Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
COMBAT INFORMATION
History
Randoni Armored Platoons have existed in one form or another for thousands of years as part of the local defense force. However, the modern esprit de corps of Randoni Armor harkens back several hundred years to an honorary member of the 6th Randoni Armor Division: Bail Ungasan. Bail Ungasan was a Randoni trader whose impromptu leadership of the local defense forces responding to a Sith raid on a star port cemented him in the Radoni armed forces history. Most of what is passed around about Ungasan is more myth than reality, but that has not stopped eager Randoni commanders from trying to emulate him. This in turn has lead to a large number of local pecularities within the group, ranging from the use of antiquated scatter guns to complex driving maneuvers. The Randoni have taken these legends and gradually refined them into complex if untested doctrine and tactics. While untested on the real battlegrounds against near-peer foes, they certainly look impressive and cunning enough during training maneuvers and small scale actions against criminal elements. When Randon entered the Silver Jedi's influence, the world reequipped its defense forces with modern equipment and sent them out among the other ISAF forces attached to the Silver Jedi's cause. The sheer population size of Randon and its associated forces have made them relatively common among the multinational force. So far, they have proven to be enthusiastic if untested compatriots.
Equipment
Randoni Armor Platoons are typically broken into two fireteams of four tanks, which is further broken down into two tank sections. One fireteam is composed of Howlrunner tanks, and the other of KV-1 Bengal tanks. These vehicles provide the platoon was the vast amount of their combat efficacy. However, they do have some other basic combat equipment typically found with any sort of soldier. The Mark 8 Katarn armor is probably the most salient piece of this equipment and is frequently worn in conjunction with locally made balaclava and scarves. Offensively, most Randoni armor platoons have traded in their blaster pistols for the Ranger Field pistol, but they have refused to part with their traditional 8 gauge scattergun. Various other common items round out the tanker's kit, including med kits, rations, comlinks, basic maintenance tools, and the like.
Tactics
Randoni armor tactics is dominated by two conceptual pillars: speed and close quarter formations. At an organizational level, they typically use the relatively high speed of their repulsor tanks to secure advantageous positions at the beginning of their fight, and then based on the battle's rhythm, move in quickly to attack or fade away as needed. This continues down to the lower level of fire teams, with pairs of tanks frequently “leap-frogging” to rapidly secure positions or retreat from the same positions under covered fire. When not in direct peer to peer combat against other armor units, the armor platoon frequently travels in one or two columns in close formation with impressive cohesion and coordination that can appear to be a single large vehicle from a distance. This allows them to combine and overlap defenses, making them less vulnerable to surprise attacks or airstrikes by lone strikecraft. Randoni platoons can fight in these close formations as well, making them surprisingly useful in tight confines of crowded cities or dense forests. Lastly, it's worth noting that many individual fire team tactics, especially when fighting unmounted foes, are highly inspired by the legends of Bail Ungasan. While not inherently effective in and of themselves, many of these somewhat theatrical tactics and feats may work simply because their unorthodox nature and highly rehearsed training of the Randoni Armor Platoons.
Deployment
Unsurpisingly, Randon itself is the most common place to find these armor platoons. They are also frequently found in ISAF forces as component members of the Antarian Rangers which supplement the Silver Jedi on the battlefield. Because of their mechanized nature, and the lack of large, groundside military bases, the majority of ISAF-attached Randoni armor platoons are spaceborne expeditionary forces. It is known, however, that several platoons frequently make visits to the Antarian Ranger base around Kashyyyk.
Intent: To provide the Silver Jedi with an ISAF-affiliated armor unit
Image Credit: N/A
Role: Armor
Links: Randon
Unit Name: Randoni Armor Platoon
Affiliation: Randon, Silver Jedi - ISAF
Classification: Armor Platoon
Equipment: 4 Howlrunner-class Repulsor Tanks, 4 KV-1 Bengal Main Battle Tanks, 8 gauge scatter guns, Ranger field pistols, Mark 8 Katarn Armor, miscellaneous common trooper equipment (average comlinks, rations, medpacs, packs, etc).
COMBAT INFORMATION
Availability: Common
Deployment: Mass
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Close Order Combatants: Randon is an exceptionally crowded world. Because of that, Randoni vehicle crews are exceptionally good at driving in precise formations at high speeds even in dense urban terrain. It's not unusual to see a quartet of tanks moving quickly and seamlessly enough that they appear to be a single, large vehicle from a distance. This also extends to tactical movements as well, with most vehicles working especially well in fire teams of two tanks.
High Morale: Randoni armor platoons enjoy unusually high levels of morale in combat even in especially trying times. While casual observers sometime attribute this to relaxed discipline and good equipment, the reality is these are more secondary contributing factors. Rather, morale is high because there is a lot of social cohesion within each platoon whose espirit de corps is largely based off of a local legend. Outsiders tend to think that the platoons put too much stock into the legend of Bail Ungasan, but this shared background seems to inspire and bond them together even in the most trying of times against any foe.
Mechanics: Randoni tankers as a whole have taken an intense interest in the technology that they recently acquired from the Silver Jedi and their affiliated companies. Not only can vehicle crews often perform simple maintenance on their own vehicles, but they are typically skilled enough to figure out and fix problems with other similar technologies and other vehicles. It's not uncommon to hear that several members of a platoon are serious speeder hotrodders in their off time.
Local Pecularities: Hero Worship (+/-): Randoni Armor Platoons are greatly inspired by the embellished legend of tramp freighter captain Bail Ungasan's defense of the Comte Starport. Combined with a lack of combat experience against Sith or other force-users, many Randoni armor platoons train and employ unusual combat tactics, especially against force-users. As an example, legend has it that Ungasan ran over a Sith apprentice with a landspeeder. Hence all armor platoons specifically train to run over small targets with their tanks. Eight gauge scatter guns similarly play a large role in personally defending their tanks, as Ungasan supposedly dumped three loads of buckshot into a Sithspawn in his freighter to kill it. Another pecularity is the tendency to blare out Bail's Ballad through loudspeakers when entering combat, supposedly to inspire courage within themselves. This tends to irritate or amuse fellow combatants.
Clustered Targets: While moving in close ranks lends itself to a number of advantages, it also makes them a single large target that makes them easier to hit with mines, airstrikes, or artillery.
Poor Personal Combatants: Tanker in Randoni Armor Platoons tend to be poor personal combatants one on one despite their bravado. Not only do they not spend much time firing weapons or in personal combat training, but their equipment is very limited tactically. It's especially noteworthy that even their handheld weapons are exceptionally short-range. A dismounted armor platoon is generally pretty easy pickings.
History
Randoni Armored Platoons have existed in one form or another for thousands of years as part of the local defense force. However, the modern esprit de corps of Randoni Armor harkens back several hundred years to an honorary member of the 6th Randoni Armor Division: Bail Ungasan. Bail Ungasan was a Randoni trader whose impromptu leadership of the local defense forces responding to a Sith raid on a star port cemented him in the Radoni armed forces history. Most of what is passed around about Ungasan is more myth than reality, but that has not stopped eager Randoni commanders from trying to emulate him. This in turn has lead to a large number of local pecularities within the group, ranging from the use of antiquated scatter guns to complex driving maneuvers. The Randoni have taken these legends and gradually refined them into complex if untested doctrine and tactics. While untested on the real battlegrounds against near-peer foes, they certainly look impressive and cunning enough during training maneuvers and small scale actions against criminal elements. When Randon entered the Silver Jedi's influence, the world reequipped its defense forces with modern equipment and sent them out among the other ISAF forces attached to the Silver Jedi's cause. The sheer population size of Randon and its associated forces have made them relatively common among the multinational force. So far, they have proven to be enthusiastic if untested compatriots.
Equipment
Randoni Armor Platoons are typically broken into two fireteams of four tanks, which is further broken down into two tank sections. One fireteam is composed of Howlrunner tanks, and the other of KV-1 Bengal tanks. These vehicles provide the platoon was the vast amount of their combat efficacy. However, they do have some other basic combat equipment typically found with any sort of soldier. The Mark 8 Katarn armor is probably the most salient piece of this equipment and is frequently worn in conjunction with locally made balaclava and scarves. Offensively, most Randoni armor platoons have traded in their blaster pistols for the Ranger Field pistol, but they have refused to part with their traditional 8 gauge scattergun. Various other common items round out the tanker's kit, including med kits, rations, comlinks, basic maintenance tools, and the like.
Tactics
Randoni armor tactics is dominated by two conceptual pillars: speed and close quarter formations. At an organizational level, they typically use the relatively high speed of their repulsor tanks to secure advantageous positions at the beginning of their fight, and then based on the battle's rhythm, move in quickly to attack or fade away as needed. This continues down to the lower level of fire teams, with pairs of tanks frequently “leap-frogging” to rapidly secure positions or retreat from the same positions under covered fire. When not in direct peer to peer combat against other armor units, the armor platoon frequently travels in one or two columns in close formation with impressive cohesion and coordination that can appear to be a single large vehicle from a distance. This allows them to combine and overlap defenses, making them less vulnerable to surprise attacks or airstrikes by lone strikecraft. Randoni platoons can fight in these close formations as well, making them surprisingly useful in tight confines of crowded cities or dense forests. Lastly, it's worth noting that many individual fire team tactics, especially when fighting unmounted foes, are highly inspired by the legends of Bail Ungasan. While not inherently effective in and of themselves, many of these somewhat theatrical tactics and feats may work simply because their unorthodox nature and highly rehearsed training of the Randoni Armor Platoons.
Deployment
Unsurpisingly, Randon itself is the most common place to find these armor platoons. They are also frequently found in ISAF forces as component members of the Antarian Rangers which supplement the Silver Jedi on the battlefield. Because of their mechanized nature, and the lack of large, groundside military bases, the majority of ISAF-attached Randoni armor platoons are spaceborne expeditionary forces. It is known, however, that several platoons frequently make visits to the Antarian Ranger base around Kashyyyk.
