Cell:1st Marine Orbital Assault Battalion/MFS Griffon/1RAS
The 1st Runabout Assault Squadron was created as a means to fairy combat troops into hostile territory. The Squadrons primary objective is to transport marines quickly and effectively in and out of combat. The 1RAS uses the Danube Class Runabout to do this job and is assigned to the MFS Griffon and supports the 1MOAB. The Squadron is formed into 6 squads, a Squadron HQ, a Scout squad, a Weapons Squad and 3 lift Squads.
Squadron Breakdown
Squadron HQ (1st Squad)
2X Arrow Class
1X Command Version
Weapons Squad
11x Gunship Version
Scout Squad
10X Type 9 Shuttles
Lift Squad A Company
1X Command Version
5X Ground Assault Version
Lift Squad B Company
1X Command Version
5X Ground Assault Version
Lift Squad C Company
1X Command Version
5X Ground Assault Version
Squadron HQ (1st Squad)
This squadron HQ contains 3 Runabouts and transports the Battalions HQ into combat. The squad consists of 1 Command Runabout for the Battalion HQ and 2 Arrow Class Runabouts for SEAL TEAM V. The 1st squad unlike the other squads never really leaves the flight bay as a squad.The Command Runabout deploys with the first wave of the Battalion and the 2 Arrow Class Runabouts deploy before the main body to insert SEALS TEAM V.
Weapons Squad
This squad consists of 11 Gunship Runabout variants and its primary objection is to escort the squadron into hot landing zones. They also provide close air support for the troops on the ground, their job is to go in unload their payload of torpedoes and phasers and return to the Griffon to rearm and do it again. This squad could also be used to clear a landing Zone in areas with a lot of vegetation. The squad is housed on the Griffon and its secondary objective is to provide protection for the MFS Griffon if it comes under attack.
Scout Squad
This squad consists of 10 type 9 shuttles; this squad operates in the same manner as a recon platoon. This squad fly’s ahead of the main body and gathers intelligence on the enemy force and relays that information back to the rest of the squadron. This squad also works closely with SEALS TEAM V, providing SEALS TEAM V with additional information. This squad can only provide limited air support for the troops because the squad is not as heavily armed as the weapons squad. Like the weapons squad the scout squad remains on the Griffon and will be used to protect the MFS Griffon if it comes under attack.
Lift Squad
A single lift squad consists of 6 runabouts 1 command and 5 assault and each lift squad is assigned to an attack company. These squads transport the troops of the attack companies in and out of battle. A lift squad is capable of transporting half of an attack company and will take the squad two trips before the entire company is on the ground.
A lift squad is housed in the Griffon but during times of extended operations the lift squads are maintained and operated out of the Fire Base or a Companies Forward Operating Base.
1RAS Runabout Pilot
Steady hands, a sharp eye and nerves of steel,is what it takes to fly with the 1RAS.Since the tactics for the 1RAS were modified from helicopter tactics from earths old military. The pilots often go very close to the ground at extremely high speeds so that they can avoid sensor detection and anti air weapons used by the enemy. It is not uncommon for the Runabouts to return to the Griffon with phaser burns from enemy weapons. Pilots who fly with the 1RAS are broken down into three classes
Class A - Runabout Transport Pilot
Class B - Gunship Pilot
Class C - Reconnaissance Pilot
Class A Runabout Transport Pilot
The Class A pilot fly's the Command,Arrow Class,Ground Assault and Medical Runabouts. Class A pilots makes up the majority of pilots with in the squadron. These pilots push the Runabouts to the limits, often flying the Runabouts lower and faster with every mission and exercise. There is a competition among these Pilots who can fly there Runabouts the lowest and fastest and whoever wins gets assigned to Shadow Team. This competition has put many pilots and craft in danger, but there seems to be no word from senior command to stop this competition.
Shadow Team is the name of the pilots and crew designated to fly the Arrow Class Runabouts that are used to Insert SEALS TEAM V into various operations. These pilots have proven there skill dedication and complete lack of self preservation to get the job done, and there reward is to fly new runabouts into highly dangerous situations.
Class B Gunship Pilot
The Class B pilot fly's the Gunship version of the Danube Runabout. These Pilots are responsible to escort the lift squads and destroy any threat that might be encountered, when that is done the pilots use the craft to strafe enemy soldiers, vehicles, bases and facilities, by unleashing a very destructive pay load of phaser and torpedoes.
The secondary mission of the Weapons squad is to provide support for the Fighters in protecting the MFS Griffon if it comes under attack. Class B pilots are also trained in ship to ship combat not only can they fight off enemy fighters and raiders but they can use there runabouts to attack larger enemy ships that threaten the MFS Griffon.
Class C Reconnaissance Pilot
The Class C pilot fly's the type 9 shuttles used in the scout squad. These pilots are responsible to gather information on enemy positions with out being detected and send this information back to the Griffon for analysis. The Class C pilots often fly there craft over enemy positions that often put them in considerable danger. Since the shuttle has limited armament the Class C pilots best defense is speed and invisibility.
The Class C pilot if needed can use the shuttle to provide limited fire support for the troops on the ground and can use the shuttles weapons to destroy lightly protected enemy positions. Like the Class B pilots Class C pilots are also trained in ship to ship combat since the scout squad can provide assistance to the fighters, but the Class C pilot is only limited to fight off enemy fighters or raiders since the type 9 shuttle weapon systems can not penetrate the defenses of larger enemy vessels.
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