kzt wrote:There is an assumption in this thread that a bunch of guys with guns constitutes an army. Which historically is simply not true, a bunch of guys with guns is an armed mob. It might be enough, but they better not run into someone who knows what they are doing.
There is NO non-RMMC Talbott ground force, there are a bunch of different units on different planets of varied size, organization and quality using different weapons, speaking different languages and with presumably very different tactical and operational doctrines.
Combining a German tank company with one each Italian, Romanian and Mongolian mechanized infantry companies and a Russian HHC and commander is kind of the scale of what you are talking about.
Given time to agree on things like unit organization, equipment, and doctrine and then the many months it takes to train them in this would probably work, but otherwise you are going to get a giant goat rope, and those are spectacularly effective at killing your troops in combat.
Well said. As a former US Army Quartermaster Officer, I can confirm that the true force multipliers include commonality of doctrine and infrastructure. The Quadrant no doubt has plenty of willing potential troops, but the big task is to get them all singing from the Manty songbook. No doubt some local egos will be bruised. Some sense of individual planetary identity will have to be subsumed into the greater unity of the Quadrant and the even greater of the SEM. Given time, the SEM leadership can standardize the equipment, training and logistics and turn out a cohesive fighting force. The question is, will they have that time, or will events force them to rush a half-prepared force into the field?