The 5th
From War Thread
Contents |
History
Svensylsquatostan's 5th Miscellaneous Armour dates back to the early days of Svensylvania. Following the development of the first tanks, 5 armour divisions were assembled, each containing two tanks. These tanks were precursors to the ones in production today, and were far from the self-encased death machines Svensylsquatostan knows and loves. Slow, awkward, and barely better than a mortar, the first tanks required a large support team to have any effectiveness.
The first iteration of the Svensylvanian 5th Armour contained the 2 tanks, 10 artillery units, and a full infantry unit. Under the guidance of Commander Brandon Flaherty (last name declassified as historical; all commanders and captains of armour division have their last names classified and are referred to by first name only), the amalgamation of tanks, artillery, and infantry proved to be an effective battlefield arrangement. However, there was definite room for improvement.
As weapons technology advanced, new types of tanks replaced the ones already in use. Efforts were taken to ensure that each unit contained only one type of the new tanks, and for a long time that goal was met. The 5th Armour was able to shed the infantry unit after it grew to 8 Tiger tanks, and when the last 2 Tigers were added , the artillery contingent shrank to 5 of the newly-developed Howitzer semi-portable artillery pieces.
This process of improvement saw the 5th Armour welcome 4 new commanders and took a period of 21 years. The final arrangement of the 5th Armour as 10 tanks, 5 Howitzers, and assorted small artillery was led by Commander Essando, who had made the final decision to reduce the artillery support based on his firm belief that with further improvement, the tanks would be able to hold their own against anything on the continent.
As time passed, the tanks of the 5th Armour began to wear out, or were destroyed in combat. Replacements were supplied, but the previous order to keep the types separated by unit had apparently been impossible to enforce. The 5th armour shrank to only 5 Tigers, and was supplied with 3 Panzers.
This mixed collection of armour prompted a new designation for armoured units, Miscellaneous. Other armour divisions were supplied with mixed varieties of tanks, and the number of Miscallaneous armour divisions quickly outnumbered the regular type.
46 years after its inception, the 5th Miscellaneous Armour welcomed its current commander, Scotty. Under his guidance, the 5th grew to encompass, at its largest, 12 tanks, 6 large artillery pieces, and several smaller artillery and support units. He popularized the system of precision strifing, in which all tank units fire so their shells hit the same target at the same time, a tactic widely employed by Svensylsquatostan's other armour divisions.
Soon after the current commander was instated, war broke out with Squatostan, and over the course of that conflict the 5th slowly shrank to its current size, 7 tanks, 3 Howitzers, and various smaller artillery units. The 5th has stayed this size, based on its ease of management and still impressive destructive output.
Current Deployment
3 Panzer tanks
2 Sherman tanks
2 Tiger tanks
3 Howitzer semi-portable artillery pieces
3 convertible trucks
1 non-convertible truck
Mortars, rocket launchers, and machine guns issued to trucks, numbers currently unknown.
Special Notes
Due to an undocumented decision, the 5th Miscellaneous Armour does not use any indications of rank. All members wear the same uniform, consisting of standard fatigues and an artillery jacket bearing the insignia of Svensylsquatostan and the insignia of the 5th Miscellaneous Armour.
In addition, only the commander is addressed using his rank, with the exception of privates in their first month of duty. The basis of these customs is unknown, but they are seen as traditions that must not be broken.
Current Status
Due to a friendly fire incident before the first battle of Citrus City, the 5th Miscellaneous Armour currently exists only in name. The division roster has been removed for proper annotation by the coroner's office and will be reattached when all missing persons have been located and identified.
Confirmed Survivors
Command:
Commander Scotty
Supply Captain *illegible* (could be Topher, Tadger, or Tipper)
Tank crews:
Joe Thumbo
William "Quiet Bill" Krazicek
Artillery crews:
Armen Jiman
Supply crews:
Richard Bannerson
