[SG2] Mechanized Cavalry (2nd Run)

OK, Here is the second pass a Mechanized Cavalry for SG2. Comments
welcome.

Intro 
Cavalry is described on p. 25 of the Dirtside II rules but not addressed
in
the 
Stargrunt II rules. However, this describes cavalry as men on animal 
transportation and does not address how to handle Mechanized Cavalry 
(Motorcycles, Gravbikes, Gravboards, etc.). Following are rules on how
to
deal 
with Mechanized Cavalry.
These rules do not apply to Infantry Walkers. Infantry Walkers are
addressed

elsewhere in the rules. 

 Definition 
Mechanized cavalry (MechCav) refers to one-man vehicles. Two man
vehicles
are 
considered Size-1 vehicles. (DS2 ruling by Mike Elliot). 

A mechanized cavalry vehicle (MCV) has 1 capacity point that may be used
to 
mount a SAW or IVAR in a FIXED mount facing either Forward or Aft; or
forward 
observer equipment (rangefinders, Target Acquisition Gear (TAG), etc.). 

MCVs are usually powered by Hydromagnetic Turbines (HMT) or small Fusion

Generation Plants (FGP). Both of these types of powerplants make the MCV
not
much noisier than an infantry soldier (some, such as Gravboards, may
actually
be quieter). On less advanced colonies, Chemical Fueled Engines (CFEs)
are
still 
used for wheeled or tracked MCVs. MCVs with CFEs are are more noisy, and
are

unsuitable for stealth dependant operations. 

 Unit Organization 
Like sniper or forward observer teams, MechCav units tend to be
comprised of
1 
to 3 elements. This is not always the case, but is done more often than
not
to 
increase the unit flexibility and effectiveness. 

MechCav are often used for Forward Observer, Sniper, Scout, and Courier 
missions. They are occasionally used to transport troops behind enemy
lines 
(Special Forces), or to an enemy flank. 

 Movement 
Base Movement
MCV movement is as other vehicles (12" or 2xd12) while mounted. 

Terrain Type
Terrain type, while mounted, is based on the mobility type of the
vehicle
and 
infantry if unmounted: 
Mobility Method   Example 
GEV		  GEV Scooter, Hover Platform 
Grav		  Grav Board, Grav Bike, Grav Platform 
Tracked 	  Snowmobile, Tracked ATV 
Walker		  See Walker Rules 
Wheeled 	  Motorcycle, Wheeled ATV 

Encumberment
Elements that are dismounted, but keep the MCV with them, are treated as

encumbered (see SG p.22). If elements abandon the MCV, they revert to
their 
normal infantry movement type (also SG p.22). 

Going In Possition
Mounted MechCav may NOT go 'In Possition' in the open.
Dismounted MechCav with thier MCV, may NOT go 'In Possition' in the
open,
unless 
they abandon the MCV (becoming normal infantry). 

 Mounting/Dismounting 
Mounting or dismounting a MCV requires a movement action. A mounted or 
dismounted chit should be used to indicate if a figure is mounted or
unmounted 
(if you have mounted and unmounted figures, the actual figure may be
switched 
instead of using a chit). 

The procedure is similar to entering/exiting an APC as described on p.24
or
the 
SG rules. 

Mounting
An element must be within 6" of a MCV to mount it. It requires a
movement
action 
to do so. Once mounted, a Mounted chit should be placed by the element.
If
the 
entire unit is mounted, one chit may be used for the entire unit. An
element

must be mounted to take advantage of the added movement of the MCV (see
Movement 
above). Mounted elements that engage in combat do so at a penalty (see
Combat 
below). 

Dismounting
A unit may spend a movement action to dismount all or some of its
elements. 
Dismounted elements may move upto 6" away from the MCV as part of the
dismount. 
For elements dismounted, remove the Mounted chit for that element.
Dismounted 
elements do not gain from additional movement and, if they keep the MCV
with

them, they are treated as encumbered (see Movement above). Dismounted
elements 
do not, however, suffer any penalty to combat. If MCVs are used in a
close 
assault (CA), they are considered to have dismounted by the second round
of
CA. 

Mixed Units
If only part of the unit is mounted, place a Detached marker with the
part
of 
the unit that does NOT have the leader in it. That is, if the leader is
mounted, 
put the detachment marker with the unmounted part of the unit; if the
leader
is 
unmounted, place the detachment marker with the mounted part of the
unit. A 
seperate Detachment action need NOT be performed (it is included in the 
mount/dismount action). 

Abandoned MCVs
If an element moves more than 6" away from the MCV, place an abandoned
marker 
next to the vehicle. Any element that comes within 6" of the abandoned
MCV,
may 
utilize it (however, see rules about Mixed Unis above). An element that
abandons 
its MCV is now treated as normal infantry (may be light infantry
depending
on 
how the soldier was equiped). 

Combat 
 - Mounted Combat. 
  - Quality in Small Arms combat, while mounted, is shifted DOWN 2. 
  - Other weapons may not be fired while mounted unless built into the
design 
    of the vehicle (see Difinition and capacity points above). In such 
	instances, Quality die is shifted DOWN 2. 
 - Unmounted Combat. 
  - Combat while unmounted follows normal infantry combat rules 
 - As targets 
  - Units of mechanized cavalry are treated as infantry for purposes of 
    targeting. 
  - If not in a unit or detached as individual figures, mechanized
cavalry
are 
    treated as individual figures (see p. 26) 
 - In Close Assaults (CA) 
  - Mounted Mechanized Cavalry are treated as infantry for CA. They
still
suffer 
    the downshift to their quality die in the CA. 
  - Unmounted Mechanized Cavalry may not bring their MCVs with them in a
CA.

  - If a CA lasts more than 1 round, the Mechanized Cavalry are assumed
to
have 
    dismounted on the second round of the CA. 
  - If the defending unit voluntarilly retreats from a CA, a MechCav
unit
that 
    participated in the CA may continue conduct the Overrun and
Followthrough 
	attack. It may NOT mount/dismount between the CA and the 
	Followthrough/Overrun attack. 
 - Under Suppression 
  - Unmounted MechCav use the normal suppression rules. 
  - Mounted MechaCav are trained that speed and escape are better than
ducking 
    and covering. A MechCav unit that is under suppression does not
follow
the 
	normal suppression rules. 
  - A mounted MechCav unit under suppression will attempt move to cover
or
out 
    of range of attacking units on its next activation. 
  - If seeking cover, the cover must be within 2x base range of the
MechCav 
    unit. If unable to obtain cover with the use of its 1st action, the
MechCav 
	must use its 2nd action to move into cover. If it fails to
obtain
cover, it 
	ends its movement with all suppression markers that it started
with.
If it 
	obtains cover, remove all the suppression markers from the unit.

  - If seeking to get out of range of the opposition, figure the maximum
range 
    for the units that applied the suppression. The mounted MechCav unit
must be 
	able to get out of range in 2 movement actions. If this is the
case,
the 
	MechCav unit must spend a Movement action moving AWAY from the
unit(s) that 
	applied the suppression. If it fails to get out of range with
the
first 
	action, it must spend the second action moving AWAY from the
unit(s)
that 
	applied the suppression. If it fails to get out of range, it
retains
all the 
	suppression markers it started with. If it succeeds in getting
out
of range, 
	it removes the suppression counters. 
  - If cover is out of range and it is impossible to move out of range
in
this 
    activation, the mounted MechCav unit must spend its next activation
to 
	Dismount the MCV. It may then attempt to remove suppression as
normal (or 
	perform other actions that are legal under suppression). 

---
Brian Bell
bkb@beol.net
http://www.ftsr.org/sg2/
---