First things first, in case you have missed Slitherine Next, we showcased a scenario from the single player campaign for the first time.
You can watch the whole scenario here:
USMC Battlegroup specialization
We have recently revealed a trailer presenting the first of the 8 specializations of the game:
In Broken Arrow you cannot play with all the units at the same time. There are more than 150 per country with over 1500 different unit customizations in total.
Before each battle you must select which units will be part of your deck. And the first choice you have to make is to choose specializations.
Each country has 4 specializations and you must combine 2 to create a multiplayer battlegroup. That makes 6 possible combinations or archetypes.
Each specialization will propose totally unique units so each archetype will feel totally different from the others.
During the solo campaign things will be less systemic and the units you can access will depend on the mission.
USMC
Amphibious warfare is the specialty of the Marine Corps but it also works like a small independent army and as a result is the most versatile battlegroup specialization of the USA.
Note that some US Navy units have also been added in this specialization so it should normally be called Fleet Marine Forces but since it’s a majority of USMC units we kept the name.
RECONNAISSANCE
Scout snipers: This pair of elite soldiers is the most stealthy unit of the USMC. The main shooter is equipped with a M40A5 or SASR sniper rifle while the spotter carries a marksman rifle and a laser designation device to guide laser guided ammunition.
Force Recon: A group of 6 men trained to progress discreetly on foot to infiltrate enemy lines. They bring with them a few AT-4 anti tank rocket launchers to ambush light vehicles that may cross their path.
Navy Seals: A fire team of 4 elite soldiers that can move rapidly in the water. They have access to a large panel of weapons and will always be a thorn in the enemy’s side.
These recon units can be transported in Humvee GMV (Ground Mobility Vehicle) A light version of the humvee or LAV-25 an amphibious armored vehicle equipped with a 25mm chaingun.
In addition to that you can access independent vehicles:
- IFAV (Interim Fast Attack Vehicle) a Jeep style vehicle that can be armed with a machine gun, a grenade launcher or a TOW anti tank missile.
- JLTV-RV (Recon Vehicle) equipped with advanced sensors and a remotely controlled turret that can carry a 30mm chaingun and a Javelin missile.
Surveillance drones can also be used to observe and designate targets:
- Fire Scout unmanned helicopter can also carry DAGR guided rockets or Hellfire missiles to fight on its own.
- MQ-4C Triton is not armed but observes enemy positions from high altitude, out of range from most weapons.
INFANTRY
Marine Rifle Squad: This is the backbone of the specialization. This big squad of 13 men is equipped with M27 assault rifles, M38 marksman rifle and MAAWS rocket launcher.
SMAW/SRAW fire team: This is a group of 4 men equipped with 2 SMAW or SRAW rocket launchers. The first is a reloadable launcher firing multipurpose unguided munitions while the second is a more cumbersome disposable launcher firing short range guided missiles.
Dragon fire team: Group of 4 men equipped with the M47 Dragon III, an medium range anti tank guided missile.
Marine Raiders: A Marine Special Operations Team is composed of 14 men. They are specialized in CQC combat and can clear buildings in no time. However they lack anti tank capabilities.
These units can be transported in AAVP-7A1, a large tracked amphibious armored transport equipped with a heavy machine gun and a grenade launcher in the same turret. They also have access to the ACV, a more modern wheeled armored transport equipped with a remotely operated turret that can be upgraded with a 30mm chaingun.
Finally the MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement) is a truck that can carry troops as well as supplies.
FIGHTING VEHICLES
- M1A1 Abrams HC (Heavy Common) second generation depleted uranium armor and M1A1
- Abrams FEP (Firepower Enhancement Package) third generation depleted uranium armor and better optics. Both version can be equipped with additional reactive armor ARAT.
- M60A3 Patton TTS: is the old tank of the Marines. The turret can be replaced to become a M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle with a 165mm demolition gun very efficient against buildings.
- LAV-AT/ATM: is a TOW missile launcher based on LAV chassis. It can fire two missiles in a row including the TOW-2B top attack missile on the modernized version.
- JLTV-TOW: a TOW missile launcher on a JLTV platform. In comparison with LAV-AT it carries less missiles, must reload after each missile and is not amphibious so this is a cheaper option.
SUPPORT
- LAV-M: a 82mm mortar mounted on a LAV chassis. It can fire high explosive or smoke rounds with little delay.
- LAV-AD: an anti-air module with a 25mm gatling gun and 8 stinger missiles mounted on a LAV chassis.
- HIMARS: rocket artillery mounted on a truck. Can fire six 227mm rockets with explosive warhead or submunitions or a single ATACMS ballistic missile.
- MADIS: A JLTV equipped with a 30mm chaingun and two stinger missiles.
- NMESIS: Two tomahawk cruise missiles mounted on a JLTC platform.
- LVSR: A heavy truck carrying up to 20 tons of supplies. Can be fitted with B-Kit armor and a self protection weapon.
HELICOPTERS
- UH-1Y Venom: A light reconnaissance and transport helicopter that can be lightly armed with pintle mounted weapons and small 70mm rocket pods. Either with unguided or guided rockets.
- AH-1W Super cobra: This helicopter has been the main attack helicopter of the USMC until recently. Its 4 pylons can be equipped with rockets, anti-tank missiles TOW or Hellfire, AIM-9 anti-air and AGM-122 anti-radiation missiles to target enemy units equipped with radars.
- AH-1Z Viper: The newest version of the attack helicopter with better performance and 2 extra stations on the wingtip to carry the AIM-9/AGM-122 in addition to the Hellfire and rockets on the main pylons.
- CH-53E/K Super/King Stallion: The most powerful heavy lift helicopter of the United State military. Can lift up to 16 tons of equipment which is enough to lift a LAV, a JLTV or even a HIMARS.
- MH-60 Knighthawk: A naval version of the famous blackhawk with additional optics and armament on 2 pylons.
- MV-22 Osprey: A tilt rotor aircraft combining the vertical takeoff and landing of a helicopter with the cruise speed of a plane. It can carry 2 full squads of Marines.
PLANES
- AV-8B Harrier II Night Attack: it’s a VTOL (Vertical takeoff and Landing) aircraft with limited performance and autonomy usually dedicated to close air support missions because of its slow speed. It can be equipped with a wide array of bombs, rockets and missiles.
- AV-8B Harrier II Plus: a more modern version of the Harrier with better countermeasures that can be equipped with guided bombs and AMRAAM missiles.
- F/A-18C Hornet: Single seater version of the plane dedicated to air superiority. Can also be equipped with rocket pods for ground support.
- F/A-18D Hornet: Dual seater version of the plane dedicated to ground support, with AGM-65 Maverrick missiles and unguided bombs. Can also act as a long range air superiority fighter with a lot of fuel and few missiles.
- F-14D Super Tomcat: The legendary plane from Top Gun can be equipped with a wide array of anti air missiles including the long range AIM-54 Phoenix. It is also possible to use it for ground attack with Zuni rockets and a wide array of guided and unguided bombs.
- F-35C: Carrier version of the stealth plane. Each of the two bays can carry in addition to a AMRAAM missile a bomb up to 2000lb including teh JSOW gliding bomb, or 4 SDBs (Small Diameter Bombs). It is also possible to carry one more AMRAAM per bay.
- F-35B: VTOL version of the stealth plane. The additional turbine limits the bays to 1000lb bombs or 3 SDBs
- F/A-18E Superhornet: Single seater version proposing a vast array of air superiority configuration with up to 14 AMRAAM missiles in its heaviest “missile truck” configuration.
- F/A-18F Superhornet: Dual seater version oriented toward precision strike with anti tank missiles and guided bombs. It still carries some air to air missiles for self protection.
- F/A-18G Growler: Dedicated to the destruction of enemy air defense, its loadouts consist of jammers and anti-radiation missiles.
- KC-130J: This plane primarily used to transport and airdrop supplies and troops can be fitted with various “Harvest Hawk” upgrades like Hellfire missiles and Griffin precision guided bombs.
