[OOC] Mobile Suit Gundam: The 261st

[vietmyke]

Since we're in the midst of attempting to surrender, would it be likely that anyone would be in mobile suits, or would they all be in storage/shut down right now?

[AutoFox]

I'm thinking most people would be outside their Suits while in transit, yes.

[vietmyke]

Also, @Eschatologist, out of curiosity, was there any particular reason you decided to make your character an enlisted man as opposed to an officer? While my UC century knowledge may not be up to snuff, in modern days, military pilots are typically officers.

[Eschatologist]

I had a hard time deciphering the Zeon rank structure, and while the Zeon space forces resemble modern navies, the ground forces have a completely different rank structure, and as such I figured since we are under ground force command [which is straight up Army ranks], I should rank my character as though he were in the army. As such, he is a Sergeant, seeing as he is the solo operator of an armored element.

From the Wiki

Zeon Earth Attack Force
Overseen by Garma Zabi at the California Base, the Zeon Earth Attack Force is responsible for operations on Earth.

Military Ranks
Private
Private First Class
Superior Private
Corporal
Sergeant
Sergeant Major
2nd Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
Major General
Lieutenant General
General

Also, seeing as I was stuck over in the other board like an idiot, I didn't realize that JESUS CHRIST do we have a veteran group. By the end of the One Year War Zeon was pretty much out of veteran pilots, but we have three and a half attached to a supply group.

[vietmyke]

They have officers in the army too :o

Again, speaking from my experience with modern day militaries as opposed to UC Century militaries, but the idea of someone making SGM before the age of 30 is completely unheard of (It typically takes a solid 20 years of experience to make Sergeant Major). But I think it would've been very possible for your character to have been an officer.

*shrug* Thats just my 2 cents though.

In regard to that rank listing, thats just how the cookie crumbles technically. A Sergeant Major with 20 years of experience is still expected to salute a 22 year old 2nd Lieutenant, simply because while he's at the top of his chain of command (the enlisted branch), he's still beneath the officer branch, which is 2nd Lieutenant through General.

[AmongHeroes]

Also, seeing as I was stuck over in the other board like an idiot, I didn't realize that JESUS CHRIST do we have a veteran group. By the end of the One Year War Zeon was pretty much out of veteran pilots, but we have three and a half attached to a supply group.

@Eschatologist

The 261st is just THAT badass, my friend.

[Eschatologist]

I understand that, trust me I do. Vehicle crew ranks function slightly differently for one, and I figured that because Zeon got so fucked during the war [to the point that they were essentially out of pilots to let the goog and dom win] promotions would be fast coming.

The thing is, Sergeant Major is E-6 for Zeon, E-9 for NATO. So while you're right that he is in fact way to young to be an SM if he were serving under the USA, it would only take 8 or 9 years to reach E-6, which is the amount of time he has been serving. In addition, he is serving during a time when experienced pilots are almost all dead, so there is plenty of space for him to fill and plenty of impetus for him to get promoted.

It is good to see someone else with some knowledge of the military however. So often I get into military RPs then cringe because no-one can reach the unrealistic standards of that most pedantic of beasts: the Military History major on forum RP sites.

[AutoFox]

I will say I made my own character a Lieutenant mainly because that was Char Aznable's rank at the beginning of MSG. I also figure that given the small comparative size and relative newness of the Zeon military, promotions would have been swift. At the war's peak, they must have been chewing through officers at a decent clip, especially in the MS corps.

[Eschatologist]

The Zeon Military wasn't all that new, it had been around for over a decade before the one year war started, but like I said massive casualty rates would push someone up enlisted ranks much faster than usual, and my character is easily old enough to hold his rank even without such increases in speed.

The stories of the late-war Japanese Air Force is a good example of this: shit was a disaster for all involved.

[vietmyke]

I understand that, trust me I do. Vehicle crew ranks function slightly differently for one, and I figured that because Zeon got so fucked during the war [to the point that they were essentially out of pilots to let the goog and dom win] promotions would be fast coming.

The thing is, Sergeant Major is E-6 for Zeon, E-9 for NATO. So while you're right that he is in fact way to young to be an SM if he were serving under the USA, it would only take 8 or 9 years to reach E-6, which is the amount of time he has been serving. In addition, he is serving during a time when experienced pilots are almost all dead, so there is plenty of space for him to fill and plenty of impetus for him to get promoted.

It is good to see someone else with some knowledge of the military however. So often I get into military RPs then cringe because no-one can reach the unrealistic standards of that most pedantic of beasts: the Military History major on forum RP sites.

@Eschatologist

Ah, you are correct, I didn't notice that the Zeon military structure is a very short compared to the NATO standard. And you are also correct about the vehicle crew ranks. I just always equated Mobile Suits as the evolution of aircraft (seeing as they're used in space as well as on earth, and often serve alongside other flying mobile armors), which was why I assumed "Aircraft/Mobile Suit = Officer Pilot"

[Eschatologist]

I figured that too, but seeing as we're working with ground mechs in a thoroughly army rank structure, I thought they would more resemble tankers, despite the single crew oddness.

[Eschatologist]

Though, we should probably all adhere to one structure, so I think I'll just make my character a lieutenant for ease, to keep with the established Pilot structure.

Auto, if you could change Gordon to an Lt, that'd be grand. We'll say he was promoted from the ranks due to the chaos of the war, to explain how after his long service he is only O-2.

[AutoFox]

I always figured that it depended on deployment. In space, US Navy or British Fleet Air Arm ranks would best apply, but on the ground MS seem analogues to a mix between armor and infantry, the latter especially in their tactics. They wouldn't really count as aircraft because - at least during the One Year War - all but a handful of trial-production prototypes are incapable of sustained flight.
And that's fine, I'll go ahead an' change 'im.

[AutoFox]

Hey, @vietmyke, just wanted to let you know it's your turn to post...

[vietmyke]

yup, I was at work yesterday, so no time to sit down and post. Shall be happening tonight/today/within the next few hours.

[AutoFox]

Awesome! Looking forward to it.

[vietmyke]

Question: How many mobile suits fit into a Samson, and how many trucks are in the convoy? :o

I assume its 1 suit per transport, due to the sheer size of the machines, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[AmongHeroes]

It's one per transport.

[AutoFox]

Correct, one per Samson. Also, as for numbers, I'd say the convoy has about 12 Samsons, plus 18 Zebus, 6 Magellas, 4 Sauropelta, 2 Weasels, 8 Wappas, and several motor bikes. One of the Samsons is also carrying a gunship and a pair of Dopps.
There's also a Green Macaque and a normal Zaku Tank traveling under their own power.

[AmongHeroes]

How's everyone doing today? Good I hope.