Shotgun: 870
Pistol 1911
Sniper Rifle: Remington 700 or M14 variation
Carbine. HK type

 

[s&w 24]

rifle : L1A1
pistol : glock 37
marksmans rifle : scout carbine/or 338 lapua bolt
carbine : para model L1A1
the "cool" gun : lathi 20 mm anti armor rifle

 

[Animal]

M-16
1911 (only for those troops who need one i.e- officers machinegunners& such)
I would let the individual sniper choose based on availability and the mission. Barrets would be cool but not practical for every mission
M-4

 

[Brian Williams]

AR 10 20" barrel, flat top and gas block, folding front and rear sight, OKO sight. CHAMBERED for the 6mm SAW
MEUSOC 1911a1
Marine sniper rifle A2 clone, A3 to heavy
16" ar10 CHAMBERED for the 6mm SAW

Shotguns as needed

 

[Schuey2002]

Rifle: H&K G36 (some would have AG36's)
Shotgun: Benelli M4/M1014's
Pistol: Glock 17/19/22/23
Sniper Rifle: H&K MSG90A1's
SMG: H&K MP5A5's
Carbine: H&K G36C's & K's

 

[J Miller]

OK?? Your kidding right. I just over threw a two bit dictatorship and I'm going to "rearm" an army. An army that will be made up of former members of the dictators army?

I don't think so.


First I'm going to take MY troups and go house to house and conficate every gun I find. No warrents, no knocking, no asking, just take them ALL. Probably wouldn't be many, but I DO NOT want supporters of the dictator to be able to get anything to shoot at me with. PERIOD!!

Then the dictators army would be put in concentration camps and controlled.

Then I would find and execute every member of the dictators government.
All the way down to the secretarys.
All the officers of the dictators army would be executed.
Totally destroy the infrastructure of the old govt. that way there is no way it can regain it's hold on the country.
Only after that would the grunts be allowed to return home.

If I needed more men for my army I'd hire mercs.

After some period of time I would begin setting up local elections, then regional elections, once a form of representation of the public was set in motion, I would return the freedoms that the dictatorship took away.

After that I would probably arm my newly formed army with AK's. They are cheep and simple.
As for handguns, or sniper rifles, those would be chosen by the men that use them.
Suitable financial assistance would be given to the snipers, but since handguns are not normally needed for an army, any soldiers that wanted them would have to buy their own.

The only problem I see to my plan is the pathetic bleeding hearts in the US would try to intervene and save the dictator.

 

[bfason]

Depends

What kind of budget do I have to play around with? If my budget is small, we're looking at AKs.

 

[Chris]

Rifle: Either a SG550 or FAL
Pistol: Sig 226
Sniper: Rem 700 with Schmidt&Bender 4-16x50 PMII
Carbine: SG552 or M4

 

[Dionysusigma]

Rifle: H&K G11 or G36 (G11 for its insane MV, G36 just because)
Pistol: H&K MP5K (seriously, Walther P99)
Sniper Rifle: SA M25 (with other options depending on mission)
Carbine: AMD-65

 

[Matt G]

The only problem I see to my plan is the pathetic bleeding hearts in the US would try to intervene and save the dictator.

One may hope. It looks like a much more tyranical dictator is taking over.

Rifle: Any mass-produced, mass-consumed semi-auto or selective fire rifle for which I could get a good supply of parts and armorers. AR? AK? FN? Fine.

Pistol: See above, with good field holsters that could be utilized quickly. 1911? Berretta? Webley? Whatever.

Sniper Rifle: Probably the best accuracy for the dollar is just a heavy-barreled accurized commercial bolt action. Remington? Winchester? Savage? Tikka? Weatherby? Sure. Whatever. Spend big on glass, mounts, and training-- it's worth it. Pick a couple of calibers and issue the snipers reloading gear along with Match ammo.

Carbine: It's hard to do better than a surpressed M4, but if one must have pistol cal carbines, I suppose that the MP-5 in the caliber of the standardized pistol would be the way to go.



No engagement is going to be won because one force had AKs while the other had M-16s. Tactics, training, and strategy (and training) will win the day.

 

[pale horse]

I would want all of my troops to be familiar with the weapons of the country I was going into. That way if there was a problem they could do a battle field pick up and have a working knowledge of each weapon. Therefore I would require each one to know how to use a knife in a offensive and defensive situation.

But if they were home and were up to snuff on at least 3 countries weapons eg. small arms I would issue;

1911a1
870 or 500a in 12 ga.
AR 10 or a FAL in 308
Sniper would have his choice of a semi or bolt action, heck they know what they can hit with better than I do. But I would go with the M40A3 or A1.

I would also allow them to carry any personal weapon they could quailfy with after having the armorer checking it. Screw any agreements that the UN thought up. Heck we would hit the UN they are so piss poorly trained as it is.

 

[duckfoot]

This is just an exercise of the mind gents. Just an exercise of the mind.

But

I have notice the following from a few of the posts so far

MBR: is in a larger caliber than 5.56mm
Service Pistol: is in a larger caliber than 9mm
Sniper Rifle: left up to the shooter
Carbine: a wide mix of platforms

Then there are those that either need more information or question the why how and where of the situation I have stated. They seem more proactive than reactive and that’s not seen normally in America.

To those few, thanks.


On the Island of Twoforone prospectors have found a very large vein of platinum (worth 1 trillion US dollars) and the chemical compound found in a plant that will grow only on this island that can cure cancer. (unknown worth)

You and your liberty minded fellows were fighting a guerilla war that finally ended when the fascists’ dictator Fiven Ninesin started killing the populace in retaliation for rebel activates. Literally the people rose up and ended the oppression. The army of the old regime has been scattered and lives in fear of being branded a traitor of the people that carries a sentence of death. You and your patriots are much like the founding fathers of America, seeing freedom as right and not a privilege for all its citizens, but not so naive to think that invasion is not around the corner. The old regime’s peace agreements (read bribes) with the other nations of the area ended with the death of Ninesin. Now your leaders fear that if an army isn’t formed and trained soon that you will just face military force of a hungry nation.

 

[WonderNine]

"Plasma rifle in the 40 watt range."

Sorry

 

[telewinz]

FN FAL 308 Nato
9MM Hi-Power
Remington 700 in 308
Rockwell 40mm grenade launcher (Iwant the edge!)

 

[seeker_two]

As cash-strapped as Russia & the former ComBloc (as well as myself) is, I'd contact them to see how good a deal they could give me.

And I'm NOT above arming a majority of my troops with Mosin-Nagants...

 

[556A2]

Rifle: M16A3
Pistol: FN Hi-Power
Sniper Rifle: H&K PSG-1
Carbine: M4A1 (All M4s will be issued M193 Ball)