COLONIAL PLANETARY DEFENCE FORCES

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[glow=red,2,300]UNDER CONSTRUCTION[/glow]

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COLONY OF AERELON

Aerelon is a poor planet, and regularly has to rely on older Colonial material to equip its forces. That said, the nature of the planet means that Aerelon forces rarely have to worry about defending large urban areas. This allows them to operate in large units, although they are more than sensible that to do so invites retaliation by nuclear attack.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
32x Air Squadrons of 18 combat planes in each
4x Air Defence Groups of 72 combat launchers in each
6x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
18x Divisions Regular Forces
24x Divisions Second Line/Garrison
1x Special Forces Battalion
4x Riverine Squadrons (6 Patrol Craft each)

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COLONY OF AQUARIA

Aquaria uses a different formation to the CDF. With so little land mass on the planet occupied, Aquaria relies heavily on its maritime assets for transport and many of its civilian maritime vessels are subsidised by the government, ready for deployment to support the planetary defense forces. Although considered secondary to the Space Forces branch, the PDF has concentrated a lot of its strength into its air and anti-air assets. They have even gone so far as to maintain 12 large & 12 smaller aircraft carriers (preunification designs) to provide mobile bases for extra squadrons. The Carriers fly a mix of VIPER and KRAIT VTOL fighters and have hardened bases to operate from.

The PDF ground units rarely operate as divisions, being widely separated across the planet. A few units fight and train as Brigades, but the commonest large unit is the Battalion. Although using standardized Colonial ammunition, Aquaria has a small military industrial base which, although maritime based, also provides small arms and other equipment to the Aquarians’ own specifications (which usually includes extra corrosion protection). These are good enough that Picon buys them for its own Maritime forces and the CDF acquires them for some Marine forces. A planet of small cities, since unification Aquaria has built a self-sustaining undersea city/base called Centre Neptune, from which it co ordinates planetary defense.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
24x Air Squadrons of 24 combat planes in each, with each wing of 6 planes dispersed to a separate site.
48x Naval Air Squadrons of 24 combat planes each (aboard the Carriers)
12x Air Defence Groups of 72 combat launchers in each
3x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
9x Divisions Regular Forces
25x Divisions Second Line/Garrison
6x Special Forces Battalion (marine)
6x Maritime Fleets (consisting of 12x Heavy Aircraft Carriers, 12x Light Aircraft Carriers, 24x Arsenal Ships, 38x Frigates, 36x Submarines and 122x Auxilary & Transports)

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COLONY OF CANCERON

The CDF presence on Canceron is low indeed on this hell hole of a planet. Its primary duty is to protect the Tylium mines. This explains the large number of Missile Groups which are designed to take out any approaching vessels. Not on the list above are the numbers of units conducting large scale live-firing exercises. As a result there are usually two divisions, up to twelve Air Squadrons and personnel from Missile Groups constantly rotating to Canceron.

Canceron Sovereign Units are small and specialised. Nearly all of Canceron’s populace live underground. The militia concentrates its efforts on preventing landings, then bases its defence around a protected, tunnel by tunnel slugging match. To this end, it employs a number of small, underpowered combat vehicles, especially designed to fight in those tunnels. Their militia tend to wear heavy combat armour equipped with breather packs and light enhancement and other sensor systems. A few lightweight units (mainly reserve units) are equipped for desert warfare on the surface of the planet.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
6x Air Squadrons (20 combat planes in each, with each wing of 6 planes dispersed to a separate site)
6x Air Defence Groups (80 combat launchers in each)
1x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
19x Divisions Regular Forces
6x Divisions Second Line/Garrison
1x Special Forces Battalion (desert warfare)

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COLONY OF CAPRICA

Caprica was one of the original planets that joined together to form a military alliance with Scorpion and Picon. As such its militia forces follow the same format as the CDF and Caprica is one of the principal contributors to both the CDF and its own militia. In addition to the regular CDF forces stationed on planet, there are any number of troops in transit and training on planet at any time.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
84 Air Squadrons (20 combat planes in each)
80 Air Defence Groups (80 combat launchers in each)
32 Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
69 Divisions Regular Forces
106 Divisions Second Line/Garrison
12 Special Forces Battalion (desert warfare)
1 Riverine force (4 Patrol Craft)

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COLONY OF GEMENON

The posting of a defence force to Gemenon caused a great deal of agitation – and that has grown more and more the further away the Cylon War gets. To help resolve part of the crisis, the Colonial Government has to keep nearly all of its military in ‘Colonial Reserves’, which restricts their training and operational effectiveness. This means that the various CDF sub-units on Gemenon are rotated off world for regular training.
Both the Military College of Engineering and the Colonial School of Medicine are established here.

For a planet that doesn’t like the military the Gemenese are also remembered for their fanatical defence of their planet against the Cylons. Gemenon provides some of the best engineers and medics into the CDF but less in the way of combat arms. Although Gemenon does field a number of combat units in their militia, they are restricted in their operations on-planet, and dependant on the good will of the surrounding communities for effective deployment. Should war ever break out again, though, you can expect a widespread recruitment across the planet, as many of the people there would see the war as a furtherance of scripture. To this end, many of the second line units are only at cadre level and are designed to quickly integrate, train and equip
large numbers of willing citizens. Gemenon also has the best civil defence network in the Colonial system.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
10x Air Squadrons (36 combat planes in each)
6x Air Defence Groups (80 combat launchers in each)
4x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
4x Divisions Regular Forces
125x Cadre Companies (medical & engineer)
1x Special Forces Battalion

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COLONY OF LEONIS

It is possible that Leonis has the smallest population in the Colonies. The surface of Leonis was scorched in the inter-colony wars and most of its population now occupy a number of orbital bases, where most of the military vessels used by the CDF are built. Station 29 is part of the Colonial School of Engineering and deals with Naval Systems. Other than for Fleet and Marines, the CDF has an insignificant presence here. The ‘Capital’ of Leonis is Leonadis, an underground city that houses those civilians incapable of working in space. Leonadis is dedicated to bringing Leonis back to life by reviving its oxygen and water content. Operations on the planet surface require environmental support because of the thin atmosphere on planet, due to massive eradication of the existing plant life. Only a very few communities still exist on the surface.

The Leonid’s are controlled and organised as a semi-autonomous region of Picon. To that end, they field as large a militia as they can. Because of the occasional flare up of trouble here, a lot of the combat equipment is obsolete when compared to Picon’s forces. However, as nearly all of Leonid’s forces are orbital based, they can still give enemy forces a run for their money. Leonid is also remarkable for having the only major Marine force in existence outside of the CDF. Picon retains control by ensuring that Leonid Marines require either CDF or Piconese transport units.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
32x Air Squadrons (20 combat planes in each) (22 of these are Vipers but with no atmospheric capability).
1x Air Defence Groups (80 combat launchers in each)
1x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
3x Second line Battalions
18x Marine Divisions

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COLONY OF LIBRIS

Considered to be the richest planet in the Colonies, the Libran government is no fool and contributes heavily to both the CDF and its own forces. It is not wasteful of its money though, and will always use tried and tested equipment. The Libran forces use their own force structure and are extensively trained in urban combat techniques. A good deal of militia units are used to back up police and civil defence units and so keep active on a regular basis. As with many aspects of their lifestyle, the Librans are competent, skilful in their use of arms. The Libran’s have been less forthcoming in equipping their units with the CNP, not until ‘all the bugs have been worked out’.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
72x Air Squadrons (36 combat planes in each)
80x Air Defence Groups (72 combat launchers in each)
32x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
69x Divisions Regular Forces
106x Divisions Second Line/Garrison
2x Special Forces Battalions

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COLONY OF PICON

Picon has established itself at the heart of the Colonial Defence Force. It may not house the Planetary Defence Headquarters, but it houses Fleet Command, Marine Command and Joint Operations Command, effectively giving it control over the largest military ever seen in Colonial history.

With Fleet command being on Picon, it is hardly surprising that Picon fields formidable Sovereign forces to back up the CDF, or that they are some of the best equipped and trained of the Colonial Militia Forces. Picon also supports a good industrial base.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
105x Air Squadrons (20 combat planes in each)
92x Air Defence Groups (80 combat launchers in each)
36x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
105x Divisions Regular Forces
33x Divisions Second Line/Garrison
25x Special Forces Battalions
1x Maritime Flotilla (20 surface vessels)

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COLONY OF SCORPIA

Despite the need for close co-operation between the various arms of the CDF, it was thought expedient to disperse the various headquarters for each arm of the service. To that end, Planetary Defence Headquarters is located on Scorpia, along with many of the training camps. Transportation Command is co located with the Headquarters.

As with Picon, the large military presence on this planet has also given rise to a large local military force. Hardly surprising then, that a lot of Scorpia’s industry is also military based and goes toward affording this. Their military is probably even better trained than that of Picon’s and certainly has a lower proportion of second line units than any other planet.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
32x Air Squadrons (20 combat planes in each)
92x Air Defence Groups (80 combat launchers in each)
42x Divisions CDF (utilises CDF formations)
116x Divisions Regular Forces
15 xDivisions Second Line/Garrison
34x Special Forces Companies
4x Maritime/Riverine Flotilla (20 patrol craft each)

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COLONY OF SAGITTARON

The pacifist nature of the bulk of the Sagittarian populace means that the CDF have little effective back up on planet. However, unlike Gemenon, the CDF are not limited in their actions on planet, and many younger Sagittarians have joined the CDF to get off planet and away from the poor lifestyle they were brought up to.

It has been extremely hard to persuade the Sagittarian Government to maintain any militia and, as a result, most of its equipment is obsolete, dating back to early Cylon War or older. The only concession made to this is that they do not have any qualms in maintaining that equipment, and so most of that hardware is in extremely good, and effective, condition. Sagittaron is also the only place in the Colonies where you can find ‘mounted’ cavalry units!

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
12x Air Squadrons (20 combat planes in each)
4x Air Defence Groups (80 combat launchers in each)
1x Division CDF (utilises CDF formations)
12x Divisions Regular Forces
13x Divisions Second Line/Garrison

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COLONY OF TAURON

Leaders in the development of technology, it is no surprise that the Tauron’s Military reflects this in their own makeup. Many of the R&D companies on Tauron have contracts with different combat units for field testing of experimental equipment. The downside of this is that support for that equipment can be patchy at best and there is a very wide range of non-standard (and in some cases non-standardised) arms and vehicles. The CDF seconded units are better off as they have technology that this in pre-production phase for the CDF themselves. These units often provide instructors for the CDF.

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
56x Air Squadrons
97x Air Testing flights (of varying strength and equipment)
1x Orbital Platform (non-nuclear)
24x Missile Defence Squadrons
8x CDF Divisions (same equipment as CDF)
9x CDF Divisions (Cutting edge equipment – usually operating as individual Training Brigades and Battalions attached to regular CDF units)
34x Regular Divisions
39x Second line Divisions
116x Independent Development Units

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COLONY OF VIRGON

If Tauron leads the way in developing technology, it is usually Virgon that sells it. Virgon is, therefore, as ahead with its militia as Tauron is, buying new equipment for its militia that is every bit as good as that used by the CDF. That equipment uses the standard CDF standardisation regulations but is usually developed from off shoots of Tauron technology not developed for the CDF.

That doesn’t mean to say that Virgon’s militia uses sub-standard equipment. In many cases, the equipment is just as good – but it may be more expensive, or visually more appealing, than CDF standard issue. For instance, Virgon air units use a heavier flight-suit than is used by the CDF. The Virgon suit provides more protection against radiation, heat and other factors, carries detectors in its arm with points for mounting lights and more O2. That suit was rejected by the CDF because of its additional expense (it is used byelements of the Civil Defence Corps).

FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
67x Air Squadrons (32 Aircraft each)
67x Missile Defence Squadrons (96 batteries each)
28x CDF Divisions (same equipment as CDF)
13x Regular Divisions
116x Second line Divisions
11x Special forces Battalions
3x Riverine Squadrons (8 patrol craft each)