"6mm Hammers Slammers Infantry" Topic

Following on from this thread:

TMP link

What do you think any HS infantry I should do, would look like?
Are there models in other scales that capture the feel?

Any special features or bits of kit that would identify them as HS infantry..

John is a bit busy with Colours, but I see no harm in asking what the rest of you think 6mm HS infantry should look like…

angelbarracks.co.uk

Michael.

Hmm, IIRC, almost all of the infantry was mounted on one man skimmers, so some sort of motocross padding over a jumpsuit and full helmet with radio.

Most of their kit could be stored in saddlebags on the skimmer. I see the skimmer as some sort of low slung hovervehicle. It would have a cable so it could plug into a blower to recharge.

I've though about using GHQ's Modern Chinese Individual Infantry:

link

ah right, so are they regular boots on ground or on skimmers…?

I think they fought dismounted. Just used the skimmers to keep up with the blowers and combat cars.

Clamshell armour and helmets with chunky visors.

I'm finishing up my Slammer 6mm Grunts as we speak ! Er … type … GZG's 6mm NAC has them skimmer mounted and dismounted. Jon at GZG actually designed the NAC with the Slammers in mind … I have a stand for each. Pics soon ! Here's what I can do for you now …

Here's a pic of one I have already painted, he's an airguard on one of the M9 Cargo Vehicles – I only have 4 more skimmers to paint and my 2 Platoons of Slammer Grunts will be complete. As for tactical employment. The Slammers don't have APCs or IFVs for their Grunts. The Grunts act as mounted infantry. And can fight mounted or dismounted. The 1 man skimmers can even mount an RPG/LAW type weapon called a "Buzz Bomb" … So they can take on enemy armor as well as other infantry, etc. … Here's a link to my Slammer Task Force that I have completed to this point – link 1 M2 HBT Co., 2 M9 ACAV Plts., M53 SHFA Section w/ammo Carriers, Task Force HQ, and attached M12 TD Section

Are you referring to Slammers infantry or infantry in the Slammers' universe?

Infantry from the Hammers Slammers fluffverse..

I'm talking about Hammer's Slammers Infantry … not other Grunts from the Slammer-verse … AB, you may want to have a go for making your own Hammer's Slammers Infantry, your only "competition" is GZG's NAC. Which as I said, I use … and are very, very, close to Drake's Slammer-fluff … especially in 6mm …

Ah well I am thinking of all the infantry from the fluff, HS and foes…

Does that help or make it worse?

:D

Do what works for you, but GZG does make some of the best 6mm Sci-fi Infantry around along with DRM, Exodus Wars, Microworld and CinC … IMO … so keep that in mind … But it might be a cool line of all the Grunts in the Slammer-verse … However, you have to think about Copyright … John Treadaway may be able to give you some intel on that … Old Crow has the David Drake approved copyrights for Slammer Vehicles. And GZG has the copyright Drake Approved 15 & 25mm Hammer's Slammers infantry … Just FYI … link link And the other Slammer Infantry Mercs in the Slammer-verse are from other companies existing lines. And John Treadaway sort of just "decided" these figures would be good for Compagnie de Barthe or, Broglies Legion, etc. … So John may be your best source for intel on such a project …

No AB love Legion, so sad…

:(

The RDF work for me but I don't think they fit in with the fluff of HS.
So I am really after some guidance as to what looks right for HS.

What sort of tech are they?
Blasters, lasers, projectile.
Power Armour, carapace, flak vests.

etc

oooh this looks handy:

Nah … Those ain't real Slammers ! If you want real Slammers – link link link

Hammer's Slammers universe is relatively "hard" sci fi. The farthest they get from what you might consider plausible hardware is powerguns, which are basically magnetically accelerated copper plasma weapons. A plastic cap has enough material in it to fire a bolt of directed pyroclastic copper atoms at a target, usually causing it to blow apart or vaporize into steam. This is often graphically described. Other forces use conventional chemical firearms, gauss weapons with hardened diamond barrels, and lots of infantry antitank rockets.

There's no powered armor, to my recollection, but a lot of hard-plate suits with iridium ceramics that are resistant to powergun blasts. Tanks have layered iridium armor for the same reason.

Infantry helmets contain HUD and comm gear; the Slammers also use a comm implant in each trooper's mastoid bone for short-range communication. I don't remember there being any anti-grav technology; hovercraft were usually the top-of-the-line unit, with high-mobility wheeled and tracked vehicles being considered low-rent alternatives for mercenary outfits that couldn't afford to field anything better (the Zaporoskiye Brigade is one such unit that comes to mind – for some time I've hankered after a Zaporoskiye unit using Brigade Models' Neo-Soviets… but I digress). Infantry gets into combat on one or two-man skimmers or in the backs of combat cars. I always imagined the skimmers being more like grav bikes dispite the lack of grav tech in the 'verse – mini hoverskirt units never sat right with me. But, well… anyway, they fight as dismounts, sort of like hi-tech dragoons: skim to combat, ditch the bikes and fight on foot. At least, that was how I understood it to be.

Hope that helps somewhat.

--M

Yes, if you go to the links I posted AB you will get all that intel that MrAverage posted and much more … Powerguns, Blowers, Combat Cars etc., etc. … Here's my 6mm Old Crow Slammers – M9 Combat Cars ACAVs –

M2 HBTs, M53 SHFAs & TF CMD M9 ACAV – That's what Slammers look like … not those cartoony drawings !

"Via ! It's the Slammers!"

AB- you haven't read a Slammers novel?

Personally I think that the HS infantry are covered, maybe modify the RDF figs with smaller personal weapons (not a fan of GW type mega guns) ……or crack on with some more militia types as they figure regularly in the HS books…….with some civilian vehicles – trucks , cars and 'aircars' (some kind of hovercraft/ ducted fan propulsion with extra 'oomph ' so that it can fly too)….

Gracias, can you drop me an e-mail please Gaz….

por favor

That's the way I feel … GZG has good Slammer Grunts [in 6mm(NAC), 15mm –

and 25mm] and I'm using them … as I said pics to follow … If you went to those links I posted, you'll see what Slammer Grunts look like, their weapons etc. … But if you as really interested – Powerguns In the Hammer universe, a powergun is a weapon which projects high energy copper plasma toward its target. This plasma is created by inducing an electrical field in a precisely aligned group of copper atoms; the atoms' alignment causes a resonance which greatly amplifies the field energy and ionizes the atoms. The resulting plasma is directed by a firing chamber and barrel made of refractory metal, such as iridium; the chamber and barrel are cooled between shots by injected gas (typically nitrogen). The copper atoms are stored as individual charges, with the atoms held in the correct alignment by a plastic matrix which is mostly consumed by the firing. All the parts of a powergun require extremely precise machining and advanced materials, which makes powerguns very expensive; only the most successful mercenary units (or technologically advanced planets) can afford large numbers of powerguns. Powerguns are easily identified by the extremely bright cyan color of their plasma bolts; the electrical field also generates a broadband radio frequency discharge which can be picked up by the appropriate equipment. A powergun's recoil is far lower than a projectile weapon of equivalent size or firepower, as the copper atoms have low rest mass; the primary limit for powergun rate of fire is its ability to dissipate heat. Many smaller rapid fire powerguns use a multibarrel configuration, either a rotary gatling or a multi chamber mitrailleuse (the latter called a "calliope" in Slammers military slang.

The operating characteristics and tactical employment of powerguns were chosen by the author, David Drake, to be roughly equivalent to modern chemically driven projectile weapons which he already was familiar with; specifically, the M-14 rifle, the M1928A4 Thompson submachine gun, the M1911A1 .45 ACP pistol and the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun. This allowed him to easily translate his experiences in Vietnam to a science fiction context. The specifics of the powergun are inspired by Drake's interest in Fortean phenomena; the mechanism by which powerguns produce destructive plasma is similar to the working of a Tesla coil, and the destructive power of copper plasma is said (in the Slammers universe) to have resulted in the deaths of thousands in the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelee. (In reality, this was the result of a pyroclastic surge.)

Other WeaponsThe Slammers have few standard issue weapons other than powerguns. Slammers infantry troops use grenades of various types in addition to their powerguns. The Regiment also maintains several batteries of self propelled howitzers which fire rocket boosted shells. These include simple high explosive and smokescreen rounds, antipersonnel cluster bomb shells, sophisticated anti tank munitions with self-forging warheads similar to the present day CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon ("tank killers"), and tactical nuclear warheads ("red pills"). The Slammers occasionally use poison gas or incendiary weapons as area denial methods, and for eliminating threats in bunkers they do not choose to assault (see "Standing Down").

The Slammers (and similarly advanced units) make extensive use of powerguns for defense against aircraft, incoming artillery shells, and missiles. The powerguns are computer controlled in air defense mode to achieve the needed precision and reaction time. Although Hammer's hovertanks have computers which are capable of individual air defense operation, the usual practice is for the Regiment's Fire Central computer to take control of whatever tribarrels bear on the threat and use them to eliminate it. Some mercenary forces in the Slammers universe are specialized antiaircraft units (e.g., the United Defense Batteries; see Counting the Cost) which provide this service to clients who cannot afford to field the sophisticated technology required.

Forces other than the Slammers also use powerguns, along with a wide range of weapons. Most are similar in type to present day weapons, although they are generally smaller in size and of greater lethality. Newly established colony planets, which devote most of their production to bare survival, might produce low tech improvised firearms; at the other end of the scale, some well established planets can produce weapons such as high powered lasers or electromagnetic railguns and Gauss guns. These advanced weapons can approach powerguns in effectiveness, and even exceed them in some ways (albeit at comparable expense.)

Vehicles of Hammer's Regiment Hammer's Regiment uses air-cushion and ducted-fan motive systems for its vehicles. The primary fighting unit is an air cushion tank weighing 150 to 170 tonnes, armed with a 20 cm single barrel powergun as the main armament in the rotating turret and a 2 cm tribarrel powergun in a cupola. Standard battle tanks are crewed by one driver and one sergeant commander who doubles as the gunner. A command tank version exists, which adds stations in the turret for an officer and his communications technician along with the communications equipment necessary to command a tank company. Hammer's tanks have extremely heavy armor, with the main hull and turret made of iridium and heavy steel skirts surrounding the plenum chamber. The tank also is equipped with multiply redundant systems and state of the art artificial intelligence to assist the crew, particularly the vehicle commander. Slammers tanks carry a continuous strip of directional mines above the skirts, to defend against infantry attacks and man portable antitank missiles ("buzz bombs") launched at point blank range.

The tanks are supported by smaller "combat cars", armored air cushion vehicles that mount three 2 cm tribarrels. Combat cars have a crew of one driver, one vehicle commander who doubles as a gunner, and two wing gunners. The armor, sensors, redundancy, and artificial intelligence of the combat cars are not as extensive as those on the tanks. The combat car was inspired by Drake's recollection of the "ACAV" version of the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier. A command version of the standard combat car, essentially a steel box on a combat car chassis, exists. The command car's powerful computer and communications gear is useful for unit commanders, although many commanders choose instead to use a standard combat car as their command vehicle.

The Slammers also operate self propelled artillery units and tank recovery vehicles, both of which are only equipped with splinter resistant armor. While these use the same air cushion propulsion system as the fighting vehicles, the sheer weight of these vehicles limits their maneuverability.

The Regiment's infantry uses very small air cushion vehicles to improve their mobility. These are either one man "skimmers" or two man "jeeps"; the latter can be equipped with tribarrel powerguns, mortars, or a variety of command and sensor modules.

Many vehicles in the Slammers universe, including all the armored fighting vehicles of Hammer's Regiment, are powered by magnetically contained fusion reactors. These are called "fusion bottles" in the Slammers universe. The high power density of these reactors allow the Slammers to combine high speed, heavy armor, and heavy weapons in their combat vehicles, albeit at extreme expense. Other vehicles of Hammer's Regiment are powered by fuel cells or high capacity batteries which can be recharged in the field from an armored vehicle's fusion reactor.

Other vehicles in the Slammers universe are not significantly advanced beyond modern vehicles, except in the specifics of materials and computer systems. One notable difference is that "aircars," similar to the Piasecki Airjeep, are common on many worlds …

I was aware of the links thanks Legion.
Just keen to hear what other people think the infantry should look and feel like (not going to touch vehicles)

No Gaz, as the years have gone by I have found reading harder and harder, I just can't seem to concentrate on text..

:(

Cool !! Just wanted to post some intel others may not be aware of too … And you could do a plethora of other infantry types, and they don't/won't have to be Slammers … You can call'm anything to like ! Like Angel's Avengers … And as you see in those links, there are many other infantry types that portray the other mercs in the Slammer-verse … That could be a basis for other Infantry types … I kind of like these, maybe with some DAK type soft caps in the mix –

Just my 2 cents …

oooh I like them…
Like a lot….

There's some inspiration! Very nice designs there Legion 4, do you have ablog that I can go and drool over…spent far too long already gazing at your eye candy pics fromtheli above !!

I second Legion 4's helghast troops those look great. Been trying to convert those in 6mm but my sculptingfoo wasn't good enough.

AB and crew, just FYI, those futuristic Germans are not my design, I saw them somewhere on the net. Maybe even posted on TMP … Gaz, Thanx, I don't have a blog but here's the link to my Photobucket – link Scroll thru the albums on the left … Ignore the naked blonde wrapped in the American flag on my header page … Hey, I'm only human !

Thanks for the link-I'll try to ignore her…….

is that Amanda Taping?

Makes me all patriotic…..

Yep … she's my dream gal … well at least Col. Samantha Carter was/is … smart, beautiful, military, knows patrolling techinques and how to handle a P-90 !! Note all the STARGATES that I made from Keychains on eBay on that header page for 6mm terrain. auction Makes great gaming Objectives ! … But again, check out the albums on left side of the screen, IG, SMs, Orks, Squats, Eldar, Chaos, etc., etc. … along with Col. Carter … GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!!

Nations really need to start thinking about making their flags more transparent :D

Just to repeat, someone should make those helghast troops posted by Legion 4, in 6mm.

Well AB … you may have a project …

I can make ones similar, clearly I can't copy them though.
I could not afford the license fee.

Right, where to find the funds…

cough cough

:P

Thanks for all of the contributions on this thread people.

Just got back from Colours (well – I got back last nigh but have only just recovered…)

Slammers infantry are already covered by the extant GZG ranges and the Slammers vehicles (in 15mm) by Ainsty and in 28mm and 6mm – for the current time – by Old Crow. They ar all what Drake wanted and that's good enough for me.

Other forces in the Slammerverse… are a different matter which is why I''m working hard with various manufacturers to try and sort both vehicles and infantry for the (many many) other forces Drake describes (in varying levels of detail) in the Slammers books themselves. There's around 50 in the rule set. That's a big canvas to paint on.

AB, can I suggest you consider buying eBooks of the Drake stuff (I did for my Kindle ['coz I needed yet another version of the books, obviously…]) and then set them onto a device that will read them to you. Please ber in mind I'm not being sarcastic here: a very good friend of mine who loves reading but had less and less time in his life to do so, swears by his Kindle with voice reader as every day his commute into work (that he drives) has another hour plus of reading time beacause his book reads itself to him with no extra effort on his part at all.

I know I'm biased but – if you're into military SF – the Slammers stuff is a very good read.

John T

No offence taken.
I wish I was more able to read, I just find it a struggle.
I have borrowed a few audiobooks from the library so am not offended in the least.

I will await an e-mail when you have recovered regards other forces in the slammerverse.

Yes, copyright as I noted previously is always a concern … along with funding … And good to hear from you JT ! You are the Guru, the Master, the Obi Wan of the Slammer-verse … so your input and intel is very much valued. And I agree, Drake Approved Slammer vehicles and infantry are pretty much covered in 6, 15 and 25mm. But the other Mercs in 6mm may be needed … if AB wants a 6mm project …